The Canucks don’t have a traditional “shutdown” defenseman, so they’ll need to defend Michkov by committee. One likely strategy is to match JT Miller’s line with the defensive pairing of Tyler Myers and Carson Soucy against him. This approach was used effectively against Connor McDavid during the playoffs, with relative success. While Michkov isn’t McDavid, he has the ability to take control of a game, and the Canucks must remain vigilant whenever he’s on the ice.
**Canucks Need to Learn From Their Mistakes**
Wednesday’s loss should serve as an early-season lesson for the Canucks: they can’t afford to relax, even with a multi-goal lead. Any team, regardless of talent or expectations, can win on any given night. The Flyers will pose an even tougher challenge, having come close to making the playoffs last season, and with a top-tier sniper capable of turning the game around. The Canucks’ stars—especially Elias Pettersson—will need to step up and play the elite two-way game that defined their identity last season. If they can do that, they’ll be well-positioned to secure their first win of the season.
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