Canucks in DECEMBER
L 2-0 @ LAK - an abysmal performance to open the month, Vancouver allowed 38 shots and even though Markstrom saved 36 of them it wasn't enough as the Canucks mustered zero offence and none of their nineteen shots found a way past backup Martin Jones.
W 6-4 vs DAL - Kevin Bieksa comes into the lineup for Yannick Weber and Zack Kassian takes Dustin Jeffrey's spot. Bylsma shuffles his lines around, giving Kassian the coveted spot on Sedin's right wing and forming a new look second line of Letestu, Bonino and Vrbata while moving Higgins and Williams to play on the checking line with Richardson. Goals from Higgins and Henrik kept Vancouver in it through forty minutes but they were down two heading into the third. Four straight goals in the final frame gave them the big comeback victory, with Letestu, Hamhuis, Kassian and Bonino all scoring.
L 6-4 vs BOS - A lively back and forth game saw the Bruins go up three nil only for Vancouver to answer back with three in a row (Vrbata, Daniel, Holden). Boston would score two more to regain the lead before Justin Williams brought Vancouver within one, but Pastrnak sealed it for the Bruins with an empty netter. Markstrom made 33 saves. Vrbata had a solied three point night and was also incredibly physical with four hits.
W 3-1 vs BUF - Zack Kassian scored two goals and Markstrom made 25 saves in the win. Nick Holden played his defensive role perfectly and was plus one with three blocks and two hits in 17:36 of icetime.
L 5-0 vs NYR - Backup goalie Thomas Greiss was simply outplayed by Henrik Lundqvist, who won with the 26 save shutout. Greiss allowed 5 goals on just 28 shots. Chris Kreider had three assists and Rick Nash had two goals and an assist.
W 4-0 @ CHI - Chris Tanev is day to day with a facial injury so Yannick Weber slots back into the lineup. After an embarrassing shutout loss to the Rangers the Canucks turn the tables and take out the defending champions off of goals from Bonino, Burrows, Higgins and Letestu. Markstrom made 29 saves for the shutout.
OTW 1-0 @ MIN - Markstrom shined in a playoff rematch, making 32 saves for a shutout with no support up front. Vancouver mustered only six shots on Darcy Kuemper, but one of those shots was Bo Horvat's OT winner. Holden had a magnificent game defensively, with four blocks and a hit in 19:57 of icetime.
SOW 3-2 @ PHI - Jakub Voracek had two goals but it wasn't enough as Markstrom made 32 saves and Vancouver had goals from Richardson and Bonino as well as the shootout winner from Yannick Weber.
L 4-2 @ DET - The Canucks were outshot 54-24 in a dominating performance from the Stanley Cup hopeful Wings. Greiss made 50 saves but only got goals from Daniel and Vrbata. Kevin Bieksa was very involved physically with six hits. Michalek had a rough game and was -2.
SOW 3-2 @ FLA - Chris Tanev is healthy and draws back into the lineup. Yannick Weber has been plus three in four games since returning to the lineup so he will stay in and bump Michalek down to the third pair while veteran Kevin Bieksa is back to the press back. Jeffrey comes in for Burrows as well, and Zack Kassian is moved down the third line while Vrbata moves back to play with the Sedins. Greiss gets the start. The Canucks turn in a solid performance, outshooting the basement dwelling Panthers 46-25 but Bobby Lu makes 44 saves to drag his team to the shootout. In the shootout Barkov and Lupul exchange goals, then shootout specialist Jussi Jokinen is stymied by Greiss and Letestu buries his opportunity. Trocheck keeps the Panthers alive with a clutch goal and Bylsma goes with Kassian in the third spot and he also beats Luongo, clinching the win.
L 5-2 @ TBL - Both teams defenses looked porous, allowing 40 shots each, but Greiss was clearly outmatched in net against Vasilevskiy. Drouin and Filpulla both had a goal and an assist for the Lightning as they got off to a four goal lead and then cruised to the victory.
W 3-1 vs EDM - Darren Archibald is called up and replaces Kassian in the lineup. Yannick Weber is out and Bieksa is in on the blueline. Justin Williams with two goals including the game winner and Markstrom comes up with 32 saves for the victory.
W 1-0 vs LAK - Markstrom had the 19 save shutout win and Vrbata had the lone goal on a physical and defensive evening for Vancouver. Hamhuis was ejected midway through the third for a questionable hit on Kings captain Dustin Brown. Hamhuis went a bit too high and Brown stayed down for some time before being helped off the ice.
