Friday October 28 - Edmonton Oilers 2 - Vancouver Canucks 0
The Vancouver Canucks played it tight defensively but for the second straight game, they couldn't put the puck in the net. Connor McDavid's second-period goal proved to be the game winner as the Edmonton Oilers beat Vancouver 2-0 on Friday at Rogers Arena.
Here are your highlights:
After outshooting their opponents in their first three games—the comeback wins that already seem like they happened so long ago—the Canucks have now been outshot in their last five contests.
Friday night was better, though. The margin against the Oilers was only 27-26, and they were even with Edmonton at 9-9 in the third period.
Ryan Miller also had a strong game. Edmonton's second goal was an empty-netter, so only the McDavid marker got past him. Though the loss was the first of Miller's career against the Oilers, he has amassed a .939 save percentage and 1.74 goals-against average so far this season—even though his record is 1-3-0.
Jacob Markstrom, for the record, is 3-0-1, but has a .923 save percentage and 1.95 goals-against. Remember last year when the Canucks couldn't seem to score enough in front of Markstrom? This season, the situation seems to be reversed.
Maybe having the big Swede back in net tonight against the Washington Capitals will help to reverse the team's fortunes?
Two other quick items to note from Friday. First—the fourth line took in on the chin against the Oilers, with both Jayson Megna and Brendan Gaunce leaving the game due to injury.
And second—Henrik Sedin did that thing that drives me crazy, insisting that his team played well in a loss...when they didn't get a single goal!
"It's a tough loss. We played well tonight and deserved better. This was our best effort of the season. We'll stick together." - H. Sedin
The Canucks' goalless streak now sits at 135:41—the team's last goal was scored by Henrik Sedin early in the third period against Anaheim last Sunday, making the score 2-2 in what became a 4-2 loss.
You may remember this stat from last season:
#Canucks franchise-record goalless drought ends at 234:52 after Bo Horvat scores.
Saturday October 29 - Vancouver Canucks vs. Washington Capitals - 7 p.m. - CBC
Vancouver Canucks: 8 GP, 4-3-1, 9 pts, third in Pacific Division
Washington Capitals: 6 GP, 3-2-1, 7 pts, fourth in Metropolitan Division
The Washington Capitals play the second game of their four-game Western Canadian road trip on Saturday at Rogers Arena. The trip kicked off with a lacklustre 4-1 loss to the Oilers last Wednesday at Rogers Place.
Seems the Caps are dealing with some post-Presidents' Trophy blues as they start the new season.
After finishing 2015-16 as the NHL's second highest-scoring team, averaging 3.02 goals per game, the Caps are currently tied for 26th in offense this season, down to just 2.33 goals per game. It's early going, but that's a sharp dropoff for a team that boasts the NHL's best scorer, surrounded by plenty of other high-end talent.
Alex Ovechkin does lead his team with four goals and five points, but like the Canucks, the offensive dropoff happens quickly from there. As a result, cerebral coach Barry Trotz has shaken up his lines for tonight's game.
He has been playing since that incident, but is a healthy scratch tonight for the Caps.
Let me translate the Washington lines for you:
Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Justin Williams
Marcus Johansson - Evgeny Kuznetsov - Tom Wilson
Andre Burakovsky - Lars Eller - T.J. Oshie
Zach Sanford - Jay Beagle - Brett Connolly
Tonight's game is the front half of a back-to-back for the Caps, who will play the Flames in Calgary on Sunday. That means the Canucks likely will not be facing workhorse Vezina winner Holtby.
Based on drills and whatnot, appears Grubauer will start tonight. Would expect Holtby in Calgary.
Alex Burrows and Derek Dorsett are back skating, but will not play.
There will be at least one lineup change tonight. Jayson Megna is said to be out for about two weeks with his shoulder injury, so Mike Zalewski draws in. Brendan Gaunce did take part in the morning skate after leaving last night's game with an injury of his own.
Gaunce says he felt good after morning skate & is hopeful to play. Zalewski also confirms he'll make his season debut up front.
If Gaunce can't go, Alex Biega will draw in once again as an extra forward.
Last season, the Caps skated circles around the Canucks, outshooting Vancouver 35-25 in a 3-2 win on October 22 at Rogers Arena. It'll be a test of the Canucks' new commitment to defense to see if they can keep Washington's offensive stars contained for one more game.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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