Bo Horvat got Vancouver on the scoresheet first but Canucks lose in overtime 3-2 on the road to San Jose Tuesday night in Vancouver’s first preseason game(Image: Canucks Website)
By Andrew Chernoff
September 27, 2016
Vancouver (0-0-1) opened up its 2016 preseason schedule with a 3-2 overtime loss on the road to the San Jose Sharks (1-0-0) last night.
Kevin LeBanc scored the overtime winner to lift the Sharks to the victory at the SAP Center.
Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi had goals for the Canucks, with Jake Virtanen, Jordan Subban and Ashton Sautner picking up assists.
Canucks goalie Richard Bachman allowed no goals and had 20 saves in 27:25 of work before goalie Michael Garteig came in to finish the game for Vancouver.
Canuck coach Willie Desjardins stressed to reporters before the game, that the line of Baertschi-Horvat-Virtanen, was Vancouver’s “go-to line”.
The “go-to-line” had 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist), 5 shots and 3 hits. Horvat was 20 for 23 in the face-off circle for 87-percent.
Vancouver led 1-0 after the first period, with both teams tied 1-1 after the second and 2-2 at end of regulation play.
The Sharks outshot Vancouver 33-15, with the Canucks outhitting San Jose 38-23.
Canucks special teams were 0 for 5 on the power play and a perfect 3 for 3 on the penalty kill.
Vancouver was also 32 for 50: 64-percent in face-offs in the game.
Jake Virtanen did not play in the final period due to a shoulder injury.
Canucks next play Edmonton in Vancouver tonight at Rogers Arena.
NHL BRIEF: WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY EDITION – SEPT. 28, 2016
Welcome to the “NHL Brief: World Cup of Hockey Edition,” a daily collection of the latest news and notes from the tournament.
TUESDAY’S RESULT
Home Team in Caps
TEAM CANADA 3, Team Europe 1
TOP LINE PROPELS TEAM CANADA TO VICTORY IN GAME 1 OF FINAL
The line of Sidney Crosby (0-2—2), Brad Marchand (1-1—2) and Patrice Bergeron (1-1—2) combined for 2-4—6 to lift Team Canada past Team Europe in the opening game of the best-of-three World Cup of Hockey 2016 final.
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 27: Patrice Bergeron #37 of Team Canada is congratulated by his teammates Sidney Crosby #87 and Brad Marchand #63 following his third period goal during Game One of the World Cup of Hockey final series at the Air Canada Centre on September 27, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
* Team Canada improved to 5-0-0 in the World Cup of Hockey 2016, outscoring opponents 22-7 in that span. That includes a +10 margin in the first period (11-1).
* The line of Crosby (3-6—9), Marchand (4-3—7) and Bergeron (3-3—6) has combined for 10-12—22 in five games during the World Cup of Hockey 2016. Those players are the top three scorers in the tournament.
* Crosby also leads the World Cup of Hockey 2016 in assists and plus/minus (+8).
PRICE REMAINS STEADY IN TEAM CANADA NET
Carey Price stopped 32-of-33 shots to guide Team Canada to its victory. In doing so, Price improved to 4-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average, .954 save percentage and one shutout, all tops in the World Cup of Hockey 2016 (minimum: 2 GP).
Price also upped his record to a perfect 15-0-0 with a 1.05 goals-against average, .961 save percentage and five shutouts in his last 15 appearances for Team Canada dating to the 2007 World Junior Championship (16 GA in 15 GP).
A breakdown:
2007 World Junior Championship: 6-0-0, 1.14 GAA, .961 SV%, 2 SO
2014 Olympic Winter Games: 5-0-0, 0.59 GAA, .972 SV%, 2 SO
World Cup of Hockey 2016: 4-0-0, 1.50 GAA, .954 SV%, 1 SO
LOOSE PUCKS
Team Europe forward Tomas Tatar scored his third goal in his past two games . . . Team Canada defenseman Jay Bouwmeester celebrated his 33rd birthday . . . Team Europe goaltender Jaroslav Halak (35 SV) made at least 35 saves for the fourth time in his five tournament appearances, but fell to 3-2-0 (2.19 GAA, .941 SV%, 1 SO).
REMAINING WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY 2016 SCHEDULE
All Times Eastern
Game 2 – Thursday, Sept. 29
Team Canada @ Team Europe
8 p.m.
ESPN2, CBC, TVAS
Game 3 – Saturday, Oct. 1*
Team Europe @ Team Canada
7 p.m.
ESPN2, CBC, TVAS
* If necessary
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
MIC’D UP: Best of Team Canada and Team Europe . . . Team Europe forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare . . . PLAYER BLOGS: Team Europe forward Leon Draisaitl and Team Canada forward Matt Duchene . . . Southampton FC shared its support of Team Europe and head coach Ralph Krueger, who is chairman of the Premier League team . . . The Detroit Red Wings announced that they will wear a commemorative patch in honor of the legendary Gordie Howe, who passed away in June . . . Canadian country music star Brett Kissel performed the Canadian national anthem prior to Game 1 of the World Cup of Hockey 2016 final.
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 27: Brett Kissel sings the national anthem before Team Europe takes on Team Canada during Game One of the World Cup of Hockey final series at the Air Canada Centre on September 27, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images)
NHL UNVEILS 2017 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS . . .
The NHL announced that it will venerate its history, celebrate its present and anticipate its future with a year-long Centennial celebration in 2017, aided by the incomparable Wayne Gretzky serving as official Centennial Ambassador.
The Centennial celebration will begin Jan. 1, 2017, with the NHL Centennial Classic at BMO Field in Toronto. It will witness the unveiling of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles Jan 27-29.
And it will visit every NHL market and dozens of other local hockey communities during a 12-month festival of events and content initiatives culminating with the anniversary of the League’s founding Nov. 26 and first games Dec. 19.
Click here for complete details as well as a calendar of celebrations.
The 2017 NHL Centennial Classic will be held Sunday, Jan. 1, at BMO Field in Toronto, between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings (3 p.m., NBC, SN, TVAS).
The 2017 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series will take place Saturday, Feb. 25, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers (8 p.m. ET, NBC, SN, TVAS2).
By Andrew Chernoff
