Canucks Visit Islanders Looking To Make It Two Wins Straight

Posted on January 17, 2016 by CanucksBanter

CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff January 17, 2016

The Vancouver Canucks (18-17-10) play the third game of their 6-game road trip tonight against the New York Islanders ( 20-18-7) at Barclays Center.

Vancouver are going after their second win of the road trip, after splitting games in Washington and Carolina.

The Islanders are looking to sweep their three game home stand as they host the Vancouver Canucks in the first of two meetings between the teams this season.

Vancouver’s Bo Horvat has been red hot in 2016, and sits tied for 2nd place in NHL scoring with 9 points (6-3=9 PTS), courtesy of a 6 game points streak. He is also tied for the most goals in the New Year with his 6 goals, with Sam Bennett of the Calgary Flames.

RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 15: Bo Horvat #53 of the Vancouver Canucks celebrates with teammates after scoring during an NHL game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on January 15, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Canucks are 7-3-2 in their last 12 games; and 3-1-1 on the road in their last 5 games.

Vancouver is 10-9-5 against Eastern Conference teams; and 5-5-1 against the Metropolitan division.

Luca Sbisa, Jannick Hansen and Derek Dorsett, are expected to be in the lineup tonight. Ryan Miller gets the starts against the Islanders.

Sbisa has missed 18 games since December 3rd with an injured hand; Jannick Hansen missed 4 games since January 6th with an upper body injury; Dorsett missed last game due to the flu.

Ryan Miller is 10-12-6 this season with an 2.75 GAA and .910 Sv%. In his last 10 games, he is 3-5-2, with an 3.22 GAA and .905 Sv%.

In their last game, Carolina took Vancouver to overtime, but in the end, the game would belong to the Canucks, as they would take their third consecutive season sweep of the Hurricanes; snap Carolina’s consecutive winning streak at 5 games; win their third overtime game, in their last 9 games; and win their first game of the road trip, defeating Carolina, 3-2 in OT.

Bo Horvat, with his second goal of the game, and 8th goal of the season, would put the game away for Vancouver in the overtime, at 3:25.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, at 20 years, 256 days old, Bo Horvat became the second-youngest player in Canucks history to score a regular-season overtime goal. The youngest: Tony Tanti (20 years, 198 days) on March 23, 1984 at Winnipeg (4-3 OT win).

Source: Vancouver Canucks Twitter

Linden Vey would also score; four different Canucks received assists; and Jacob Markstrom, stopped 38 of 40 shots, for a .950 Sv%.

Bo Horvat’s points streak went to 6 games (6-3=9), while Radim Vrbata took his points streak to 3 games (1-2=3).

Markstrom in his last 9 starts has a record of 6-2-1, and a goals against average of 2.15; and a .930 Sv% during that stretch.

RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 15: Jacob Markstrom #25 of the Vancouver Canucks goes down in the crease to protect the net while teammate Alexander Edler #23 defends and Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks to deflect the puck as it goes just wide of the goal during an NHL game at PNC Arena on January 15, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)

CANUCKS JOTTINGS

In 2016, so far:
- Bo Horvat has 9 points in 7 games (6-3=9)
  - Horvat has scored 40% of the Canucks’ goals in this span.
- Henrik Sedin has 4 points in 7 games (0-4=4)
- Sven Baertschi has 4 points in 5 games (2-2=4)
- Chris Tanev has 4 points in 7 games (1-3=4)
- Daniel Sedin has 3 goals in 7 games.
Canucks record in 2016:
- 4-2-1=9 PTS in 7 games played (tied for 8th best in the NHL)
- They have 15 goals for; 17 goals against.
- They are 5 for 19 on the power play for 26.3 percent (6th best in the NHL)
- Their penalty killing is 13 for 16, 81.3 (tied for 12th best in the NHL)
- Face-off winning percentage is 42.5 percent.
Canucks are averaging 2.36 goals per game. For an 82 game schedule the estimate is Vancouver will finish with 194 goals. The least number of goals ever scored by a Vancouver team in a full season of 82 games are 192 by the 1998-99 Canucks.
Canucks penalty kill is a killer at 22 for 26, 84.6 percent in their last 6 road games. And 37 for 50 in their last road 12 games, 74 percent.
Vancouver’s power play is 1 for 14, 7.1 percent in their last 8 road games.
Vancouver has points in 13 of its last 22 (9-9-4=22 pts) & 18 of its last 32 games (12-14-6=30 pts).
Vancouver has scored a power play goal in five straight games, where they have had at least one man advantage; they have gone 5 for 16 during that stretch, 31.3 percent.

The Canucks sit in 4rth place with 46 points in the Pacific division, led by the Los Angeles Kings, who have 57 points. The Canucks are 2 points out of 3rd; and 3 points out of 2nd place. Vancouver is 1 point in front of Anaheim; and 2 points ahead of Calgary.

