Road trip preview: Six games, 10 days
Canucks head on eastern swing looking to continue their surprising start to the season
When we first saw the Canucks’ schedule earlier this summer, three things stood out right away: that big six-game trip in October to open the season, then a similar six-game trip a month later and another sixgamer just after Christmas.
The Canucks, of course, went 3-3 on their season-opening swing through Calgary, Raleigh, Tampa, Sunrise, Pittsburgh and Winnipeg last month.
That was a fine start to the 2018-19 season. This week, they embark on the second big sojourn around the league.
It’s a trip that, on paper, looks like it could be one where the Canucks, who sit a surprising second in their division, could make some serious hay. Of course, we thought the opposite on the first trip of the year.
The small bonus to this trip: Chris Tanev may play. Anders Nilsson may too.
NOV. 6 @ DETROIT
Tuesday’s opener in the Motor City may feature the return of Tanev from injury. The Canucks have managed to get by without their steadiest defensive defenceman over the last five games, but no one currently in the lineup brings his steady defensive look.
The Red Wings are among the league’s lowest scoring teams. They are second-last in their division because of their lukewarm offence.
The Canucks, remarkably, are among the highest scoring teams in the league.
The Red Wings’ goaltending hasn’t been very good to date. Easy call, right?
NOV. 8 @ BOSTON
The second game of the trip looks to be the trickiest, with the Bruins without a doubt the toughest opponent of the six games.
When the Bruins came to town Oct. 20, the Canucks won an OT thriller on the back of a Bo Horvat goal.
The Bs badly outshot the Canucks that night. They’ve won three of five since but have given up just seven goals.
This could be the toughest game of the trip for the Canucks.
NOV. 10 @ BUFFALO
It’s Phil Housley’s second year in charge in Buffalo and the Sabres are playing .500 hockey. Finally.
Jack Eichel is the star there. He’s been producing. Adding Jeff Skinner to play on his wing was a very smart move by the Sabres. And of course they have Rasmus Dahlin on the blue line.
But, like the Canucks, the expectations coming into the season is their lack of depth would eventually come home to roost. Like the Canucks, they’ve been dodging that story so far.
NOV. 12 @ NEW YORK RANGERS
The first year of the post-Vigneault era is off to a mediocre start. The team hasn’t defended well and they have no real scoring depth either.
The only thing they really seem to have going for them is the chance that the dazzling lights of Broadway blind their opponents.
Of course, when you’ve already been to Vegas, is that really a risk anymore?
NOV. 13 @ NEW YORK ISLANDERS
A night later, it’s across the Brooklyn Bridge to face the Islanders. Life without John Tavares hasn’t been a struggle — yet.
The Isles still have plenty of talent in Matthew Barzal, Anders Lee, Josh Bailey and Jordan Eberle, but defensively they’re a mess and while they have piled up an impressive record to date, the trends are against them.
They’ve shot the lights out while their goalies have been standing on their heads. Neither trend will continue. Will they still be rolling by the time the Canucks arrive a week fromnow?
NOV. 15 @ MINNESOTA
On the first road trip of the season, the Canucks made a halfway-home stopover in Winnipeg.
On the way home from the East Coast, they’re making a similar stop in Minneapolis.
The Canucks had their way at home against the Wild this past Monday. After a dozen days on the road, will the Canucks be weary, struggling to focus on one more game?