Connor Bedard makes his first National Hockey League appearance in his hometown as the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/nhl-odds-betting-preview-nov-16-blackhawks-canucks-predictions">Chicago Blackhawks</a> (6-10-1) visit the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/what-vancouver-canucks-give-up-trade-top-four-defenceman">Vancouver Canucks</a> (8-4-3).
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The 19-year-old missed the Hawks&#8217; lone game in Rogers Arena last season while recovering from a broken jaw. Tonight, the pride of North Vancouver will have family and friends in attendance as he plays an NHL game in Vancouver for the first time.
<h1>What we saw</h1>
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no morning skate for any <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> skaters with back to back games. Silovs and Lankinen the only players on the ice <a href="https://t.co/hL27aA9BOS">pic.twitter.com/hL27aA9BOS</a>
&mdash; Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) <a href="https://twitter.com/patersonjeff/status/1857854962807747015?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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With back-to-back games this weekend, the Canucks elected to conserve energy and held all of their skaters off the ice this morning. Only Arturs Silovs and Kevin Lankinen took to the ice, along with a handful of coaches.
Silovs gets the start in goal tonight. It’s his first appearance since a brief mop-up stint against the Edmonton Oilers last Saturday and his first NHL start since a forgettable 6-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on October 30th. Silovs is 0-2-1 on the season with a 4.77 goals against average (GAA) and an 80.8% save percentage (S%). The 23-year-old Latvian did pick up a win for AHL Abbotsford last Sunday.
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Vinny Desharnais skating on his own prior to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> morning skate after missing practice yesterday. Pretty good indication he’ll be out tonight <a href="https://t.co/m4nblpIbAb">pic.twitter.com/m4nblpIbAb</a>
&mdash; Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) <a href="https://twitter.com/patersonjeff/status/1857850232450830565?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The Canucks will make one other line-up change tonight as Noah Juulsen draws in on defence for Vincent Desharnais who is nursing an undisclosed injury that kept him out of practice on Friday.
After a disappointing effort in a 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday, Rick Tocchet changed three of his line combinations at Friday’s practice. <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/scenes-from-practice-vancouver-canucks-new-look-lines-reunite-joshua-blueger-garland-trio">Dakota Joshua and Conor Garland</a> have been reunited with Teddy Blueger, while Kiefer Sherwood is bumped up to play with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk. Danton Heinen, who scored a pair the last time the Canucks faced the Blackhawks, will skate with Aatu Räty and Nils Höglander, who has now gone 10 games since his last goal on October 19th against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The only line left intact was rookie Jonathan Lekkerimäki with JT Miller and Pius Suter. They combined to open the scoring on Thursday, with Lekkerimäki netting his first NHL goal just 2:40 into the hockey game.
The Canucks home record has become a concern, with two wins in eight outings (2-3-3). More than that, though, is the fact the team has been outscored 34-22 and has given up five or more goals in half of its home outings.
Vancouver has won eight straight against Chicago dating back to January 2022. The team has also won 11 of its last 12 meetings with the Hawks.
<h1>The visitors</h1>
The Blackhawks are here following a 3-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. Ryan Donato’s third period marker was the team’s lone goal. Petr Mrazek stopped 23 of 25 Kraken shots.