Record (December): 21-15-2 (8-5-0), 44 points, 2nd in Pacific
Player Stats:
Goals - Vrbata (12), Bonino, Williams (11), Daniel, Higgins (7)
Assists - Henrik (23), Vrbata, Bonino (14), Daniel (12), Letestu (11)
Points - Henrik (28), Vrbata (26), Bonino (25), Daniel, Williams (19)
Plus/Minus - Letestu (+9), Vrbata (+6), Bonino (+5), Michalek (+4), Russell (+3)
PIM - Hamhuis (50), Kassian (35), Vrbata (22), Richardson, Lupul (18)
Shots - Vrbata (95), Daniel (85), Bonino (79), Williams (75), Henrik (65)
Hits - Richardson (64), Bonino (62), Holden (60), Hamhuis (57), Kassian (56)
Takeaways - Tanev (20), Bonino, Hamhuis (18), Russell (16), Richardson, Higgins (15)
Blocks - Tanev (113), Russell (95), Michalek (72), Holden (70), Hamhuis (56)
FO% - Horvat (53.9), Henrik (51.2), Bonino (50.2), Richardson (46.8)
Goalies:
Markstrom - 18-7-1, 1.82 GAA, .943 SvPct, 21.29 GSAA, 3 SO
Greiss - 3-8-1, 2.81 GAA, .913 SvPct, -1.54 GSAA, 1 SO
Injuries:
none
Summary:
Jacob Markstrom is growing into a superstar in net for Vancouver, and faster than anybody could have expected. Except maybe Trevor Linden, who boldly moved Vezina winner Ryan Miller in the offseason while still maintaining their desire to be a competitive team. This is a Canucks team that for two consecutive seasons finds themselves in a good spot in the standings in large part because of outstanding goaltending. If they are truly serious about legitimately contending they are going to have to find some more quality players and build a roster that will consistently outplay teams. Having nights when you manage less than ten shots in full game, or are outshot by a roatio of 2.5:1 is not a recipe for success and won't lead to any sort of playoff run against good teams.
After a slow start, free agent signing Mark Letestu is starting to show some of the value Linden and co. saw in him in July, moving around the lineup with ease and contributing offensively to add some much needed secondary scoring. Meanwhile, Joffrey Lupul is looking like a poor bet as his game has dropped off in a massive way and he has only five goals so far this season. He hasn't had the opportunities offensively or in the top six that Vrbata and Williams have, but he also hasn't earned them to date. It may be that he's simply lost too many steps to effectively play his game anymore.
On the blueline, Hamhuis will leave a big hole for five games after being suspended. He has been the model of consistency and although he may not be a true 1A defenseman in this league, for Vancouver he has been everything they've asked him to be as their #1 D. Chris Tanev has looked incredibly steady alongside him and leads the team in takeways and blocks. The defense corps really lacks any offensive moxy, and with Yannick Weber failing to provide that in any substantial way they may look around for someone who can. Their system is chock full of middling defensive prospects who could one day develop into bottom pairing defenders but they are really counting on at least one of Dunn or Andersson to be able to translate their offensive skills to the next level or the future is bleak on the blueline.
Prospect Watch:
RD Rasmus Andersson (OHL) 29gp, 5-17-22, +8, is improving at finding open ice to get his shot off.
LD Vince Dunn (OHL) 29gp, 2-20-22, +2, the smooth skating playmaking defenseman is looking even faster out there and has added another layer to his passing skills.
C Jared McCann (OHL) 28gp, 15-22-37, +4, has really established himself as a leader and mentor on his team.
G Alexandar Georgiev (RUS) 18gp, 12w, 2.91gaa, .906sv%, is showing better recovery to face rebound shots and has been a vocal leader in the room.
C Ross Colton (NCAA) 19gp, 6-8-14, +1, has looked good in his freshman year, growing in his playmaking skill and also his stick checking.
C Nico Sturm (NCAA) 19gp, 6-11-17, -1, in his sophomore season he is showing better shooting range and acceleration.
LD Will Butcher (AHL) 35gp, 2-21-23, +3, in his own end he playing more positionally sound and on offense his shooting is more accurate.
C Brendan Gaunce (AHL) 35gp, 12-9-21, +1, he has shown he can log more minutes at the minor league level and his shooting accuracy has seen improvement.
LD Carson Soucy (AHL) 35gp, 2-6-8, +2, is playing with more stamina and is increasingly earning the coach's trust with his solid positioning in his own end.