CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff November 12, 2015
Struggling Senators Aim For Home Ice Win
The Vancouver Canucks take on the Ottawa Senators tonight in game four of their 7-game road trip at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Vancouver is looking to maintain its lead atop the Pacific Division, entering the game a single point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings, with 19-points.
Ottawa is looking to pull ahead of the Detroit Red Wings in the Atlantic Division into sole possession of second place. Both teams are currently tied for 2nd-place in the division with 17-points each.
The game is the first of two meetings this season between the Canucks and Senators. Ottawa will visit Vancouver on Feb. 25th. Vancouver split the season series versus the Senators last season.
The Canucks rebounded against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night, to pick up their first win of the 7-game road swing, to go along with back-to-back losses in regulation play and overtime, against Buffalo and New Jersey.
The Ottawa Senators begin a 5-game home stand tonight, after losing both games of a short 2-game road trip against the Carolina Hurricanes and the Nashville Predators. The Senators have only won two of their first seven home games.
Both teams are struggling yet Vancouver enters the game on a more positive note after their win in Columbus.
The objective is clear. The Canucks are looking to win game two on their road trip, building on the momentum of their win against the Blue Jackets. And the Senators are looking to end their two game losing streak and win their third home game of the season, to start a 5-game home stand.
CANUCKS JOTTINGS
- The Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators each won a 4-3 overtime games in their own arena last season
- Canucks are 9-7-1 overall in Ottawa. Canucks are 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Ottawa.
- In the last five games in Ottawa, Vancouver is 3-2-0 at the Canadian Tire Centre.
- Canucks are 2-8 in their last 10 Thursday games.
- Senators are 2-6 in their last 8 home games.
- Ben Hutton has 4-assists in his last 5-games.
- Jared McCann currently ranks 7th among rookies in shooting percentage (20.0%); and tied for 5th place in rookie goals with 5-goals.
- Ben Hutton and Jared McCann are tied for 8th place in total shots for rookies with 25-shots.
- Ben Hutton is 2nd in assists by a rookie in the NHL with 8-assists.
- Daniel Sedin has 12-points (4-8-12) in his last 12-games and currently leads the team in scoring with 15-points (5-10-15).
- Alex Edler currently ranks 9th in the NHL in TOI/GP with 24:52-minutes/seconds.
- Jannik Hansen leads the Canucks in +/- with a +10, followed by Chris Tanev at +9, Alex Edler, at +8, Henrik Sedin with +6. Dan Hamhuis and rookies Jared McCann are at +5. Radim Vrbata is the worst +/- at –9, followed by Yannik Webber at –6.
- In 16-games this season, the Canucks have outscored their opponents 48-39; last season the Canucks outscored their opponents 236-220
- The Canucks have allowed just 8-power-play goals against this season, killing 37 of 45-times shorthanded (82.2 PK%)
- The Canucks 82.2% penalty kill is 11th in the NHL
- The Canucks have allowed 2.44 goals against per game this season, 11th in the NHL; they are 7th in the League with 2.94 goals for per game
The Canucks are in 1rst place with 19-points, a single point in front of Los Angeles, who are alone in 2nd with 18-points in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Arizona is in 3rd spot with 17-points, three points ahead of San Jose who are tied with Anaheim in 4rth with 14-points each. Edmonton and Calgary with 12 and 11-points each are in 6th and 7th place respectively.
Arizona, San Jose, and Los Angeles both have a game in-hand on Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Anaheim.
Vancouver is among the top 5-teams in the Western Conference, and are the 5rth best team in the conference with their 19-points. The Dallas Stars are at the top of the conference with 24-points, currently sporting an 12-4 record in their 16-games, 1-point ahead of the St. Louis Blues, who have won their last 3-games.
Canucks are among the top 10-teams in the NHL, and are tied with the New York Islanders for the 5th best team in the league with their 19-points. The Montreal Canadians are the top team with 28-points, with a record of 13-2-2, all wins in regulation play. Dallas Stars and New York Rangers tied for the 2nd best overall record in the league with 24-points each, with the Rangers having won their last 6-games. The St. Louis Blues, in the midst of a 3-game winning streak are next with 23-points.
The Montreal Canadians are currently in top spot of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference with 28-points; followed by Detroit and Ottawa with 17-points each. Tampa Bay sits in 4rth-place with 16-points, followed by Boston and Florida tied for 5th and 6th position with 15-points each. Buffalo and Toronto round out the rest of the division with 14 and 10-points respectively.
The Bruins have 3-games in-hand on the Canadians and Lightening; 2-games in-hand on the Red Wings, Senators, Panthers, Sabres and Maple Leafs. Detroit, Ottawa, Florida, Buffalo and Toronto all have 2-games in-hand on the Canadians and Lightening.
Daniel Sedin leads the Canucks in scoring with 15-points, followed by brother Henrik with 12-points and Jannik Hansen with 10-points. Brandon Sutter, rookie Ben Hutton and Alex Burrows are next with 8-points each. Rookie Jared McCann has 7-points; Radim Vrbata, Alex Edler and Sven Baertschi closely follow with 6-points. Brandon Prust, Bo Horvat and Matt Bartkowski are on their skate blades with 5-points each.
Rookie Jared McCann, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin lead the Canucks are tied for the top sniper with 5-goals each. Daniel Sedin leads the team in assists with 10-assists, followed by rookie Ben Hutton with 8-assists.
Mark Stone leads the Senators in scoring with 15-points, a point ahead of Erik Karlsson, 14-points. Bobby Ryan and Kyle Turris are next with 13-points each.
Erik Karlsson leads Ottawa in assists with 13, followed by Mark Stone with 12-assists. Kyle Turris is the top goal scorer with 8-goals.
CANUCKS AT A GLANCE
Andrew Phillip Chernoff 