‘Three or 4 targets in opposition to is out of character for us and we have had conferences about defending our recreation with out the puck.” — Rick Tocchet
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Ottawa Senators (14-18-0) at Vancouver Canucks (23-10-3)
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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: If you happen to play such as you practise, then the Canucks ought to revert to a robust skill to disclaim straightforward targets. With simply two dwelling video games throughout a 10-day vacation stretch, there was ample alternative for relaxation and restoration and to dial within the particulars with three practices within the final 4 days.
The timing couldn’t have been higher. The Canucks have slipped from second to 3rd total in targets in opposition to per outing (2.56), primarily based largely on coughing up 4 in every of their final three video games (1-2-0). Too many attractiveness for the opposition spoke to a scarcity of poise, positioning and dedication.
“Guys are shopping for into to how we need to play, however they’re not pleased with how we’ve been enjoying with out the puck,” mentioned Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. “Three or 4 targets in opposition to is out of character for us and we’ve had conferences about defending our recreation with out the puck.”
Canucks Report
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It’s additionally why Tocchet has pushed the follow tempo. There have been puck restoration and zone-exit drills, particular person instruction and even further laps on the finish of follow to make sure thoughts and physique are in sync. The Canucks have a troublesome seven-game highway slog in 12 days that begins Thursday in St. Louis. They higher be prepared.
“It’s good to get somewhat conditioning,” Tocchet added about these laps. “It’s not a punishment factor. It preaches psychological toughness, so whenever you’re drained, there’s extra within the tank. And also you need to see who pushes by. It (schedule) goes to get heavy once more and I simply need guys to re-set their minds.”
The historical past: Second assembly of the season. The Canucks prolonged their win streak to 5 video games with a 5-2 highway effort on Nov. 9 as Elias Pettersson struck for 3 factors (1-2) to push his manufacturing to 14 factors (5-9) throughout a seven-game spurt.
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It gave the slick Swedish centre the NHL scoring lead with 24 factors (7-17) to ship and early message that he’s worthy of an eventual mammoth contract extension as a result of he was exhausting on himself that evening. Ilya Mikheyev scored twice whereas Brock Boeser and J.T. Miller had the opposite targets.
The hope: The facility play remains to be the hammer and a difference-maker because the fourth-ranked unit (23.6 per cent) however has slipped dramatically previously 10 video games — a 4-for-32 slide, blanked in six video games and working at simply 15.2 per cent effectivity fee. Plenty of rotations and fairly passes, however PP1 and PP2 want higher internet presence. Boeser ranks second with 9 power-play targets.
The worry: Who’re we kidding? The Senators have simply gone by a hockey operations division shuffle, have received simply three of their final 10 video games and sit twenty ninth total. Hazard recreation because the Canucks brace for a highway check in opposition to the Blues, Devils, Rangers, Islanders, Penguins and Sabres.
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The highest weapons: Miller is tied for fifth in NHL scoring with 48 factors (15-33), Hughes is tied for eighth with 45 factors (10-35), Pettersson is tied for thirteenth with 43 factors (13-30) and Boeser is twenty third with 38 factors (24-14).
The wounded: Canucks: Carson Soucy (day-to-day, LTIR), Guillaume Brisebois (concussion, LTIR). Senators: Mathieu Joseph (decrease physique, IR), Rourke Chartier (higher physique, IR).
The quote: “It’s one thing we take delight in and one thing we’ve received to get again to. Too many Grade As.”
— Tocchet on giving up 4 targets in every of the final three video games.
The lineup:
Mikheyev-Pettersson-Kuzmenko
Di Giuseppe-Miller-Boeser
Joshua-Blueger-Garland
Aman-Suter-Lafferty
Hughes-Hronek
Zadorov — Myers
Cole-Juulsen
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The prediction: The Canucks play more durable, draw penalties, and thrive in opposition to the league’s worst penalty killing. Senators are useless final a 72.1 per cent. Energy play strikes twice in 5-2. win.
(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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