The Vancouver Canucks are preparing to face the San Jose Sharks in consecutive games on Tuesday and Thursday night, in home and away contests.
Coach Willie Desjardins addressed the media this morning, and is hoping a couple of injured players could return tomorrow night.
Vancouver’s goals are to end their 8-game losing streak and put a few goals past the Sharks goaltenders, as the players play for jobs on the team for next season in the remaining games of the season.
Dan Hamhuis met with the media following practice at Rogers Arena to discuss being named as the Canucks Masterton Trophy nominee.
The Vancouver Canucks were looking at playing the role of spoilers tonight as they hosted long time rival Chicago Blackhawks at Rogers Place, and in doing so, ending their 7-game losing streak.
Chicago was looking to clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs if they earned at least one point against the Canucks.
Vancouver, who were knocked from playoff contention with a 4-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Friday, wanted to delay Chicago’s playoff clinching, having it happen against a different team.
VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 27: Marian Hossa #81 of the Chicago Blackhawks watches as a shot by Andrew Ladd #16 beats Ryan Miller #30 of the Vancouver Canucks for a goal during their NHL game at Rogers Arena March 27, 2016 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Chicago won 3-2. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
Ryan Miller stopped 26 of 29 shots, and Vancouver got goals from Alex Burrows and Sven Baertschi; two assists from Emerson Etem, and an assist from Linden Vey, but just could not match the Blackhawks dominance in the game, and the Canucks would make it eight consecutive losses without a win, and Chicago would clinch a playoff berth, winning 3-2.
GAME REVIEW
Chicago had the early momentum in the opening period, but Vancouver eventually got their legs and a couple of scoring chances on Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling.
With under nine minutes left in the period, Chicago was out shooting Vancouver 7 to 5, but the Canucks were 6 for 9 on face-offs and out hitting Chicago 7 to 2.
VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 27: Nikita Tryamkin #88 of the Vancouver Canucks checks Andrew Desjardins #11 of the Chicago Blackhawks during their NHL game at Rogers Arena March 27, 2016 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
Chicago dominated the Canucks in their end late into the period, eventually opening the scoring at 17:42, when Tomas Fleischmann scored his 14th goal of the season on a wrist shot, assisted by Trevor van Riemsdyk (8) and Christian Ehrhoff (10), to make it 1-0 for the Blackhawks.
Chicago up 1-0 after one period.
In the first period:
Canucks out were out shot by the Blackhawks 13-7 and won 10 of 19 face-offs.
Canucks out hit Chicago 10 to 2.
Canuck face-off leaders: Henrik Sedin-7 for 9; Bo Horvat-3 for 6.
Jake Virtainen-3 hits; Daniel Sedin-2 shots.
Canucks Time On Ice: Jannick Hansen-7:42; Nikita Tryamkin-7:29
Teams Corsi For:
Even Strength: Chicago-22; Vancouver-12
All Strengths: Canucks-12; Blackhawks-22
Top Canucks:
All Situations: Jared McCann-0; Alex Biega -1; Brendan Gaunce -1; Matt Bartowski -1
Even Strength: Jared McCann-0; Alex Biega -1; Brendan Gaunce -1; Matt Bartkowski -1
The Canucks needed to turn things around in the second period, generating more puck possession in the Chicago end and getting more shots on net, and push back for some goals, or it was going to be a long night.
Vancouver did not start the period on the right foot, as Chicago received the game’s first power play opportunity when Daniel Sedin would be penalized at 21 seconds for hooking.
Canucks killed the Sedin penalty making it 20 kills in their last 21 times shorthanded, while the Blackhawks made it 23 consecutive man-advantage opportunities without a power play goal.
VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 27: Alexandre Burrows #14 of the Vancouver Canucks is congratulated after scoring against the Chicago Blackhawks during their NHL game at Rogers Arena March 27, 2016 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
Alex Burrows would pick a puck out of the air in front of the Chicago goal, and slap it past Blackhawk goalie Scott Darling, to tie the game up at 1-1, at 11:29.
Burrows, his 9th goal of the season, assisted by Linden Vey (11) and Emerson Etem (6), to end the Canucks latest scoring drought at 141 minutes and 50 seconds.
Teams tied 1-1 after two periods.
In the second period:
Canucks were out shot by Chicago 9 to 6 and won 7 of 19 face-offs.
Canucks out hit Blackhawks 5 to 1.
Canucks penalty kill was 1 for 1.
