Canucks in JANUARY
L 3-1 vs ANA - An aged Dany Heatley and bottom six center Corey Elkins both had a goal and assist in what was a lacklustre effort from Vancouver in their first game without #1 defenseman Dan Hamhuis.
SOL 3-2 vs ARI - The Canucks were again outshot, but a 28 save effort from Greiss and goals from Justin Williams and Radim Vrbata salvaged a point. Martin Erat scored the only goal in the shootout to claim the extra point for Arizona.
L 3-0 vs CAR - Carter Hutton had the 30 save shutout for the Hurricanes and Paul Martin scored two goals against the club that almost signed him this summer. Kevin Bieksa had a notably rough game and was -2 on the night.
SOW 6-5 vs TBL - In a back and forth affair that saw Markstrom make 41 saves and Henrik pick up three assists it was Bo Horvat who played shootout hero. Vrbata also had a goal and two assists. Steven Stamkos had two goals in the losing cause, bringing him to 21 on the season and extending his goal streak to six games.
SOL 3-2 vs FLA - Two goals for Daniel and two assists from Henrik were not enough to keep the game from OT, as Gudbranson scored in the third from Barkov and Huberdeau to tie it. When extra time solved nothing it went to a shootout where Rocco Grimaldi won it in the fourth round.
W 2-1 @ WSH - Dan Hamhuis returns from suspension. Marc-Andre Gragnani, who struggled in his five game audition with only one assist and a minus five rating, will be places on waivers and reassigned to Utica. Vrbata and Higgins both scored for Vancouver and it was enough as Ovechkin was the only Washington player to get one past Greiss, who made 38 saves for the win.
L 3-2 @ CAR - Justin Williams had a goal and an assist against his former team but a three goal second period for the Hurricanes, including two goals from Andrew Cogliano, carried the day as backup Drew MacIntyre made 24 saves for the win. Markstrom had 39 saves for Vancouver in the loss.
SOW 4-3 @ NYI - Vancouver allowed fifty shots but Markstrom was solid, making 43 saves to keep them in it. Vrbata, Richardson and Henrik all beat Halak. In the shootout, Lupul and Vrbata both scored for Vancouver while only Josh Bailey got one past Markstrom so the Canucks walked away with two points.
OTL 3-2 @ NYR - In a close game that saw Vancouver get goals from Archibald and Lupul and the Rangers answer with Brassard and Skinner scoring it was Anthony Duclair who won it for the Blueshirts from Derick Brassard just forty seconds into OT.
W 3-2 @ BOS - In a game they were badly outplayed and outshot 45-20 the Canucks were bailed out time and again by backup goalie Thomas Greiss. After allowing two early goals to Torey Krug Greiss was perfect the rest of the game. Henrik had two assists in the third period as Daniel tied the game and Higgins netted the winner.
OTL 3-2 @ PIT - Greiss gets the start against his former team but the team in front of him puts up a very weak effort with only 21 shots to Pittsburgh's 51. Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist and Crosby also scored. Clarke MacArthur scored the overtime winner on the powerplay after Letestu was called for tripping.
L 3-2 vs NSH - Another sloppy game for the Canucks as they allow 39 shots on Markstrom, who made 36 saves in the losing cause. James Neal scored the winner near the end of the second, his seventeenth of the year.
