Canucks in JANUARY
W 2-1 vs LAK: Bo opened the scoring with a shorty, and Hank netted the winner in the second while Miller made 31 saves for the win.
SOW 3-2 vs DET: We had no business being in this game against a clearly superior team. We were outshot 32-14. Fortunately, both Weber and Vrbata managed to beat one of the best goalies in the league, Howard, who turned in one of his worst performances of the year. The shootout saw Danny score, then Larkin, then Higgins, then Datsyuk, then Vrbata and finally we saw a save when Miller stopped Zetterberg to win us the game.
SOL 4-3 vs NYI: Alex Edler is finally fully healthy and will make his season debut tonight. He will be paired up with Yannick Weber. This was the reverse of our previous game. We outshot them 40-19 but lost in a shootout. The painfully long shootout ended in the seventh round when Thomas Hickey became the only skater to score, beating Miller and stealing the W. Edler threw four hits and blocked four shots in 21:57 in his return to the ice.
W 5-0 vs FLA: Five different Canucks scored on Bobby Lu - Corrado, Higgins, Henrik, Hansen and Vrbata. Miller pitches the eighteen save shutout.
SOL 3-2 vs CGY: Rookie standout Johnny Gaudreau (29 points in 34 games) was held off the board, our own rookie Bo Horvat scored his seventh of the season, and Radim Vrbata netted his 17th, but in the end it wasn't enough and Calgary won in the shootout, with Sven Baertschi scoring past Ryan Miller for the only goal of the shootout.
L 3-0 @ NSH: Amid media backlash from Derek Roy's criticism of coach Pete Laviolette the Predators chowed down on the Canucks. Vancouver was only allowed 21 shots and Carter Hutton saved them all for the shutout. Filip Forsberg continued his domination this season, scoring his 27th goal of the year.
SOW 2-1 @ PHI: Jannik Hansen and Claude Giroux exchanged goals in the third, and a shootout ultimately decided things, with captain Henrik Sedin scoring the only goal of the shootout to win it for the Canucks. Ryan Miller saved 36 of 37 shots for the win. Bo Horvat injured his elbow and will miss some time.
W 3-0 @ CAR: Markstrom got a turn between the pipes and pitched a perfect 27 save shutout, while Zack Kassian went off for two goals and an assist and Alex Edler tallied his first of the season.
W 6-2 @ FLA: It was Markstrom against Luongo, but the goalies weren't really a significant factor in this rout, as Vancouver outshot Florida 43-14. Vrbata had two goals and an assist, while Jannik Hansen also scored a pair. Linden Vey, in for an injured Bo Horvat, made the most of it with his second of the season.
L 4-3 @ TBL: The Canucks were outshot 40-24 but Ryan Miller kept them in it. Stamkos' PP goal in the third, his second of the game and 27th of the year, ended up being the winner.
W 3-1 vs ANA: Matthias had a strong game after being bumped up to the top line, scoring a goal and adding two assists. Hank had two assists as well, and Miller made 35 saves in the victory.
W 4-3 vs BUF: Miller gets the W against his former team, coming up big to the tune of 37 saves. Burr got his first of the season, Vrbata scored his 21st. Matthias scored the game winner. Two assists for Yannick Weber, he was buzzing all night and active in both ends.
Record (January): 27-15-5 (8-2-2), 59 points, 4th in West
Stat Leaders:
G - Vrbata (21), Henrik (13), Kassian (10)
A - Bonino (21), Daniel (20), Henrik, Matthias (18)
Pts - Vrbata (35), Henrik (31), Bonino (28)
+/- - Bonino (+14), Corrado, Stanton, Jeffrey (+9)
PIM - Kassian (75), Sbisa (32), Dorsett (29)
Shots - Vrbata (131), Weber (116), Daniel (112)
Hits - Kassian (145), Hamhuis (85), Hansen (74)
TkA - Tanev (35), Hamhuis (27), Weber (18)
SB - Tanev (117), Corrado (80), Sbisa (75)
FO% - Horvat (56.2%), Bonino (55.6%), Henrik (52.8%)
Goalies:
Miller - 19-11-4, 2.09 gaa, .930 sv%, 3 so, 0.34 GSAA/60
Markstrom - 4-0-0, 1.69 gaa, .943 sv%, 0.73 GSAA/60
Injuries:
- F Derek Dorsett OUT 1-2 weeks (neck)
Prospects:
- F Brendan Gaunce (OHL) 38gp, 15-19-34, he's looking stronger on his skates and producing at almost a point per game.
- F Cole Cassels (OHL) 39gp, 13-32-45, he's been a two way force so far, growing into his frame, adding strength and using it well in front of the net, and learning his defensive system very well.
- F Jared McCann (OHL) 39gp, 16-30-46, he's playing more aggressively and continuing to be productive.
- D Evan McEneny (OHL) 39gp, 1-28-29, while demonstrating excellent playmaking ability he has also improved his first step and shows good self control and discipline.
- D Gustav Forsling (Swe) 32gp, 2-9-11, holding his own against men in the SHL, his strength is improving, his defensive positioning has shown improvement as well as his ability to find opening in the offensive zone.
- G Thatcher Demko (NCAA) 18gp, 2.27gaa, .929sv%, his teamwork has been lauded recently, especially his communication with his defensemen.
- D Ben Hutton (NCAA) 25gp, 7-15-22, looking stronger and smoother on his skates and being very productive as a two way defenseman.
- F Ronalds Kenins (AHL) 48gp, 10-16-26, as he improves with his language skills and learns to process the North American game his teamwork has notably grown.
- G Anthony Stolarz (AHL) 19gp, 3.02gaa, .904sv%