Canuck face-off leaders: Henrik Sedin-3 for 8; Bo Horvat-2 for 6.
Nikita Tryamkin and Jared McCann-2 hits
Canucks Time On Ice: Dan Hamhuis-7:46; Nikita Tryamkin-6:58;
Teams Corsi For:
Even Strength: Chicago-12; Vancouver-18
All Strengths: Chicago-14; Canucks-18
Top Canucks After Two Periods:
All Situations: Jared McCann +3; Yannick Weber +3
Even Strength: Dan Hamhuis +4; Jared McCann +3; Yannick Weber +3
In the 3rd period, Chicago pressed for the game leading goal, and were rewarded at 5:37 when Teuvo Teravainen, with his 13th goal of the season scored, assisted by Trevor van Riemsdyk (9) and Patrick Kane (55), to make it 2-1 Chicago.
Less than a minute and a half later, Vancouver would get a glorious opportunity to even up the score, when Jonathan Toews would get a double-minor for high sticking Alex Biega at 7:05.
Canucks would be unable to come up with the equalizer on either power play, and would continue to be fruitless with the man advantage, making it one power play goal in their last thirty opportunities, going back to March 7 against the Los Angeles Kings. Their only power play goal coming against the Nashville Predators on March 25.
With less than seven minutes left in the period, Canucks were out shooting Chicago 10 to 5, and making an effort to tie up the game, but the Blackhawks were all over Vancouver, until finally Sven Baertschi would solve Scott Darling and make it a 2-2 game.
Baertschi, his 15th goal of the season, and second goal in his last 12 games, assisted by Emerson Etem (7) at 14:18.
With 2:27 left in the game, Andrew Ladd would make it 3-2 Chicago, with his 23rd goal of the season, assisted by Jonathan Toews (26) and Niklas Hjalmarsson (21) at 17:33.
In the final minute, Vancouver would have six attackers on the ice to try and tie the game, and take it into overtime.
Time would run out though, and the Canucks would make it eight consecutive losses without a win, and Chicago would clinch a playoff berth.
In the third period:
Canucks out shot Chicago 15 to 10 and but only won 7 of 20 face-offs.
Canucks out hit Chicago 3 to 1.
Vancouver power play was 0 for 2 in the period.
Canucks Time On Ice: Daniel Sedin-8:24; Henrik Sedin-9:08; Ben Hutton-8:42
Teams Corsi For:
Even Strength: Vancouver-18; Chicago-14
All Strengths: Chicago-17; Canucks-23
End Of The Game:
Vancouver finished with 28 shots, Chicago 32 shots, and Canucks won 24 of 58 face-offs.
Canucks had 18 hits to the Blackhawks 4 hits.
Vancouver penalty kill was 1 for 1; power play was 0 for 2.
Canucks Time On Ice: Henrik Sedin-20:31; Ben Hutton-22:51; Dan Hamhuis-21:04; Nikita Tryamkin-21:01
Teams Corsi For:
Even Strength: Blackhawks-48; Canucks-48
All Strengths: Chicago-53; Vancouver-53
Top Canucks in game:
All Situations: Dan Hamhuis +6; Jared McCann +6; Alex Biega +4
Even Strength: Dan Hamhuis +6; Alex Biega and Matt Bartkowski +5 each.
The Vancouver Canucks (27 – 34 – 13 = 67 pts) host the Chicago Blackhawks (43 – 25 – 7 = 93 pts) tonight in their third and final meeting of the season. Tonight also marks the first of a two game home stand for the Canucks who take on division rival San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.
Vancouver enters the game in the midst of a 7-game losing streak, and out of the playoffs for the second time in the last three seasons.
In the last Canucks game on March 25, Vancouver lost 4-0 to the St. Louis Blues. The Canucks were shut out for the fourth time in the past five games and extended their winless streak to a season-high seven games. Yannick Weber had three hits. Nikita Tryamkin had three blocked shots. Jacob Markstrom made 33 saves.
This is the second of seven consecutive games the Canucks will play against playoff teams, and their 38th home game of the season.
Ryan Miller starts for Vancover, bringing a 15-22-9 record into the game with a 2.63 GAA and .917 Sv% and 1 shutout, but has lost his last three starts.
Miller’s save percentage during his three-game winless streak (108 saves on 115 shots) is .939, above his season average, but his teammates have only been able to score 3 goals during his winless streak.
