‘I simply don’t like all of the hype round it. It’s annoying. I simply need to go on the market and play and never fear about every little thing else that goes into it.’ — Bo Horvat on dealing with the Canucks
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Vancouver Canucks (26-11-3) at New York Islanders (18-11-10)
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When and the place: Tuesday, 4:30 p.m., UBS Area
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TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650
The excitement: Bo Horvat is placing up numbers for the Islanders and has fashioned a formidable pairing with Matt Barzal that has usually dazzled and delivered once they’re wholesome and in sync. Suppose peanut butter and jam. Very pleasing and simple to digest.
Barzal is the Coquitlam burner whose pace and playmaking leaves defenders greedy at air. He has 40 factors (11-29), together with three power-play objectives. Horvat has been the benefactor of Barzal’s creativity with 39 factors (16-23), together with six man-advantage markers.
That’s the excellent news. The unhealthy is the Islanders want consistency and their 4-4-2 mark within the final 10 outings is proof. However Horvat did have a heater going with 25 factors (8-17) throughout an 11-game factors streak final month.
Canucks Report
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Horvat additionally discovered the vary with Vancouver, however these numbers by no means added as much as the quantity the previous captain needed — a contract extension to cement his standing as a franchise-for-life participant.
It’s been practically a yr since Horvat was dealt and stated: “I believed I might be a Canuck for all times.” You’d suppose sufficient time has handed to heal all the injuries. Possibly. Possibly not. Horvat acquired a lowball provide right here and massive bucks from the Islanders. And now he meets the Canucks once more.
“I simply don’t like all of the hype round it,” Horvat instructed amNewYork on Monday. “It’s annoying. For me, I simply need to go on the market and play the sport and never fear about every little thing else that goes into it.”
Mentioned Barzal: “Bo’s a stud. He’s dealt with plenty of stress and criticism and he all the time takes the excessive street.”
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Horvat’s extremely anticipated return to Rogers Area on Nov. 15 was emotional. He tried to maintain it collectively throughout the pre-game skate. He then acquired misty as his contributions to the Canucks have been acknowledged by a standing ovation. He scored as soon as throughout a 4-3 extra time loss.
We all know how the greenback dominoes fell right here. J.T. Miller acquired the large cash and Horvat needed to wait earlier than signing his eight-year, US$68 million deal on Feb. 3.
He grew to become a commerce chip in a blockbuster Jan. 30 swap to handle roster wants and clearing cap house. Nonetheless, winger Anthony Beauvillier, 26, didn’t change into a top-six fixture and was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 28 for a fourth-round 2024 draft choose.
Touchdown promising AHL centre Aatu Raty, 21, within the swap was prudent. And turning a first-round choose into Filip Hronek, 26, was a grasp administration stroke to discover a confirmed associate for Quinn Hughes. However like Pettersson, Hronek additionally wants an extension.
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The historical past: Within the Nov. 15 assembly, Hughes scored at 2:36 of extra time on a breakaway for the 4-3 win handy the Islanders their sixth-straight setback. Hughes additionally had two assists, six pictures and 13 makes an attempt in 29:24 of ice time.
The hope: The stable six stays wholesome. The Canucks now have a full complement of blueliners within the pairings of Hughes-Hronek, Nikita Zadorov-Ian Cole, Carson Soucy-Tyler Myers.
The worry: The Canucks get caught up by one other Horvat assembly. Nonetheless, the membership’s energy worries about its sport and never the opposition.
The highest weapons: Miller was seventh total earlier than Monday video games with 53 factors (18-35), Hughes was ninth with 49 (10-39) and Pettersson eleventh with 48 factors (17-31).
The wounded: Canucks: Guillaume Brisebois (concussion, LTIR). Islanders: Adam Pelech (higher physique, IR), Robert Bortuzzo (decrease physique, IR) and Ryan Pulock (decrease physique, IR).
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The quote: “Evidently we’re fighting little components of our sport and it actually comes with out the puck.” — Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.
The lineup:
Pettersson-Miller-Boeser
Mikheyev-Suter-Kuzmenko
Joshua-Blueger-Garland
Hoglander-Aman-Lafferty
Hughes-Hronek
Zadorov-Cole
Soucy-Myers
DeSmith
The prediction: The Canucks strike twice in opposition to second-worst penalty kill and prevail 4-2.
(FAN FORUM: Do you’ve gotten a particular query for a participant? Go it alongside to @provincesports and we’ll get it in a future version.)
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