Connor Bedard was held off the scoresheet in the Emerald City. The 19-year-old has three goals and a team-high 13 points on the season but has just one assist to show for his last four outings. The first overall pick in 2023 and reigning Rookie of the Year has gone eight games since his last goal on October 26th against the Dallas Stars.
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Kids from the North Shore Winter Club are here at Rogers Arena to see alum Connor Bedard at the morning skate. Coincidentally, the team name is the Winterhawks and the jerseys are Blackhawks-coded. <a href="https://t.co/qH0splAuTG">pic.twitter.com/qH0splAuTG</a>
&mdash; Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkLazerus/status/1857849732506480767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Donato leads Chicago with eight goals and is the only Hawk with more than five on the season. As a team, the Blackhawks have scored one goal in regulation in four straight games. They managed to beat the Minnesota Wild 2-1 in overtime for their lone victory over that stretch. They have scored more than three goals only twice in their past dozen contests. Defenceman Seth Jones, one of three Hawks in double figures offensively with two goals and 10 points, will not play tonight. He is out indefinitely with a foot injury. Veteran Taylor Hall will be a healthy scratch. Arvid Soderblom gets the start in goal.
Despite those offensive challenges, the Hawks actually have a better power play than the Canucks by the numbers. Chicago is 10/49 (20.4%) with the man advantage, while Vancouver is 9/45 (20.0%).
Former Canuck Ilya Mikheyev has struggled out of the gate in the Windy City with an empty net goal and one assist in 15 games. That has landed Mikheyev in the doghouse, as he’s been a healthy scratch in each of the team’s past two games. He will return to the line-up tonight. He&#8217;s gone five games without a goal and four games without a point.
The Hawks sit 29th in the overall standings, tied with the Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks with 13 points. Only the Montreal Canadiens, with 12, have fewer points.
The Canucks beat Chicago 6-3 at United Center on October 22nd. The teams will meet one more time this season in Vancouver on March 15th.
Tonight’s referees: Pierre Lambert &amp; Brandon Schrader
Tonight’s broadcasters: John Shorthouse &amp; Ray Ferraro
<h1>What we heard</h1>
Rick Tocchet on needing a solid start from Arturs Silovs: “I’d like us to let him play half a net tonight and not have odd man rushes against him. Especially early. I don’t care who you are, the last thing you want is your goalie facing a three on two in the first five minutes of the game. Let him settle into the game. He’s played some pressure games for us. I want him to enjoy himself, too. We put him in some tough spots. I want him to have fun. Be positive. He had a good outing in Abbotsford last week and he’s had some good practices.”
Tocchet on bouncing back from a poor showing against the Islanders: “They know. We just have to be ready to go. Get to the game plan early and just play hockey. Like have some fun, too. We have a lot of positives here. Let’s look at the positives, not the negatives. But the one negative or whatever you want to say is we have to start on time.”
Kiefer Sherwood on getting promoted to a top six role with Pettersson and DeBrusk: “Just play my game. I’m there for a reason. Be simple and be predictable and get pucks back for them. They’re great playmakers. If we can get the puck in their hands, it’ll be a good night.&#8221;
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Connor Bedard makes his first National Hockey League appearance in his hometown as the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/nhl-odds-betting-preview-nov-16-blackhawks-canucks-predictions">Chicago Blackhawks</a> (6-10-1) visit the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/what-vancouver-canucks-give-up-trade-top-four-defenceman">Vancouver Canucks</a> (8-4-3).
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The 19-year-old missed the Hawks' lone game in Rogers Arena last season while recovering from a broken jaw. Tonight, the pride of North Vancouver will have family and friends in attendance as he plays an NHL game in Vancouver for the first time.
<h1>What we saw</h1>
https://twitter.com/patersonjeff/status/1857854962807747015

