Canucks hit road for six-pack of games
LOOK AHEAD: With nearly perfect Montreal first on the docket, will Vancouver be road warriors or road worriers?
The injury riddled Canucks were 16-17-8 away from Rogers Arena last season and believe they have a better defensive structure to keep them in games. Here’s what they’ll face on a six-game road trip:
Canadiens (8-0-1)
The Habs were 9-0-0 last season before losing 5-2 to the Canucks at Rogers Arena. A healthy Carey Price (1.40 GAA, .954 save percentage) is coming off a 37-save performance in a 2-1 win over the Leafs. Defenceman Shea Weber (4-6-10, 3 PPG) has given the club needed toughness and leadership and rejuvenated winger Alexander Radulov (2-5-7) looks worthy of a one-year, $5.75-million contract gamble.
Senators (5-3-0)
The Sens are riding an emotional roller-coaster with Craig Anderson, whose wife has been diagnosed with cancer. He responded to the news by blanking the Oilers 2-0 on Sunday. He’s 5-1-0 and has a 2.46 GAA and .921 save percentage. Ryan Dzingel scored two of his four goals in a 3-0 win Oct. 25 in Vancouver. Erik Karlsson has eight points (3-5), Kyle Turris has four goals.
Maple Leafs (2-4-3)
The Leafs have some of the most exciting players in Auston Matthews (six goals) and Mitch Marner and some of the most suspect goaltending in Frederik Andersen (2-2-0, 3.67 GAA, .876 save percentage) and Jhonas Enroth (0-20, 4.07 GAA, .871 save percentage). Toronto has given up the second-most goals (34), but has the eighth-ranked power play (25 per cent) and 12th-ranked offence (2.89 GPG). They always get up for the Canucks on home ice.
Islanders (4-5-0)
They’re coming off a 5-1 rout of the Leafs to end a two-game losing streak, but their three-goalie circus is making news. Allan Walsh, the agent for Islanders stoppers Jaroslav Halak and Jean-Francois Berube, took to Twitter to express his displeasure of a crowded crease that also includes Thomas Greiss. The rant resulted in the 31-year-old Halak ($4.5-million cap hit) being made available in trade discussions.
Rangers (6-3-0)
A 6-1 blowout of the Lightning Sunday proved Rick Nash is over last season, when he missed six weeks with a bone bruise and had but 15 goals. He scored on a breakaway against the Bolts and his four goals are only part of the story. Former Canucks winger Michael Grabner and Jimmy Vesey have five goals apiece and the Rangers are tops with 3.89 goals per game. The Canucks are there on U.S. election night.
Red Wings (6-4-0)
Nobody has more than four goals (Darren Helm, injured Thomas Vanek), but the Wings seldom beat themselves. Fast and good at puck possession, they need more from Henrik Zetterberg (0G, 4A), Tomas Tatar (1G, 1A) and Justin Abdelkader (1G, 0A). Riley Sheahan, who was expected to make a big offensive impact, has yet to score and has but two assists.