10/15/2016 – Page 3 – CanucksBanter

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Welcome to the “NHL Brief,” a daily collection of the latest news and notes from around the League.

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps
NASHVILLE 3, Chicago 2
Edmonton 5, CALGARY 3
Philadelphia 4, LOS ANGELES 2

McDAVID SHINES (AGAIN) IN BATTLE OF ALBERTA

Connor McDavid recorded 1-2—3, including bursting in alone for a breakaway marker, and Leon Draisaitl added 2-1—3 to lead the Oilers to a season-opening home-and-home sweep of the Flames.

* McDavid has recorded 3-3—6 in his opening two games of 2016-17. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last Oilers player to record six or more points combined in the opening two games of a season was Wayne Gretzky, who recorded 1-5—6 in Edmonton’s opening two contests of the 1987-88 campaign.

SUBBAN SCORES IN DEBUT, PREDATORS WIN OPENER

Predators defenseman P.K. Subban, who was acquired from the Canadiens in June in a blockbuster trade for captain Shea Weber, scored Nashville’s first goal in his debut with the club, a win over the rival Blackhawks.

NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 14: P.K. Subban #76 of the Nashville Predators celebrates his goal against Chicago Blackhawks during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on October 14, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) — NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 14: P.K. Subban #76 of the Nashville Predators celebrates his goal against Chicago Blackhawks during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on October 14, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)

* Subban, who was awarded the Norris Trophy in 2013, recorded 6-45—51 in 68 games for the Canadiens in 2015-16 and led all Montreal defensemen in points for six consecutive seasons before the trade.

* ICYMI: Subban’s suit proudly represented Nashville’s team colors.

LEGENDARY KINGS HELP CELEBRATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON…

The Kings started their 50th anniversary season at home with a celebration recognizing players from every era including those from the inaugural 1967-68 season, The Triple Crown Line, Luc Robitaille and Wayne Gretzky. Friday’s game against the Flyers came on the anniversary of the first NHL game in Kings history — a 4-2 W vs. PHI on Oct. 14, 1967.

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…FLYERS SPOIL PARTY, HANG ON FOR WIN

The Flyers scored four times in the second period – including two goals from forward Sean Couturier – to take a 4-0 lead they would not relinquish in a 4-2 win over the Kings.

* The Flyers received multi-point efforts from Couturier (2-0—2), 19-year-old rookie forward Travis Konecny (0-2—2) – who was skating in his first career NHL game – and forward Nick Cousins (0-2—2).

LOOSE PUCKS

Mike Fisher recorded 1-1—2 in his first game as Predators captain… The Predators also received multi-point efforts from Ryan Johansen (0-3—3) and Roman Josi (1-1—2)… Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov (0-1—1) recorded his first career NHL point in his first game… Flames forward Sean Monahan scored his first goal of the season. He leads the 2013 NHL Draft class in career goals (81) and points (160)… The Ducks signed forward Rickard Rakell to a six-year contract.

SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY’S ACTION

All Times Eastern
Boston @ Toronto, 7 p.m., CBC, NBCSN, NESN
Montreal @ Ottawa, 7 p.m., CITY, TVAS
New Jersey @ Tampa Bay, 7 p.m., SUN, MSG+ 2
Detroit @ Florida, 7 p.m., FS-F, FS-D
Anaheim @ Pittsburgh, 7 p.m., NHLN-US, ROOT, PRIME
NY Islanders @ Washington, 7 p.m., CSN-DC, MSG+
San Jose @ Columbus, 7 p.m., FS-O, CSN-CA
Winnipeg @ Minnesota, 7 p.m., SN1, FS-N, FS-WI
NY Rangers @ St. Louis, 8 p.m., FS-MW, MSG
Nashville @ Chicago, 8:30 p.m., WGN, FS-TN
Dallas @ Colorado, 9 p.m., ALT, FS-SW
Philadelphia @ Arizona, 9 p.m., FS-A, CSN-PH
Calgary @ Vancouver, 10 p.m., CBC
NBC Sports Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder
NHLN Channel Finder

AUSTON MATTHEWS MAKES HOME DEBUT AS LEAFS CELEBRATE CENTENNIAL

Auston Matthews, who became the first player in the NHL’s modern era to score four times in his League debut on Wednesday, will play his first home NHL regular-season game at Air Canada Centre when the Maple Leafs host the Bruins in a contest televised nationally in Canada (Hockey Night in Canada on CBC) and the United States (NBCSN). Toronto, who is celebrating its centennial season, unveiled The 100 Greatest Maple Leafs in franchise history on Friday.

HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA RETURNS WITH FOUR GAMES

Hockey Night in Canada returns on Saturday with four games featuring six Canadian teams including the Bruins/Maple Leafs contest: The Canadiens visit the Senators in an all-Canadian match-up on CITY; Patrik Laine (selected No. 2 overall in the 2016 NHL Draft), who recorded 1-1—2 in his NHL debut on Thursday, and the Jets face-off with the Wild on SN1; The Flames travel to Vancouver for a Pacific Division showdown with the Canucks on CBC.

