Five per cent: it香蕉视频直播檚 a small number that produces huge dividends.
Listening to athletes and coaches over the years, I香蕉视频直播檝e heard enough of them talk about that extra five per cent of effort that takes your game to another level.
It香蕉视频直播檚 probably the best way to describe why Vancouver Canucks forward Dakota Joshua is now playing the best hockey of his four-year NHL career.
Joshua, if you recall, was challenged by head coach Rick Tocchet in training camp in Victoria because of his sub-standard conditioning level.
Joshua got the message loud and clear, made the necessary adjustments and now has a career-high 12 goals. Not bad considering we are not even at the All-Star break yet.
香蕉视频直播淚t was definitely eye-opening,香蕉视频直播� Joshua said on being singled out by Tocchet during camp. 香蕉视频直播淚 was at a spot that they didn香蕉视频直播檛 think I should have been at. I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 aware enough that I needed to give more. It wasn香蕉视频直播檛 disappointment (when it came to my reaction). It was fair and warranted and a 香蕉视频直播榤ake sure it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 happen again香蕉视频直播� type of thing. I feel like the standard was different. To have this type of season, they expected a lot more out of everyone and that香蕉视频直播檚 where I didn香蕉视频直播檛 meet the bar to begin with.香蕉视频直播�
It wasn香蕉视频直播檛 like Joshua believed his NHL career was at a crossroads, but it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 exactly a vote of confidence in terms of a roster spot either.
香蕉视频直播淚t was about job security. This could be it香蕉视频直播o you香蕉视频直播檙e fighting for your life (for a spot on the team) at that point,香蕉视频直播� he explained.
It wasn香蕉视频直播檛 until a few days after being scratched in a game in San Jose on Nov. 2 did Joshua feel he had turned the corner.
香蕉视频直播淎 week after I got scratched, it finally clicked in on what needed to be done. If I keep doing these things, good things will happen. It was just making sure I was doing all the right things and doing extra things every day to the point where they were happy and I was happy with myself,香蕉视频直播� said the 27-year-old native of Dearborn, Michigan.
A big key in regards to 香蕉视频直播榙oing all the right things香蕉视频直播� was the extra work put in with assistant coach Mike Yeo.
香蕉视频直播淵eosie香蕉视频直播 have to give him credit. He helped turned my game around. We watched a lot of video and he helped me focus on a lot of things I could do better. It香蕉视频直播檚 made a huge difference for me at this point of the season,香蕉视频直播� explained Joshua.
When asked what the difference was in Joshua香蕉视频直播檚 game from last spring to now, Tocchet singled out a change in his commitment level 香蕉视频直播� or that extra five per cent.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 always been a committed guy but his commitment level now is a lot higher. He香蕉视频直播檚 in the gym a lot or he香蕉视频直播檚 on the ice with the (Sedin) twins or he香蕉视频直播檚 with Yeosie or he香蕉视频直播檚 in the video room. We don香蕉视频直播檛 have to look for him 香蕉视频直播� he comes and looks for us. Last year, maybe we had to look for him but now he香蕉视频直播檚 knocking on our door and that香蕉视频直播檚 a trait that I love as a self-starter. He香蕉视频直播檚 a self-starter now. He香蕉视频直播檚 matured into that,香蕉视频直播� stated Tocchet.
If you want to know how much trust Tocchet now has in Joshua香蕉视频直播檚 game, all you have to do is look at the increased ice time Joshua is getting along with linemates Conor Garland and Teddy Blueger.
In the nine contests leading to the Nov. 2 San Jose game, Joshua had one game in which he eclipsed 15 minutes of ice time. That was the season opener in which the Canucks drubbed the Edmonton Oilers by a score of 8-1.
Since the start of December, Joshua has played in 23 games. He has exceeded 15 minutes or more of ice time in 15 of those games 香蕉视频直播� including a season-high 18:10 in the 2-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at Rogers Arena on Monday night.
Whether it香蕉视频直播檚 providing some scoring, protecting a lead late in the game or increased minutes with the first penalty-kill unit, Joshua has become a key part of the team香蕉视频直播檚 success.
香蕉视频直播淚 love his hockey IQ 香蕉视频直播� that香蕉视频直播檚 why he香蕉视频直播檚 a first PK guy and that香蕉视频直播檚 why we香蕉视频直播檒l usually get him out in the last minute of a game,香蕉视频直播� explained Tocchet. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 also really worked on his hands. If you watch him in tight, he comes out of the corners with the puck a lot more.香蕉视频直播�
Teamed with Garland and Blueger, Joshua and his linemates have arguably become the Canucks second-best line. The trio has combined for 43 points in the last 17 games. More importantly, the hockey club has gone 12-2-3 during that span.
香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e connected. Very rarely when we are doing our game reviews that they are in our end and it香蕉视频直播檚 like 香蕉视频直播測ou香蕉视频直播檙e making a mistake here.香蕉视频直播� That (solid play) transfers into the neutral zone and into their offense. They香蕉视频直播檙e always in a triangle and connected. It香蕉视频直播檚 not like one guy is here, one guy is there and the other guy is at the blueline. They have a tight triangle and that香蕉视频直播檚 the way they play the game and that香蕉视频直播檚 why they香蕉视频直播檙e successful,香蕉视频直播� noted Tocchet.
香蕉视频直播淲e just play the system. We just stick with it. I think when we were put together, we were going against third lines and had a lot of success and now we香蕉视频直播檙e starting to go against first and second lines in more of a defensive role but we香蕉视频直播檙e still producing,香蕉视频直播� added Garland.
香蕉视频直播淲e enjoy both sides of the puck and we like to play real tight together 香蕉视频直播� we香蕉视频直播檙e never spread out 香蕉视频直播� and they (Joshua and Blueger) are really responsible players who are easy to read off of.香蕉视频直播�
OVERTIME
* The Canucks got two first period goals from Pius Suter and Quinn Hughes in coasting to the 2-0 win over Chicago. Thatcher Demko made 31 saves to record his fifth shutout of the season for Vancouver.
* The Blackhawks power play failed to score in five attempts as the Canucks penalty kill unit continues its strong play as of late. In the past 20 games, the unit has only allowed seven opposition goals in 61 chances for an 88.5% kill rate. To put that into context, Los Angeles has the league香蕉视频直播檚 best overall success rate on the season at 87.1%.
* The Blackhawks were without the services of North Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 Connor Bedard. The rookie sensation broke his jaw in a game in New Jersey on Jan. 5 and has been out of the lineup since that time. 香蕉视频直播淗e tried to come (to Vancouver) - trust me. We had to tell him absolutely not. He wanted to come so badly. It香蕉视频直播檚 only been like two weeks since he broke his jaw and he香蕉视频直播檚 back skating and already skating quicker than anyone else on our team.,香蕉视频直播� explained Hawks defenceman Seth Jones. 香蕉视频直播淐onnor has been great for us this year. He香蕉视频直播檚 electric offensively and he brings a lot of things to the team that we are obviously missing with him out of the lineup. The way he can carry the puck up the ice and his vision for the game 香蕉视频直播� he香蕉视频直播檚 super smart. The injury was unfortunate but we hope to have him back soon.
* Next up for Vancouver is a date with the St. Louis Blues Thursday night at Rogers Arena.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 香蕉视频直播渢he Moj香蕉视频直播� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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