Vancouver Canucks: Week 3 Previews, Predictions
Oct 22, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings goalie Peter Budaj (31) cannot make a save on a shot as Vancouver Canucks left wing Loui Eriksson (21) stands in front of him during the third period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
The Vancouver Canucks mustered three comebacks in Week 2 — can they keep the momentum rolling into Week 3?
Sorry USA Today, but your prediction for the Vancouver Canucks is in serious jeopardy.
Forgive Canucks fans if we gloat just a little bit. We’ve had so little to gloat about the last few years, so we have to take what we can get.
And a 4-0-1 start is worth gloating about. This is the best start in franchise history. The Canucks have started 4-0-0 once before, in the 1992-93 season. That year, they lost their fifth game in regulation. (That loss was against the Chicago Blackhawks, in case you were looking for another reason to dislike the Hawks.)
By earning the point in the overtime loss against the Los Angeles Kings, the Canucks surpassed that record. Is this destined to be the best season ever?
Gone are the days when Vancouver was an offensive powerhouse. They don’t play free-wheeling, creative hockey and they no longer run up the score. Instead, Henrik Sedin and company are apparently going to win hockey games through sheer force of will.
Case in point: in three of their four games last week, they trailed after two periods. All three times, they rallied to force overtime.
Against both the Kings and the Carolina Hurricanes they were down 3-0. Last year a three goal deficit meant it was time to change channels. Not this season. So far, no lead has been safe against Vancouver.
Even Ken Hitchcock and the St. Louis Blues couldn’t keep them at bay.
Maybe, just maybe, making the playoffs is not a pipe dream. Trevor Linden and Jim Benning might be ahead of the curve.
The Canucks only need 56 more points to equal USA Today’s preview. How much closer can they get in Week 3? Let’s preview this week’s games.
Feb 18, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Sven Baertschi (47) scores against Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson (36) during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Anaheim Ducks won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Sunday, Oct. 23: Canucks @ Anaheim Ducks
The Canucks won the season series against the Anaheim Ducks last year, with a record of 3-2.
However, they were outscored 13-9 in those five games. When Vancouver won, they won by one goal in a low-scoring game. On the other hand Anaheim won by 4-0 and 5-2 margins.
Suffice to say, the Canucks will probably want to keep this one close. The Ducks have only scored 10 goals in five games this season — only the New Jersey Devils have fewer. If they can get the lead there is a good chance they can simply outlast Anaheim.
Goaltender Ryan Miller should get the start. The Canucks have also announced some last-minute lineup changes:
With a couple injuries to the forwards, it appears Vancouver will go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen tonight.
Predictions:
Gerald:
AnaheimDucks4
The Ducks shake off the bad dream (and bad idea) of having Randy Carlyle as a coach once again and pretend they are playing for Bruce Boudreau. Their offensive talent is too much, and their defense just good enough to beat the Canucks, who make it close late.
Janik:
AnaheimDucks2
Two losses in a row, hopefully it’ll be in OT/SO once again. The Ducks may be having a weak start, but they are still tough to beat.
Ben:
VancouverCanucks4
Canucks started to show cracks in perfection against the Kings but will rebound against a Ducks team that has lost four of five to start the year. Sutter-Hansen duo impresses once again.
Jeff:
VancouverCanucks3
Of all the Pacific Division teams, the Ducks are the most overrated. They let most of their secondary scoring go in the offseason, which is why they have even fewer goals for through five games than the Canucks. This will probably end up being a fairly boring affair. Vancouver will lead 2-1 late and add the empty-net goal.
Feb 25, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller (30) and forward Daniel Sedin (22) defend against Ottawa Sentators forward Curtis Lazar (27) during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Tuesday, Oct. 25: Canucks vs. Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators know a thing or two about comebacks.
More from The Canuck Way
In their first game, Kyle Turris scored the game-tying goal in the third period and then the winner in overtime to spoil Auston Matthews four-goal debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Then Tom Pyatt scored with 2:33 remaining in the game to force overtime against the Montreal Canadiens. Erik Karlsson won that game in a shootout.
The Sens sometimes score points by the basketful. Other times, the offense dries up and their opponents take advantage of some poor team defense.
The Canucks probably want to avoid getting into a gunfight with Ottawa.
Then again, maybe not. These two split their season series last year, with Vancouver losing 3-2 but then winning a 5-3 decision.
It’s 2016: anything is possible.
