Sunday December 18 - Columbus Blue Jackets at Vancouver Canucks - 1 p.m. - Sportsnet Pacific
Vancouver Canucks: 31 GP, 13-16-2, 28 pts, sixth in Pacific Division Columbus Blue Jackets: 28 GP, 19-5-4, 42 pts, third in Metropolitan Division
If the Vancouver Canucks plan to win two games in a row for the first time since November 29, they'll have to beat the hottest team in the league.
Yep—John Tortorella and his Columbus Blue Jackets are riding into Vancouver on an eight-game winning streak for Sunday's 1 p.m. matinee game.
The Blue Jackets' five regulation losses are the lowest in the league. The last one happened on November 23, when they were shut out 2-0 by Calgary on home ice. Their record has been a result of strong play at both ends of the ice—they've got the second-best goal differential in the league (+36) thanks to the second-best offense (3.32 goals per game) and the second-best defense (2.04 goals against per game). Riding their winning streak, the Blue Jackets are four points out of top spot in the entire NHL—and they've played between three and five games less than the four teams that are ahead of them.
But every streak has its end and the Canucks delivered a couple of body blows to opponents on home ice last season. They handed the Montreal Canadiens their first loss of 2015-16 after a 9-0-0 start on October 27, 2015, and also put an end to the Florida Panthers' franchise-best 12-game winning streak thanks to Daniel Sedin's overtime goal on January 11, 2016.
And Canucks fans know first-hand that John Tortorella's coaching methods can bring both glory and hardship. When Torts was behind the Vancouver bench, the Canucks were riding a tidy winning streak of their own at this time of year—they went 10-1-2 in the month of December and rolled into 2014 with a 23-11-7 record for 53 points in 41 games.
But things changed in a hurry. Less than three weeks later, with a 1-5-2 record in the month of January, Torts stormed the hallway of Rogers Arena in search of Calgary Flames' coach Bob Hartley. Not long after that, he chose Eddie Lack to start the Heritage Classic game at BC Place. And the troubles mounted from there, leading to a 25th-place finish for the Canucks in the NHL standings and the dismissal of both Tortorella and general manager Mike Gillis.
Today, Torts goes for his 500th career win, and the Blue Jackets aim to establish a franchise record winning streak.
Players to watch include rookie defenseman Zach Werenski, a 19-year-old who was chosen eighth overall in 2015. With six goals and 20 points, Werenski has made himself a dark-horse Calder Trophy candidate among names like Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine.
The Blue Jackets are also getting sensational seasons out of Cam Atkinson, who leads the team with 29 points in 28 games, as well as reclamation project Sam Gagner. Remember last summer, when the conventional thinking was that the Blue Jackets were caught between a rock and a hard place, in salary-cap hell? Gagner was a value signing at just $650,000—he has delivered a team-leading 13 goals.
Sergei Bobrovsky, who won the Vezina Trophy in 2012-13, has moved himself back into that conversation again this year. In typical Torts style, Bobrovsky has played 25 of Columbus' 28 games this year, and now leads the NHL with 18 wins off a 1.90 goals-against average and .935 save percentage—both better numbers than his Vezina season.
Bob will get the start today at Rogers Arena. It's expected Ryan Miller will go for Vancouver after his strong outing on Friday against Tampa Bay.
But just to be clear, all is not sunshine in Columbus. Veteran center Gregory Campbell cleared unconditional waivers today and has been released by the team. The 33-year-old was in the second year of a contract with a $1.5 million cap hit. He had been suspended by the team back in October for failing to report to the AHL after he didn't make the Blue Jackets' opening-night roster.
As for the Canucks, word has come down today that yes, Erik Gudbranson was dealing with a lingering injury, and he'll now be out for awhile:
#Canucks announce D Erik Gudbranson will undergo surgery to repair ligament damage in his wrist. Timetable for return to come after surgery.
— NEWS 1130 Sports (@NEWS1130Sports) December 18, 2016
Troy Stecher is also a question mark for today's game. After being recalled from Utica on Saturday, Andrey Pedan will get his first NHL action of the season after a long travel day if Stecher can't go.
#Canucks Stecher considered a 'game time decision' for #Canucks. Didn't practice yesterday. Pedan here & ready to go if 51 can't
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) December 18, 2016
With the early game time, there was no morning skate today, so any other possible lineup issues won't be known till warmup.
I need to get ready to get out in the snow and get to the arena. Enjoy the game!