Canucks Game Day Preview | Canucks at Flyers – October 15, 2022

by Canucks Communications @Canucks / Vancouver Canucks

CANUCKS AT FLYERS PREVIEW

TV: Sportsnet Pacific

Radio: Sportsnet 650

MATCH-UP INFO

Tonight marks the first of two meetings between the Canucks and Flyers this season: Oct. 15 (away), Feb. 18 (home).
The Canucks are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games vs Philadelphia (2-3-0 in their last five).
The Canucks have a 37-73-13-4 all-time record in 127 games against the Flyers, including a 22-40-1-2 record on the road.
Since 2010, the Canucks hold a 10-7-2 record against Philadelphia, including a 3-2-0 record in the month of October.
Among active Canucks skaters, J.T. Miller leads the team in career points vs Philadelphia with 16 points (9-7-16-) in 26 games.
Thatcher Demko is 1-1-0 in his career against Philadelphia with a 2.94 GAA and .913 save-percentage.
Spencer Martin has yet to face the Philadelphia Flyers in his career.

LAST MEETING – OCT. 28/21: VAN 1 vs PHI 2

Quinn Hughes tied the game with his second goal of the season at 2:15 in the first period, just 113 seconds after Philadelphia opened the scoring…Luke Schenn and Matthew Highmore both collected assists on the play…Oliver Ekman-Larsson registered a team-high in shots (5)…Luke Schenn recorded seven hits for a Canucks season-high at that point in the season…Bo Horvat won a season-high 17 face-offs…Quinn Hughes led the club in TOI (28:06) for the second consecutive game and fifth time this season…Jaroslav Halak made 26 saves.

LAST GAME PLAYED – OCT. 12/22: VAN 3 at EDM 5

Elias Pettersson notched Vancouver’s first goal of the 2022.23 campaign just 1:49 into the opening frame, unassisted…J.T. Miller added to Vancouver’s lead just 51 seconds later, assisted by Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes…Andrei Kuzmenko scored his first career NHL goal on the power play…J.T. Miller posted a two-point game with the primary assist while Bo Horvat drew the second assist…Elias Pettersson led the team in shots (5)…Luke Schenn registered team-highs in hits (6) and blocks (4)…Thatcher Demko faced 24 shots.

LAST 5 vs PHILADELPHIA

Oct. 28/21: VAN 1 vs PHI 2
Oct. 15/21: VAN 5 @ PHI 4 (SO)
Nov. 25/19: VAN 1 @ PHI 2
Oct. 12/19: VAN 3 vs PHI 2 (SO)
Feb.4/22: VAN 1 @ PHI 2

CLOSING IN ON 600

Currently holding a career regular season coaching record of 599-318-125, Bruce Boudreau is just one win shy of becoming the 22nd coach in NHL history and just the fifth active head coach to reach 600 regular season wins. Among coaches with 600 wins to their name, Boudreau’s .635 points percentage would rank second only to Scotty Bowman (.657).

HOMEGROWN TALENT

Making his 137th NHL regular season appearance on Oct. 12 at EDM, Thatcher Demko gained sole possession of most games played in franchise history by a Canucks-drafted goaltender, surpassing Glen Hanlon’s mark of 136 games. Demko also currently stands just five wins away from tying Gary Smith for sixth-most wins among all goalies in Canucks history.

QUICK START

Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller combined goals for a 2-0 Canucks lead just 2:40 into the season opener on Oct. 12 at EDM, marking the fastest two goals to begin a season in franchise history, 75 seconds faster than the previous team mark (3:55 on Oct. 5 vs CGY). The goals also marked the eighth-fastest two-goal start in any game in Canucks history.

KUZMENK-GOAL

Cashing in on the power play for his first NHL goal on Oct. 12 vt EDM, Andrei Kuzmenko became the 21st Canucks skater to score in his NHL debut and the first to do so on the man-advantage.

ROAD READY

The Canucks begin their 2022.23 season on a five-game road trip from Oct. 12-20, which will match team’s longest road of the season (also Nov. 8-15 and Jan. 8-15). Vancouver also began last season on a season-high six-game road trip, compiling a 3-2-1 record.

NEW FACES IN 2022.23

A total of five players made their Canucks debut in the season opener on Wednesday, October 12 at Edmonton. Ilya Mikheyev (IR) is the only player on Vancouver’s roster to not yet make his Canucks debut:

Nils Aman registered 10:02 in TOI in his Canucks debut, picking up two hits. The forward agreed to terms on an entry level contract on June 7 after posting 14 points (6-8-14) and eight penalty minutes in 51 games with Leksands IF of the Swedish Hockey League last season.
Dakota Joshua collected three hits in his Canucks debut. He agreed to terms on a two-year contract on July 13. Joshua appeared in 30 regular season games with the St. Louis Blues last season, notching eight points (3-5-8) and 16 penalty minutes.
Andrei Kuzmenko notched his first NHL goal on the power play in Vancouver’s season opener. The winger officially signed with the Canucks on July 13 after announcing his intention to sign with the club in June. Kuzmenko led St. Petersburg SKA (KHL) in scoring last season with 53 points (20-33-53) and a +15 rating in 45 games.
Curtis Lazar recorded one blocked shot, one hit, and two takeaways in his Vancouver debut. The centre agreed to terms on a three-year deal on July 13. Last season, the Salmon Arm, BC native registered 16 points (8-8-16) and 16 penalty minutes in 70 games with the Boston Bruins.
Riley Stillman was +1 in his Canucks debut, posting two shots and four hits. He was acquired from Chicago on October 7 in exchange for Jason Dickinson and a 2024 second round pick. Stillman appeared in 52 games last season with the Blackhawks, recording a career-high 12 points (2-10-12) and leading the team in hits per 60 minutes (9.34).

Injured Reserve:

Ilya Mikheyev signed a four-year contract with Vancouver on July 13. In 2021.22, Mikheyev tallied 32 points (21-11-32) in 53 games with Toronto, setting career-highs in games goals, points, and plus-minus (+16).

CURRENT INJURIES