CANUCKS LOOK FOR CONSECUTIVE WINS ON CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIP
The Vancouver Canucks (2 8-36-13) end their 2-game Californian road trip tonight against the Anaheim Ducks (43-23-10), finishing off their 5-game season series.
Anaheim is 2-0-2 in the previous four games between the two Pacific division rivals.
Vancouver played last night in San Jose, where Jannick Hansen scored the winning goal, his 20th of the season,and picked up an assist, as the Canucks snapped a 9 game “winless” streak (0-8-1).
Daniel Sedin, Bo Horvat, and Markus Granlund had a goal in support, with Alex Burrows and Henrik Sedin earning an assist each. Ryan Miller stopped 32 of 34 shots for a .941 Sv%, in the Canucks first win since March 12 against the Nashville Predators.
Anaheim enters the game on a winning note, defeating the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night 8 to 3.
The Ducks have won five of their last seven games(5-1-1), and are 31-8-4 since Dec. 26, the best record in the NHL. They are one point behind the Los Angeles for top spot in the Pacific Division.
Look for Jacob Markstrom to start in goal for the Canucks, coming off a 4-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.
He is 11-13-4 on the season, with a 2.63 GAA and .917 Sv% with no shutouts.
Markstrom is 2-6-0 in his last 8 games, and has lost his last five starts, through no fault of his own. The Canucks in supporting him have only scored 3 goals and surrendered 16 goals. He has faced 169 shots, stopping 154, for a .911 Sv%, in his five losses.
For the Ducks, John Gibson is expected to get the start. He is 19-11-3 for the season, with a 2.04 GAA and .920 Sv%, with 4 shutouts.
The Vancouver Canucks (28-36-13) faced the San Jose Sharks (43-29-6) in the second of two consecutive games between the two teams, on Thursday night at the SAP Center in San Jose, to finish up their 5-game season series against the Sharks.
San Jose had won three of the previous four games this season between the two Pacific division rivals.
Vancouver entered the game having lost their last 9-games (0-8-1).
In their nine consecutive losses, Vancouver had only 8 goals for, surrendered 28 goals against, and scored only one power goal in nineteen opportunities. Their penalty kill, 5th best in the NHL in that span though entering tonight’s game, at 91.3 percent (21 for 23).
Jannick Hansen scored the winning goal and picked up an assist; Daniel Sedin, Bo Horvat, and Markus Granlund all scored; Alex Burrows and Henrik Sedin had an assist each; Ryan Miller stopped 32 of 34 shots for a .941 Sv%, in the Canucks first win since March 12 against the Nashville Predators.
SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 31: Ryan Miller #30 of the Vancouver Canucks makes a save during their game against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on March 31, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
GAME REVIEW
Daniel Sedin scored 69 seconds into the game, to get Vancouver into the game on the right foot, giving the Canucks an early 1-0 lead; his 28th of the season, assisted by Jannik Hansen (14) and Henrik Sedin (41) at 1:09.
Bo Horvat would make it 2-0 Canucks at 13:55 of the period with the Sharks dominating the game. Horvat’s 13th goal of the season, unassisted.
SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 31: Bo Horvat #53 of the Vancouver Canucks scores a goal on Martin Jones #31 of the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on March 31, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Vancouver got the first man advantage opportunity of the game when Ben Hutton was tripped by Melker Karlsson at 14:21. Canucks were unable to score.
one power play goal in their last thirty-three opportunities for 3.03 percent, going back to March 7 against the Los Angeles Kings. Their only power play goal coming against the Nashville Predators on March 25.
San Jose would get their first power play, right after the Canucks did, when Henrik Sedin would be sent off for holding the stick of Joonas Donskoi at 17:09. Canucks would kill it off.
Vancouver 23 for 24 on the penalty kill in last 11 games (including tonight), for 95.8 percent success.
Canucks would finish the first period with a 2-0 lead having been dominated otherwise by the home team.
In the first period:
Vancouver out shot by San Jose 13-10 and won 7 of 23 face-offs.
Canucks out hit by Sharks 9 to 5.
Vancouver face-off leaders: Markus Granlund-0 for 3; Bo Horvat-3 for 9; Brendan Gaunce-2 for 3; Henrik Sedin-2 for 7.
