Vancouver Canucks: Week 5 Preview and Predictions

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Apr 1, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Vancouver Canucks coach Willie Desjardins reacts during an NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center. The Canucks defeated the Ducks 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

The Vancouver Canucks dropped the first three games of their six-game road trip last week. TCW previews and predicts the last three.

It’s hard to gauge the mood of the Vancouver Canucks right now.

On the one hand, they’ve lost eight straight games. They’ve only managed 10 goals in that span.

At the same time, the players don’t seem to be panicking. When they give interviews they aren’t whining, or shifting blame. It doesn’t seem like they are despairing.

Instead, they just seem more determined. They don’t believe the season is lost; they just believe.

We can debate whether this Canucks roster is built to win. And we can agree or disagree with the approach Jim Benning is taking in rebuilding the team.

Either way, you cannot question the camaraderie the team has built this year. Certainly not after the team takes 96 minutes in penalties trying to fight every Toronto Maple Leafs player in sight.

So here we are. The team is stuck at nine points, the same number they had two weeks ago. But the players are still acting like they don’t know it.

Good for them. They may need to come together even more now. The team has already lost top two defensemen Alexander Edler and Chris Tanev. Now it looks like they’ll have to live without Jannik Hansen:

Hearing jannik Hansen Could be on IR now. If so, add it to the list of reasons Canucks front office should have wanted to be fined today.
— Jason Botchford (@botchford) November 6, 2016

Replacing Hansen is an interesting quandary for Willie Desjardins. Will he stick Loui Eriksson back on the top line? Will he promote Jake Virtanen?

Keep an eye on the lineup card during the coming week.

Jan 17, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Vancouver Canucks goalie Ryan Miller (30) makes a save on a shot by New York Islanders right wing Kyle Okposo (21) during shooout at Barclays Center. Vancouver Canucks won 2-1 in shootout. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

Monday, Nov. 7: Canucks @ New York Islanders

The New York Islanders can’t seem to get any momentum going.

More from The Canuck Way

Like the Canucks, the team expected to compete this season. Right now, though, they are second last in the Eastern conference, with only 10 points.

The similarities to the Canucks don’t end there. They also signed a big-ticket free agent winger in the offseason. Andrew Ladd‘s first month with the his new team is going even worse than Loui Eriksson’s. Ladd has only one assist through twelve games.

On paper, the Isles are the better team. But they’ve lost three straight games. Perhaps the Canucks can take advantage of them.

Predictions:

Alex Hoegler:

1. 104. 4. 106. Final

The Canucks have won three out of their last four matchups against the Islanders. Both teams have been colossal disasters for several weeks, however. But the Canucks can’t score. The Isles have John Tavares, Ryan Strome, Andrew Ladd and Brock Nelson. That’s the difference in a 4-1 Islanders victory.

Gerald Morton:

4. 104. 5. 106. Final

My hockey pools need Tavares to be excellent this year. My heart, and pools, need the Sedins to be, at least, good again. So far, meh. This game will turn around the fortunes of each club. The Isles will win. But the Canucks will finally break out of their scoring slump, at least for a night. And Tavares will score 4 goals to remind everyone he is really, really good.

Jeff Godley:

104. 2. 106. Final. 4

I’m going all-in on this one. The Isles are struggling. But Vancouver has also played some awful road games against the Islanders in recent years.

But I think the loss in Toronto may have lit a spark in this team. They squeezed out three goals. Every Canuck seemed to get involved in a scrum. They may have found the emotional lift they need to steal a game. This is it.

Jan 19, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers left wing Rick Nash (61) looks to pass the puck defended by Vancouver Canucks center Bo Horvat (53) during the first period of an NHL hockey game at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Canucks 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Tuesday, Nov. 8: Canucks @ New York Rangers

Someone forgot to tell the New York Rangers their window had closed.

They were supposed to be offensively challenged this year, with a weak defense and an aging goalie whom they relied on too much.

So much for that. The Rangers are crushing the league right now. They’ve rattled off 10 wins in 13 games. And they lead the league in goal-scoring, with 55 — the next-closest team has 47.

Preventing goals hasn’t been a problem so far, either. They’ve only allowed 29, good for eighth in goals-against. Henrik Lundqvist is his usual self.

Incidentally, former Canuck Michael Grabner leads them in goals.

Like the other New York team, the Rangers have gone off-script this season. Unlike the Islanders, it’s working to their benefit.

Predictions:

Alex:

95. Final. 2. 104. 3

Canucks fans always feel emotional about visits to MSG, given the historic seven-game series for the Stanley Cup 22 years ago. But the Rangers have exceeded expectations thus far. Henrik Lundqvist is still on top of his game, while Derek Stepan and Rick Nash are carrying a loaded offence. Bad news for the Canucks.

Gerald:

1. 104. 3. 95. Final

The Rangers are a dangerous and high scoring offensive team. I doubt it is sustainable, but they should be able to push around the Canucks and score a few goals. The Canucks will score one, or two, but King Henrik will keep the Rangers awful defense from looking as bad as it is.

Jeff:

104. 5. 95. Final. 2

After an emotional win, the Canucks won’t have much left in the tank for this game. They’ll manage two goals, but will be overwhelmed by a deeper Rangers team.

Dec 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Henrik Zetterberg (40) skates with the puck chased by Vancouver Canucks left wing Daniel Sedin (22) in the third period at Joe Louis Arena. Vancouver won 4-3 in a overtime shootout. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Thursday, Nov. 10: Canucks @ Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings have not missed the playoffs in a quarter-century.

Detroit will have tough time stretching that impressive streak to 26 years. Right now the Wings are in a four-way tie for the last wildcard spot in the East.

They’ve also lost three straight games.

Pavel Datsyuk left for the KHL in the offseason. After claiming the starting job last year, goalie Petr Mrazek has struggled so far. Meanwhile, former starter Jimmy Howard has posted stellar numbers in limited minutes.

This is the last game on the Canucks’ current road trip. With the Red Wings struggling, they may be able to come home on a winning note.

Predictions:

Alex:

Final. 4. 104. 2. 72

The Canucks and Red Wings always keep it close. They’ve split their last four meetings, with each squad winning on the road in extra time against the other last year.

Vancouver is a mess right now. But the worst teams don’t lose every game. With Detroit also struggling to find its identity right now, it seems like a good time for Vancouver to steal one.

Gerald:

The Canucks win, built on a fabulous goaltending performance and one of the young players stepping up. Specifically, Stecher will score a power play goal early and it will prove to be the winner.

Jeff:

72. Final. 4. 104. 1

The Canucks will salvage four points from this road trip with a comfortable win.

Next: No Suspension for Kadri's Hit on Daniel Sedin

It might seem ambitious to predict the Vancouver Canucks outscoring anyone by three goals. Yet if the Columbus Blue Jackets can win 10-0, why can’t the Canucks win 4-1?

I rest my case.

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