Canucks Recreation Day: Much less errors, extra push to keep away from one other Lightning strike

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Tampa Bay Lightning (13-11-5) at Vancouver Canucks (18-9-1)

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When/the place: Tuesday, 7 p.m., Rogers Area

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TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650

The thrill: J.T. Miller was deemed expendable by the cash-strapped Lightning on the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver as a result of Tampa needed to provide you with a wealthy contract for 92-point ahead Brayden Level. He received the cash with a three-year, US$20.25 million extension. The Canucks parted with goalie Marek Mazanec, a 2019 third-round decide and a conditional first-round decide for a man who had by no means scored greater than 22 NHL targets.

Nonetheless, what Miller was on the lookout for was franchise religion and a possibility to hit new heights.

He not solely responded with a profession 99 factors (32-67) in 2021-22, he was rewarded with a seven-year, $56 million extension in September of 2022. And now, he’s not solely on tempo to raised these numbers with 40 factors in his first 28 video games — matching he quickest franchise begin established by Tony Tanti — he’s second in NHL scoring behind chief Nikita Kucherov of Tampa, who has 47 factors (19-28).

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What has turn out to be obvious with Miller for the reason that arrival of head coach Rick Tocchet is the dedication to be a 200-foot participant and a part of a management group to get the Canucks to a different degree.

Miller has turn out to be a “we” not “me” man and it’s evident with the Canucks main the league in scoring and 15-0-0 once they lead after two durations.

“We wish to be snug in that state of affairs, and I do know it’s simpler mentioned than completed,” Miller mentioned Saturday after a 4-3 win over Carolina. “If we would like be to the place we’re at, we’re going to be in that state of affairs rather a lot and we don’t wish to change our recreation. For those who sit again, groups are going to eat your alive in some unspecified time in the future. We’re getting higher at it.”

Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman didn’t practise Monday after leaving early in Saturday’s recreation at Seattle. He’s a game-time determination tonight.

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The historical past: Second assembly of the season. The error-prone Canucks misplaced 4-3 in Tampa on Oct. 19. Final season, the Canucks dropped each conferences. They misplaced 5-4 on the highway on Jan. 12 and 5-2 at Rogers Area on Jan. 18. Within the highway setback, Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson scored within the third interval to rally from a 5-2 deficit, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient. Pettersson had eight photographs and 11 makes an attempt. Within the dwelling loss, the Canucks fell behind 4-0 within the first interval and Steven Stamkos completed with a hat trick.

The hope: The Canucks can feed off back-to-back wins and match strides in one other litmus take a look at. Pettersson’s three-point effort Saturday the place he confirmed elevated tempo, playmaking and end bodes nicely for the Canucks to have a number of traces that may be efficient towards the Lightning, who’re giving up the third-most targets per recreation (3.52).

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The concern: The Canucks fail to corral Kucherov. The league’s main scorer has a knack of discovering time and house to launch fast and correct wrist photographs. He has 24 factors (8-16) in his final 13 video games.

The highest weapons: The Canucks proceed to make a top-12 influence within the NHL scoring race. Except for Miller having seven power-play targets, Pettersson is tied for fifth with 27 factors (11-26). Hughes has 36 factors (9-27) and is tied for sixth, whereas Brock Boeser’s 32 factors (18-14) are good for ninth.

The wounded: Canucks: Carson Soucy (foot, six to eight weeks, LTIR), Pius Suter (decrease physique, day-to-day, IR), Guillaume Brisebois (concussion, LTIR). Lightning: Steven Stamkos (day-to-day, sickness), Conor Sheary (higher physique, IR).

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The quote: “The expertise to have the puck in your stick and spin is tough to do and the load switch is high-level stuff. It takes time to get the energy and he’s chipping away at it.” — Tocchet on Petttersson’s wraparound aim Saturday.

The lineup: 

Mikheyev-Pettersson-Lafferty

Hoglander-Miller-Boeser

Joshua-Blueger-Garland

Kuzmenko-Aman-Di Giuseppe

Hughes-Hronek

Zadorov-Myers

Cole — Juulsen

The prediction: The Canucks preserve errors to a minimal and make the most of the Lightning surrendering too many targets. Vancouver rises to the problem, scores empty-netter and prevails 5-3.

(FAN FORUM: Do you could have a selected query for a participant? Cross it alongside to @provincesports and we’ll get it in a future version.)

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