A look at some of the analytics from the Canucks 4-3 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Welcome to this edition of "The Stats Behind The Game." This recurring deep dive breaks down the analytics behind each Vancouver Canucks game as recorded by Natural Stat Trick. In this article, we look back on the Canucks most recent 4-3 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The analytics show how Vancouver let this game slip away in the third and overtime. After the Canucks held a 22-13 lead in even-strength scoring chances after the second, the Penguins stormed back over the final 20+ minutes, finishing the third and overtime with a 13-6 advantage. The same goes for high-danger chances, where Vancouver went from an 11-7 advantage after two to give up a 4-3 advantage in the third and overtime. In the end, the Canucks were unable to carry their momentum from the first, which resulted in giving up a lead and dropping five of their last six games.
As for the heatmap, it is a good representation of how neither team played well defensively. Both Vancouver and Pittsburgh gave up chances from the middle of the ice, with plenty of action taking place in front of Thatcher Demko and Tristan Jarry. By the end of the game, both goaltenders had faced double-digit high-danger, medium danger and low-danger shots, with the Penguins registering three high-danger goals compared to one by the Canucks. Overall, while there were positives from an offensive perspective, the heatmap shows just how problematic both teams were in front of their goaltenders on Tuesday night.
Heatmap by Natural Stat Trick, VAN vs PIT, Feb 27, 2024As for one line that stood out on the analytics side, that would be the fourth line of Phil Di Giuseppe, Teddy Blueger and Sam Lafferty. In 6:45 together, the trio posted an xGF% of 77.14 and had an 8-2 scoring chances advantage. While they were on the ice for a goal against, they did their job and had a good night overall.
Lastly, the best Canucks player outside of Demko was easily J.T. Miller. He led the team in hits with four, had a massive shorthanded goal and finished the night with an even strength xGF% of 58.75 despite spending most of the night going head-to-head with Sidney Crosby. As Rick Tocchet mentioned post-game, he has been driving this team lately and is one of the reasons they were able to collect a point against Pittsburgh.
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