Markstrom will prove worth with workload

Jacob Markstrom vs. The Load

There could be a perfect storm brewing for the Canucks’ starting goaltender, who’s under pressure to carry the load in a critical portion of the schedule. Thatcher Demko is on injury reserve with a second career concussion, and while Mike DiPietro is off to an encouraging rookie pro season in Utica, he’s still raw. This is everything Markstrom has wanted in competition for the cage and his numbers (2.68 GAA, .915 saves percentage) are better than the last two seasons.

With the Canucks reeling from slow starts and looking slow the last three outings (1-2-0), a string of strong performances before Christmas will help determine Markstrom’s worth. Management has started the contract-extension balancing process between salary and term for the pending unrestricted free agent and has always wanted to measure Markstrom’s progress against the franchise mantra of making a legitimate playoff push.

Combine all that with the club being four points shy of the final Western Conference post-season position, and Montreal, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh and Edmonton on the pre-Christmas home schedule, it will either be further confirmation that Markstrom is the man long term or raise some doubt.

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME:

1.

Stop playing from behind

Until the Canucks do something about their sluggish starts, they’re going to keep chasing games, get exhausted and keep coming up short. They’ve coughed up the first goal on 22 of 34 occasions to date. By the third period, they’re often running on fumes and have surrendered the fifth-most goals (43) in the final frame. And they’ve won but six games in regulation when scored upon first.

2.

Start even-strength scoring Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser scored even-strength goals Sunday in a 6-3 loss at Las Vegas. Boeser had just one goal in his previous 10 games and despite a fourth-ranked power play, the Canucks won’t make the playoffs unless they improve their 20th ranking in 5-on-5 production.

3.

Stop the perfect PP play

It’s hard not to defer to those one-timers from Pettersson and Boeser. It’s why the Canucks are second in power-pay goals (32) and first in chances (126). The quarterbacking of Quinn Hughes allows for flow and finding those snipers in their sweets spots, but teams are defending better.

4.

Stop Weber shot, Gally grit Shea Weber has 10 goals and stopping his bomb from the point is about good stick position. And you better box out Brendan Gallagher down low. He has 14 goals because the former Vancouver Giants standout plays in tough areas and pots gritty goals.

5.

Start scoring at home, Bo

Bo Horvat has nine goals. They’ve all come on the road and so have 19 of the captain’s 26 points. However, the road warrior needs to contribute on home ice.