Vancouver has the 5th best penalty kill in the NHL since March 1 with a 87.5 percentage (28 for 32), and since March 10 the Canucks have only allowed one power play goal against in 21 opportunities, for 95.2 percent, 3rd best in the NHL in that span.
Canucks are averaging 2.17 goals per game. For an 82 game schedule the estimate is Vancouver will finish with 178 goals. The least number of goals ever scored by a Vancouver team in a full season of 82 games is 192 by the 1998-99 Canucks.
Vancouver needs to average 3.00 goals per game over their last 8 games for a minimum 193 goals, to avoid 2015-16 being the season for the worst offensive production by a Canucks teams in franchise history.
Derek Dorsett and Andrey Pedan will not play tonight, while Alex Biega and Jared McCann enter the line-up.
Injured for Vancouver are: D Christopher Tanev (lower body) and F Markus Granlund (upper body) are day-to-day. D Luca Sbisa (upper body) is week-to-week. F Radim Vrbata (knee) is out for the season. F Brandon Sutter (fractured jaw) and D Alexander Edler (fibula fracture) are on the injured reserve list and are out for the season.
ELLIOTT GETS 3RD CONSECUTIVE SHUTOUT FOR THE BLUES
The Vancouver Canucks came into the state of Missouri tonight to take on the St. Louis Blues on a 6 game losing streak, facing possible elimination from the playoffs, in the final game of their three game road trip.
The Canucks were looking for Lady Luck to smile upon them, along with divine intervention to bless them with a much needed win, in the first of seven straight games against playoff teams.
The Blues were looking for a victory to punch their ticket for the NHL playoffs, their 40th postseason appearance in franchise history and the sixth appearance in the last 11 seasons, and fifth season in a row.
Who would make it a really “Good Friday” with a win tonight?
Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who stopped 47 of 49 shots against the Winnipeg Jets on March 22 and was named the first star of the game, in a 2-0 loss, was making his 7th start of the month, entering the game with a 2-4-0 record, including a .923 Sv% and 2.53 GAA in March.
Markstrom in his previous two starts faced 70 shots, and responded with a .959 Sv% and 1.53 GAA.
Goalie Brian Elliott made his third consecutive start tonight for the Blues, earning two consecutive shutouts, after returning from a lower-body injury that kept him sidelined for 10 games.
Markstrom did his best, stopping 32 of 36 shots, but Vancouver could not get a puck past the Blues goalie and lost 4-0, ending their playoff hopes and extending their losing streak to 7 consecutive games, in the final game of their 3 game road trip.
ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 25: Brian Elliott #1 and Robert Bortuzzo #41 of the St. Louis Blues defend the goal against Alex Burrows #14 of the Vancouver Canucks at the Scottrade Center on March 25, 2016 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/NHLI via Getty Images)
GAME REVIEW
St. Louis would open the scoring on a Canucks turnover on the Blues blue line, resulting on a St. Louis 3-on-1 on Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom, eventually scoring, to make it 1-0 with a shorthanded goal, at 10:51. Kyle Brodziak, his 4rth goal, on a tip-in, assisted by Scottie Upshall (5), with Vancouver on the power play.
The Blues would continue to dominate the period, and would use their well executed puck possession in the Canucks ends to go up by two goals at 15:25, on a wrist shot by Robby Fabbri, his 18 goal, assisted by Paul Stastny (31) and Troy Brouwer (17).
The Canucks would come close in the last minutes of the period to cutting the Blues lead by a goal when Chris Higgins had a great opportunity going in on Blues goalie Brian Elliott all alone but Elliott responded with a superb save.
In the first period:
Canucks out were out shot by the Blues 11-7 and won 10 of 18 face-offs.
Canucks were out hit 8 to 5 by the Blues.
Vancouver power play was 0 for 1, and penalty kill was 1 for 1.
Corsi For:
Even Strength: St. Louis-16; Vancouver-12
All Strengths: Canucks-13; Blues-22
Top Canucks:
All Situations: Jake Virtanen +6; Sven Baertschi +4
Even Strength: Sven Baertschi +5; Jake Virtanen +5
Vancouver had the edge in play in the first five minutes of the second period, establishing time and shots in the Blues end, but were unable to generate any serious scoring chances.
Similar to the Nashville game, shots not plenty in the second period. With 8:53 left in the period, the Blues were out shooting the Canucks 5 to 3, with the Canucks 2 for 7 on face-offs.