In their last game, the Islanders Brock Nelson and Nick Leddy scored goals early in the third period, as the Islanders rallied from behind 1-0 for a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers at home. It was only the 2nd time in the last six seasons (154-2-6) that the Rangers had lost a game in regulation after leading through 40 minutes.

Jaroslav Halak stopped 34 shots, and improved to 11-8-3 this season.

New York is 15-7-2 at home and 9-8-3 on the road; and are 6-2-0 vs. the Pacific Division.

The Islanders in their last 7 home games are 4-3-0. In those games, their penalty killing is 20 for 21, 95.2 percent; and their power play, 4 for 27, 14.8 percent. They have given up 22 goals and scored 22 goals.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS NOTES

The Islanders are a perfect 16-of-16 over the last four games.
Since November 25^th, New York has killed 35 of 36 at home.
The Islanders are 15-7-2 on home-ice (32 points). In the past 28 seasons, New York has earned more than 32 points in the first 24 home games only once (36 in first 24 at home last season).
The game against Vancouver is one of a ten game stretch in which the Isles will play eight times at home. The Isles are 3-2-0 in this stretch.
The Islanders are 14-3-3 when they score at least one power play goal and 10-12-2 when they do not.
New York is 7-6-1 when they allow at least one power play goal and 17-9-4 when they do not.
The Islanders are 16-3-2 when they score first and are 8-12-3 when they allow the opening goal.
In 2016, so far:
- Brock Nelson has 7 points in 6 games (5-2=7)
- Kyle Okposo has 6 points in 6 games (3-3=6)
- Nick Leddy has 4 points in 6 games (2-2=4)

In the tight Metropolitan division, except for top spot held by the Washington Capitals, positions 2nd thru 7th are wide open for the taking, and the Islanders have been in the thick of things most of the season in battling for one of three playoff spots in the division. They are tied for 2nd with their New York rivals, the Rangers, with 53 points each, 16 points behind division leading Washington.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

The Canucks 6-game road trip will be visiting Eastern Conference opponents:

Thursday, January 14 against the Washington Captials: 1-4 Loss
Friday, January 15 against the Carolina Hurricanes: 3-2 Win
Today, January 17 against the New York Islanders
Tuesday, January 19 against the New York Rangers
Thursday, January 21 against the Boston Bruins
Saturday, January 23 against the Pittsburgh Penguins

VANCOUVER CANUCKS ADVANCED STATISTICS

JANUARY 1, 2015 TO JANUARY 15, 2015

EVEN STRENGTH 5V5

screenshot-war-on-ice com 2016-01-16 22-28-34

http://war-on-ice.com/

ALL TEAM STRENGTHS

screenshot-war-on-ice com 2016-01-16 22-29-42

http://war-on-ice.com/

PDO=On-IceSavePercentagePlusOn-IceShotPercentage
CF%=100*CorsitFor/(CorsiFor+CorsiAgainst)
CF=Shot Attempts For
CA=Shot Attempts Against
Shot Attempts=shots on goal, missed shots and blocked shots
FO%=Face-off winning percentage
ZSO%=Fraction of Offensive vs Defensive Zone Starts
CP60=Corsi Events, For And Against, Per 60 Minutes
OFOn%=On-Ice Unblocked Shot Attempts On Goal
OSh%=On-Ice Shooting Percentage
OSv%=One-Ice Save Percentage

WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD STANDINGS

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE STANDINGS

2015-2016 VANCOUVER CANUCKS VS ALL TEAMS

CANUCKS PLAYER STATS

ISLANDER PLAYER STATS

STATISTICS COURTESY OF THE NHL AND VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Canucks Bounce Hurricanes 3-2 In OT; Horvat Scores Two, Including Winner

Posted on January 15, 2016 by CanucksBanter

CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff January 15, 2016

The Vancouver Canucks (18-17-10) played the second game of their 6-game road trip tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes ( 20-18-8) at PNC Arena.

The Canucks were going for their third consecutive season sweep of the Hurricanes, while Carolina was trying for their 5th win in a row.

The Hurricanes took Vancouver to overtime, but in the end, the game would belong to the Canucks, as they would take their third consecutive season sweep of the Hurricanes; snap Carolina’s consecutive winning streak at 5 games; win their third overtime game, in their last 9 games; and win their first game of the road trip, defeating Carolina, 3-2 in OT.

Vancouver is now 10-9-5 against the Eastern Conference, and and 5-5-1 against Metropolitan division teams.

Bo Horvat, with his second goal of the game, and 8th goal of the season, would put the game away for Vancouver in the overtime, at 3:25.

