Vancouver Canucks: Week 10 Preview, Predictions
Dec 6, 2016; Newark, NJ, USA; Vancouver Canucks left wing Daniel Sedin (22) celebrates his goal on New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider (35) during the second period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
This week, the Vancouver Canucks will close out their five-game road trip before returning home Friday for the first of four at Rogers Arena.
I’ve said this before, but this is about where I expected the Vancouver Canucks to be this season.
They were not as good as the team that started 4-0, nor were they as bad as the team that lost their next nine. Since that losing streak ended, they are 8-6-1, which puts them just above .500 in that span.
That sounds about right to me.
When healthy, they are not a team that is a lock for 30th place. The veteran players — the ones whom Jim Benning refuses to trade — will keep their ship afloat.
But, to take the analogy a bit farther, they won’t be sailing through opponents and into the playoffs, either.
The Canucks can stay close in hockey games, and even pull off the occasional upset. They don’t, however, have enough consistency to assemble lengthy winning streaks. Right now, Vancouver sits exactly where they ought to be: with a .500 record, give or take a game or two.
For diehard fans, there is enough intrigue to keep us watching, but those expecting a mid-season turnaround probably won’t get their wish. For better or worse, the 2016-17 Vancouver Canucks are what they are.
Enough of that. The Canucks have an early start this week. Let’s preview the games.
Oct 29, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie (77) reaches for the puck against Vancouver Canucks forward Brandon Sutter (20) and defenseman Troy Stecher (51) during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Washington Capitals won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Sunday, Dec. 11: Canucks at Washington Capitals
The Vancouver Canucks played the Washington Capitals back on Oct. 29.
In that game, Marcus Johansson scored twice, and Phillip Grubauer made 23 saves to secure a 5-2 win for the Caps. It was one of only six road wins for Washington this season.
Due in part to their middling road record, last year’s President’s Trophy winners are now clinging to the last Wild Card spot in the East. Their offense, which was so deadly last season, has barely scored more goals than the Canucks have.
Despite this, they have an excellent record at home. The Canucks expect to get Jannik Hansen back from injury in this game. And they’ll need him — and everyone else — to be sharp early, or this matinée could be over as soon as it begins.
Predictions:
Jeff Godley:
VancouverCanucks4
There are certain rules the Canucks have been following lately. Rule number one is, wins and losses must strictly alternate. Rule number two is, teams that are better than Vancouver on paper will be beaten.
I don’t pretend to understand it, but that’s what I have to work with. The Canucks will beat the Capitals, someway, somehow.
Alex Hoegler:
VancouverCanucks2
The Caps are due to rebound eventually and the Canucks don’t have the talent nor bodies to stack up.
Gerald Morton:
VancouverCanucks4
The Canucks will show a little more offensive flare, while continuing to realize they can’t run and gun with teams. But, it’ll be fun and Daniel Sedin will get into a fight. You may say this seems unlikely, but I follow his astrology charts closely and he is primed for conflict.
Oct 16, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Markus Granlund (60) shoots the puck against Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Eddie Lack (31) during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Tuesday, Dec. 13: Canucks at Carolina Hurricanes
Vancouver hosted the Carolina Hurricanes in their second game of the year.
More from The Canuck Way
Despite controlling play for most of the first period, and outshooting the Canes 10-7, they found themselves trailing 2-0. Carolina added a third goal early in the second period, before Vancouver stormed back to tie.
Bo Horvat, Markus Granlund and Ben Hutton scored for the Canucks, while Brandon Sutter beat Eddie Lack for the overtime winner.
Since that game, the Hurricanes’ season has gone largely the same as the Canucks’. They have a winning record at home, but a losing record on the road. And they’ve had plenty of trouble scoring goals.
Still, Ward is keeping Carolina in games. He has a .917 save percentage, his best showing in that stat since the 2010-11 season. Many thought general manager Ron Francis was crazy for giving Ward a two-year extension this offseason. But Ward is quietly proving his doubters wrong.
Predictions:
Jeff:
VancouverCanucks4
Don’t look now, but… it’s a win streak!
Alex:
VancouverCanucks3
They usually play Carolina tough and they don’t seem to believe in losing streaks.
Gerald:
VancouverCanucks2
The Canucks continue the patterns of losing close games to ex-goalies. This holds true even if the goalie is injured or not playing.
If I understood stats, I’d realize this is because they are a bad team and will lose a lot of close games — Nope!! Cursed.
Dec 8, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Vancouver Canucks goalie Ryan Miller (30) makes a save against the Tampa Bay Lightningduring the third period at Amalie Arena. Vancouver Canucks defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Friday, Dec. 16: Canucks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper is trying to calm things down in Tampa Bay.
After an almost inexplicable loss to the Canucks, the Bolts then coughed up a 3-1 lead to lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Still, Cooper is urging everyone in Tampa to keep perspective. Despite a 2-7-1 record in their last 10 games, the Bolts are still as close to second in their division as they are to the bottom. An 82-game will have it’s ups and downs, said the coach, but the mood of the team cannot rise and fall with the results.
Speaking of results, remember when Jack Skille and Jayson Megna scored twice each and the Canucks beat the Lightning 5-1?
Trick question. It literally just happened.
Predictions:
Jeff:
VancouverCanucks0
Tampa Bay will learn from the mistakes they made last week. They’ll start Vasilevskiy instead of Bishop. Then they’ll let the Canucks outshoot them without allowing any goals. That is the path to victory in today’s NHL, right?
Alex:
VancouverCanucks2
Tampa hasn’t lost at Rogers Arena since 2009. Why should it break now?
Gerald:
VancouverCanucks4
In order to confuse and frustrate both fanbases the Canucks win and nobody can explain why.
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