Alex Burrows and Ben Hutton: 2 shots each.
Matt Bartkowski, Emerson Etem and Alex Biega: 2 hits each
Vancouver power play 0 for 1; penalty kill 1 for 1
Canucks TOI: Dan Hamhuis-8:33; Bo Horvat-6:33; Emerson Etem-6:41; Chris Tanev-7:49; Ben Hutton-6:18; Matt Bartkowski-6:03
Teams Corsi For:
Even Strength: Vancouver-16; Sharks-12
All Strengths: Canucks-21; San Jose-17
Top Canucks:
All Situations: Daniel Sedin +8; Henrik Sedin +7; Alex Burrows, Ben Hutton and Ryan Miller- +4 each
Even Strength: Daniel Sedin +5; Henrik Sedin, Alex Burrows, and Ryan Miller- +4 each
Entering the the second period, Canucks announced that Sven Baertschi was unable to play the rest of the game due to a lower body injury.
With 14:36 to go in the period, Canucks were being out shot 4 to 1 and continuing to struggle on face-offs as San Jose were pressing to get their first goal.
Canucks would be shorthanded again as Jared McCann would be penalized for hooking Chris Tierney at the 6-minute mark, giving the Sharks a great opportunity to pull within a goal, but as Vancouver has been doing of late, the Sharks were held scoreless.
Vancouver would be back on the power play at 11:30 of the period when dylan DeMelo would get a minor for interference on Emerson Etem. Vancouver would get four shots with the man advantage but no goal and would be 0 for 2 in the game.
Canucks found it hard to stay out of the penalty box in the middle frame. Jannik Hansen would get caught slashing Logan Couture at 13:55, putting the Sharks back on the power play.
San Jose would finally get a power play goal, from Patrick Marleau at 14:30, his 22nd goal of the season, assisted by Joe Thornton (58) and Brent Burns (45), to make it 2-1 Canucks.
Vancouver would give San Jose their third power play late in the period, with Alex Biega sent off for slashing Tommy Wingels at 18:30.
The Sharks would lose their man advantage when Joe Pavelski would get a minor for tripping at 19:00.
Vancouver would barely escape the second period with a lead, but they did, 2 to 1.
In the second period:
Vancouver were out shot by San Jose 13 to 9 and won 13 of 21 face-offs.
Canucks out hit by Sharks 8 to 5.
Vancouver penalty kill was 2 for 3; power play 0 for 1
Canucks face-off leaders: Markus Granlund-3 for 5; Bo Horvat-4 for 5; Brendan Gaunce-2 for 2; Henrik Sedin-4 for 8.
Vancouver Time On Ice: Alex Biega-6:33; Dan Hamhuis-7:11; Yannick Weber-7:16; Chris Tanev-6:39; Ben Hutton-6:04; Henrik Sedin-6:35; Matt Bartkowski-7:09; Markus Granlund-6:41
Teams Corsi For:
Even Strength: San Jose-18; Vancouver-9
All Strengths: Sharks-25; Canucks-19
Top Canucks After Two Periods:
All Situations: Daniel Sedin +9; Henrik Sedin +7; Alex Burrows, Brendan Gaunce- +4 each
Even Strength: Brendan Gaunce +5; Alex Burrows +3; Emerson Etem and Chris Higgins- +2 each
Vancouver holding a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes, and were inching closer to snapping their 9-game losing streak.
Both teams started the period 4-on-4, and the Canucks were unable to score with their short time on the power play, so the Canucks continued the period 0 for 3 on their power play that was hard to imagine being any worse.
Vancouver was holding their own in the period tied with the Sharks with two shots apiece and 4 for 6 on face-offs, and getting plenty of action in the Sharks end, with 10:16 left in the period.
Logan Couture would score his 4rth goal in consecutive games against the Canucks, his 14 goal of the season at 10:58, assisted by Brent Burns (46) and Joonas Donskoi (24), to even up the game at 2-2.
Jannick Hansen would score on a 2-on-1, and take a hard slap shot that would score, blowing it by Martin Jones, his 20th of the season, to put Vancouver back into the lead, 3 to 2. Unassisted.
SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 31: Jannik Hansen #36 of the Vancouver Canucks scores a goal in the third period against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on March 31, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The good turn would continue as Vancouver would be rewarded with their 4rth power play of the game with four minutes left in the game, and a chance to go up by two goals. Instead they were happy to skate around with the puck and have seconds tick off the clock.
The Sharks took advantage of the lack of interest by Vancouver on their power play and put a 6th attacker on the ice with two minutes left.
With under a minute left, Markus Granlund would negate an icing, grab the puck and eventually score an empty net goal, to give Vancouver an insurance goal, with a 4-2 lead.
Granlund, his 6th goal of the season, assisted by Alex Burrows (13) at 19:39.
Vancouver win, and snap their winless streak at 9-games.
In the third period:
Vancouver was out shot by San Jose 8 to 7 and only won 9 of 20 face-offs.
Canucks out hit Sharks 13 to 7.
Vancouver power play was 0 for 1
Canucks Time On Ice: Dan Hamhuis-6:34; Daniel Sedin-6:27; Henrik Sedin- 7:18; Chris Tanev-7:50; Ben Hutton-8:02; Matt Bartkowski-8:05
Teams Corsi For:
Even Strength: Vancouver-13; San Jose-14
All Strengths: Sharks-18; Canucks-19
End Of The Game:
Vancouver finished with 26 shots, San Jose 34 shots, and Canucks won 29 of 64 face-offs.
Vancouver had 17 hits to the Sharks 39 hits.
Canucks penalty kill was 3 for 4; power play was 0 for 4.
Vancouver Time On Ice: Ben Hutton-20:24; Dan Hamhuis-22:18; Matt Bartkowski-21:17; Chris Tanev-22:18
Teams Corsi For:
Even Strength: Sharks-44; Canucks-38
All Strengths: San Jose-60; Vancouver-59
Top Canucks in game:
All Situations: Daniel Sedin +9; Alex Burrows +7; Henrik Sedin +6;Brendan Gaunce +5
Even Strength: Alex Burrows +6; Brendan Gaunce +5; Emerson Etem and Chris Higgins- +2 each
The Vancouver Canucks (27-36-13) face the San Jose Sharks (43-28-6) in the second of two consecutive games between the two teams, on Thursday night at the SAP Center in San Jose, to finish up their 5-game season series against the Sharks.
VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 29: Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks and Brendan Gaunce #50 of the Vancouver Canucks watch the puck in front of Tomas Hertl #48 of the Sharks during their NHL game at Rogers Arena March 29, 2016 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
San Jose has won three of the previous four games this season between the two Pacific division rivals.
The Sharks won at Rogers Place on Tuesday night with a 4-1 victory, with Logan Couture breaking a 1-1 tie, and scoring three consecutive goals, for his first career hat trick. Joe Pavelski had the other San Jose goal and James Reimer made 23 saves.
VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 29: Logan Couture #39 of the San Jose Sharks holds the puck representing his first NHL hat trick scored during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena March 29, 2016 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. San Jose won 4-1. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
Chris Higgins scored shorthanded and Jacob Markstrom made 27 saves for the Canucks, who have lost their last 9-games (0-8-1).
In their nine consecutive losses, Vancouver has only 8 goals for, surrendered 28 goals against, and scored only one power goal in nineteen opportunities. Their penalty kill is 6th best in the NHL in that span though, at 91.3 percent (21 for 23).
Vancouver is tied with the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs for the least amount of points in the NHL.
VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 29: Jacob Markstrom #25 of the Vancouver Canucks makes a save while Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks and Yannick Weber #6 of the Canucks pursue the rebound during their NHL game at Rogers Arena March 29, 2016 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. San Jose won 4-1. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
Expect goalie Ryan Miller to be the starter against the Sharks. Miller is 1-5-1 in his last 7 game starts, with a 2.74 GAA and a .921 Sv%.
Miller is winless in his last four starts however, going 0-3-1 with 10 goals against, and is looking to bounce back against the Sharks, if he gets the start.
He has faced 147 shots, making 137 saves, for a .932 Sv%, while Vancouver has only supported him with 4 goals scored, in his four consecutive losses.
