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 Petter son carried the puck into the offensive zone; Petter son took the puck Colt McCoy Jerseys down the boards past Shea Theodore, around the net and pa sed 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 pa s sprung Petter son loose Isaiah Simmons T Shirts but the 2019 Calder Trophy winner couldn't finish on the breakaway.
Robin Lehner stop on Elias Petter son
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In the first period, the line of Toffoli, Petter son 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, James Conner Jerseys Toffoli continued to rack up points as he got the secondary a sist on this beautiful goal by Petter son.
Elias Petter son3-1
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"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," Dennis Gardeck Jerseys Toffoli said during NBC Sports Network's second intermi sion 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 mi sed 10 games, including Sunday's 5-0 lo s 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 Ron'Dell Carter Jerseys Stanley Cup champs in Game 6. "I think they somehow band-aided around it. ...They mi s 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 mi sed 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 in February before the trade deadline. In 10 games before the pause, he collected 10 points (six goals, four a Zaven Collins Jerseys sists) in 10 games and made an immediate impact in the Canucks lineup, much like Tuesday night.