Ending 2018 in New Jersey
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THE BIG MATCHUP
Elias Pettersson vs. Nico Hischier
The man drafted first overall up against the man drafted fifth overall. Hischier had a fine rookie season in New Jersey, one that perhaps went a little unnoticed in the shadow of Taylor Hall’s remarkable year. But with the reigning Hart Trophy winner still out with an undisclosed lower body problem, the spotlight is firmly on the young Swiss star, especially with Pettersson, this season’s Calder Trophy front-runner, in town to face him on New Year’s. Both are No. 1 centres. Both have big offensive roles. Tasty.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1.
Boeser’s blasting
Sophomore winger Brock Boeser now has 14 goals and is on pace to score 34 goals on the year, assuming he keeps potting goals every other game, as he’s done so far. He’s shown himself to be a fabulous winger for Pettersson.
2.
Halfway point
Saturday’s 3-2 overtime win in Calgary marked the 41-game mark for the Canucks this season. They’re 19-18-4. They’ve pulled their goal differential back to minus-5. And they ’re just a point back of Dallas in the hunt for a wild-card spot, though the reeling Stars do hold two games in hand. Three points behind the Canucks are the Wild, who have four games in hand.
3.
Marky’s hot hand
The Canucks’ No. 1 man in net, Jacob Markstrom, continues to be in hot form. He hasn’t conceded more than two goals in eight straight starts. This is also down to improved defensive play in front of him, but leave no doubt, much of the Canucks’ fantastic December form — eight wins in 13 games — is due to the man at the back.
4.
Palmieri’s pick up
Kyle Palmieri, the 27-year-old winger, doesn’t get a lot of fanfare, but he’s close to a point-per-game pace this season and after three straight solid second-liner seasons in New Jersey, that’s really not a surprise. After struggling to find a regular role in Anaheim for five seasons, he’s found a bigger role with the Devils and is thriving.
5.
Not-so-Happy New Year Former Canucks netminder Cory Schneider won’t play against his old team. His terrible season took a further nosedive two weeks ago when he was place on injured reserve with an abdominal strain. The 32-year-old goalie lost his starting gig to Keith Kinkaid, has just a .852 save percentage in 201819 and didn’t win a game in all of 2018.