Canucks' Tyler Toffoli returns to lineup, scores goal on first shift vs. Golden Knights

Jackie Spiegel

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Canucks' Tyler Toffoli returns to lineup, scores goal on first shift vs. Golden Knights image

Welcome back, Tyler Toffoli.

The forward returned to the Canucks' lineup in Game 2 of their second-round series against the Golden Knights, and made an immediate impact.

In his first shift of the night, linemate Elias Pettersson carried the puck into the offensive zone; Pettersson took the puck down the boards past Shea Theodore, around the net and passed it to a wide-open Toffoli sitting on the far post.

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One minute and 29 seconds into the game — nine seconds into his first shift since Aug. 2 — and the Canucks were up 1-0.

On his very next shift, he came close to adding to his point total as his pass sprung Pettersson loose — but the 2019 Calder Trophy winner couldn't finish on the breakaway.

In the first period, the line of Toffoli, Pettersson and Tanner Pearson had a CF% of 90.9 at 5v5, with four Scoring Chances For and none against. All four SCF were also High-Danger Chances.

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Toffoli collected his second point of the night later in the period on the power play, as he fed Bo Horvat from behind the net for the tally. The goal was Horvat's first in six games.

In the second period, Toffoli continued to rack up points as he got the secondary assist on this beautiful goal by Pettersson.


"I was obviously frustrated with not being able to play with the guys and winning games so coming out here tonight I wanted to make an impact," Toffoli said during NBC Sports Network's second intermission interview. "Playing with the two guys I'm playing with tonight makes it a lot easier for myself."

Toffoli hadn't suited up since Game 1 of the qualifying round against the Wild, due to a lower-body injury. He missed 10 games, including Sunday's 5-0 loss to the Golden Knights in Game 1 of the second round.

"(He) is a key piece," TSN's Ray Ferraro told Sporting News before the Canucks eliminated the defending Stanley Cup champs in Game 6. "I think they somehow band-aided around it. ...They miss Toffoli a lot. They're wallpapering over it because Horvat's been fantastic and their power plays (has) been great. And then, more than anything their goalie has been just amazing. But, they missed Toffoli. He's a really good player."

Well, that "really good player" came back to the lineup with authority as the Canucks won 5-2 to level the series at 1-1.

Vancouver acquired Toffoli from the Kings in February before the trade deadline. In 10 games before the pause, he collected 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 10 games and made an immediate impact in the Canucks lineup, much like Tuesday night.

Jackie Spiegel