vs. Carolina Hurricanes (16-17-5) Wednesday, January 6th
Leading scorer: Justin Faulk (14 goals, 30 points)
Keys to the game
- Welcome them home
- Everything to the net
- Dictate possession
The season’s first meeting between the two clubs will mean that another former Canuck goes to the visitor’s locker room. Eddie Lack‘s post-Canuck season has been terrible to date, and Vancouver’s post-Lack season has been just as bad. Maybe having Lack back in the city works wonders for the Canucks. After all, Vancouver does lack some things to laugh about.
Speaking of laughing. Welcome back, Jake Virtanen.
More from Canucks News
- Canucks are in “wash, rinse, repeat” mode after Monday’s 5-1 loss
- Canucks send Jack Rathbone and Vasily Podkolzin down to Abbotsford
- Canucks acquire Ethan Bear, Lane Pederson from Carolina
- Brock Boeser, Curtis Lazar placed on injury reserve
- Canucks officially unveil Reverse Retro jersey in latest aesthetic change
Virtanen is likely to suit up for this game after Team Canada was eliminated yesterday from World Juniors action. Since the last time Lack and Virtanen had suited up for Vancouver, both of them have struggled mightily. Maybe this game will turn out to be an emotional relief for the Canucks and Virtanen.
But for that to be true, the Canucks will have to win. Though Carolina’s record is nothing to be intimidated by, their stats certainly are. They are league leaders in faceoff winning percentage and will face the Canucks, the worst faceoff team in the league. Carolina has allowed the fewest shots against of all NHL teams, averaging just 26.2 shots against per game.
That being said, should the Canucks throw a ton of pucks on net, Carolina’s net will give way. Starter Cam Ward has a .900 save percentage while Lack’s is at.891. There is hope, should the Canucks get pucks on net after they retrieve possession from a lost faceoff.
After all, the Canes played Lack in net Saturday against the Nashville Predators. Unlikely that he starts against Vancouver, so if the Canucks want to shoot some pucks at Eddie, they will have to run Cam Ward out of the game. That would be something nice to do for Lack, the team, and the city of Vancouver.
Next: vs. Lightning