CANUCKS GAME DAY
THE BIG MATCHUP
Expectation versus reality
The Canucks are good enough to be in games, they’re just not good enough to win them. It’s the price of a transition to youth and injuries to key veteran players. It has forced Bo Horvat to eat up major minutes and take defensive-zone faceoffs. It has taken a toll on everybody and it’s why the Canucks, after a 2-1 loss Saturday to Dallas, had surrendered the most league goals in the third period (42) and had the third-worst third-period goal differential (-14). They were also ranked 29th in even-strength goals against (64), but the return of centre Jay Beagle from injury and the arrival of winger John Leivo in a trade Monday with the Toronto Maple Leafs may help turn around a 1-9-2 slump.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Can Beagle prop up penalty kill, faceoffs?
It’s rare that the return of a bottom-six player is expected to make an impact, but consider where the Canucks are in penalty-kill percentage (23rd) and the load that Bo Horvat has shouldered. When Jay Beagle suffered a fractured forearm in the fifth game of the season by blocking a Mike Hoffman shot — and then Brandon Sutter was lost to a shoulder injury — the penalty kill plummeted. It has just three perfect outings in the last 17 games. Beagle should help the penalty kill and faceoffs with a win percentage ranging from 51.6 to 58.5 in his last seven seasons.
2. Too many power-play options? Like a jigsaw puzzle, the first power-play unit has all the right pieces, but it’s taking time to find how a talent-laden group is going to find the right fit. An 0-for-9 power-play funk the last three games speaks more to deciding who is really running the show — is it Elias Pettersson on the half wall? — and not being predictable. Brock Boeser is there for the dot shot. Bo Horvat is a good down-low presence and Sam Gagner can snap quick slot shots.
3. Boeser starting to dial it in There’s something to be said when you see a better stride, more competitiveness and more willingness to shoot the puck. The right winger has strung together 10-, eight- and nine-shot-attempt games and has scored twice. The only thing that might be missing in his arsenal is to get them away quicker and not cradle pucks first.
4. Gaudette vote of confidence Adam Gaudette was on a practice line Monday with Nikolay Goldobin and Jake Virtanen. That may or not be an alignment tonight, but the rookie centre is getting an extended look to grow his pro game at the NHL level. His four points (1-3) in 23 games and just 10:31 of average ice time don’t tell the whole story because his level of competitiveness is allowing the Hobey Baker Award winner to gain the coach’s trust.
5. Schaller needs to pick it up Tim Schaller is getting a lot of roster rope. The 28-year-old left winger was signed to a two-year, US$3.8-million free-agent contract to bolster the penalty kill and score the odd goal. He had a dozen with the Boston Bruins last season, including three while short-handed, and has yet to score in 25 games.