By Andrew Chernoff

November 5, 2016

Game Time: 4:00 PM PST
Location: Air Canada Centre
TV: CBC
Radio: TSN 1040

Vancouver (4-6-1=9 pts) play the third game of a 6-game road trip tonight at Canadian Tire Centre against Eastern conference rivals, Toronto Maple Leafs (4-4-3=12 pts).

Thursday night, Vancouver continued their six game road trip with a visit to Ottawa, where the Canucks were shut out for the second consecutive game, losing 1-0.

Canucks starting goalie Jacob Markstrom, stopped 23 of 24 shots in the game.

It was the seventh consecutive loss for the Canucks after starting the season with four wins. Adding salt to the wound, Vancouver has been shut out in 4 of their last 5 games; and have started their road trip with consecutive shut out losses.

Going back to last season, Canucks were shut out in 4 of their final 13 games, and now Canucks have been shut out in 4 of first 11 games this year. A total of 8 times in their last 24 games.

Ryan Miller will be starting his 6th game of the season, with Jacob Markstrom backing him up tonight.

Troy Stecher recalled from the Utica Comets yesterday, will start tonight against the Maple Leafs with injuries to the Canucks back end; his 4th game of the season.

Leafs’ Auston Matthews who is first in Toronto team scoring with 6 goals, and second with 10 points, is point-less in his last 5 games.

Canucks In Brief:

Canucks are in 26th place in the NHL (tied with the Islanders for 25th); and are in 6th place in the Pacific division, with 9 points; 6 points behind the Oilers, 1 point ahead of the Arizona Coyotes.

Canucks have been without a goal for 142:43, going back to the Washington Capitals game on October 29.

Vancouver’s goaltender tandem of Ryan Miller and Jacob Markstrom are tied for 8th best in the NHL, with a 2.41 GAA and a .910 SV%.

Ryan Miller is 8th in the NHL with a 1.79 GAA and 11th with a .934 save percentage.

Jacob Markstrom is 12th in the NHL with a 2.14 GAA and 20th with a .920 save percentage.

Leading scorers:  Henrik Sedin (3-2=5 pts), Brandon Sutter (1-4=5 pts), Daniel Sedin (2-2=4 pts), Loui Eriksson (0-4=4 ts), Bo Horvat (4-0=4 pts), Jannik Hansen (2-2=4 pts).

Canucks come into Toronto having scored 2 goals in their last 5 games and have led for 29 minutes through 11 games overall

Scratches: #55-Alex Biega; #9-Jack Skille

Canucks injured: #23-Edler; #9-Tanev; #17-Anton Rodin; #46-Jayson Megna

Points streaks: none

Vancouver special teams are: 3 for 35: 8.6 percent on the power play overall (30th in the NHL), with 43 shots for, 10 shots against, 1 shorthanded goal against; and 24 for 28: 85.7 percent on the penalty kill overall (8th best in NHL), with 29 shots against, 5 shots for, 1 shorthanded goal for.

Canucks have allowed 27 goals against (9th best in NHL), and have scored 16 goals (30th in NHL)

The 16 goals that the Canucks have scored after 11 games is a franchise-low. The previous record-low after 11 games was 26 goals in 1997.

Canucks Notables:

• After 11 games this season, Vancouver has been held to two goals or fewer in 9 of 11 games.
• With a career-high 6 hits in his season debut on Nov. 3 at OTT, Nikita Tryamkin leads the NHL in hits per game (6.0)
• Bo Horvat leads the team in goals (4) and is 1 of 15 players this season to score at least 1 EVG and 1 SHG
• Troy Stecher’s 22:35 TOI in his NHL debut on Oct. 25 vs OTT was second most for a defenceman making his NHL debut this season; Nikita Zaitsev (TOR) played 23:57 on Oct. 12 vs OTT
• The Canucks have committed the fifth fewest penalties in the NHL with 36

Maple Leafs In Brief:

The Maple Leafs in their last game, Toronto defeated the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalso for the first time in over three and a half years. Frederik Andersen stopped 42 of 43 shots; rookie Mitch Marner scored both Toronto goals.

Andersen has now faced 86 shots over his last two games, stopping 83 of them; his save percentage rising to .954 in his last four game starts.

