Bergeron is the straw that stirs Bruins’ drink
THE BIG MATCHUP
Brandon Sutter vs. Patrice Bergeron
Patrice Bergeron is many things: leader, prime-time playmaker, Selke Trophy candidate and a beast in the faceoff circle. He was not only tied for second in league scoring entering NHL action on Friday — 13 points (6-7) in seven games and player-of-the-week honours — but the Bruins’ centre also boasts 58.2 per cent faceoff efficiency.
He poses a big challenge in a matchup with Brandon Sutter’s line. Normally north of 50 per cent, Sutter is winning 44.8 per cent of his draws for the Canucks. He won 64 per cent last Saturday against Florida, but just 38 on Tuesday in Pittsburgh and 44 on Thursday in Winnipeg.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME 1. Don’t take The Rat bait
Brad Marchand loves playing at Rogers Arena. He gets under the skin of the opposition and will do anything to throw players off their games. He’ll tempt and taunt the Canucks because that gets his motor running.
Yet, Marchand has game. He was fifth in NHL scoring after seven games (2-10-12) and has scored 34, 39 and 37 goals the last three seasons.
2. Your serve, Mr. Markstrom?
The Canucks didn’t practice on Friday, but it’s not a stretch to suggest Jacob Markstrom will get the call in net after Anders Nilsson’s
solid four-game road run ended Thursday in a 4-1 loss. The backup compiled a 2.26 goals-against average and .925 save percentage — ranking in the top 20 in both categories — and the challenge for Markstrom is to improve his puck tracking to improve a bloated 4.02 GAA and .883 save percentage.
3. Don’t be killing them softly
A good-news story is the Canucks’ improved penalty killing. Adding Jay Beagle (injured) and Tim Schaller has provided depth and helped the PK rise from 21st in the league last season to eighth. It was sixth before the Canucks allowed two power-play goals on Thursday in Winnipeg, but they ’ve been perfect in five of seven games.
The Bruins are ranked 10th on the PP and are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss on Thursday in Edmonton.
4. It’s the new Goldy standard
Nikolay Goldobin was not only promoted to the top line Thursday — Sven Baertschi was dropped to the second unit — but the Russian’s potential to finish scoring chances and have better puck pursuit has gained the coach’s trust. The winger had two shots, two take-aways, a hit and no bad penalties against the Jets.
5. What do you do with Loui?
Loui Eriksson’s lack of production — he’s pointless in five games, has but three assists through seven games after starting the season playing with the injured Elias Pettersson — is sounding like a broken record. Why is he still in the top six?
CANUCKS’ LINEUP
Forwards
Nikolay Goldobin — Bo Horvat —
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Brock Boeser
Sven Baertschi — Adam Gaudette
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— Loui Eriksson
Antoine Roussel — Brandon Sutter
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— Jake Virtanen
Tim Schaller — Markus Granlund —
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Tyler Motte Defence
Alex Edler — Chris Tanev
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Ben Hutton — Erik Gudbranson
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Derrick Pouliot — Troy Stecher
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Goal
Jacob Markstrom, Anders Nilsson
BRUINS’ LINEUP
Forwards
Brad Marchand — Patrice Bergeron
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— David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk — David Krejci —
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Danton Heinen
Ryan Donato — David Backes —
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Joakim Nordstrom
Chris Wagner — Sean Kuraly —
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Noel Acciari
Defence
Zdeno Chara — Charlie McAvoy
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Matt Grzelcyk — Kevan Miller
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John Moore — Brandon Carlo ■
Goal
Tuukka Rask, Jaroslav Halak
INJURIES
Canucks: Jay Beagle (forearm fracture IR), Elias Pettersson (concussion, IR)
Bruins: Torey Krug (left ankle, IR)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play Canucks: 14th (23.8 per cent)
Bruins: 10th (26.3 per cent)
Penalty kill Canucks: 8th (82.1 per cent),
Bruins: 23rd (72.7 per cent)