Stopping high-flying Jets will be tough
With the Canucks missing key players, they face the high-flying Jets on Monday night at the end of a quick two-game road trip in Winnipeg (5 p.m., Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet 650 AM):
THE BIG MATCHUP
Patrik Laine vs. Chris Tanev
The Jets boast four forwards who are already in double-digits in goals, led by Laine’s 15. .
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME 1. Boeser’s big back
How big is Brock Boeser’s back? The Canucks’ super rookie is now clearly their most important player. With no Sven Baertschi and no Bo Horvat, the Canucks’ offensive touch is every-diminished.
2. Keeping things tight
The Canucks got munched in shot attempts in the third period Saturday, as the Flames put their foot on the gas and the Canucks struggled to keep up. Calgary scored three goals in the third as they ran the Canucks ragged.
3. Jets’ offence is flying high
Winnipeg is tied for fourth in the NHL in goals with 101. Their offence is great. And they’ve been getting great goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck to boot.
4. Eyeing the playoff chase
Yes, we’re still short of the midway mark this season, but the playoff race is already shaping up. The Jets are clearly in the mix to finish in the top three in the Central Division, while the Canucks are sitting on the edge of the playoffs in the Pacific. Between now and the end of the year, the Canucks face a slew of Western Conference foes. Those games could determine their playoff hopes.
5. No Buff
Dustin Byfuglien suffered some sort of lower body injury Saturday. He’s touch and go to play. Saturday was a tough night as the Jets finished with just four defencemen as coach Paul Maurice elected to leave Ben Chiarot on the bench after Byfuglien went down injured.
CANUCKS GAME DAY LINES
Nikolay Goldobin, Markus Granlund, Brock Boeser
Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Loui Eriksson
Nick Dowd, Sam Gagner, Thomas Vanek
Brendan Gaunce, Michael Chaput, Jake Virtanen
Defence pairings
Alex Edler, Chris Tanev Michael Del Zotto, Derrick Pouliot Ben Hutton, Troy Stecher Starting goalie
Jacob Markstrom Sick bay
Erik Gudbranson (shoulder) Brandon Sutter (shoulder) Bo Horvat (foot)
Sven Baertschi (face)
JETS GAME DAY LINES
Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele,
Blake Wheeler
Nikolaj Ehlers, Bryan Little, Patrik Laine
Andrew Copp, Adam Lowry, Brandon Tanev
Mathieu Perreault, Matt Hendricks, Joel Armia
Defence pairings
Josh Morrissey, Jacob Trouba Dmitry Kulikov, Tyler Myers Ben Chiarot, Tucker Poolman Starting goalie
Connor Hellebuyck
Sick bay
Toby Enstrom (lower body) Dustin Byfuglien (lower body)
POWER PLAY
Canucks: 20.9% (8th) Jets: 20.9% (4th)
PENALTY KILL
Canucks: 80.2% (18th) Jets: 79.1% (22nd)