The Vancouver Canucks attempt to snap an eight-game losing streak when they face John Tavares’ New York Islanders.
The Vancouver Canucks are in desperate need of a win, no matter how it comes.
After a promising 4-0 start, they’ve lost their last eight games, scoring a total of just 10 goals during the slump. They’re coming off a disappointing 6-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Vancouver ranks dead-last in goals per game with 1.6. The goaltenders have been hung out to dry for much of the season. The Canucks are allowing 2.8 goals per game, which puts them at 18th-overall in the league.
The Islanders have struggled after a promising 2015-16 playoff season. They sit at just 4-6-2. Only the Carolina Hurricanes are behind them in the Eastern Conference standings.
New York and Vancouver split the season series last year.
Home Team
New York Islanders:
2016-17 Record: 4-6-2
Home Record: 4-3-2
2015-16 Record vs. (Opponent): 1-0-1
Goals For: 33
Goals Against: 38
Power Play: 11.4 (24th)
Penalty Kill: 78.3 (24th)
Leading Scorers: John Tavares (12 GP -– 5G-5A -11PTS), Brock Nelson (12GP –- 3G – – 6A-–9 PTS), Dennis Seidenberg (12GP -– 4G – – 4A -– 8PTS).
Injuries: Travis Hamonic (broken thumb, four weeks,) Mathew Barzal (illness, healthy scratch on Saturday)
WHO’’S ON OFFENCE:
John Tavares: The Islanders captain is off to another blistering start with ten points through 12 games. While the Islanders aren’t scoring much on their second and third lines, Tavares is once again shining for a team that’s struggling early.
Brock Nelson: Nelson’s nine points trail only Tavares for the team lead. Nelson has been a quality no. 2 centre, but he often gets overlooked because of Tavares’ stardom.
WHO’’S ON DEFENCE:
Dennis Seidenberg: After being bought out by the Boston Bruins this summer, Seidenberg has found a new home in Brooklyn. He already has eight points and a plus-10 rating.
WHO’’S IN NET:
Jaroslav Halak: Halak has been outplayed by backup Thomas Greiss for most of the season. The former has gone 2-3-2 with a 2.92 GAA and .905 save percentage.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Josh Bailey — John Tavares — — Cal Clutterbuck
Shane Prince — Ryan Strome— — Alan Quine
Anders Lee — Brock Nelson — Jason Chimera
Andrew Ladd — Casey Cizikas — Nikolay Kulemin
Nick Leddy — Adam Pelech
Thomas Hickey — Johnny Boychuk
Calvin de Haan — Dennis Seidenberg
Jaroslav Halak
Thomas Greiss
Vancouver Canucks
OVERVIEW:
2016-17 Record: 4-7-1
Away Record: 0-4-1
2015-16 Record vs. (Opponent): 1-1
Goals For: 20
Goals Against: 34
Power Play: 7.7 %, 30th.
Penalty Kill: 84.8% 10th.
Leading Scorers: Henrik Sedin (12GP – –4G — –2A ––6PTS), Jannik Hansen (12GP –– 2G –– 4A ––6 PTS), Brandon Sutter (12GP — –1G — – 5A –– 6PTS).
Injuries: Jannik Hansen (shoulder, on IR), Alexander Edler (upper body, day-to-day), Chris Tanev (lower body, indefinite), Jayson Megna (week-to-week), Anton Rodin (day-to-day).
WHO’’S ON OFFENCE:
Henrik Sedin: The captain leads the team in scoring (what else is new.) But six points through 12 games isn’t characteristic for Hank. Still, he’s the only one consistently providing scoring chances.
Brandon Sutter: Because he’s on a struggling team, nobody is noticing how much shutdown hockey Sutter is playing. He’s third in scoring on the team as well.
WHO’’S ON DEFENCE:
Erik Gudbranson: He’s been a solid stay-at-home defenceman, and will be called upon more with Alex Edler and Chris Tanev banged up.
WHO’’S IN NET:
Ryan Miller: He’d like to forget a disappointing effort on Saturday against Toronto. Miller has been lackluster at best, winning just one of his six starts this season.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Daniel Sedin — Henrik Sedin — Loui Eriksson
Markus Granlund — Brandon Sutter — Sven Baertschi
Alex Burrows — Bo Horvat— — Jake Virtanen
Michael Chaput — Brendan Gaunce — Derek Dorsett
Ben Hutton — Erik Gudbranson
Luca Sbisa — Philip Larsen
Troy Stecher — Nikita Tryamkin
Ryan Miler
Jacob Markstrom