Vancouver Hopes To Snap 9-Game Winning Streak Of Sharks At Rogers Arena
The Vancouver Canucks are looking to play the role of streak breakers tonight as they host Pacific division rivals San Jose Sharks, hoping to snap a 9-game winning streak of the Sharks at Rogers Arena dating back to March 5, 2013 (7 regular season + 2 playoffs), at Rogers Place, and in doing so, ending their 8-game losing streak.
San Jose is looking to improve its postseason positioning this week with two games against the Canucks starting tonight in Vancouver, and on Thursday in San Jose, after clinching a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs on Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings with a 5-2 win.
Markus Granlund, who has missed the last seven games with an upper-body injury, is expected to return tonight while Linden Vey is a healthy scratch.
According to the Canucks website, look for Jacob Markstrom to be between the pipes for Vancouver.
Markstrom is 2-5-0 in his last seven games, and has lost his last four starts, through no fault of his own. The Canucks only scored 2 goals and surrendered 12 goals; Markstrom facing 139 shots, stopping 127, for a .914 Sv%, in those four consecutive losses.
Injured for Vancouver: D Christopher Tanev (lower body) and F Derek Dorsett (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.
Emails unsealed by a U.S. federal court in Minneapolis revealed NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in September 2011 that fighting in hockey leads to more brain injuries, including “personal tragedies,” according to a TSN report.
Daly was responding to an email from commissioner Gary Bettman, sent to Daly and then-player-safety executive Brendan Shanahan. Bettman was commenting on a Globe and Mail article Shanahan sent the other two with the headline “Getting rid of hockey’s goons.” Three NHL enforcers, Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien and Wade Belak, all died during a span of less than four months in 2011.
“Do you remember what happened when we tried to eliminate the staged fights?” Bettman emailed to Daly and Shanahan on Sept. 3, 2011, according to TSN. “The ‘fighters’ objected and so did the pa [NHLPA]. Eliminating fighting would mean eliminating the jobs of the ‘fighters’, meaning that these guys would not have NHL careers. An interesting question is whether being an NHL fighter does this to you (I don’t believe so) or whether a certain type of person (who wouldn’t otherwise be skilled enough to be an NHL player) gravitates to this job (I believe more likely).”
“I tend to think its a little bit of both,” Daly responded in an email the NHL sought to keep sealed. “Fighting raises the incidence of head injuries/concussions, which raises the incidence of depression onset, which raises the incidence of personal tragedies.”
Bettman then replied that he believed “the fighting and possible concussions could aggravate a condition. But if you think about the tragedies there were probably certain predispositions. Again, though, the bigger issue is whether the [NHLPA]would consent to in effect eliminate a certain type of ‘role’ and player. And, if they don’t, we might try to do it anyway and take the ‘fight’ (pun intended).”
Shanahan then wrote that the previous NHLPA regime would be against that. He also said that while fighters used to aspire to rise above the fourth line, now those players train to be fighters.
The fighters used to ingest alcohol or cocaine to deal with their role, Shanahan said, but “now they take pills. Pills to sleep. Pills to wake up. Pills to ease the pain. Pills to amp up. Getting them online.”
The discussion contradicts the NHL’s public stance on the dangers of concussions. Last year, Bettman tried to downplay the link between concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE.) This month at the NHL general managers’ meeting, after NFL safety executive Jeff Miller admitted a link between CTE and football, Bettman said “I think it’s fairly clear that playing hockey isn’t the same as playing football.”
After former players filed suit against the NHL in September 2013 alleging the league covered up knowledge of the long-term effects of head trauma, the NHL hired Edelman Berland, a market-research company, to find out how fans perceive violence in the NHL compared to the NFL.
In response to Michael Berland, the market-research company’s chief executive, NHL executive vice president of communications Gary Meagher described the NFL’s concern for player safety as “smoke and mirrors”
Meagher also wrote “The nhl has never been in the business of trying to make the game safer at all levels and we have never tried to sell the fact that this is who we are… The question is: should we be in that business and if we were, what could we possibly achieve without throwing millions of dollars at education.”
He later added that the NHL doesn’t see selling safety “as an important part of our mandate.”
CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff April 1, 2016
Andrew Phillip Chernoff 