The Vancouver Canucks don't get back to game action until Tuesday, but they've touched down in Pittsburgh and practiced this morning, and there's plenty of chatter surrounding the team.
First off: Mike Matheson has had his phone hearing for his hit on Elias Pettersson.
Mike Matheson’s disciplinary hearing with @NHLPlayerSafety was held at 10 a.m. today.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) October 15, 2018
As of 10:30 a.m. PT, no verdict has been announced yet by the league.
Here's a glimpse of the strategy employed by the defense. Not surprisingly, Pettersson's weight comes into play:
Just talked with Matheson's agent Kent Hughes, "It was an unfortunate incident that led to an injury of a great young player. To say Mike was out for retribution is crazy. Mike was surprised at how light Pettersson was, it happened pretty quick.
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) October 15, 2018
With the Canucks in Pittsburgh, Vancouver media reps were able to get feedback from Sidney Crosby, who knows how it feels to be in Pettersson's skates:
“It’s a tough one, I mean, it’s a hockey play, but it was tough to tell if the stick was between his legs or if it wasn’t.… - Sidney Crosby on the Matheson hit on Pettersson #Canucks
— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) October 15, 2018
“It takes some time to figure it out & get to know the guys you’re playing against. Who to be aware of & that kind of thing. That’s just time. That’s just experience, but everybody goes through that.… - Crosby on learning the league & dangerous situations in his first few years
— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) October 15, 2018
Here's the latest update on the health of our young hero:
Jim Benning confirms that Elias Pettersson will not play in Pittsburgh or Winnipeg. Could be longer, but will be re-examined in Vancouver. Says EP is feeling better today.
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) October 15, 2018
As I mentioned yesterday, there is concern in some circles about Pettersson flying after his injury but it seems like so far, everything's OK. I'm crossing my fingers that the team is erring on the side of caution in keeping him out of the lineup.
The Canucks return to Rogers Arena on Saturday to take on the Boston Bruins, one week to the day after Matheson's hit. Looks like that would be the earliest possible date for a return, if all goes well this week.
Meanwhile...
Jay Beagle (fractured forearm) left the team and returned home to VAN yesterday. He’ll see team doctors there today but initial prognosis, for now, is four to six weeks.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) October 15, 2018
Down two centres, Adam Gaudette was indeed recalled from the Comets after an outstanding three-point game in Toronto against the Marlies on Saturday:
Gaudette was excellent Saturday vs. Marlies. Scoring aside, he was a factor in all areas.
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) October 14, 2018
Welcome back @Hockey_Gaud! pic.twitter.com/emFZV6gqao
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 15, 2018
With all the changes, here's how the lines are shaking down at Monday's practice in Pittsburgh:
Monday practice lines for the #Canucks:
— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) October 15, 2018
Baertschi-Horvat-Boeser
Goldobin-Gaudette-Eriksson
Roussel-Sutter-Virtanen
Schaller-Granlund-Motte
Leipsic
Edler-Tanev
Hutton-Gudbranson
Pouliot-Stecher
Del Zotto
Gaudette slides straight into EP's spot, and onto the second power-play unit, while Markus Granlund moves to the middle on the fourth line.
Speaking of Utica, the Comets followed up their 7-4 win over the Marlies on Saturday with a 5-3 victory on Sunday. The team may have something in 22-year-old Belarusian goaltender Ivan Kulbakov, who started both games and stopped 38 of 41 shots in a more competitive game on Sunday. The Marlies took the early lead on a goal by Trevor Moore, but Utica responded with goals from Zack MacEwen, Michael Carcone, Reid Boucher, Guillaume Brisebois and Cam Darcy—into the empty net.
With eight goals in five games, Boucher has lapped the rest of the AHL field: no other player in the league has more than four.
Also speaking of Utica—yes, Alex Biega cleared waivers, so he'll be joining the team soon.
With a 3-2 record, just like their parent club, the Comets now return home for games against Rochester on Wednesday and Cleveland on Friday before visiting Syracuse on Saturday.
Meanwhile, on the college front—on his 19th birthday, Quinn Hughes had the opportunity to face off, literally, against his brother Jack when Michigan took on the U.S. NTDP in an exhibition game on Sunday.
Nice moment to start the Team USA vs. Michigan game for the Hughes family as defenseman Quinn Hughes surprisingly slides into the face-off circle to take the draw against brother Jack.@jackhughes43 seems to win the draw, but @qhughes6 officially credited with the victory. #NTDP pic.twitter.com/DjvRJ5ld6R
— Stars n’ Stripes Hockey (@StarsStripesHKY) October 13, 2018
Jack had a goal and two assists in the 6-3 win for the NTDP, while Quinn and fellow Canucks prospect Will Lockwood were both held pointless.
Michigan has played just one NCAA league game so far. Lockwood had a goal but Hughes was pointless in the Wolverines' 5-2 loss to Vermont on October 6.
Finally, Trevor Linden made his first media appearance since leaving the position of Canucks' president on Sportsnet 650 on Monday morning.
After media appearances from Francesco Aqulini and Mike Gillis last week, I wondered if Linden would sling any mud in retaliation, but he took the high road.
Trevor Linden on his relationship with owner Francesco Aquilini : "I am not going to get into the nuts and bolts of my relationship with the Aquilini family. I loved being part of the team, lots of things I miss being part of it and some things I don't miss." #Canucks
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) October 15, 2018
Linden on how long he was thinking about leaving, "Sometimes you can see the writing on the wall, I think there was a bit of that. It always works out for the best at the end and I think this is a situation that did." #Canucks
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) October 15, 2018
Linden is keeping his chin up, back to focusing on his fitness ventures.