Canucks vs Predators: Playoff target Quinn Hughes continues to shine

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A Quinn Hughes’ sandwich will not be on the Rogers Arena menu Tuesday.

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The electric and elusive Vancouver Canucks’ captain was the meat in an early serving sandwich Sunday at Nashville. It was a 13-second span of vulnerability and agony that can’t be repeated in Game 5, if the Pacific Division champions expect to close out their first-round playoff series against the pesky Predators.

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Imagine the Canucks without their free-wheeling, fast thinking and laser like passing weapon? Imagine him not breaking opposition ankles with sublime edge work to trigger the transition and using incredible instincts at even strength and the power play?

Hughes, 24, is the Norris Trophy favorite for good reason. His career-high, franchise record setting standard 92 points (17-75) not only led all club and NHL defenders, the totals are the result of amazing skill and unrelenting will.

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On Sunday, he was first pounded in the defensive zone by former teammate Anthony Beauvillier and then jammed up hard between forecheckers Jason Zucker and Colton Sissons. Hughes winced, doubled over in discomfort and missed his next shift.

He was hit five times in the first two periods and has been hammered on more than a dozen occasions in the series.

However, Hughes responded to added attention Sunday by logging 11:06 of his 24:09 of ice time in the final frenetic period. His offensive-zone awareness led to Brock Boeser’s tying effort with 6.2 seconds left in regulation and with Arturs Silovs pulled again for an extra attacker.

Hughes somehow kept the puck in at the point by pivoting and sending Gustav Nyquist sprawling to keep the play and overtime hopes alive. He didn’t have a point Sunday, but made a bigger point with that effort amid added attention.

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“It doesn’t affect him mentally or physically,” Canucks winger Conor Garland said Monday. “He’s a tough kid. He plays hard. He’s under-sized and it’s hard to get a hold of. And, usually, you’re not getting a full piece of him. I think he likes it. He enjoys the environment.

“He’s our best player and is just going to keep playing great for us.”

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As last season wound down, Hughes was taking stock of his career and where he fits among elite NHL blue-liners. He was putting up the points and would get Norris votes, but he knew one key measuring stick was missing.

“I’m just as good as anyone right now, but next year (2023-24) I could start terrible if I have a bad summer,” Hughes told Postmedia News. “So many defensemen in the league are good and having extraordinary years and it’s always changing.

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“I think a lot of it is that if you’re really an elite defenseman, you have to be competing and at least be in the playoffs. That hasn’t been something I can say. I don’t think this is the peak for me at all. I feel hungry right now, more hungry than usual.”

Hughes’ arrival in the real post-season has not provided a points-producing flourish with four (0-4) through four games. That’s to be expected.

The playoffs are a different animal and defending is as vital as scoring — especially for newbies. Hughes had 16 points (2-14) in 17 games during the 2020 playoff bubble experience in Edmonton, but that’s an asterisk in his book.

In the time-and-space constraints of the 2024 post-season, everything is magnified. Zone entries are difficult, shot lanes shrink and those hits are harder.

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It’s why Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet continues to marvel at his captain.

He knows part of the responsibility of protecting Hughes is for teammates not to allow the Predators free passage Tuesday because they forecheck and pressure in numbers.

However, part of the onus is on Hughes to read and adjust because that’s what the playoff experience is all about. Live and learn.

“There are a few adjustments that he has to make for sure,” Tocchet said Monday. “But those last three minutes (Tuesday) and the way he turned on a dime, you just know that he’s got it. It’s just a couple of adjustments and we’ve got to help him by getting in front of people.

“We just can’t let people hit him. If we have the puck a little bit more, he won’t get hit as much. I’ve seen him get hit a lot this year — not a ton but some that were crunching — and I’ve seen him come to the bench wincing.

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“But just when you think he’s down, he’s back up. And he’ll be walking around the next day like it’s not a big deal. It’s huge being the captain and taking big licks and coming up with huge plays at the end Sunday.

“That’s leadership for me.”

Which brings us to Tuesday. Don’t expect the Predators to go quietly into the night. Their season is on the line.

“From my experience, Game 5 is a hard close-out game for whatever reason,” added Tocchet. “I feel more comfortable going in because we had an average game (Sunday). Let’s face it. If we played really well and had a great game, I’d probably be more nervous (Tuesday).

“We’re going to be ready to play at a lot better than the last game. And that’s a good thing.”

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