Boeser and the boys prepare for Doughty’s Kings
The Los Angeles Kings, 3-2 overtime losers Thursday to the surprising Vegas Golden Knights, are among the top teams in the Western Conference. They ’ll be in Vancouver tonight looking to spoil the Canucks’ plans to end 2017 on a winning note: THE BIG MATCHUP Brock Boeser vs. Drew Doughty
Boeser is having a remarkable rookie season and Doughty is having a bounce-back campaign. As a Calder Memorial Trophy contender, Boeser is adept at finding space and scoring.
As a Norris Trophy contender with 28 points (6-22) to rank second among all defenders (before Friday games), Doughty is good at both ends of the ice. FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME 1
Remember Staples Center shuffle
Before Friday’s action, the Canucks had the eighth-ranked power play and the Kings owned the league’s best penalty kill. On Nov. 14, the Canucks stumbled into the Staples Center on a 2-for-21 power-play slide. They were operating at 14.1 per cent efficiency and rated 27th. They promoted Bo Horvat and Boeser to the top unit, went 2-for-3 and won 3-2. “It was a bolder move and he (assistant coach Newell Brown) actually texted me late at night ( before the Kings game),” recalled coach Travis Green. “He said: ‘Let’s go with this.’ I was in total agreement.” 2
More ice, more Vanek magic Thomas Vanek wasn’t complaining when averaging just 13:44 minutes of ice time. But injuries and opportunity have provided the 33-year-old winger with incentive. He had the third five-point night of his career Thursday in 16:48 of playing time, the second most this season. “You have a good feel for the game and you stay in the game,” he said. “Sometimes you walk away with zero points, but you walk away with the confidence that you are making plays and are involved.”
3 Eriksson’s offence vanishes
Sam Gagner, Vanek and Boeser combined for a dozen points Thursday. At times, they looked like the Harlem Globetrotters with the puck on a string. It was quite the sight. However, the line of Henrik and Daniel Sedin and Loui Eriksson were pointless in the 5-2 win over Chicago. Eriksson had three shots, but his offence has dried up. He has gone 12 games without scoring and hasn’t scored since a two-goal outing in Nashville Nov. 30.
4
Can Markstrom get on a roll?
Jacob Markstrom was good Thursday. He was calm in a 30-save performance against the Blackhawks. There was little over-committing on the first shot — except for being on his knees for a late garbage-time goal by Ryan Hartman — and needing to have his head on a swivel against the swift-passing Hawks, who tested his positional play. The cage is there for the taking and the anointed starter needs to string games together to keep it from becoming a talking point. 5
Dowd won’t lack incentive
Nic Dowd played 91 games for the Kings over three seasons. Being traded to the Canucks Dec. 7 for Jordan Subban was a fresh start and he initially struggled. Six penalties through eight games. Trouble in the circle. But he has been better of late and will have to be tonight in matchup roles.
POWER PLAY
(All rankings before Friday’s games)
Canucks: 21.4% (8th) Kings: 15.3% (28th)
PENALTY KILL
Canucks: 77.4% (26th) Kings: 87.0% (1st)
NHL RANKING
Canucks: 25th Kings: 5th