Canucks player grades: PK comes up big in 3-0 win vs. punchless Rangers

How bad have the New York Rangers been at home?

They’ve scored just 30 times in 17 home games this season. It’s really astounding to see them do it live. They’re punchless. They have players you know can score but they can’t manage to really make anything look threatening.

Thank goodness for the Vancouver Canucks, who aren’t exactly an exciting team either right now but some nights that doesn’t matter: all that matters is the result.

Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, the Canucks skated away 3-0 winners over the Blueshirts. They didn’t generate much on offence but still took the few chances they had and in their own end got a solid effort from goalie Thatcher Demko, who posted the Canucks’ first shutout since last February — a shutout by Demko over the Colorado Avalanche.

The Canucks have now won two games since trading away Quinn Hughes, a good thing for morale, but of course not what you want when you’re punting on the season and now hold dreams of drafting Gavin McKenna.

Still a pop gun

The Canucks are going to play hard, no doubt. But in the big picture they don’t want to get good results very often.

They were not terribly exciting on offence in this game and they did make little errors on defence. But the Canucks still buried a couple chances and the Rangers couldn’t and that’s your game story.

But against better teams, like say the Islanders on Friday and the Bruins on Saturday, they’re not likely to get away with as many moments as they might — and did — vs. the Rangers.

Great goalie

When Thatcher Demko is healthy, he’s great. And therein lies the rub.

This is a player you want on your team — but he’s got to be available. Did the Canucks over-invest in signing him to an extension last summer?

That PK

The penalty kill is no longer a total disaster. Beginning about 15 games ago, the Canucks really buckled down on limiting quality shots against on the penalty kill.

The Rangers moved the puck really well at times but couldn’t find a finishing touch — and of course the goalie played a big part in that too.

Forwards

Marco Rossi C+ Fantastic on faceoffs. Can see the two-way ability. But didn’t create very much on this night.

Jake DeBrusk C Skated well but no shots on goal in a game like this? Need more.

Brock Boeser C+ Blocked a shot and took a puck to the knee in the early going but still picked up an assist on Kane’s opening goal. But like the rest of his line, needed more.

David Kämpf C We know he’s a smart defender. He keeps showing us this.

Nils Höglander C+ A few good little moments on the puck. Give him a better centre and he’ll be more effective.

Conor Garland B The ever-constant buzz saw. Outstanding on the PK. Got the empty-net goal and erupted in celebration afterwards; you know what this win meant to him, given they’re two games into his post-Hughes era and they were playing another old buddy in J.T. Miller.

Drew O’Connor B As a centre he’s able to use his skating to great effect. And he’s proven to be an able compliment to the hard working Sherwood.

Evander Kane B Opened scoring with some help from the linesman. Managed to spring Sherwood on a second period breakaway. Effective on the boards.

Kiefer Sherwood B Unlucky not to score in second. Kept buzzing in the second. Another key player on the resurgent PK.

Max Sasson C+ He got a contract extension this week because he’s proven to be a highly effective fourth liner. Doesn’t get burned. Makes smart choices in all spots.

Liam Öhgren B Nice shot but a little lucky on the goal. Made another nice move later in the second.

Linus Karlsson C+ Making some smart plays on the puck defensively. Sprang Öhgren on his goal.

Defence

Marcus Pettersson B Playing full time with Filip Hronek now, he’s returned to his steady, calm self. Ate big minutes and never looked flustered.

Filip Hronek A Lots of nice little stick plays. He’s the man now and he’s playing like it.

Zeev Buium B- his play with the puck draws obvious praise but was pretty astute on that long second period shift defensively. Not as boisterous on offence as his debut but he’s still just so smooth.

Tyler Myers B- Stood up well to a pair of Matt Rempe hits early on, showing to be a nice partner for young Buium.

Elias Junior Pettersson C+ Nice game, didn’t give away much on D but didn’t generate anything on offence.

Tom Willander C Tough night for the kid. Did zero on offence and in limited minutes had some ugly moments defensively. He’ll learn.

Goalie

Thatcher Demko A Excellent in second period. Gave no gaps, unlike his opposite number Quick who looked especially poor on the Öhgren goal. Vintage play in the third from the Canucks’ No. 1, who made his third start in a row and you have to think will get the start Friday on Long Island.

pjohnston@postmedia.com