NEXT GAME VS. BOSTON BRUINS
Tonight: 6 p.m. | TV: Sportsnet | Radio: Sportsnet 650 AM
HEADING INTO TONIGHT’S GAME
New-look Canucks welcome depleted Bruins
The new-look Vancouver Canucks made a great first impression under new head coach Bruce Boudreau. Now the quest is to replicate that immediate success when they play host to the Boston Bruins tonight.
The Canucks, within hours of seeing coach Travis Green and general manager Jim Benning fired, along with their assistants, responded Monday to handily beat the Los Angeles Kings and left the ice to a standing ovation from a fan base that was mutinous when they lost two nights earlier.
“It usually happens when a new coach comes in. I hope it doesn’t stop,” Boudreau said. “I just keep telling them that they’re good players. I’ve always thought they were good players. They’ve got to start believing that they’re good players. And when they do that, they’ll be fine.”
“Message received” by a few struggling players, such as forward Brock Boeser, who snapped a 13-game goal drought and had to deal with the self-doubt that comes during a cold spell.
“I’ve had some good chances over this drought, hitting posts and crossbars, and that’s the one that goes in,” Boeser said of his shot that ricocheted off a defenceman’s skate en route to finding the net. “It’s crazy how this game works.”
One of the few Canucks who was performing up to standard all season is goaltender Thatcher Demko, and Boudreau’s arrival coincided with a well-deserved first shutout of the season.
“A weird day,” Demko said. “It’s something I’ve never been through as a player. Travis and (assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner) and Jim have been around since I turned pro, so it was a weird day. That’s the only way I can describe it. Obviously, you never want to see that happen, but a decision was made and you can feel Bruce’s energy right away.”
The Bruins are kicking off a three-game road trip through Western Canada and dealing with plenty of adversity of their own. Fortunately, top-line forward Brad Marchand will return to the lineup after serving a three-game suspension, but illness is affecting their team. Head coach Bruce Cassidy won’t be on the trip after testing positive for COVID-19, and a collection of players are battling non-COVID-19 sickness.
The Bruins delayed their cross-continent trip a day to allow everyone an extra day to move closer to 100-percent health.
– Field Level Media
TALKING POINTS
• Can the Canucks sustain momentum after a coaching change? Bruce Boudreau’s infectious ability to quickly alter the mood and an attention to detail resulted in a resounding 4-0 win over Los Angeles on Monday in his debut behind the bench.
• Brad Marchand is the Bruins’ leading scorer and irritant. The winger won’t back down Wednesday, judging by what he said to Artemi Panarin on Nov. 26. He took a dig at Russia and the New York winger responded with a glove toss at Marchand. “If that’s what sets guys over the edge, then this is the softest league in the world,” Marchand said.
• Jake DeBrusk wants out of Boston. The winger has drawn some trade interest but for the Canucks, it’s money in and money out, and for the Bruins it’s a waiting game.
COACHING
Canucks new bench boss pushes pressure over passive prevention
Hope. Communication. Direction.
Bruce Boudreau believes they’re crucial elements to prop up any struggling club beset by self-doubt. The mantra was evident Tuesday as the new Vancouver Canucks head coach conducted his first full practice at Rogers Arena.
As much as Boudreau was stern and direct in running drills, he was also quick to cut tension with a consoling conversation and even a laugh. He can live with mistakes that come through effort. He can’t live with errors that are a product of laziness.
“Effort is everything,” stressed Boudreau. “They’re going to make mistakes. If it’s an error of commission, it’s OK. If it’s an error of omission, that’s where you have a problem.”
