The outlier for this line is the game against the Anaheim Ducks, in which they were heavily out-chanced. They allowed more shots than they registered, leading to more scoring chances against (SCA) and, in turn, higher expected goals against (xGA) than expected goals for (xGF).

But as you can see, this line played better and better as the games continued. Whether it was a higher shot volume or the more familiar the players grew with each other, the more creativity in the offensive zone, leading to more scoring chances.

Now, in terms of individual numbers for Mikheyev, it was just this last game against the Winnipeg Jets that Canucks fans saw him explode for a team-high six shots on goal.

Although Mikheyev has not found the scoresheet, he’s been buzzing offensively. Canucks fans are hoping that his recent play can be a confidence builder for the slumping forward.

Let’s dive into these last two games from Mikheyev and put some proof behind his upgraded play.

Vegas Golden Knights

First Period

Mikheyev shows off his high-level skating ability. He takes the Miller pass through the neutral zone with speed, gains the zone, and stops on a dime. This creates space and time for him to allow his linemates to rejoin the play. While he does lose possession of the puck here, he sends it down low for Miller behind the net, leading to a high-danger shot attempt from Boeser.

Here is another high-level skating clip. Mikheyev is heavy on the forecheck, below the goal line, when Alex Pietrangelo retains the puck. Mikheyev shows off his speed by catching up and staying on pace with speedster William Karlsson.

With data provided by NHL Edge, Karlsson ranks in the 83rd percentile in top skating speed. 

This is exciting to see, as Mikheyev ranked in the 95th percentile in skating speed across the entire league before his ACL injury.

This season, he’s dropped down to the 71st percentile. So now, seeing him stay on pace with Karlsson shows a glimpse of his skating speed returning to form.

Mikheyev registered his first of two shots on goal at the 16:04 minute mark of the game. With the shift being relatively uneventful and a low-danger shot from along the boards above the faceoff circle, there’s no need to show the play.

Second Period

Mikheyev shows a strikingly similar play to one he had in the first period. 

He takes a pass in the neutral zone, gains the blue line with speed and turns back quickly. This, again, gives him separation from Pietrangelo and allows time for Boeser to find the open area in the slot for a high-danger scoring chance. After the shot on goal, Mikheyev uses that same speed to pressure the puck carrier as they exit the zone. 

At this point, I sound like a broken record. But Mikheyev continues to show off his speed to create a scoring chance. 

Mikheyev grabs the loose puck in the neutral zone, seamlessly enters the zone, and turns back to gain separation—except this time, a defender is right on him. He quickly passes the puck off to Boeser for a shot attempt in the high slot.

After the Boeser faceoff win, Mikheyev covers the point for a pinching Filip Hronek. Quinn Hughes turns back and finds Mikheyev. He uses his excellent footwork to gain speed down the wing and fire his second shot on goal of the game. 

What’s not heard in this clip is the broadcast team saying, “This is the best I’ve seen Ilya Mikheyev look, in my opinion.”

It’s not just me noticing the improved play from the Russian forward.

After a board battle, Mikheyev migrates to the front of the net, where he is left all alone. He is rewarded with the loose puck popping out straight to him, and in one swift move, he tries to deke out the goalie but misses the net.

Before showing his frustration by slamming his stick after the play, Mikheyev doesn’t quit, forcing the turnover to Carson Soucy to regain possession.

Third Period

Now, most of these clips are about his offensive game—let’s remember the defensive side of Mikheyev’s game.

As Mikheyev continues to pressure the puck, he gets himself tangled up with Jack Eichel, leading to a turnover. Mikheyev finds the loose puck and sends it to Miller for a defensive zone clearance. 

With a 3-1 lead, the Miller line played little in the offensive zone. They put defence first, playing a heavier shutdown game. Mikheyev would play just 3:33 minutes of ice time on his six shifts this period. 

All in all, Mikheyev had a standout game for the first time in a while. Now, let’s see if he can roll this momentum over against the Winnipeg Jets. 

Winnipeg Jets

First Period

Mikheyev registered four shots on goal in his first three shifts of the game. Here are his second and third shots of the game, less than 1:30 into the game.

While none of these shots were necessarily threatening, it was still encouraging to see him start the game by registering four quick shots on goal less than halfway through the first period. The second period was much more entertaining.

Second Period

Nearly halfway through the second period, Mikheyev gets his fifth shot on goal.

Starting this clip below the hash marks in his own zone, he quickly gains speed and separation from Alex Iafollo. He receives the Boeser pass, now wide open, carries the puck into the zone, and gets a shot off in the faceoff circle. After the play, Mikheyev takes a late hit from Winnipeg Jets defenceman Neal Pionk and gets into the rough stuff—an aspect you rarely see in his game. 

I want to point out a small clip of a similar play from the game against the Golden Knights. It’s the pressure Mikheyev puts onto Sean Monahan, tangling him up and forcing the weak clearing attempt, which lands on the tape of Miller in the high slot–leading to a Boeser tip on goal.

Rick Tocchet switches up his lines for this shift, putting Mikheyev with Elias Lindholm and Conor Garland. 

This clip shows Mikheyev’s great display of forechecking. After Josh Morrissey retrieves the puck, Mikheyev uses his frame to body him off the puck, and with one hand, he passes it over to Garland to regain possession. 

Later in the same shift, Lindholm draws a high-sticking penalty. On the delayed penalty, the Canucks get everybody involved with a crisp 10 passes of dominance in the offensive zone. Mikheyev receives a pass all alone down low, and instead of putting it on net, he notices the defender leave Lindholm wide open in the slot. Mikheyev shows his playmaking ability by sending a quick pass to Lindholm for a shot attempt in the slot.

Tocchet continues to juggle his lines, now with a stint of Mikheyev with Teddy Blueger and Sam Lafferty. With Nikita Zadorov pinching down, he finds Lafferty behind the net. While this is taking place, Mikheyev positions himself wide open for a shot right in front of the net for a shot attempt–which was blocked. 

Third Period

After a Miller faceoff win, Mikheyev finds the puck in the faceoff dot. He shows off his awareness by realizing that after he deked around one defender, the other was hot on his tail and fed Hronek at the point. Mikheyev then finds the open space in the slot and sets himself up, ready for a tip. Unfortunately, he sends the tip wide. 

Showing off his positional awareness again, Mikheyev sets himself up in the open space in front of the net for his sixth and final shot of the game from a Zadorov pass from behind the net.

The remainder of the game was as defensively minded as possible, protecting the five-goal shutout for a shared shutout between Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith. 

Now, this isn’t to say that Ilya Mikheyev is back to playing his standard of hockey. It’s been just two games that Canucks fans are starting to see inklings of the old speedy, forechecking winger that excelled in the top six earlier this season.

While he’s yet to light the lamp in 2024, his eight shots over his last two games show that he’s positioning himself properly to get that monkey off his back. 

The Canucks felt content with the roster they had already in place that they didn’t spend the premium on a top-six forward at this year’s trade deadline–meaning that they must have confidence that they can find this need within.

If Mikheyev continues to play the way he has the previous two games, will this keep him in the Canucks top half of the lineup come playoff time? 

You tell me Canucks fans.