Linden Vey would also score; four different Canucks received assists; and Jacob Markstrom, stopped 38 of 40 shots, for a .950 Sv%.

Bo Horvat’s points streak goes to 6 games (6-3=9), while Radim Vrbata takes his points streak to 3 games (1-2=3).

Markstrom in his last 9 starts has a record of 6-2-1, and a goals against average of 2.15; .930 save % during that stretch.

For Vancouver, the victory gave them their 6th win in overtime this season; 7th win in 12 games (7-3-2) and their 3rd win on the road in their last 5 games (3-1-1).

And the Canucks would finally score the first goal of a game since just before the Christmas break of 2015.

Vancouver is 1-1-0 on the six-game road trip that continues Sunday at the New York Islanders.

The Canucks had no power play opportunities, the second time this season that has happened. The only other time was on December 15, 2015, on the road against the Minnesota Wild.

Vancouver power play was 2 for 3, 67 percent tonight. It is 25 for 29, 86 percent in their last 9 games; 20 for 23, 87 percent, in their last 5 road games.

Vancouver is in 4rth place in the Pacific division, tied for 3rd place with San Jose; and 3 points behind Arizona, in 2nd. Los Angeles is 11 points in front of Vancouver in 1rst place with 57 points. Anaheim is one point behind the Canucks, who possess 5th place. Vancouver is 4 points ahead of Calgary, who occupy 6th. Edmonton occupies the cellar of the division with 39 points.

The positions of Nos. 2 thru 5 in the Pacific division are separated by 4 points.

The Canucks started the opening period hoping to end their eight consecutive game streak of being scored on for the opening goal of the game.

Bo Horvat had a great scoring chance within the first half minute of the start of the game, as the Canucks got off to a quick start.

The first ten minutes of the period did not have a lot to offer. Shots were 5 to 3 for Carolina.

The last half of the opening period would have more action. Linden Vey would open up the scoring, the first time for the Canucks in 9 games, on their 5th shot of the period, at 13:14.

Vey’s first goal of the season, unassisted, on a wrist shot, to give Vancouver a 1-0 lead.

The first power play of the game went to Carolina, as Brandon Prust went off for holding Nathan Gerbe at 17:01.

Kris Versteeg, on the power play, would even up the game for Carolina, at 1-1 at 18:27. Versteeg, his 8th of the season, assisted by J. Slavin (7) and J. Staal (12)

Before the end of the period, Jake Virtanen would give the Hurricanes their second and third power play’s, at 19:23; a double-minor for high sticking Justin Faulk.

Carolina and Vancouver finish the opening period tied 1-1.

After one period:

Carolina out shot the Canucks 9 to 6. The Hurricanes had 6 giveaways to the Canucks 1.
Vancouver had 3 takeaways to the Hurricanes 2 .Carolina had 4 blocked shots to the Canucks 3 .
Carolina ruled the face-off circle, going 17 for 26 , percent. Matt Bartkowski led Canucks in shots with 2 .
Four of the top six players in TOI for Canucks, were defensemen: Tanev, Edler, Hutton, Fedun.
Vancouver and Carolina had 4 hits each

The Canucks would open the second period by killing off the double-minor to Jake Virtanen, hoping for a momentum surge from it; at the very least, giving the penalty kill a rest in order to pursue scoring some more goals.

It didn’t turn out that way exactly. The Canucks were out shot and were struggling in the face-off circle.

But Vancouver would score.

The Canucks would take its second lead of the game at 9:32, as Bo Horvat, on a wrist shot would score his 7th of the season, assisted by Tyler Fedun (1) and Matt Bartkowski (9).

It was Horvat’s 5th goal in his last 6 games, extending his points streak to 6 games.

After two periods:

Carolina out shot the Canucks 27 to 11 . The Hurricanes had 8 giveaways to the Canucks 2 .
Canucks had 4 takeaways to the Hurricanes 3 . Both teams had 7 blocked shots.
Carolina ruled the face-off circle, as Canucks 18 for 47 , 38.3 percent.
Matt Bartkowski led the Canucks in shots with 3; Daniel Sedin and Bo Horvat had 2 each.
Matt Bartkowski led the Canucks in hits with 3. Emerson Etem and Linden Vey had 2 blocked shots each.

In the final period, the Canucks were having issues organizing some action in the offensive zone due to showing signs of running out of gas; and getting lots of time in their own end, courtesy of the Hurricanes, who were having an easy time not allowing Vancouver to break out of their end.

Jacob Markstrom routinely made save after save, protecting the Canucks 2-1 lead, as his teammates were having issues generating push back.

RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 15: Kris Versteeg #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes attempts a backhand shot past Jacob Markstrom #23 of the Vancouver Canucks as Ben Hutton #27 defends during an NHL game at PNC Arena on January 15, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)

With nine minutes left, Carolina was out shooting Vancouver, 35 to 15.

