VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Contrary to some pundits' early expectations, the Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals have something in common.
They are both having trouble scoring.
The clubs will try to solve their problem against each other Saturday night as the Canucks (4-3-1) host the Capitals (3-2-1) at Rogers Arena.
The Canucks have been shut out in their past two games, the latest being Friday's 2-0 setback to the Edmonton Oilers, and have lost four straight after opening with four wins.
The Capitals, despite the presence of captain Alex Ovechkin and other snipers, have suffered two consecutive losses for the first time since March 2015. During the two losses, Washington has only scored three goals.
"It's definitely a little frustrating," Vancouver second-year defenseman Ben Hutton said about his team's lack of offense. "All of us know in here our structure works. We've seen it in a couple of our wins. We have to do our best to stay within our structure. Hopefully, some of our chances will start going in."
The Canucks also hope to maintain their strong defensive play. They held Connor McDavid in check for most of Friday's game. Although McDavid did score, on a breakaway no less, Edmonton's only other goal came on an empty-netter by winger Milan Lucic.
The Canucks have also fared well defensively against most of their other opponents. They have not allowed more than four goals in a game.
Captain Henrik Sedin wants to ensure that the Canucks prevent the Capitals from bucking that trend.
"They are an extremely deep team," he said. "They roll lines and anyone can score on the team. It's going to be tough."
The Canucks, who rely too much on Henrik Sedin and his twin brother Daniel for goals, can only wish they had as much offensive depth as the Capitals. In addition to Ovechkin, who scored 50 goals last season and is on a four-game scoring streak, the Capitals also boast proven scorers in Evgeny Kuznetsov, who produced more points (77) than Russian compatriot Nicklas Backstrom (71), Justin Williams and T.J. Oshie.
But Capitals coach Barry Trotz is not impressed with his team's offensive chemistry these days. In practice on Friday in Vancouver, he juggled his lines again after revamping them during Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Oilers in Edmonton.
"Just spread them out a little bit and see what we can come up with," Trotz explained to The Washington Post. "This is not a revelation. All coaches move (lines) around. We're spreading (offensive players) out a little bit, and hopefully it'll give some teams something to think about."
The juggling also appears designed to help Kuznetsov get going. He has just one goal and two assists to date.
"It's a message for us," Ovechkin told The Washington Post. "We have to wake up and play better offense, obviously."
Meanwhile, defenseman Erik Gudbranson wants to make sure that the Canucks are not napping if the Capitals do wake up.
"I have played them a lot in my career," said Gudbranson, 24, who joined the Canucks in an offseason trade after playing his first five NHL seasons with Florida. "They are a very difficult team. They move the puck extremely well. They are an older squad. They are experienced. They have a really good power play.
"We are going to have to get some rest (after Friday's game), come in in the morning, have our meetings and be focused. If we play like we did (against the Oilers), we give ourselves a chance to win every night."
Gudbranson will likely be tasked with defending Ovechkin as Vancouver coach Willie Desjardins takes advantage of having the last line change. Hutton will likely partner with Gubranson.
Like his blue-line partner, Hutton is not putting much stock is Washington's recent offensive troubles.
"They are a strong team and they have some star players," Hutton said. "We have to be ready."
Vancouver is expected to play without injured wingers Alex Burrows (undisclosed lower body problem) and Derek Dorsett (shoulder) as well as ailing Chris Tanev (ankle).
