FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
When will Pettersson return?
All eyes were on the kid on Wednesday morning and he did participate in the optional skate. But he wasn’t scheduled to play that night, and judging by how much the club has been talking about his improvement from postconcussion recovery, he might be a possibility on Thursday in Arizona or Saturday at home against Pittsburgh.
Power-play pop
Without Boeser and Pettersson, the Canucks’ power play just isn’t the same. Those two are the team’s best shooters; even getting one back will make a huge difference. Boeser’s groin has his status as touch-and-go.
Coyotes’ penalty kill
As of Wednesday, the Desert Dogs had the third best penalty kill in the league. With the Canucks leaning heavily on their power play to produce, no matter who is in the lineup, after the health of Pettersson and Boeser this is the just about the next most important talking point.
Coyotecrater
Arizona currently has the league’s worst offence. Through eight games, the Coyotes have just 14 goals. But they’re also fourth is shots-for per game. Those goals are surely going to come. Is the Canucks’ defence ready to block some shots?
Arizona Aces
At the other end of the ice, the Coyotes are among the league’s best at limiting shots, having conceded just 27.9 shots per game so far. The Canucks are actually managing fewer shots-for per game than the Coyotes are allowing — just 25 shots per game on the opposition net.