Feb 13, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ben Hutton (27) battles for the puck against Toronto Maple Leafs forward Peter Holland (24) during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Toronto Maple Leafs won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ben Hutton (27) battles for the puck against Toronto Maple Leafs forward Peter Holland (24) during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Toronto Maple Leafs won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /
After the Vancouver Canucks were handed a loss by the tanking Toronto MarlieLeafs, has tanking become a greater reality for you?
Week 19 didn’t end so well for the Vancouver Canucks. But the way this season has gone, it can be only so suiting that Bo Horvat got injured blocking a shot against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Guess what. The top three Canuck centremen have gone down with injuries this season now. Without their top defenceman in Alex Edler for another half a dozen weeks, is #tanknation also becoming a reality for the Canucks?
The three games this week will tell the fate of the Canucks, who have just six games remaining before the 2016 NHL Trade Deadline. Here are the three storylines to follow this week.
The 19-year-old rookie centreman showed some edgy flare during the game on Saturday, channelling his inner Ryan Kesler once again. Fitting that the Anaheim Ducks are in town this week, eh? With Brandon Sutter out for the next two months and Horvat uncertain for Monday McCann now becomes the number two centreman.
Is he able? This is the greatest challenge for him yet. Unlike the time when captain Henrik was out, McCann won’t have Daniel Sedin and Jannik Hansen as his wingers.
Dan Hamhuis has been a welcomed addition to the Canucks lineup, in time for Edler’s departure. He also had to hand the broken jaw voodoo to Mr. Sutter. Regardless, it gives Hamhuis a big chance to up his value. Is he going to sell for a first-round pick? Is he leaving at all? Those questions will be answered in the next six games, half of which happens this week. Keep an eye on him and the market.
3. Lineup Changes
Jacob Markstrom is scheduled to start this week, and 25-year-old Alex Friesen is slotted to make his NHL debut as well. With Yannick Weber potentially coming off of the first powerplay unit, Alex Biega likely reclaims his number six role on the blueline. Keep an eye on the pending free agents, should they surface in trade negotiations and become a late scratch for Jim Benning‘s club.
With that, here is the Week #30 Outlook and Predictions from the staff here from The Canuck Way. Enjoy!
Next: Home vs. Minnesota
vs. Minnesota Wild (23-22-10) Monday, February 15th
Historically speaking, the Vancouver Canucks have no reason to lose on Monday against the Minnesota Wild.
Contextually speaking, the Canucks have potentially every reason to lose as they play host to Minnesota. Boom, point one against the Canucks — they are home. The Canucks are 9-11-5 at home, the latest loss coming to the Toronto Marlie Leafs.
If that game against Toronto was a potential Auston Matthews love fest, this match against the Wild is a playoffs struggle fest. The Wild have fallen to equal terms with the Canucks, as both find themselves with 56 points through 55 games. Both tied with the Arizona Coyotes as the best teams outside the playoff picture, the Canucks will do themselves a four-point favour by winning this game and inching closer to the West Wild Cards.
After eight straight losses, the Wild find themselves playing for a new bench boss. Mike Yeo was relieved of his duties following the Saturday loss to the Boston Bruins. Interim coach John Torchetti will now test his luck with the squad that made waves signing Zack Parise and Ryan Suter a few years back. The team will be excited to start on a fresh slate with a new coach. The coach will want his first win. Beware, Vancouver, the Wild may go wild in Vancouver.
Lastly, there is no reason for the Canucks to lose this one. They have beat the Wild at the Excel Energy Centre earlier this season. Of course, the Canucks were embarrassed a month later. But with Jacob Markstrom set to start this match, the Canucks can believe in themselves that their latest record playing for the 25-year-old netminder can continue trending in the right direction.
The Canucks are 5-0-1 in Markstrom’s past six starts. The Wild are 1-7-2 in their past 10 and are 9-12-6 on the road this season. There is a reason that the Wild had to fire Yeo. There is a reason why Markstrom has such a good record lately. Is there a reason that the Canucks will win on Monday?
Alex Friesen will be making his NHL debut. Could he make a difference? It is time the Canucks found themselves another kid to cheer about.
Predictions
For a Vancouver win:
3. 104. 1. 98. Final
Sarah: Both teams have struggled of late but I think it will be the Canucks with a much better effort after that Toronto debacle.
Steve: Predicting Markstrom with his 1st S/O. For whatever reason Nucks play better when Markstrom is in net.
For a Minnesota win:
1. 104. 2. 98. Final
Janik: With Mike Yeo gone, the Wild will be extra motivated while Vancouver’s lineup is still terrible.
Me: It will be hard-fought, but ultimately the Canucks will collapse in front of Markstrom. Maybe another injury? Welcome to the NHL, Friesen.
Next: Home vs. Anaheim
vs. Anaheim Ducks (27-19-8) Thursday, February 18th
The Anaheim Ducks are 8-1-1 in their past 10. After a disappointing season, they seem to have traded souls with the Montreal Canadiens.
