[Hyack]

NY Rangers at Vancouver

64

RANGERS (27-30-6) at CANUCKS (24-32-7)

Forward Vladislav Namestnikov could make his New York Rangers debut when they try to end a seven-game losing streak, visiting the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on Wednesday.

Namestnikov was acquired by New York in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday and joined the Rangers in Vancouver late Tuesday, but the Rangers did not skate Wednesday morning.

New York traded defenseman Ryan McDonagh and forward J.T. Miller to Tampa Bay for Namestnikov and forward Brett Howden, defenserman Libor Hajek, a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft and a conditional first-round pick in the 2019 draft.

The Rangers, 0-6-1 in their past seven games, are trying to avoid their longest skid since an eight-game losing streak (0-5-3) from March 12-25, 2004. New York is nine points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

Forwards Brendan Leipsic and Tyler Motte each will make his Canucks debut after being acquired in separate trades Monday. Vancouver acquired Leipsic from the Vegas Golden Knights in for defenseman Philip Holm. Motte and forward Jussi Jokinen were acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Thomas Vanek.

Vancouver is 3-8-1 in its past 12 games and 19 points behind the Anaheim Ducks for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.

Namestnikov, 25, already has established NHL highs with 20 goals, 24 assists and 44 points with Tampa Bay in 62 games this season.

Canucks forward Daniel Sedin has 10 points (six goals, four assists) in his past eight games.

Eriksson will be out 7-10 days after a hit against the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday. … Jokinen, 34, practiced but won't play Wednesday.

Hayes has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past nine games. … The Canucks have allowed four goals or more in four of their past seven games.

Game time 7:00pm PT

[N_Fiddledog]

Lively.

Don't mind the new guys too much. They come as advertised. Fast.

6-5 for the bad guys in 3 on 3 overtime. Boooooo Rangers but thanks for the game.

[Hyack]

The Rangers win the game 6-5 with a goal at 1:22 of the OT period. The Rangers scored 3 times on their first 5 shots, leading to Markstrom being replaced in goal by Nilsson at 12:29 of the 1st period. Boeser scored at 14:12, his 28th, assisted by Horvat, followed by a PP goal by Horvat, his 17th, assists to the Sedins. Daniel tied the score with his 20th at 11:01 of the 2nd, unassisted followed by another goal for the Rangers to take a 4-3 lead going into the 3rd. Goldobin scored at 12:17, his 4th, assists to Leipsic and Pouliot before the Rangers regained the lead at 14:47. With Nilsson on the bench Boeser tied the game 5-5 with his 29th at 19:14, assisted by Leipsic and Horvat. The Canucks had 55 shots on goal against 27 for the Rangers who were held off the scoreboard on their 2 PPs while the Canucks went 1/2. Friday has Nashville in town for the 2nd game of this homestand.

[Strutz]

Those early goals by NY pretty much decided the game unfortunately.

A really good effort to come back by our guys but always being that one step behind got us in the end. Overall an entertaining game though. Crazy number of shots!

[Hyack]

Nashville at Vancouver

65

PREDATORS (40-14-9) at CANUCKS (24-32-8)

Mike Fisher will make his season debut for the Nashville Predators when they try to extend their season-long winning streak to seven games against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on Friday.

The 37-year-old forward signed a one-year contract Monday after announcing Jan. 31 that he would come out of retirement. He began practicing with the Predators on Feb. 12, a little more than six months after he retired.

The Predators would match their longest winning streak since Nov. 12-25, 2009, with a victory. Goalie Juuse Saros is expected to start after Pekka Rinne made 34 saves in a 4-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.

Nashville leads the Vegas Golden Knights by two points for first place in the Western Conference and the Winnipeg Jets by six for first in the Central Division.

Goalie Jacob Markstrom will start for the Canucks. He was pulled after giving up three goals on five shots in 12:29 in a 6-5 overtime loss against the New York Rangers on Wednesday.

Vancouver is 3-8-2 in its past 13 games and 18 points behind the Anaheim Ducks for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.

Predators defenseman Roman Josi has 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in his past six games.

Canucks left wing Daniel Sedin has seven points (five goals, two assists) during a four-game point streak.

Nashville didn't have a morning skate. … Eriksson will miss the remainder of the season after cracking a rib against the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday.

