Vancouver Canucks: Bo Horvat scores in Canucks loss

It was perhaps a bit much to expect a fourth consecutive road win from this young team. Bo Horvat scored but the Vancouver Canucks lost a tight game in Winnipeg, 4-1 not reflecting how the game unfolded. Let’s see the reaction, and other stories from around the NHL.

Let’s start with a positive. Bo Horvat had the Canucks’ lone tally, and boy was it a nice one. Check out the saucer pass through two Jets by Derrick Pouliot, and the great hustle by Horvat to get to the net and jam it past the goalie:

Despite the loss, Horvat was out doing interviews. He doesn’t wear the ‘C’, but every time I hear him talking, I hear the voice of this team’s true captain:

To the below tweet: this team misses Jay Beagle. The Winnipeg powerplay went 2/2 last night, and it was clear that we missed his presence. In the two games he’s missed so far, our Beagle-led 88% PK has gone 33%. And we have Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand coming to town. Get well soon Jay!

This question has to be asked after yet another fruitless night: how much does Loui Eriksson miss Elias Pettersson? After a good first three games, Loui has been anonymous at best and really looks to be struggling:

Let’s end on some good news: the Utica Comets now jointly hold the AHL record for consecutive sell-outs, with Wednesday’s blowout loss to the Rochester Americans the 120th in a row for our young lads. [Utica OD]

Elsewhere in the NHL:

I don’t normally like praising the Oilers, or Connor McDavid, but the enemy of my enemy is my friend and so, I present last night’s OT winner by Leon Draisaitl:

Nick Ritchie re-signed with the Ducks yesterday. They also signed Jake Dotchin the day before, despite his acrimonious departure from the Lightning. The Ducks are gearing up for a playoff run. [OC Register]

That Ritchie signing leaves William Nylander as the last of the 2018 RFA holdouts. He’s surely past the point of no return in Toronto – do they move him? Whoever he plays for, he’ll likely need two weeks of conditioning / travel before he can play. [Pension Plan Puppets]

Anthony Duclair scored an amazing goal for the Blue Jackets last night. He’s one that slipped under the radar in the summer – he has a great skillset, as this goal showed. He has four points in six games this season and looks rejuvenated under John Tortorella. [NHL]

Question for TCWers:

What should Coach Green do with Loui Eriksson?