Predictions:
Gerald:
VancouverCanucks2
I have spent too much time in Ottawa to say anything positive about the Sens. Canucks win after a double agent locks Erik Karlsson in a broom closet for two of three periods. He escapes for the third and scores the Sens only goal.
Janik:
VancouverCanuck4
A dominant comeback win against a fellow Canadian team. Jacob Markstrom will post the shutout.
Ben:
VancouverCanucks5
When the Senators lose this year it tends to be by a sizeable number. Canucks should explode offensively in this game. I am looking for multiple points from Bo Horvat and the Sedins.
Jeff:
OttawaSenators4
The Sens will prevail in overtime. This will be a messy, penalty-filled tilt for both teams, and the lead will change several times. The Canucks will earn a point but Erik Karlsson will put the Sens over the top in the extra period.
Oct 8, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) looks to make a pass from behind Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) during the third period in a preseason hockey game at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Friday, Oct 28: Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers still have a knack for surrendering lots of goals. But so far this year, they’ve been able to score their way out of trouble.
Prior to the outdoor game versus the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, the Oilers were tied for second in the league in goals-for, with 20 in five games. Still, they only had a plus-4 goal differential.
We can divide the Canucks and Oilers season series last year into two parts.
In the first three games, they played some low-scoring chess matches, with the Oilers winning 2-1 and 2-0 and the Canucks adding a 2-1 win.
In the second part, the two teams decided defense wasn’t really their thing. Edmonton beat up on the Canucks 6-2 in the farewell to Rexall Place. The Canucks closed out their season at Rogers Arena with a 4-3 victory.
Here’s hoping for more brilliance from Bo Horvat:
Predictions:
Gerald:
EdmontonOilers5
The Canucks had trouble with the Oilers when we were much better, they were much worse and we had a couple of world class, NHL all-star calibre goalies. I’m glad Markstrom is becoming a number one contender, but the Oilers will crush the Canucks, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will finally get some points for my fantasy team
Janik:
EdmontonOilers4
The Canucks score twice, but the Oilers have Connor McDavid, who records three points. Also, Jesse Puljujarvi scores and rubs it in Canucks fans’ faces with Olli Juolevi watching from his couch in London, Ontario.
Ben:
EdmontonOilers3
The Oilers are off to a strong start this year. The offense hasn’t been hurt by the subtractions of Taylor Hall and Nail Yakupov. The defense has certainly improved with the additions of Adam Larsson and Kris Russell. Canucks will keep it close but Edmonton looks to be breaking through this year, which is a scary thought.
Jeff:
VancouverCanucks5
It’s probably a good idea to avoid turnovers against the Oilers. If they do that, Edmonton will give them enough opportunities to score. The Sedins’ game is perfectly suited for an Oilers team that runs around in its own end.
Jan 14, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) skates with the puck as Vancouver Canucks center Bo Horvat (53) defends in the second period at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Saturday, Oct. 29: Canucks vs. Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals won the President’s Trophy last season. And Vancouver helped them along by dropping both their games against the Caps.
The Capitals lineup is good from top to bottom. The Canucks can’t win the matchup game, and they certainly don’t have a 50-goal-scorer to answer Alex Ovechkin.
No two ways about it, Vancouver will need everything to go right against Washington. Either Miller or Markstrom will have to steal the game. The Canucks first three lines will all need to create chances on Braden Holtby. And the defense will need to play a spotless game.
Besides all that, they will probably need more than a little luck.
If they get all of that, they have a chance.
Predictions:
Gerald:
VancouverCanucks4
Because why not?
They have a great goalie and a great team, and the Canucks will continue to confound and confuse. Dorsett will have his first multi-point night of the season (ever?) and Ryan Miller will assist on the opening goal.
Janik:
WashingtonCapitals4
I’m running out of cool storylines already, so this is just a game where the better team (on paper) wins. Plain and simple.
Ben:
WashingtonCapitals4
The Canucks will suffer bad losses this year and this will be the first one of the year. The Capitals are an all-around really good team and should have no problem taking advantage of the Canucks. Only way the Canucks win is if Philipp Grubauer gets the start.
Jeff:
WashingtonCapitals3
There’s no reason to suspect the Canucks will pull off the upset. Washington is just too deep.
However, whichever Canuck goaltender starts this game will keep the score close even if the shotclock isn’t. Washington wins, but not by much. Alex Ovechkin will not find the scoresheet.
The Vancouver Canucks have a busy week ahead of them. With four games on the schedule, they will look to build off of their 4-0-1 start and stay stop the Pacific Division.
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