FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1 Dekey Pete
Elias Pettersson is going to be the story forever, isn’t he? He got back to his highlight-reel scoring ways on Monday night, bagging a goal on a one-timer and another on a breakaway. He’s without a doubt the Canucks’ most important offensive player.
2 Neutral zone work
The Canucks’ underlying statistics are on an upswing. A lot of that has to do with their play in the neutral zone. They’ve been pretty good at breaking up opposing teams’ rushes, and in the other direction in gaining the offensive zone with control.
3 Markstrom the man
The Canucks’ No. 1 goalie is without a doubt Jacob Markstrom again, as backup Anders Nilsson is dealing with a broken hand. He was excellent against Minnesota on Monday and while the scoreboard didn’t reflect it, he was very good against the Penguins despite a poor defensive effort in front of him.
4 Penalty killing
The Canucks have given up just one goal against while down a man over the last four games. They’ve given up just eight total, three of which came in the second game of the season against the Flames in Calgary. It’s been a strength.
5 Unlucky Blackhawks
The Blackhawks have lost two straight coming into the Halloween tilt. They’re dominating the shot counts in most of their games, but in the last two games they had no puck luck at either end of the ice.