Arvidsson has nine points (six goals, three assists) in his past six games. ... Nashville has scored four or more goals in five of its past six games and Vancouver has allowed four of more goals in seven of its past 11 games. … Horvat has nine points (five goals, four assists) in his past nine games.


Game time 7:00pm PT

[Hyack]

Horvat opened the scoring while on the PP at 5:55 of the 1st period, his 18th, assists to Edler and Daniel. At 15:04 Sutter scored his 6th, assists going to Boeser and Archibald. Nashville then scored at 17:26 to bring the score to 2-1 to end the 1st period. Nashville scored again at 10:02 to tie the score 2-2 before Daniel scored his 21st at 11:54 while on the PP, assists to brother Henrik and Edler. Nashville again tied the score 3-3 at 17:45 to take us to OT again where the Preds scored at 43 seconds to win the game 4-3. Shots on goal were 43-27 in favour of Nashville who were held scoreless on their 2 PP attempts while the Canucks scored two times in their 5 attempts. Monday will see the other New York team, the Islanders in town for the 3rd of 5 games in this home stand.

[N_Fiddledog]

I'm not sure what exactly this means but it seems like it's worth hearing about:

The future Canucks fans have waited for is about to arrive. No, seriously.

$1:

The Botchford asked a question about a potential shakeup to the Canucks which took Benning down a new road — a bright new road, which, as things transpire, leads us away from 28th place and to an exciting future. For the past three years, Benning and Trevor Linden have been promising this future to their fans and, while you’d never know it from their inexpert messaging, it’s arriving in the next couple of weeks.

Where it takes us remains to be seen, but it’s the most significant moment in Canucks’ history since Game 7 of the 2011 Cup final, even if people seemed more interested in third-round draft picks.


The Canucks struck gold with NCAA product Brock Boeser. Will they do it again with fellow college product Adam Gaudette (left)? Arlen Redekop / PNG

In response to Botchford’s question, Benning hummed and hawed before suddenly pivoting to a place which should have been one of his main talking points: “We’re going to sign some of our good young players we’ve drafted the last couple of year who are going to turn pro.”

Benning was then asked what the plans were for those players.

“When all our young players have completed their season — whether they’re in junior or Europe — they’re going to join Utica at the end of year,” he answered.

And there it is.

Look, I’m aware there was an element of drama missing from the pronouncement, but this was also the point where the Canucks should have set off fireworks in the media room. When Benning talked about the young players who should end up in Utica, he was talking about Adam Gaudette, Jonathan Dahlen, Kole Lind, Jonah Gadjovich and Olli Juolevi. Elias Pettersson would have been part of the group, but he’ll likely play for Sweden at this year’s world championship.

As it happens, those are the young players the faithful has been waiting for what seems like an eternity; the group which offers the faithful hope, the group which will deliver them from bondage.

And they’re arriving. Last week, the Canucks signed Lind to a three-year entry level deal. Gaudette, one of the two or three best players in the NCAA, will follow when Northeastern’s season concludes. Craig Button had Dahlen ranked 31st on his list of the game’s best prospects, and we’ll finally see him in North America. Juolevi has reportedly made strides this year playing for Sami Salo in Turku.

Along with Gadjovich, they could all be in Utica this spring with Nikolay Goldobin, Motte and Thatcher Demko.

I mean, it’s here, people. Our I-have-seen-the-future-of-rock-n-roll-and-his-name-is-Bruce-Springsteen moment has arrived. Admittedly, it will be more pronounced at next year’s training camp when Pettersson and Rasmus Dahlin — hey dream big or go home — join that group, but this will be this market’s first taste of the vanguard who’ll lead us from the darkness.

There have been a few comparable moments in the Canucks’ history. Old-timey fans talk about the ’78-79 season when Stan Smyl, Curt Fraser and Thomas Gradin joined the team as rookies. There was Pavel’s first game against the Jets. I’d throw in the ’05-06 season when the Sedins returned from the lockout year as players transformed.

But, in terms of quantity and quality, this franchise has never had a group like this, and we haven’t mentioned Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser and whatever it is Jake Virtanen is becoming.