A large part of that turn-around can be seen in Ryan Kesler, who now has 27 points. He will love to break the heart and soul of the Canucks and especially their rookies. Jared McCann has a huge assignment here, should Bo Horvat not return from his injury by this game. McCann showed that he can play a Kesler type of game when he turned up his physicality on Saturday.
It was as if he is telling the vets to man up and play an NHL game — a man’s game. If the Canucks want to have any chance of winning, they will need to heed to McCann’s words. Especially without Brandon Prust in their lineup, everyone has to toughen up for Thursday’s home game.
Dictating the faceoffs is always a key. Possession off the faceoffs leads to zone entries, zone entries lead to shots and scoring chances, and those offensive chances give the blueline a chance to change, which is especially important when playing the tough California teams who will drill the Canucks’ defenders through the boards.
The Ducks are one of the best in the league in faceoffs (51.4 percent win rate) and the Canucks are the worst (45.4 percent). Find some way to win those draws, dictate possession, and tire out the Ducks. After all, they are playing Vancouver as the last stop on their seven-game road trip.
If the Canucks are worried about conserving energy for the second of the back-to-back on Friday against a more winnable opponent, that is also a plan. For some last hopeful words, take solace in the Ducks road record — an even 11-11-4.
Predictions
For a Vancouver win:
105. Final. 2. 104. 3
Dave: Closest thing to a win the Canucks will manage is a loser’s point. Again, another Canuck might get injured.
For an Anaheim win:
1. 104. 3. 105. Final
Janik: The Ducks look more and more like a legitimate playoff team. The Canucks… Don’t.
Steve: Miller back in net. Canucks can’t contain Getzlaf.
Sarah: It will be a tough fought game as it has been all year against these division rivals.
Next: Away @ Calgary
@ Calgary Flames (25-26-3) Friday, February 19th
Leading scorer: Johnny Gaudreau (21 goals, 51 points)
Keys to the game:
Obviously. Revenge.
Powerplay has to revive itself
Sedins need to revive themselves
Whenever the Canucks roll into the Saddledome of the Calgary Flames, it is a tough match to win. It is a revenge for last year’s playoff humiliation and a reminder that it can, and probably, happen again this year. The question is not much different when it comes to tanking. If the Canucks lose all three games of the week, the team is setting up nicely to worship Mr. Matthews.
But more recently, the #tanknation talk heated up thanks to the most recent loss to the Flames. The team had every reason to win that night, home in Rogers Arena. But with Alex Edler and Brandon Sutter out, this might be uglier if the Canucks don’t step up against their former Northwest Division rivals and their current Pacific Division foes.
The powerplay which has just one goal in almost 20 attempts will have to come alive. What better team to play than the second worst team in the league on the PK? The Flames are successful just 75 percent on the time on the penalty kill. Time for the PP to come alive.
For your information, the three worst PK teams of the NHL are all Canadian — Ottawa, Calgary, and Winnipeg.
And remember the very first game of the season against the Flames? Sutter and the Twins just dominated them. Where have the Sedins been lately? Nowhere. The Sedins will also have to revive their play against an old Albertan foe. Alberta used to be the Sedins’ stomping grounds…
The Canucks are going to be tired after a home game against the Anaheim Ducks just a day before. This could really get ugly.
Predictions
For a Vancouver win:
104. Final. 2. 112. 3
Sarah: Canucks will be looking to avenge their last game against the flames and surprise many by finding their offensive stride.
Janik: Can’t lose everything, eh?
Steve: Payback.
For a Calgary win:
Final. 4. 112. 2. 104
Me: Saddledome will choke the Canucks once more unless Markstrom can make something happen for Vancouver.
Next: The Bottomline
Feb 13, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer (34) makes a save as Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin (22) stands in front of the net during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /
Week 20: The Bottomline
This week does not look so good in my opinion. The Sedins are dormant, essentially everyone is invisible (save the netminders), and even the kids are getting hurt. The hockey gods are telling the Canucks to step back from the playoffs — through injuries and slumps of all sorts.
How much fuel do the Canucks have left in them? Is there enough left in the tank to really “tank”?
This week, I will be exploring everything there is to “tanking”. How can the Vancouver Canucks tank? What does tanking bring? Do the Canucks have the right environment to tank? I will do everything I can to get to the bottom of this tanking business.
But again, I will remain neutral on whether the Canucks should tank or not. For now.
What I know is that if the Canucks lose all three of the games this week, there needs to be a serious movement towards the bottom of the standings. But the NHL is a thirty-team league where anyone can win on any given night. That is why we have these outlooks and predictions.
And that is also why we would like to thank you for enjoying another weekly edition of Outlook and Predictions. Enjoy Week #20 folks, and check back regularly for the verdict on tanking.
