Canucks in DECEMBER
@ WSH: W 5-3 - Vrbata and Bonino both with three assists, Miller makes 34 saves for the victory. Frankie Corrado with two goals. Dustin Jeffrey got his first of the season. Ovi scored his fourteenth of the year on the powerplay in the third, but Bo sealed it with an empty netter in the final minute.
@ PIT: W 2-1 - Ryan Miller with an outstanding 37 save performance on the road to steal a win from the mighty Penguins. Vrbata had a goal and assist in the win.
@ TOR: W 4-1 - Shawn Matthias returns to the lineup. He will get a shot on the top line with Henrik and Jannik Hansen. Dustin Jeffrey has three points in six games and will remain in the lineup. Alex Burrows will be healthy scratched. The veteran energy winger has only one assist in fifteen games. Matthias had a goal and assist in his return, and we outshot the ailing Leafs 57-29. Derek Dorsett sustained a serious neck injury that could keep him out for months however, and Vrbata was also banged up, although he should still be able to play in Ottawa.
@ OTT: W 4-1 - Sedins reunited on the top line (in spite of Matthias playing well there...) and Kassian will play on their wing. Burr draws back into the lineup. Kassian does get the game winner assisted by both Sedins, so maybe Hunter is onto something. Burrows with an assist in his return to the lineup. Brad Richardson goes down with a hamstring injury and our medical team reports he could be gone 2-3 weeks.
@ MTL: W 2-1 - Bieksa will sit for this one. Linden Vey comes back in the lineup to replace Richardson. Vey opens the scoring with a powerplay marker in the first, his first of the season. Henrik extends the lead in the same period, and that would be enough as Miller makes 30 saves for the dub. Danny has two assists. Hammer and Higgy are both banged up though. They will be Day to Day.
vs NYR: W 3-2 - We take on former coach Alain Vigneault and the struggling Rangers. Matthias moved back up to the top line and Daniel gets demoted after a two point night (what is Dale Hunter doing? gah I hate GM only). Bieksa is back in because of the Hamhuis injury and Sestito comes in to replace Higgins who is also hurt. Yannick Weber gets two assists and Shawn Matthias does score a goal on the top line. Vrbata scores his 12th of the year and Kass notches the winner in the third.
vs DAL: L 3-1 - A banged up Hamhuis comes back in for Bieksa. Vrbata scored the only goal for us. The top line of Matthias, Henrik and Hansen was -3 on the night.
vs CGY: W 1-0 - In a defensive matchup, Miller gets the 17 save shutout and Matthias scores the lone goal.
vs ARI: L 3-1 - Sam Gagner assisted on all three goals against us, and Devan Dubnyk stopped 32 of 33 shots. Kassian scored our lone goal and also had a fight and four hits.
@ ANA: OTL 2-1 - Brad Richardson returns to the lineup. Sestito comes out to make room for him. Kes gets an assist against his former team, and Kyle Palmieri gets the overtime winner. Miller made 40 saves in the losing cause.
@ SJS: W 4-3 - Hertl managed two goals against us but the offense came through this game. Kassian got a goal and a fight. Danny scores the winner in the third period, which is nice to see since he's really struggled to find the back of the net this year. Bonino had two assists.
Record (December): 19-13-3 (8-2-1), 41 points, 8th in West
Stat Leaders:
G - Vrbata (14), Henrik (10), Kassian (8)
A - Daniel (17), Bonino (16), Vrbata (12)
Pts - Vrbata (26), Daniel, Bonino (22), Henrik (20)
+/- - Bonino (+15), Vrbata, Stanton (+10)
PIM - Kassian (67), Dorsett (29), Higgins, Sestito (23)
Shots - Weber, Daniel (89), Vrbata (88)
Hits - Kassian (107), Hamhuis (66), Sbisa (52)
TkA - Tanev (30), Hamhuis (20), Higgins (14)
SB - Tanev (83), Corrado (60), Weber (55)
FO% - Horvat (58.9%), Bonino (56.1%), Henrik (52.3%)
Goalies:
Miller - 13-9-2, 2.16 gaa, .928 sv%, 2 so, 0.29 GSAA/60
Markstrom - 2-0-0, 2.19 gaa, .940 sv%, 0.78 GSAA/60
Injuries:
- F Derek Dorsett OUT 1-2 months (neck)
- D Alex Edler DTD (arm)
Prospects:
- F Brendan Gaunce (OHL) 28gp, 12-11-23, his offensive reads are improving as is his first couple steps
- F Jared McCann (OHL) 29gp, 13-26-39
- D Evan McEneny (OHL) 29gp, 0-22-22
- D Jordan Subban (OHL) 29gp, 8-17-25, his playmaking and passing are showing clear improvement
- D Gustav Forsling (SWE) 24gp, 1-7-8, showing growth in his stick checking and shooting accuracy
- G Thatcher Demko (NCAA) 14gp, 2.57gaa, .921sv%, 12w, working on his rebound control
- D Ben Hutton (NCAA) 19gp, 5-12-17, his anticipation offensively and also his level headedness regardless of how a game is going are standing out right now
- F Alex Friesen (AHL) 35gp, 8-9-17, he's getting quicker and more explosive in his first couple steps - all that work with Utica's skating coach must be paying off
- F Alexandre Grenier (AHL) 35gp, 9-10-19
- G Anthony Stolarz (AHL) UTI 2gp, 2w, 1.92gaa, .938sv%, LEH 13gp, 6w, 3.14gaa, .900sv%