Record (January): 25-19-6 (4-4-4), 56 points, 2nd in Pacific
Player Stats:
Goals - Vrbata (17), Williams (13), Daniel, Bonino, Higgins (11)
Assists - Henrik (31), Vrbata (19), Daniel (18), Bonino (17), Holden (14)
Points - Henrik (39), Vrbata (36), Daniel (29), Bonino (28), Williams (23), Higgins (22), Letestu (16), Holden (15)
Plus/Minus - Letestu (+8), Vrbata, Bonino (+7), Russell (+4), Michalek, Hamhuis (+3)
PIM - Hamhuis (56), Kassian (35), Vrbata (24), Lupul (22), Henrik, Williams, Richardson (20)
Shots - Vrbata (127), Daniel (116), Williams (106), Bonino (97), Henrik (92)
Hits - Bonino (80), Richardson (79), Holden (77), Henrik (76), Hamhuis, Williams (66)
Takeaways - Tanev (57), Russell (25), Bonino (23), Michalek (20), Hamhuis (19)
Blocks - Tanev (157), Russell (137), Michalek (94), Holden (84), Hamhuis (71)
FO% - Horvat (53.2), Bonino (50.8), Henrik (50.7), Richardson (49.3)
Goalies:
Markstrom - 20-11-3, 2.11 GAA, .936 SvPct, 21.86 GSAA, 3 SO
Greiss - 5-8-3, 2.58 GAA, .925 SvPct, 4.11 GSAA
Injuries:
none
Summary:
Vancouver has struggled through a lot of close games this month, losing four times in overtime or shootout. They are close to sliding in the standings, with the Kings only a point back of them and the Oilers just two points behind. They were badly outshot three straight games to end the month.
Thomas Greiss has continued to post solid numbers but not pick up a lot of victories. Markstrom's play has come down to earth a little bit and possibly the rigours of his first full season as a number one are wearing on him.
The thin blueline was badly exposed when Dan Hamhuis missed five games due to suspension. He is without a contract extension so far but is a making a good case for one as he looks to be the only first pairing calibre defenseman on the left side. Yannick Weber has had a down year after showing well last season under Dale Hunter. Re-signed to run the powerplay and be an offensive option on the blueline, he hasn't even been consistently in the lineup after a string of healthy scratches and has only three goals and ten points in 34 games. Without him stepping up or some outside help the Vancouver D corps is sadly lacking any offensive punch. Defensive defenseman Nick Holden leads all blueliners with 15 points so far, 14 of those points are assists. Chris Tanev's 5 goals are the most of any defenseman on the team this year.
Daniel Sedin continues to have a resurgent season as he has been paired with his brother all year. He could still hit twenty goals if he gets hot. And Henrik is on pace for at least fifty assists as they both trend upward in their age 35 season. The Joffrey Lupul experiment hasn't gone well, as he has only six goals after being signed mostly on the virtue of scoring 32 the previous season with Philadelphia. Reports are that coach Dan Bylsma's patience is wearing thin with the unproductive but one dimensional winger. Nick Bonino continues to solidify his reputation as a capable second line winger and was selected to the NHL All Star Game at the end of the month. Darren Archibald has been a pleasant surprise and has earned a regular shift on a checking third line with veterans Burrows and Richardson.
Prospect Watch:
RD Rasmus Andersson (OHL) 39gp, 11-24-35, +11, producing at almost a ppg pace as a defenseman, scoring eleven goals with his shot and also looking quicker with his first step and making better reads in his own end
LD Vince Dunn (OHL) 39gp, 4-26-30, +4, has demonstrated consistent willingness to go the dirty areas and is playing more physical and putting some big hits on guys
F Jared McCann (OHL) 37gp, 20-27-47, +2, dominating in every situation for his junior team, has spent some more time playing wing instead of center though, is making better defensive reads and showing better acceleration, improving at blocking the goalie's line of sight in front of the net on the powerplay
LW Kirill Kaprizov (RUS) 32gp, 22-15-37, +5, has had opportunities in the faceoff circle and made the most of it, is doing well screening the goalie in front of the net and is carrying himself with a lot of professionalism and poise
C Cole Cassels (AHL) 47gp, 13-26-39, -1, his shooting accuracy has gotten better and so have his defensive reads
C Danton Heinen (AHL) 48gp, 9-12-21, +1, his production has slowed down a bit, but he is learning to contribute at all ends of the ice, improving his stick checking, showing a willingness to stick up for teammates, getting his shot off from farther out and going to the difficult areas of the ice with abandon
RW Jake Virtanen (WHL) 36gp, 21-26-47, -4, playing lots of minutes without tiring, taking a bigger leadership role on his junior club, protecting and handling the puck better