Toronto are in 7th place, tied with Florida in the Atlantic division for 6th, with 11 points, 8 points behind division leaders Montreal, and 2 points behind Detroit.

Maple Leafs have the 26th best goaltending in the NHL, with Frederik Andersen and Jhonas Enroth, with a 3.32 GAA, and .898 SV%.

Andersen is 4-2-3, with a 3.19 GAA, and a .903 SV%. Enroth is 0-1-0, with a 4.07 GAA, and a .871 SV%.

Toronto leading scorers: * William Nylander(4-7-=11 pts); * Auston Matthews (6-4=10 pts); Nazem Kadri (5-3=8 pts);* Mitchell Marner (3-5=8 pts). *Rookie

Maple Leafs injured: Josh Leivo; Martin Marincin; Matt Hunwick

Points streaks: none

Toronto special teams are: 7 for 29: 24.1 percent on the power play overall (7th in the NHL); and 28 for 34: 82.4 percent on the penalty kill overall (13th in the NHL).

Maple Leafs have surrendered 37  goals (27th best in NHL), and have scored 31 goals (tied for 11th in NHL).

Leaf Notables:

• Toronto leads the League in Shots For per game (33.8) and ranks second in the NHL in total shots on goal (372).
• The Maple Leafs have the most 5-on-5 shot attempts in the NHL (561).
• Toronto has scored 7 goals on 29 power play opportunities this season. The 24.1% power play success rate ranks 6th in the NHL.
• The Maple Leafs have registered 51.1% of the shot attempts when playing 5-on-5 hockey this season.
• Maple Leafs rookies have combined for 38 points (14 goals, 24 assists) in 11 games this season.
• William Nylander leads the Maple Leafs and NHL rookies in points (11), power play points (7) and assists (7).
• Nikita Zaitsev leads all Maple Leafs rookies and is second among NHL rookies in TOI per game (22:00).

Toronto visits Rogers Arena on December 3 to face the Canucks in the second and final meeting of the season.

VS TORONTO NOTES

• The Canucks have the fewest goals-per-game at 1.46. The Leafs have the fifth-highest goals-against-per-game at 3.36.
• The Canucks are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games versus the Leafs dating back to the 2010.11 season; their last win at the Air Canada Centre occurred on Dec. 17/11 (5-3)
• Daniel Sedin leads the Canucks with 24 points (11-13-24) in 25 career games against Toronto
• Henrik Sedin has 22 points (4-18-22) in 25 career games against Toronto
• Alex Burrows’ first career assist and goal came against Toronto on Jan. 10/06; his career-high for most points in a game also occurred in a game versus the Leafs on Jan. 30/10 (2-2-4)
• Derek Dorsett’s career-high for most points in a game came against Toronto on Mar. 14/15: 1-2-3
• Henrik Sedin’s first career goal came against the Leafs on Oct. 16/00
• Ryan Miller has faced the Leafs on 53 occasions, his most against a single opponent; in those games, he has a record of 32-18-3 with a 2.57 GAA and .919 save percentage

What’s at stake:

Scoring goals. Not allowing goals.

Winning their first game on the road this season. Ending their 7 game winless streak.

Stopping the Maple Leafs win streak at two games. Winning their first game of the 6 game road trip.

Toronto has two straight wins, and are 3-3-1 in their last 9 games the Canucks have 7 straight losses.

Canucks playing losing streak terminators, is on for round three tonight, and it may be easier against Toronto, than Montreal and Ottawa were for Vancouver to end their winless streak, but nothing can be taken for granted.

As with the game against Montreal, Vancouver did a lot of things that should have resulted in a victory, except it takes goals scored to actually have a chance to win. They didn’t score.

Canucks excelled, were impressive, exciting, and passionate against Ottawa. They out shot Ottawa; they had their most penalty filled game of the season so far against the Senators. Jannik Hansen and Daniel Sedin had 5 shots each, and Nikita Tryamkin had 6 hits.

It just didn’t translate to anything more than a great effort, minus the errors on the goal, because they were held scoreless.

Vancouver continuing to bring what they did against Ottawa and Montreal  is a must tonight.

