How Elias Lindholm's Absence Has Impacted The Canucks
Lindholm has been absent from the Canucks lineup for the past five games.
Photo by Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports - How Elias Lindholm's Absence Has Impacted The CanucksElias Lindholm's absence has shown just how valuable he is to the Vancouver Canucks lineup. Lindholm has missed the last five games with an undisclosed injury, and there has been no firm timeline on the exact date when he will return to the ice. While he has had trouble producing offensively, his play in the defensive zone and on the penalty kill has added an extra layer of depth to this Canucks roster.
One way to show how much Vancouver has missed Lindholm is to compare their last five games when he was in the lineup to this five-game stretch where he has been absent. Below is a breakdown of the team statistics during these two periods.
The most significant difference between the two time periods is the penalty kill. With Lindholm in the lineup, the Canucks were able to kill off 12 of 14 power plays, with the only goals against happening in the first game against the Colorado Avalanche. Without him in the lineup, Vancouver allowed five goals on 18 power plays, only going perfect against the L.A. Kings and Anaheim Ducks. There was also a significant difference in shot totals as with Lindholm in the lineup, the Canucks allowed 12 shots or .857 per penalty kill compared to 31 shots or 1.72 per penalty kill when he was out of the lineup.
Another issue not having Lindholm in the lineup has caused is ice time distribution. Overall, Vancouver's top players have been forced to play more minutes as head coach Rick Tocchet isn't able to balance his lineup. Elias Pettersson has played an average of 42 seconds more per game, while J.T. Miller has seen his ice time jump by an average of 1:28 in the past five games compared to the last five games Lindholm played in. While this additional ice time may not seem like a lot, it adds up over time, putting extra stress on Vancouver's top two centers.
Ultimately, the absence of Lindholm has been felt throughout the Canucks lineup. He makes Vancouver's lineup deeper and more challenging to match up against. The hope is he can be ready for the start of the postseason, as his defensive play and ability to win faceoffs will be crucial if the Canucks have eyes on a long run this year.
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