Canucks in NOVEMBER
W 3-2 @ MTL - Brad Hunt had two assists and Justin Williams finally scored his first of the season. The Canucks were still outshot by the basement dwelling Canadiens and depended on Thomas Greiss making 39 saves to get the victory.
L 6-3 @ OTT - Bobby Ryan had two goals and two assists as the Sens pummelled the Canucks, outshooting them 45-24. Chris Tanev had an amazing game, with an assist, plus one, three shots, seven blocked shots, a hit and two takeaways.
L 4-1 @ TOR - Justin Williams had the lone Canuck goal and Markstrom struggled, allowing three goals on 21 shots.
L 7-4 @ NYI - Markstrom with another poor showing, allowing five on 27 shots before being pulled. Derrick Pouliot played well and had a goal. Bonino was excellent defensively and added an assist.
L 5-2 @ NYR - Another losing skid as it's been four straight now. Vancouver can't seem to find their way. Higgins and Cassels had the Canuck goals. They were outshot 39-24.
L 7-4 @ DET - Horvat had two powerplay goals but the Canucks allowed seven for the second time in two weeks. They were again outshot by a wide margin, 44-21. Derrick Pouliot also sustained an injury that should keep him out a couple weeks.
L 4-3 vs DAL - Same old story for this battered Canucks team - outshot 42-17, Markstrom's heroics kept it close but in the end they were overall anemic at home.
L 3-2 vs NYR - Goals from Horvat and Daniel (his 900th career point) were not enough to lift the Canucks over the Rangers. Now on a seven game losing streak, fans are restless and frustrated with this year's version of the Canucks.
W 5-3 vs ARI - A victory over fellow basement dweller Arizona snaps Vancouver's losing skid but they are already so far gone they traded Max Lapierre only a month and a half into the season after signing him. Acquisition Stefan Noesen picked up his first Canuck assist this game.
W 3-1 vs CHI - Even in the midst of an abysmal season it feels good to get a W against an old rival. The Canucks were miserably outshot again, 34-14, but they were opportunistic in the chances they did have, getting goals from Daniel, Williams and Horvat while Markstrom's 33 saves sealed the deal.
L 3-1 @ ARI - For the first time in too long Vancouver outshot their opponent but Brandon Tanev had the only goal in a losing cause as they were taken down by such household names as Brendan Shinnimin and Lauri Korpikoski.
L 4-3 @ DAL - Another loss but at least the Canucks were competitive with two goals from Horvat and Jeffrey's first of the year. Martin had two assists and has been having a solid year offensively with 13 points through 21 games.
W 3-2 @ COL - Filatov had a goal and an assist and Greiss had 45 saves in a surprising win in Denver. Pouliot had an assist in his return from injury.
L 5-2 vs MIN - Tom Pyatt had a goal and an assist to lead the Wild to win over Vancouver. The Canucks were outshot 27-21, which is a good defensive showing for them. Brandon Tanev and Bo Horvat were the goal scorers for Vancouver.
Record: 6-17-0 (4-10-0), 12 points, 7th in Pacific
Player Stats:
Goals - Horvat (9), Filatov (6), Daniel (5)
Assists - Martin (10), Filatov (8), C. Tanev (7)
Points - Filatov, Horvat (14), Martin (13), Daniel (11)
Plus/Minus - Noesen (+3), Tanev, Michalek (+1)
PIM - Horvat (40), Michalek (26), Tanev, Anderson (20)
Shots - Filatov (45), Daniel (41), Pouliot (40)
Hits - B. Tanev (63), C. Tanev (51), Hamhuis (42)
Takeaways - C. Tanev (17), Bonino (14), Martin (12)
Blocks - Tanev (85), Russell (77), Martin (76)
FO% - Horvat (55.7), Henrik (50.5), Bonino (49.1), Cassels (44.3)
Goalies:
Markstrom - 2-14-0, 3.34 GAA, .909 SvPct, -4.21 GSAA
Greiss - 4-3-0, 2.82 GAA, .930 SvPct, 3.68 GSAA
Injuries:
none
Summary:
After starting the year with high hopes the Canucks have hit rock bottom. They have the second worst record in the league, only the two-win New Jersey Devils have fewer points heading into December. Trevor Linden has already moved Max Lapierre while he felt he could get a return for him, despite Lapierre performing reasonably well in his role. They realize at this point they probably already have to cut bait with this season and recoup what they can. This may be it for fielding a competitive team for the Sedin's twilight years as it seems the Canucks are moving into full rebuild territory. Rumours are that any veteran players not tied down with NTCs are being made available to buyers around the league.
Bo Horvat has been a pleasant surprise, scoring at a thirty goal pace, and Brandon Tanev has developed into a reliable and energetic bottom six winger already. Filatov is looking to be a savvy acquisition this offseason as he proves his offensive chops are NHL worthy. Markstrom has struggled and not lived up to his previous form that saw him carry the team for stretches of last season. He has only two wins so far on the year. Can he turn things around and salvage something of this season?
Prospect Watch:
LD Mikhail Sergachev (QMJHL) 19gp, 4-16-20, -3
Sergachev has been playing with aggression and making good offensive reads while producing at a point per game pace as a defenseman in junior.
LW Alexei Goloshumov (RUS) 16gp, 7-8-15, +3
The young Russian has been thriving over in his home country, skating with better speed and showing improved endurance, while being an effective checker and also finding open ice in the offensive zone.
RD Rasmus Andersson (AHL) 23gp, 6-11-17, +5
Andersson has been thriving in his first professional season, making crisper passes and getting involved in a couple fights to stick up for teammates as well.
LD Will Butcher (AHL) 22gp, 2-8-10, +2
Butcher hasn't been super productive but he has been improving his gap control and stickwork in his own end and he is getting better at finding open ice on offense.
RW Ty Ronning (WHL) 17gp, 8-7-15, -1
Ronning has improved at getting open and continues to show a quicker first step while also carrying himself with a lot of professionalism off the ice.