CANUCKS GAMEDAY
VANCOUVER AT LOS ANGELES
TV: Sportsnet Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650, 7 p.m. FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME 1 Keep the Kings from PP momentum
Los Angeles struck for three second-period powerplay goals on Sunday in a 4-2 win over the Rangers to end a six-game losing streak. The Canucks’ 26th-ranked penalty kill has been better of late — two goals-against in 10 opportunities over five games — and the return of centres Brandon Sutter and Bo Horvat should bolster the kill.
2 Lessons learned for Virtanen, Hutton?
Jake Virtanen and Ben Hutton were scratched on Sunday in Winnipeg. The Canucks lacked transitional speed and a net-front presence in a 1-0 loss to the Jets and Virtanen could have provided that. They had trouble exiting their zone and Hutton could have helped. But does Travis Green trust that Virtanen and Hutton can provide that on a consistent basis?
3 Forget the up-the-gut stuff
The stretch pass is a big deal in the NHL. Just completing the first pass is a big problem for the Canucks. How many times did they throw it up the middle Sunday and have passes picked off for Grade-A scoring chances? Too many. Those D-to-D passes or using the wall may look boring, but they work.
4 What to do with Eriksson?
Loui Eriksson has one goal in 21 games and was on a grinding line with Brendan Gaunce and Nic Dowd on Sunday. Green has lauded Eriksson’s defensive game, but with prime PK guys Sutter and Horvat back, would he sit a struggling vet?
5 Don’t give up the first goal
Heading into play on Monday, only the Islanders (53) had surrendered more first-period goals than the Canucks (49). The Canucks have also coughed up the first goal in five of their past six outings.