They need to continue to battle, and push, for shots and goals; draw penalties, interfering with the Maple Leafs game plan, to the point of scoring and winning. And not be satisfied with anything less.

With goals tonight, Vancouver likely can end their seven game losing streak and end the Maple Leafs win streak at two games; but only if they can bring the same effort against Montreal and Ottawa, into the game against Toronto tonight.

Against Ottawa:

The Canucks were credited with one high-danger scoring chance in the first period, according to Natural Stat Trick, and generated 6 to the Senators 1 in the final period; and a total of 7 high-danger scoring chances to the Senators 9 over the course of the game.

Against Montreal:

Vancouver was credited with 2 high-danger scoring chances in the first period, according to  Natural Stat Trick, and generated 7 to the Canadiens 3 in the final period. In the second period, both teams were credited with 5 high-danger scoring chances each. Over the course of the game, Vancouver finished with 14 high-danger scoring chances to the Canadiens 8.

If all this seems familiar: it is, it has all been said before.

Until the Canucks actually win, it will continue to be said. And even then, unless they make a habit of winning, instead of losing as much as they are, it may never stop being thought, and only talked about sometimes.

Pregame Notes

Regular Season Game 12, Road Game 5

Records:
Van: 4-6-1 (Road: 0-3-1)
Tor: 4-4-3 (Home: 3-1-0)

Team    SF    SA     PP        PK     PIM    HITS   GF   GA
Van        294   301    3-35     24-28     84       206       16     27
Tor         372   361    7-29     28-34      99       280       31     37

Team        CF               CA           SCF          SCA        CF60   CA60     CF%
Van        575(455)    559(456)     235(179)   224(186)    51.52    51.64      49.95
Tor         688(561)    683(537)    287(229)   279(212)    64.34   61.59       51.09

Note: 5v5 stats in parenthesis for CF & CA, SCF & SCA
SCF=scoring chances for; SCA=scoring chances against.

Potential Canucks Lineup:

#22D. Sedin-#33H.Sedin-#36Hansen
#60Granlund-#20Sutter-#21Ericksson
#47Baertschi-#53Horvat-#18Virtanen
#14Burrows-#50Gaunce-#15Dorsett

#27Hutton-#44Gudbranson
#5Sbisa-#63Larsen
#51Stecher-#88Tryamkin

#30Miller
#25Markstrom

On this date in 1970, Canucks goaltender Dunc Wilson stopped the team’s first ever penalty shot; also led Vancouver to the team’s first ever road win.

Canucks At A Glance:

