Scoring no problem, but defence is leaky
Tonight
Vancouver Canucks at Tampa Bay Lightning 4:30 p.m., Amalie Arena SNET 360, SNET 650 AM
THE BIG MATCHUP
Horvat vs. Hedman
It’s been a tough start to the season for the Canucks’ No. 1 centre. Bo Horvat’s line has been facing the opposition’s toughest players and has struggled to move the puck out of its own end.
It stands to reason that Horvat’s line will be facing Tampa Bay’s Norris Trophy-winning defenceman Victor Hedman. It will pose a hefty challenge for Horvat & Co.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME 1. Fresh is best
This is Game 4 on the season for the Canucks, but just No. 2 for the hometown Lightning. The Canucks are facing their third road start in less than a week, but they should be well rested after the short flight down from Raleigh, N.C.
Meanwhile, the Lighting haven’t played since their season-opener on Saturday, a 2-1 shootout win at home against the Florida Panthers.
2. No scoring woes here
The Canucks have scored 12 times in three games. In a league where the average win needs just three goals, you might think they would have more than just the one win.
3. Canucks need to defend better
While goalie Jacob Markstrom blamed himself for at least two of the goals he surrendered to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, his teammates were quick to rise to his defence, insisting the bigger problem was they need to play better as a defensive unit in front of him.
4. Tampa’s attack
The Lightning scored just once in their 2-1 win over the Panthers. Their last previous goal came 33 seconds into the second period during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final in last spring’s Stanley Cup playoffs. This team is too good to stay quiet.
5. Crease comparison
Canucks coach Travis Green said he was reasonably happy with how goalie Markstrom played in the first two games against Calgary.
His struggles on Tuesday in Raleigh were plain for everyone to see.
In the Tampa goal is Andrei Vasilevskiy, the 24-year-old Russian who was a Vezina finalist last season.