With 4:28 left in the period, and the Canucks unable to get the puck out of their end, the Blues took advantage of the flustered Vancouver team, scoring to make it 3-0. Carl Gunnarsson, his 3rd goal of the season, on a slap shot, assisted by Paul Stastny (32) and Robby Fabbri (20) at 15:32.
Period ends with St. Louis up 3-0.
In the second period:
Canucks were out shot by Blues 10 to 6 and won 8 of 16 face-offs.
Canucks were out hit by the Blues 21 to 6.
Corsi For:
Even Strength: St. Louis-16; Vancouver-14
All Strengths: St. Louis-16; Canucks-14
Top Canucks After Two Periods:
All Situations: Daniel Sedin +6; Jake Virtanen +6
Even Strength: Dan Hamhuis +8; Sven Baertschi +6
Vancouver would go into the 3rd period with an uphill battle, with a supposed insurmountable three goal deficit pretty much sealing the end of their playoff hopes, and their losing streak going to seven straight.
The Canucks did not make things easy early in the final period as they would receive two penalties resulting in a two-man advantage for the Blues, giving St. Louis a great opportunity to extend their lead.
Jannick Hansen at eighteen seconds for high sticking and Dan Hamhuis at twenty-three seconds for delay of game, gave the Blues a 5-on-3 for 1:55. The Canucks would end up killing off both penalties, going 3 for 3 in the game on the penalty kill
St. Louis had a 10 to 1 edge in shots going into the last half of the period, with Vancouver unable to generate any offense at all, to cut the Blues lead. Canucks had the edge with face-off wins though, 7 to 6.
The Blues would add another goal to pad their lead at 4-0 at 12:15 when Joel Edmundson would score his first NHL goal, on a slap shot, assisted by Vladimir Tarasenko (30) and Colton Parayko (23.
That is all she wrote, as the Blues clinched a berth in the playoffs and Elliott registered his third consecutive shutout, by a 4-0 score, eliminating Vancouver from the playoff picture.
In the THIRD period:
Canucks out shot by St. Louis 16 to 2 and but won14 of 23 face-offs.
Canucks out hit by St. Louis 4 to 1.
Vancouver penalty kill was 2 for 2 in the period.
Corsi For:
Even Strength: Vancouver-5; St. Louis-25
All Strengths: St. Louis-27; Canucks-5
END OF THE GAME:
Canucks finished with 15 shots, Nashville 37 shots, and won 32 of 57 face-offs.
Canucks had 12 hits to the Blues 33 hits.
Vancouver penalty kill was 3 for 3; power play was 0 for 1.
Corsi For:
Even Strength: Blues-56; Canucks-31
All Strengths: Blues-65; Canucks-32
Top Canucks in game:
All Situations: Daniel Sedin +2; Jake Virtanen +1
Even Strength: Jannick Hansen +2; Daniel Sedin +1; Sven Baertschi +1
The Vancouver Canucks (27-33-13) continued their late season meltdown, losing their 6th consecutive game to the Nashville Predators (38-23-13), 3-2 in a shootout, after the Predators stormed back in the final period in one minute and twelve seconds, forcing an overtime and eventual shootout.
Bo Horvat and Daniel Sedin scored for the Canucks, while Henrik Sedin, Sven Baertschi and Alex Burrows had helpers.
Bo Horvat’s goal ended the Canucks scoring drought that came into the game at 228 minutes without a goal.
Daniel Sedin’s goal was on the power play and ended a 0 for 26 man advantage slump.
Ryan Miller stopped 30 of 32 shots for a .938 Sv%.
Vancouver are now 1-5-1 in their last 7 games and during that stretch, have been shutout three times; lost 6 straight games; have scored only 5 goals, surrendered 17 goals against. They are 1 for 18 on the power play but are 17 for 18 on the penalty kill for 94.4 percent efficiency, good for 5th best in the NHL during that stretch.
Their face-off winning percentage is 46.8 percent in the last 7 games good for 25th in the NHL since March 10, above their season average of 45.2 percent, worst in the NHL.
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 24: Ryan Miller #30 of the Vancouver Canucks deflects a shot wide of the net against the Nashville Predators during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on March 24, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
GAME REVIEW
The Canucks first goal in 234 minutes and 52 seconds opened up the scoring as Bo Horvat scored his 12 goal of the season at 6:52 of the first period, to give Vancouver a 1-0 lead, assisted by Sven Baertschi (13).
