Canucks look to capitalize on slow start by champs
THE BIG MATCHUP
Markstrom versus Ovechkin
That trademark one-time slapper from the sweet spot near the faceoff dot is where Alex Ovechkin is going to take a cross-ice feed and unload in an attempt to beat Jacob Markstrom to the short side. The winger doesn’t have a Stanley Cup hangover. Six goals in his first seven games plus a 22.2 shooting percentage speak to his ongoing drive and determination. Markstrom’s improved short-side play Saturday should help him thwart Ovechkin, who didn’t score in two meetings against the Canucks last season.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1.
Don’t play with fire Washington has 10 power-play goals in 26 attempts over seven games and an eye-popping 38.5 per cent efficiency tops the NHL. Evgeny Kuznetsov was tied for the league lead after seven games with four power-play goals, while Ovechkin has three and Nicklas Backstrom two. The Canucks’ vastly improved penalty kill was ranked eighth after a 3-for-3 performance Saturday.
2.
Straight-line Bo is way to go Bo Horvat has five goals in eight games, including two on the power play, and his best weapon to help the Canucks improve their even-strength scoring — they rank 20th — is to use those bull-like, north-south rushes and forget the toe-drag. It takes away his super speed efficiency. 3.
Stop with the Brock clock There’s still a slight hesitation in Brock Boeser’s release. The winger has had 11 attempts blocked through eight games, including six in the last four, and whether it’s anything lingering from his back injury to affect velocity and accuracy and foot speed, there is reason for hope. Boeser is second in team shots with 19 and has 34 attempts.
4.
Another big shutdown test Brandon Sutter, Antoine Roussel and Loui Eriksson will get the call to curtail the trio of Kuznetsov, Ovechkin and Chandler Stephenson. The Canucks’ shutdown line was good Saturday in limiting Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak to no points.
5.
Can Caps kick it up a notch?
A 3-2-2 record and 28 goals against speaks to the early season and the Cup champs have yet to show that dominating pedigree. The Caps had to scrap back from a three-goal deficit Friday against the Florida Panthers before they lost in a shootout.