Canucks continued to battle hard, doing what they could to get that third goal without putting their one goal lead at risk.

With 2:10 left in regulation, the Hurricanes would even up the score at 2-2, as the puck would deflect in off both Biega and Bartkowski in front of the net.

John-Michael Liles, his 4rth goal of the season, on a deflected shot, at 17:50, assisted by Andrej Nestrasil (9) and Victor Rask (17).

The game would head to overtime.

And in overtime, Bo Horvat, on a delayed penalty, would score the overtime winner, on a steaming slap shot, on the short side of Cam Ward.

Horvat, his second of the game, 8th of the season, assisted by Radim Vrbata (10) and Chris Tanev (7), at 3:25.

RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 15: Bo Horvat #53 of the Vancouver Canucks celebrates with teammates after scoring an overtime goal during an NHL game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on January 15, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)

GAME REVIEW

CANUCKS PLAYERS STATS

WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD STANDINGS

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE STANDINGS

STATISTICS COURTESY OF THE NHL AND VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Vancouver Visits Washington In First Of Six On Road

Posted on January 14, 2016 by CanucksBanter

CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff January 14, 2016

The Vancouver Canucks (17-16-10) play the first game of a 6-game road trip tonight against the Washington Capitals ( 32-7-3) tonight at Verizon Center.

Canucks mission, as self serving as it is, once again, end the Capitals 10 consecutive game winning streak at Verizon Center.

In their last game, Vancouver would once again be spoilers to a team coming into Rogers Place on a long consecutive winning streak (first victim this season, the Montreal Canadians).

The Florida Panthers on Monday night, in an exciting game, had their 12 consecutive game winning streak come to an end, in unlucky game “13”, as the Canucks, in a come from behind win, defeated Florida 3-2 in overtime.

Jacob Markstrom, the Sedins and the youngsters, led the way. Daniel Sedin had two goals, including the overtime winner; Jake Virtanen, with his first goal since returning to the lineup on Saturday night against Tampa Bay; Henrik Sedin with two assists; and Jacob Markstrom, stopped 26 of 28 shots for a .929 Sv%.

Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi had their point streaks continue, with an assist each on Jake Virtanen’s goal. Horvat now has 4 goals and 2 assists in his last 4 games; Baertschi, 2 goals and 2 assists in his last 3 games.

Daniel Sedin will set a Canucks record with his next goal as he tied Markus Naslund on Monday night with his 346th goal all-time for the Canucks.

Breaking Washington’s home consecutive winning streak, would give Vancouver their 7th win in 11 games (6-2-2 in last 10) and their 3rd win on the road in their last four games (2-0-1 in last 3) tonight.

In the Canucks last 6-game road trip in December, Vancouver was 2-3-1, with 11 goals for and 20 goals against. The power play was 0 for 11, while their penalty kill was 21 for 28 (75%). And their face-off win percentage stunk at 39.3 percent.

Vancouver started that road trip with three straight losses before turning things around in the final three games, going 2-0-1, getting 5 out of a possible 6 points, coming back home to begin a long 7 game home stand, in which they were 4-2-1.

The Canucks are looking for better performances from the players on this road trip, and desperately need two point wins, not single point losses. Been there. Done that. Time to rack up wins.

In their last game, the Capitals defeated the Ottawa Senators 7-1 on Sunday to improve their record to 32-7-3 this season, tops in the NHL in points and wins.

Washington’s 32-7-3 record makes it the team’s best start, in points and wins, in franchise history.

Washington are the sixth team in NHL history to win 32 or more of their first 42 games in a season, joining Boston (1929-30: 36), Montreal (1944-45: 33), Chicago (2012-13: 33), San Jose (2008-09: 32) and Pittsburgh (2012-13: 32).

Ryan Miller will start tonight for the Canucks against the Capitals. It will be his first start since his December 20 start against the Florida Panthers, when he left the game with a groin injury. Miller dressed as the backup the last two games.

VANCOUVER, BC – OCTOBER 22: Ryan Miller #30 of the Vancouver Canucks makes a save on Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals during their NHL game at Rogers Arena October 22, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Washington won 3-2. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Canucks will have to find a way to neutralize Alex Ovechkin, who recently reached the 500 goal club. When asked about Ovechkin’s ability to score any where in the offensive end on Wednesday, Ryan Miller had this to say:

It’s usualy defense by committee with him out there. Everybody needs to be challenging him; everybody needs to be aware of it

Forward Jannik Hansen and defenseman Luca Sbisa skated at practice Wednesday and each is close to returning to the lineup, coach Willie Desjardins said.

Hansen has missed the past two games with an upper-body injury; Sbisa has missed 17 straight with a hand injury.