Vancouver took the momentum of the opening goal of the game, and continued to press the Predators out-shooting them in the period, 9 to 3, at one point.
The Canucks drew a penalty in front of the Predator net, when Jannick Hansen was hooked by Shea Weber at 14:24, and ended up going up by two goals in the game, 2-0. It was their first power play goal in their last 27 opportunities.
Daniel Sedin, his 27th goal, at 14:39, assisted by Henrik Sedin (40) and Alex Burrows (12), and it only took 15 seconds.
The period would end 2-0 Vancouver.
In the first period:
Canucks out shot Nashville 11-9 and won 14 of 24 face-offs.
Canucks edged the Predators with the physical play, out hitting Nashville 12 to 11.
Vancouver power play was 1 for 2.
Corsi For:
Even Strength: Nashville-20; Vancouver-18
All Strengths: Canucks-22; Predators-20
Top Canucks:
All Situations: Daniel Sedin +6; Henrik Sedin +6
Even Strength: Daniel Sedin +3; Henrik Sedin +3
The Canucks went into the second period having killed 14 of their last 15 penalties in the last 6-games, and need to thank Mike Fisher for increasing it to 15, when Fisher knocked the puck away from entering the Canucks net on Nashville’s first power play of the game, to keep it 2-0 early in the period.
Shots were few entering the last 9:24 of the second frame, with the Predators having 3-shots to 1-shot for the Canucks.
The period would have momentum shifts and the Canucks had a few opportunities to go up by three goals but the period would end, as the first did, 2-0 Vancouver.
In the second period:
Canucks tied Nashville for shots with 6 and won 4 of 15 face-offs.
Canucks matched the Predators with the physical play, with 8 hits each.
Vancouver penalty kill was 1 for 1 in the period.
Corsi For:
Even Strength: Vancouver-16; Nashville-14
All Strengths: Predators-17; Canucks-16
Top Canucks After Two Periods:
All Situations: Daniel Sedin +12; Henrik Sedin +8
Even Strength: Daniel Sedin +9; Henrik Sedin +5
Canucks would try to end a 5-game losing streak entering the 3rd period, and they carried the play in the first five minutes of the period, attempting to increase their lead by three goals.
As the period moved along, the Predators would push back, finally breaking Ryan Miller’s shutout opportunity, scoring two quick goals in a minute and twelve seconds, tying the game at 2-2.
James Neal at 11:56 with his 29 goal, assisted by Colin Wilson (17); and then, Filip Forsberg, his 31 goal, at 13:08, assisted by Mattias Ekholm (25) and Ryan Ellis (21).
What seemed like a sure win, would result in the Canucks continuing to struggle to regain the lead, as Nashville continued to buzz around the Canucks, looking for the go ahead goal.
With time running out, Vancouver was unable to get shots on net, as the Predators forced them to take perimeter shots or dump the puck in the Nashville end.
The third period would end tied 2-2.
In the third period:
Canucks had 8 shots; Nashville 11shots, and won 7 of 12 face-offs.
Canucks edged the Predators with the physical play, 9 to 8 in hits.
Corsi For:
Even Strength: Vancouver-17; Nashville-24
All Strengths: Predators-17; Canucks-24
The overtime period would be exciting as Nashville would press hard, especially when they went into the final two minutes with a power play when Brendan Gaunce received a penalty for holding Shea Weber but the game would be decided by a shootout. Nashville out shot Vancouver 5 to 0 in the OT.
Predators would complete the comeback in the shootout, winning 3-2.
END OF GAME:
Canucks finished with 25 shots, Nashville 32 shots, and won 27 of 55 face-offs.
Canucks edged the Predators with 29 hits to 26 for Nashville.
Vancouver penalty kill was 1 for 1; power play was 1 for 2.
Corsi For:
Even Strength: Nashville-61; Canucks-53
All Strengths: Predators-70; Canucks-57
Top Canucks in game:
All Situations: Daniel Sedin +10; Henrik Sedin +6
Even Strength: Daniel Sedin +7; Brendan Gaunce +5
The Canucks were without D Alex Edler (broken fibula), D Chris Tanev (back), D Luca Sbisa (shoulder), C Brandon Sutter (broken jaw), C Markus Granlund (upper body), RW Radim Vrbata (knee) and LW Derek Dorsett (upper body).
CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff MARCH 28, 2016
CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff MARCH 27, 2016
Andrew Phillip Chernoff 