The Canucks’ 4-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday still produced a few bright spots, and three players in particular stood out in the latest edition of Vancouver’s “3 Standouts From The Game.”
Zeev Buium was one of the most encouraging performers. The 20-year-old skated with confidence, played 22:49, and put up six shot attempts.
He also chipped in two blocked shots and a hit. What really jumped off the page was the workload at even strength.
Manny Malhotra leaned on him for more than 20 minutes there, while Luke Schenn logged just 9:41 at even strength. Buium didn’t land on the scoresheet, but the trust he earned was the story.
Elias Pettersson also made his presence felt at both ends. The 22-year-old logged 20:46 and finished with three shots, two hits, and one blocked shot.
His game continues to be defined by how hard he plays and how willing he is to meet physical challenges head-on. He has shown no hesitation against tough matchups, and he looks comfortable defending the opposition’s top players.
Among Vancouver’s young group, he has arguably made the biggest leap this season.
Max Sasson rounded out the group of standouts by continuing to cash in on his strong run. He scored his fourth goal of the season and won four of five faceoffs.
Sasson also looked like a natural fit alongside Brendan Gallagher and Paul Cotter, with that line drawing the most attention on Saturday. His game fits neatly into Malhotra’s system because he brings speed, pressure on the forecheck, and smart work in the defensive zone.
If he keeps producing at this pace, he could push past last season’s total of 13 goals.
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