Sunday November 26 - New York Rangers 4 - Vancouver Canucks 3 (S/O)
The Vancouver Canucks shuffled their lines and built a 2-0 lead off a strong start, but ultimately fell to the New York Rangers on Sunday by a score of 4-3 after a seven-round shootout.
Here are your highlights:
Brandon Sutter did not dress after taking that hard hit from John Moore on Friday in New Jersey, so Alex Burmistrov got back into the lineup for just the second time in nine games. Travis Green opened the game by putting him with Brock Boeser and Sven Baertschi, shuffling Bo Horvat onto a line with Thomas Vanek and Sam Gagner, building a new checking-type combo with Brendan Gaunce, Jake Virtanen and Markus Granlund and reuniting Loui Eriksson with the Sedins for the first time this season.
The moves paid early dividends, as Eriksson converted for this third goal of the year early in the first and the Canucks outshot a sluggish-looking Rangers group 11-4 in the opening frame. Jake Virtanen led the team with nine shot attempts, took a regular shift all the way through the game and scored his third of the year at the 7:21 mark of the second, converting a giveaway by David Desharnais.
Putting it where the ðŸªs are. #VANvsNYR pic.twitter.com/EOxdJjxo20
— NHL (@NHL) November 26, 2017
But the Canucks started to break down defensively in the late stages of the second period. The pressure mounted while Ben Hutton was serving a tripping penalty. Jesper Fast beat Markstrom for the first time shortly after the teams returned to 5-on-5, then the Rangers kept the pressure on through the end of the period—and straight into the third, when Michael Grabner tied the game off the rush at the 19-second mark.
It took just 41 seconds for the Canucks to re-take the lead off Sam Gagner's third of the season, but Jimmy Vesey replied at the 5:05 mark and the teams headed to overtime with the score tied 3-3.
So far this season, the Canucks haven't been able to grab those extra points in tie games. Going into Sunday's game, they were 0-2 in overtime and 0-1 in the shootout.
So, I can't fault Travis Green too much on his player selection—especially when the shootout goes seven rounds. I was a little surprised to see Ben Hutton out there, but sometimes surprising players end up showing shootout skills—and apparently he had his reasons.
Green says Hutton’s penalty shot goal last season vs ARZ factored into him getting shootout call. Said he was considering Pouliot
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) November 26, 2017
Green hasn't had much opportunity to build a book on his players yet in this area. At least he knows not to tap the Sedins!
For the record, the successful shootout scorers on Sunday were Boeser and Baertschi, while Vanek, Horvat, Granlund, Gagner and Hutton failed to convert. Results aside, it's hard to argue with the order of his first three selections—Vanek, then Horvat, then Boeser.
I thought Eriksson or Virtanen might have gotten an opportunity, but Green was having none of our second-guessing after the game.
Travis Green on not using goal-scorers Eriksson and Virtanen in seven rounds of shootout: "Everyone is on the list. I don’t go by who scores the goals." And Hutton in seventh round? "Sometimes you just make a decision". #Canucks
— Ben Kuzma (@benkuzma) November 26, 2017
Sounds like Green will have a longer, more detailed list in his pocket going forward.
shootout practice at end of practice. First we’ve seen this under Green #Canucks
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) November 27, 2017
I think it's about this time every year that the cries of "Play the backup!" get louder—and it's happening again. Jacob Markstrom has given up at least three goals in seven of his last eight starts and not surprisingly, the Canucks are 1-5-1 in those games.
Markstrom's goals-against average is now up to 2.63 and his save percentage is down to .909—virtually identical to his numbers from last year (2.63, .910). But Green had an explanation for why he turned to Markstrom again after Friday's loss in New Jersey.
Travis Green said Anders Nilsson has been sick, so Jacob Markstrom got the MSG nod. That glove needs work. #Canucks
— Ben Kuzma (@benkuzma) November 26, 2017
Now we'll have to see if Nilsson is well enough to go against the Islanders on Tuesday.
As mentioned, the Canucks practiced today—at the New Jersey Devils' practice facility. They had some company!
We’re back in New Jersey, practicing at the Prudential Center. The @FlaPanthers are here too. And of course the @NJDevils as well. It’s a reunion! pic.twitter.com/jRzISxPqi4
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 27, 2017
The latest roster notes:
• Brandon Sutter has flown home to Vancouver to start rehabbing what's only being called an upper-body injury so far.
• Derek Dorsett's in L.A. today to meet with his back surgeon about the symptoms he has been experiencing.
• Erik Gudbranson is still with the team. He took to the ice today ahead of the main group and stayed out for part of practice.
• Nikolay Goldobin was recalled on Sunday, but didn't make it to MSG until shortly before game time.
Goldy in the house. Don’t know if he’s in the line-up pic.twitter.com/deMpHpBC9k
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) November 26, 2017
Horvat and Burmistrov did swap spots not long into Sunday's game, and it looks like Bo will be in his usual spot on Tuesday as well.
Lines look the same at practice in NJ except for Goldobin swapping in an out on the Vanek, Burmi, Gagner line. D-pairs remain the same too. #Canucks
— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) November 27, 2017
Goldobin has earned plenty of praise for the work he has done in Utica so far this year. Not only does he lead the Comets in scoring with 7-12-19 in 18 games, he has also worked on his two-way game and is being used on the penalty kill as well as being a fixture on the power play.
It'd be nice to see him get a chance to show what he has learned in Brooklyn on Tuesday—although with Sutter out, Burmistrov was needed as a centre on Sunday. In 12:52 of ice time, almost all at even strength, Burmistrov recorded one blocked shot attempt, one hit and one giveaway, but he did go 4-for-6 in the faceoff circle—an area where Sutter will definitely be missed.