FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME

1 Keep limiting good shots against

Through four games, the Canucks have done a very good job of keeping opponents’ quality shots to a minimum. They’re also doing a nice job of limiting opposing shots overall. That was the stated goal last year too, but that fell apart as the season wore on. Will it be a different story this season?

2

Get out your line blender

At Monday’s practice, coach Travis Green put his lines through a blender, putting Markus Granlund on the wing with the Sedins, Thomas Vanek and Sam Gagner with Bo Horvat, and Sven Baertschi and Brock Boeser with Alex Burmistrov. The Canucks are struggling to generate consistent offence — is the answer in there somewhere?

3

Markstrom makeup

The big Swede admitted after Saturday’s game he had to be far better. “I’ve got to come up with something here,” he said. He’ll be gunning to put on a show — or maybe he’ll have to wait for his chance, with backup Anders Nilsson needing a start sooner or later.

4

King Karlsson returns

Erik Karlsson will make his season debut against the Canucks. His coach says he’s the best player in the world — not Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid — and there are certainly a few who will say he’s not wrong. Watch out, Canucks.

5

Fix the power play

Could probably cut and paste this from now until, well, it gets fixed: The Canucks’ power play remains a mess and they have no hope of getting near the playoffs if they can’t get it sorted. They spent a large portion of Monday’s practice cooking up some new schemes. Of course, they’re also up against Ottawa’s leagueleading penalty-kill unit, which has yet to be scored against in five games.