Source: NHL Public Relations

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flames — Vancouver square off against longtime rivals Calgary Flames tonight at Rogers Arena in the Canucks season opener

By Andrew Chernoff

October 15, 2016

Game Time: 7:00 PM PST
Location: Rogers Arena
TV: CBC
Radio: TSN 1040

What’s Up?:

Vancouver (0-0-0=0 pts) play the Calgary Flames (0–2–0 =0 pts) in the Canucks 2016-17 season opener at Rogers Arena tonight.

The Flames began their NHL season on Wednesday night and dropped a 7-4 decision in the Oilers’ inaugural game at Rogers Place, and were looking to bounce back in their home opener Friday night.

Instead the Oilers bounced them 5-3, taking the home-away series, and leaving them winless to start the season. Brian Elliott stopped 24 of 28 shots in the loss.

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The Canucks will be trying to take advantage of the Flames woes and their playing on back-to-back nights, as Vancouver are well rested having played their last preseason contest on October 8 against the Edmonton Oilers.

Vancouver will have to watch they are not caught flat-footed so-to-speak, with a week between games, and having to shake off the cob webs.

Ryan Miller will be the starting goaltender for the Canucks.

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Chad Johnson will be in net for Calgary.

Vancouver have opened up previous seasons against Calgary, sporting a 5-1-0 record and are 2-0-0 in home season openers against the Flames in the 21st century:

on October 7, 2015, the Canucks dropped the Flames 5-1 at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
on October 8, 2014, Vancouver doused the Flames 4-2 at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
on October 1, 2009, Calgary knocked off the Canucks 5-3 at Pengrowth Saddledome.
on October 8, 2008, Vancouver beat down the Flames 6-0 at General Motors Place.
on October 3, 2003, the Canucks held off Calgary 4-1 at General Motors Place.
on October 10, 2002, Vancouver thrashed the Flames 3-0 at Pengrowth Saddledome.

What’s at stake:

Vancouver would like a winning start to their new season, and make it three consecutive season opening wins, all against the Flames.

More important is starting off the new season with a win at home, after Rogers Arena was not so good to the Canucks last season.

Vancouver play 7 of their 9 games in October at home to begin the season, and would like to abuse home ice advantage to their benefit as getting off to a fast start to the new season would build confidence, team unity and a winning attitude.

Records:
Calgary: 0-2-0 (Road: 0-1-0)
Vancouver: 0-0-0 (Home: 0-0-0)

Team: GP SF SA PP PK PIM CF CA SCF SCA
Calgary 2 76 57 1-8 7-10 31 124(93) 100(67) 22 31
Vancouver 0 0 0 0-0 0-0 0 0(0) 0(0) 0 0
5v5 stats in parenthesis for CF & CA

Canucks At A Glance:

Loui Ericksson plays his first regular season game tonight as a Vancouver Canuck.
Jack Skille will wear number-9; Anton Rodin number-17; and Tom Nilsson number-41 this season.
Anton Rodin and Tom Nilsson start the season on injured reserve.
The Canucks play back-to-back games on Opening Weekend hosting the Calgary Flames at 7:00 pm on tonight; and then Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow night at 7:00 pm.
Canucks home record last season was 15-21-5 at Rogers Arena.
The Canucks open with a four-game homestand starting tonight, then go on a brief two game road trip to California, before finishing the month of October with three more home games.
Vancouver will play games on consecutive nights nine times in the first three months of the season; five times in the first five weeks of the season.
Canucks play their first 38 games in 78 days, which include two road trips of 6 games (Nov 2-10) and 5 games (Dec 6-13).
A number of Canucks are chasing career milestones:
- Daniel Sedin: 1,200 games played (57 needed), 400 goals (45 needed, unlikely as it is), 600 assists (13 needed), 1,000 points (58 needed), 80 GWG (2 needed).
- Henrik Sedin: 1,200 games played (34 needed), 250 goals (28 needed), 800 assists (52 needed), 1,000 points (30 needed).
- Alex Edler: 700 games played (80 needed), 300 points (21 needed).
- Jannik Hansen: 100 goals (1 needed).
- Loui Ericksson: 250 goals (38 needed), 300 assists (8 needed).
- Alex Burrows: 800 games played (33 needed), 200 goals (16 needed), 200 assists (20 needed), 400 points (36 needed).
- Ryan Miller: 350 wins (10 needed).
- Derek Dorsett: 500 games played (19 needed), 100 assists (29 needed).
- Ben Hutton: 100 games played (25 needed), 10 goals (9 needed), 50 assists (26 needed).
- Jacob Markstrom: 100 games played (17 needed), 5,000 minutes (572 needed).
- Luca Sbisa: 400 games played (17 needed), 100 points (25 needed).
- Brandon Sutter: 100 games played as a Canucks (80 needed).
- Chris Tanev: 300 games played (5 needed), 20 goals scored (6 needed).
- Jake Virtanen: 100 games played (45 needed).