Are there holes? Don’t be daft. Of course there are, and you may be aware the developmental arc of young hockey players is neither smooth nor predictable. But after talking about this glorious new era, it’s finally arriving and that’s a story this province is yearning to hear.

You just hope the Canucks learn to tell it better.

http://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nh ... -seriously

[Hyack]

NY Islanders at Vancouver

66

Islanders (29-29-8) at CANUCKS (24-32-9)

New York Islanders rookie Mathew Barzal and Vancouver Canucks counterpart Brock Boeser will be in the spotlight when the Islanders try to end a season-long six-game losing streak against the Canucks at Rogers Arena on Monday.

Barzal and Boeser lead their respective teams in scoring and are 1-2 in the NHL rookie scoring race. Barzal leads the Islanders and all NHL rookies with 67 points (18 goals, 49 assists), and Boeser leads the Canucks with 55 points and is first among NHL rookies with 29 goals.

New York is 0-4-2 in its past six games and five points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

Vancouver has lost three straight and is 20 points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference.

Barzal has 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) in his past 11 games.

Boeser has six points (two goals, four assists) in his past six games.

Baertschi is expected miss the rest of the season after separating his shoulder against the Nashville Predators on Friday. Jokinen, 34, will play for the first time in three games since being acquired along with Motte from the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Thomas Vanek.

Tavares has one assist in his past six games. … Daniel Sedin has nine points (six goals, three assists) in a five-game points streak, and has scored a goal in five straight games, matching a career high he has accomplished four times before.

Game time 7:00pm PT

[N_Fiddledog]

The Islanders go up 2-0 then the new guys claw us back to a tie. Leipsic and Archibald. 2-2 going into the third.

Yay new guys.

[N_Fiddledog]

Archibald is the new Dorsett.

[N_Fiddledog]

They may have found a pairing with chemistry.

Leipsic puts one on Virtanen's stick at speed and Jake smacks it home.

3-2 Vancouver in the third.

[N_Fiddledog]

Oh no.

Boeser smashes into an open door. Gets carried off to the dressing room.

Oh, and the stupid Islanders tied it up. 3-3.

[N_Fiddledog]

Leipsic scores in 3 on 3 overtime.

Canucks win 4-3.

[Hyack]

Second period goals by Leipsic, his 3rd and Archibald, his 3rd, on the penalty shot tied the score 2-2. Virtanen gave us the lead with his 8th before NY tied the score on the PP with their goalie pulled at 18:56, leading to OT where Leipsic scored his 4th at 2:47 to give us the 4-3 win. The Islanders outshot the Canucks 34-23 and were held to 1/4 on the PP with the Canucks going 0/1. Wednesday has Arizona in town.

[Hyack]

Minor spinal fracture ends Vancouver Canucks rookie Brock Boeser's season

$1:

Vancouver Canucks rookie Brock Boeser’s season is over after suffering a small fracture to his lower back Monday night at Rogers Arena.

Boeser was carried off the ice in the third period of a 4-3 overtime win over the New York Islanders after slamming into the open gate at the Canucks bench. The 21-year-old winger, who leads the Canucks with 29 goals and 55 points, was later transported to hospital by ambulance for further evaluation.

On Tuesday, the Canucks announced that Boeser suffered a “small non-structural, non-displaced fracture of the transverse process in his lower back.”

The transverse process is described as small bony projection off the right and left side of each vertebra.

According to Sports Injury Clinic, an online resource for the prevention and treatment of sports injuries, the majority of these types of injuries can be treated without surgery.

The Canucks say it will take Boeser four to six weeks to make a full recovery.

Vancouver, which sits second last in the NHL’s Western Conference, has 16 games remaining in the season which ends April 7 with a game in Edmonton.

Boeser, the Canucks first round pick in the 2015 entry draft, was on pace to eclipse Pavel Bure’s franchise records for most goals (34) and points (60) by a rookie. He was also the first freshman since Mario Lemieux in 1985 to be named MVP at the NHL All-Star game.

Canucks captain Henrik Sedin said it’s disappointing that Boeser’s superb first season had such an abrupt ending.

“It’s very disappointing — more so for him, he’s had a great season but (the injury) doesn’t take away from what he’s done this year. I think this city and this franchise know what they have now, and that’s a really good player and a guy who could be a star in this league for a long time,” said Sedin.

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