Horvat ready to draw in the Ducks

Tonight, 7 p.m., Honda Center Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet 650 THE BIG MATCHUP

Bo Horvat versus Ryan Getzlaf

For everything the injury-ravaged, aging and plodding Ducks aren’t — a quick-strike offence and Pacific Division force — they still have a dynamic faceoff duo in Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler. And because Bo Horvat draws the toughest matchups, he’ll see the physically dominating Getzlaf. The Anaheim captain has a 55.9 per cent faceoff efficiency and Horvat is a tick behind at 55.8. Horvat is on a remarkable run in the absence of the injured Brandon Sutter and Jay Beagle and the future captain won 23 of 33 faceoffs Monday (70 per cent). “I love it and I take a lot of pride,” said Horvat, whose 590 total draws lead the NHL. “I find the more I take the more of a rhythm I get into.”

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Stop giving up so many goals The Canucks have sunk like a rock in preventing goals. They have surrendered 40 in their last nine outings and now rank 30th with a bloated 3.56 goals per game allowed. Part of it is a plummeting penalty kill that is ranked 21st, but has given up 20 goals in the last 34 opportunities over 10 games for an alarmingly low 59 per cent efficiency. The Ducks are 30th in goal output per game at a paltry 2.09, so that should help stem the tide. It’s a winnable game for the Canucks.

2. Pettersson’s persistency pays Lost in Nikolay Goldobin’s backhand deke goal Monday off a Tyler Myers turnover — the winger’s ninth encouraging point in his last nine games — was Elias Pettersson’s persistence on the forecheck and hounding of the Jets’ defenceman into flubbing his outlet pass in the slot. “Good defence leads to good offence,” Pettersson said.

3. Gagner can make contributions The recalled Sam Gagner played 16:47 Monday and didn’t look out of place in a high-tempo game. He had two shots and four attempts and set up Horvat for a shot that trickled along the goal-line and out the other side. Gagner’s versatility and veteran presence to play the middle or wing and the PP will help on the three-game trip.

4. Something always bugs Kesler Ryan Kesler is always playing through an ailment. It’s usually hip related and the former Canucks centre is bugged that he’s tied for a team-worst minus-9 and has but four goals in 19 games. But he’s still a pain in the circle with a 52.9 per cent efficiency and will probably be at his gabbing, jabbing best tonight.

5. Roussel tries emotional rescue Antoine Roussel tried to spark the Canucks on Monday. They were down 4-1 and being embarrassed, so he was the aggressor in a fight with Brandon Tanev. He racked up 17 penalty minutes and gave the league’s best power play another chance. It could have backfired, but Tyler Motte scored on a short-handed break.