CANUCKS GAME PREVIEW | Canucks at Lightning

On By CanucksBanterIn Canucks Game Preview

by Canucks Communication @Canucks / Vancouver Canucks

CANUCKS AT LIGHTNING PREVIEW

TV: Sportsnet Pacific
Radio: SN650

MATCH-UP INFO

  • Tonight marks the first of two meetings between the Canucks and Lightning this season: Jan. 13 (road), Mar. 13 (home).
  • Vancouver is 4-5-1 in their last 10 games vs Tampa Bay (1-4-0 in their last 5).
  • The Canucks have a 20-13-2-2 all-time record in 37 games against the Lightning. Vancouver holds a 10-9-0-0 record on the road against Tampa.
  • Among active Canucks skaters, Tyler Myers leads the team in scoring vs Tampa Bay with 10 points (5-5-10) in 26 games.
  • Thatcher Demko has yet to start a game against the Lightning, appearing only once in relief.
  • Jaroslav Halak has played 10 career games vs Tampa Bay (4-5-0), owning a .893 SV% and a 2.93 GAA.
  • Conor Garland is expected to play in his 200th career NHL game.
  • Luke Schenn faces the Lightning for the first time since winning back-to-back Stanley Cups there in 2020-2021.

QUICK NUMBERS

  • Brock Boeser has eight points (5-3-8) in his last nine games.
  • Bo Horvat has nine points (5-4-9) in his last 12 games.
  • J.T. Miller has 17 points (4-13-17) in his last 13 games.
  • Quinn Hughes has 12 points (0-12-12) in his last 12 games.
  • Conor Garland has 10 points (5-5-10) in his last 13 games.
  • Thatcher Demko has posted a .940 SV% and 1.84 GAA in his last seven games (7-1-0).

LAST MEETING – JAN. 7/20: VAN 2 at TBL 9

Elias Pettersson opened the scoring with his 20th goal of the season ad 18:58 in the first period…Brock Boeser recorded the only assist…Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson assisted on Loui Eriksson’s second period tally…Quinn Hughes led all Canucks in TOI (22:54)…Tyler Motte led the team in hits (4)…Thatcher Demko made 13 saves in relief for Jacob Markstrom.

LAST GAME PLAYED – JAN. 11/22: VAN 2 at FLA 5

Vasily Podkolzin opened the scoring (unassisted) at 8:53 in the opening frame…Nils Höglander added. to Vancouver’s lead on the power play at 14:49 in the first period…Hunt and Ekman-Larsson recorded the assists…Tyler Motte restored the Canucks two-goal lead at 4:46 in the third period…Highmore and Lammikko assisted on the play…Conor Garland (assisted by Hughes and Pearson) and Tanner Pearson (assisted by Miller and Myers) added third period goals…Conor Garland led the team in shots (6) and Luke Schenn led all Canucks in hits (4)…Thatcher Demko made 30 saves.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

  • Ashton Sautner placed into COVID-19 protocol, Jan. 12
  • Justin Bailey reassigned to Abbotsford, Jan. 9
  • Sheldon Rempal, Justin Bailey, Ashton Sautner, and Spencer Martin assigned to Taxi Squad, Jan. 8
  • Alex Chiasson placed into COVID-19 protocol, Jan. 7

CANUCKS 2021 IN REVIEW

Vancouver Canucks leaders by category for the 2021 calendar year:

  • Games: Horvat, Höglander (89)
  • Points: Miller (81)
  • Goals: Boeser (32)
  • Assists: Hughes (63)
  • GWG: Miller (6)
  • Hits: Miller (161)
  • Blocks: Myers (147)
  • Face-Off Wins: Horvat (1,089)
  • Plus-Minus: Garland (+7)
  • Wins: Demko (30)

GOOD COMPANY

Thatcher Demko appeared in his 100th career game on Jan. 11 at FLA, becoming the 13th goaltender in Canucks history to reach the century mark in games played. His 49 career wins at the time tied him with Dan Cloutier (2001.02) for second-most wins by a Canucks goalie through 100 games, trailing only Roberto Luongo (59, 2007.08).

DEMKO’S DECEMBER

Making 22 saves in the 2-1 OT win at ANA on Dec. 29, Demko extended his career-best winning streak to six games (later seven games). During the month of December, Demko posted a record of 7-1-0 to go along with a .946 SV% and 1.72 GAA, ranking first in the NHL in saves (243), shots faced (257), and t-1st in wins (7). On Dec. 13, he was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week and on Jan. 1, he was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Month.

MAGNIFICENT MILLER

Collecting an assist on Jan. 1 at SEA, J.T. Miller set a career-high nine-game point streak (3-10-13), besting his previous eight-game mark (twice). Miller also ranks t-3rd with Mike Walton for highest points-per-game (0.98) by a player with the Canucks franchise (min. 20 GP), trailing only Pavel Bure (1.12) and Alexander Mogilny (0.99).

A SWEDE ACHIEVEMENT

Oliver Ekman-Larsson appeared in his 800th career game on Jan. 1 at SEA, making him the 34th skater and 17th defenceman from Sweden to reach that mark in NHL history.

BRUCE BOOST

Thanks to Vancouver’s 5-2 win on Jan. 1 at SEA, Bruce Boudreau (8-0-1) became the third coach in NHL history to begin his tenure with a new team on a nine-game point streak, joining Peter Laviolette (11 games w/ NYI in 2001.02, 9 games w/ WSH in 2020.21) and Bob Berry (10 games w/ MTL in 1981.82). In December, Boudreau also tied the NHL coaching record for most consecutive wins (7) to start a tenure with a new team.

BROCK STAR

Brock Boeser collected his 14th career game-winning goal on Dec. 16 at SJS, ranking t-4th with Bo Horvat and Patrik Sundstrom for most franchise GWG before turning 25 years old, trailing only Tony Tanti (26), Pavel Bure (26), and Trevor Linden (22).

TRIPLE THREAT

Contributing assists on three of Vancouver’s four goals on Dec. 14 vs CBJ, Quinn Hughes registered his 10th career game with three or more points, tying Rick Lanz for fourth-most by a Canucks defenceman in franchise history. He now only trails Jyrki Lumme (16), Alex Edler (12), and Dennis Kearns (11).

RECENT CANUCKS MILESTONES

  • Thatcher Demko appeared in his 100th career game, Jan. 11 at FLA
  • Elias Pettersson appeared in his 200th career game, Jan. 11 at FLA
  • Brad Hunt appeared in his 200th career game, Jan. 11 at FLA
  • Oliver Ekman-Larsson appeared in his 800th career game, Jan. 1 at SEA
  • Matthew Highmore appeared in his 100th career game, Dec. 30 at ANA

CURRENT INJURIES

NHL COVID-19 PROTOCOL

  • Ashton Sautner (taxi squad)
  • Alex Chiasson – 1 game
  • Justin Dowling – 3 games
  • Phillip Di Giuseppe – 4 games

Total man games lost (due to injuries or illness): 160 games

Leave a Reply