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Horvat returns, Nilsson shines but Vancouver Canucks are shut out vs. Jets |
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Sunday January 22 - Winnipeg Jets 1 - Vancouver Canucks 0
With Bo Horvat back in the lineup after missing 18 games, the Vancouver Canucks limited the NHL's sixth-best offense to just one goal but couldn't score themselves, ending their seven-game road stretch with a 1-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.
Here are your highlights:
Horvat's first shift in his return came on the power play, just 36 seconds into the game. He ended up playing 2:11 with the man advantage and 19:05 overall—second among forwards only to Brock Boeser (19:14). Bo had four shot attempts—one on goal—and went a solid 9-for-17 in the faceoff circle. It was Bo's line with Boeser and Baertschi that took the dash on the game's only goal by Patrik Laine midway through the first period—a play that took shape after Thomas Vanek was crushed by Tyler Myers along the boards near the benches.
Vanek also found himself in the Jets' crosshairs late in the game, but it was actually defender Josh Morrissey's stick that cut goaltender Connor Hellebuyck near his right eye when Vanek was screening in front of the Winnipeg net.
Though he got tagged with another loss, Anders Nilsson was excellent for the Canucks, making 35 saves in his first start with less than three goals against since his road win in Pittsburgh back in late November.
Combined with a solid outing by Jacob Markstrom against the Oilers on Saturday, Vancouver's goaltending looks like it's back on more solid ground.
The bad news—both Jake Virtanen and Ben Hutton were pulled from the lineup after less-than-inspired performances on Saturday in Edmonton.
Virtanen was scratched to make room for Horvat, while Alex Biega drew in for just his second game of the month, in place of Hutton. In just 12:34 of ice time, Biega tied Brock Boeser for the team lead in shots (four) and posted nearly a third of Vancouver's hits for the night (five out of 16). The Jets had 21 hits, led by four from captain Blake Wheeler—who also went 11-for-17 in the faceoff circle despite that fact that he has only played centre for less than a month.
Connor Hellebuyck is getting a ton of credit for Winnipeg's great season, and rightfully so. He was just named this week's Second Star by the NHL and is on his way to the All-Star Game this weekend after finally providing the solution that the Jets have long needed in net. But Wheeler's still getting better at age 31, with an amazingly well-rounded game. He's now tied for fifth in NHL scoring with 54 points in 48 games—on pace for a career-high 92 points—and also leads all Jets forwards in blocked shots (44). Next step: showing for the first time that he can be a big-game player in the postseason.
While the Carolina Hurricanes were the trendy favourite for a breakout team before the season began, I hitched my cart to the Jets. After everything they've been through and the fact that they still fly under the radar by playing in a small Canadian market, I hope they get a chance to seize the spotlight during the playoffs this year. They're also a story of hope for Canucks fans—how good drafting and patient rebuilding can eventually lead to success.
That's what Jim Benning's hoping for—now back with the team. He's committed to the work he has done so far and hoping he'll get a chance to finish the job.
With the prospect of another high lottery pick for the Canucks looking increasingly likely, NHL Central Scouting released its mid-term prospect rankings this morning.
Nico Hischier of Switzerland counted as a North American prospect last year when he went first overall, because he spent his draft year with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL—but American Auston Matthews was officially a European prospect in 2016, since he had been playing in Switzerland.
Rasmus Dahlin's tracking to be the first European player who spent his draft year in Europe to go first overall since Alex Ovechkin, back in 2004. A Swedish player hasn't been selected first overall since Mats Sundin, back in 1989.
Here's what the Canucks' Swedish scout, Lars Lindgren, has to say about Dahlin:
One final note to wrap up today—we had some incorrect information on Sunday about Vancouver's roster moves.
• Erik Gudbranson is NOT on injured reserve. He's listed as day-to-day with his back spasms, so he is available to return to the lineup at any time.
• To make room for Bo Horvat, Michael Chaput has been placed on waivers. Officially, that move happened this morning, along with another familiar name:
A frequent healthy scratch this season, David Booth did play in Detroit's last three games. This is his second time on waivers this season.
If Chaput clears, he'll be reassigned to Utica. Despite all their injury woes, the Comets are on a roll—7-1-1-1 in their last 10 games and now comfortably sitting in fourth place in the AHL's North Division. The Comets play three consecutive games this week from Wednesday to Friday before hosting the AHL All-Star Classic this weekend at their newly renovated arena.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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