Vancouver Canucks Week #15 Outlook, Predictions: Last Big Trip

@ Washington Capitals (32-7-3) Thursday, January 14th

Leading scorer: Nicklas Backstrom (13 goals, 41 points)

Keys to the game

1. Shut Ovi down
2. Get everything on Holtby
3. Discipline
4. PRAY BEFORE THE GAME
5. Don’t watch the game

If the Canucks survive a Panthers showdown, they will have great momentum going into this one, the first of a six-game Eastern road trip, the last one of its kind this season.

If you thought the Panthers’ defence was good, think again.

More from The Canuck Way

• Which team won the Bo Horvat trade?
• What to expect from newcomers Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Räty
• Back to the future: How the skate uniforms became a regular Canucks’ feature night
• Canucks kick off 2023 with disappointing 6-2 loss to Islanders
• 2nd period penalty trouble sinks Canucks in 4-2 loss against Winnipeg

Here I present to you Alex Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals, with the league’s second best defence (2.15 goals against per game) and the second best offence (3.17 goals for per game). What does that translate to? The top team in the NHL with 67 points in 42 games — on pace for nearly 130 points on the season.

Let’s all take a deep breath and thank the NHL for letting the Canucks see them just twice a year.

So, here is the obvious. Get Ovi off the score board — the “Great 8’s” week started on Sunday with his 500th career goal and it will be a given to keep Horvi on Ovi at all times throughout the game. Maybe we don’t need to worry about him seeing how the team has shut down Stamkos one multiple occasions this season. Nevertheless, Ovi is never not a threat.

Also, Braden Holtby is putting himself in the mix for a Vezina running with a spectacular season. A .932 save percentage and a 1.93 goals-against average? Find ANY WAY to beat him, I pray. There is chance though, but it might have to come from the Sedins who have cooled off recently.

If the Canucks ever get frustrated, expect them to lose big-time. Penalties are a no-no this Thursday, as Washington boasts the league’s second-best power play, which scores more than 25 percent of the time.

The Canucks might be better off not trying to win this game, to actually win a winnable game in Carolina the next day.

Our Predictions

Again, I am going into the pray-and-duck protocol. Might get ugly… Again, still hope that Sedins have a star night and the youngsters just rock the night, right?

Janik Beichler:

Next: at Carolina