• Vancouver has not scored a goal with Ryan Miller in net since October 23 in Anaheim.
• After 11-games this season:
  • Canucks have:
    • 294 shots for (23rd)
    • 301 shots against (13th)
    • 147 blocked shots (17th)
    • 206 hits (21st)
    • 117 missed shots (15th)
    • 79 giveaways (10th)
    • 57 takeaways (22nd).
  • Vancouver:
    • Has a face-off winning percentage of 50.1 percent, 14th best overall in the NHL
    • Is 3rd with 123 face-offs won when ahead
    • Has the 11th best save percentage in the NHL at .917.
    • Has the 6th best shot against average in the NHL with 27.4 SA/GP.
    • Has the 29th best shots for average in the NHL with 26.7 SF/G.
    • Has the 6th least amount of penalty minutes in the NHL with 84.
• Blocked Shots Leaders:
  • Alex Edler is 2nd in the NHL lead in blocked shots with 33 in 11 games, averaging 3.0 BkS/GP
  • Chris Tanev has 19 blocked shots in 7 games, averaging 2.7 BkS/GP
  • Luca Sbisa has 18, Ben Hutton 15 and Erik Gudbranson is next with 11.
• Giveaways Leaders:
  • Luca Sbisa is 35th in NHL in most giveaways with 11;
  • Henrik Sedin is 47th with 10.
• Takeaways Leaders:
  • Markus Granlund leads Canucks with 8 takeaways
  • Ben Hutton, Bo Horvat, Jannik Hansen and Alex Burrows, all have 5 takeaways each
• Time On Ice Leaders:
  • Edler is 6th in the NHL in even strength TOI with 219:47
  • Edler also has the 14th most TOI in the NHL with 268:55; and is 14th in the NHL in TOI/GP at 24:26; 24th in Shifts/GP with 29.4
  • Troy Stecher, 21:22 TOI/GP in 3 GP
  • Ben Hutton, 21:01 TOI/GP in 11 GP
  • Chris Tanev, 20:09 TOI/GP in 7 GP
  • Erik Gudbranson, 19:22 TOI/GP in 11 GP
• Face-Off Leaders:
  • Brandon Sutter is 15th in the NHL in face-offs with 208; 16th in face-off wins with 108; 17th in face-off losses with 100
  • Henrik Sedin has 184 face-offs; Bo Horvat, 183
  • Henrik Sedin has 95 face-off wins; Bo Horvat, 86
  • Bo Horvat has 97 face-off losses; Henrik Sedin, 89
• Hits Leaders:
  • Derek Dorsett is 18th in the NHL in Hits/GP with 3.1. Leads Canucks with 22 hits in 7 GP
  • Erik Gudbranson and Alex Edler lead all Vancouver defensemen with 20 hits each in 11 GP
• Shots Per Game Played Leaders:
  • Daniel Sedin and Brandon Sutter lead Canucks in Shots/GP with 2.5 average.
• Shooting Percentage Leaders:
  • Bo Horvat, 28.6, 11th best in the NHL
  • Henrik Sedin, 18.8
  • Markus Granlund, 13.3
  • Jannik Hansen, 10.0
• Total Shots Leaders:
  • Daniel Sedin, 30 in 11 GP
  • Brandon Sutter, 27 in 11 GP
  • Alex Edler, 21 in 11 GP
  • Philip Larsen, 20 in 11 GP
  • Jannik Hansen, 20 in 11 GP
• Canuck defensemen have a joint 2G-7A for 9 PTS, after 11-games this season.
  • Last season after 10-games, Canuck defensemen had 5G-12A for 17 PTS.
• Canucks forwards have 14G-20A for 34 PTS, after  11-games this season.
  • Last season, after 10-games, they had 22G-33A for 55 PTS.
• Vancouver goals by period:
  • First period: 2-goals for (30th in NHL); 9-goals against (20th in NHL)
  • Second period: 5-goals for (29th in NHL); 8-goals against (10th best in NHL)
  • Third period: 7-goals for (26th in NHL); 9-goals against (8th best in NHL)
  • Overtime: 2-goals for (2nd in NHL); 0-goals against (1st in NHL)

• Advanced Stats:

  • Vancouver has the 16th best CorsiFor% (5 on 5) in the NHL: 49.95 percent, and the 11th best CorsiFor% (All Strengths): 50.71 percent.
  • Canucks have the 18th highest SCF (All Strengths): 235; and 13th lowest SCA (All Strengths): 224.
  • Vancouver has the 13th highest SCF (5 on 5): 179; 22nd in SCA (5 on 5): 186.
  • Canucks are 9th in Corsi 5 on 5 (Zone Start%): 53.09 percent.
  • Individual CorsiFor% (5 on 5):
    • Top Forwards:
      • Loui Ericksson: 11 GP: 55.40 percent
      • Derek Dorsett: 7 GP: 55.13 percent
      • Markus Granlund: 11 GP: 54.33
      • Henrik Sedin: 11 GP: 52.78 percent
      • Jayson Megna: 2 GP: 52.17 percent
      • Daniel Sedin: 11 GP: 51.71 percent
      • Jannik Hansen: 10 GP: 49.47 percent
      • Alex Burrows: 6 GP: 49.41 percent
    • Top Defensemen:
      • Nikita Tryamkin: 1 GP: 60.00
      • Luca Sbisa: 11 GP: 51.65 percent
      • Erik Gudbranson: 11 GP: 51.14 percent
      • Troy Stecher: 3 GP: 50.96 percent
      • Ben Hutton: 11 GP: 50.74 percent
      • Philip Larsen: 11 GP:49.79 percent
      • Chris Tanev: 7 GP: 48:45 percent
      • Alex Edler: 11 GP: 46.58 percent
      • Alex Biega: 1 GP: 27.27

They Said It….