With back-to-back games this weekend, the Canucks elected to conserve energy and held all of their skaters off the ice this morning. Only Arturs Silovs and Kevin Lankinen took to the ice, along with a handful of coaches.

Silovs gets the start in goal tonight. It’s his first appearance since a brief mop-up stint against the Edmonton Oilers last Saturday and his first NHL start since a forgettable 6-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on October 30th. Silovs is 0-2-1 on the season with a 4.77 goals against average (GAA) and an 80.8% save percentage (S%). The 23-year-old Latvian did pick up a win for AHL Abbotsford last Sunday.

https://twitter.com/patersonjeff/status/1857850232450830565

The Canucks will make one other line-up change tonight as Noah Juulsen draws in on defence for Vincent Desharnais who is nursing an undisclosed injury that kept him out of practice on Friday.

After a disappointing effort in a 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday, Rick Tocchet changed three of his line combinations at Friday’s practice. <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/scenes-from-practice-vancouver-canucks-new-look-lines-reunite-joshua-blueger-garland-trio">Dakota Joshua and Conor Garland</a> have been reunited with Teddy Blueger, while Kiefer Sherwood is bumped up to play with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk. Danton Heinen, who scored a pair the last time the Canucks faced the Blackhawks, will skate with Aatu Räty and Nils Höglander, who has now gone 10 games since his last goal on October 19th against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The only line left intact was rookie Jonathan Lekkerimäki with JT Miller and Pius Suter. They combined to open the scoring on Thursday, with Lekkerimäki netting his first NHL goal just 2:40 into the hockey game.

The Canucks home record has become a concern, with two wins in eight outings (2-3-3). More than that, though, is the fact the team has been outscored 34-22 and has given up five or more goals in half of its home outings.

Vancouver has won eight straight against Chicago dating back to January 2022. The team has also won 11 of its last 12 meetings with the Hawks.
<h1>The visitors</h1>
The Blackhawks are here following a 3-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. Ryan Donato’s third period marker was the team’s lone goal. Petr Mrazek stopped 23 of 25 Kraken shots.

Connor Bedard was held off the scoresheet in the Emerald City. The 19-year-old has three goals and a team-high 13 points on the season but has just one assist to show for his last four outings. The first overall pick in 2023 and reigning Rookie of the Year has gone eight games since his last goal on October 26th against the Dallas Stars.

https://twitter.com/MarkLazerus/status/1857849732506480767

Donato leads Chicago with eight goals and is the only Hawk with more than five on the season. As a team, the Blackhawks have scored one goal in regulation in four straight games. They managed to beat the Minnesota Wild 2-1 in overtime for their lone victory over that stretch. They have scored more than three goals only twice in their past dozen contests. Defenceman Seth Jones, one of three Hawks in double figures offensively with two goals and 10 points, will not play tonight. He is out indefinitely with a foot injury. Veteran Taylor Hall will be a healthy scratch. Arvid Soderblom gets the start in goal.

Despite those offensive challenges, the Hawks actually have a better power play than the Canucks by the numbers. Chicago is 10/49 (20.4%) with the man advantage, while Vancouver is 9/45 (20.0%).

Former Canuck Ilya Mikheyev has struggled out of the gate in the Windy City with an empty net goal and one assist in 15 games. That has landed Mikheyev in the doghouse, as he’s been a healthy scratch in each of the team’s past two games. He will return to the line-up tonight. He's gone five games without a goal and four games without a point.

The Hawks sit 29th in the overall standings, tied with the Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks with 13 points. Only the Montreal Canadiens, with 12, have fewer points.

The Canucks beat Chicago 6-3 at United Center on October 22nd. The teams will meet one more time this season in Vancouver on March 15th.

Tonight’s referees: Pierre Lambert &amp; Brandon Schrader

Tonight’s broadcasters: John Shorthouse &amp; Ray Ferraro
<h1>What we heard</h1>
Rick Tocchet on needing a solid start from Arturs Silovs: “I’d like us to let him play half a net tonight and not have odd man rushes against him. Especially early. I don’t care who you are, the last thing you want is your goalie facing a three on two in the first five minutes of the game. Let him settle into the game. He’s played some pressure games for us. I want him to enjoy himself, too. We put him in some tough spots. I want him to have fun. Be positive. He had a good outing in Abbotsford last week and he’s had some good practices.”

Tocchet on bouncing back from a poor showing against the Islanders: “They know. We just have to be ready to go. Get to the game plan early and just play hockey. Like have some fun, too. We have a lot of positives here. Let’s look at the positives, not the negatives. But the one negative or whatever you want to say is we have to start on time.”

Kiefer Sherwood on getting promoted to a top six role with Pettersson and DeBrusk: “Just play my game. I’m there for a reason. Be simple and be predictable and get pucks back for them. They’re great playmakers. If we can get the puck in their hands, it’ll be a good night."

Sponsored by bet365!
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Scenes from morning skate: Canucks turn Silovs to stop Bedard and Blackhawks

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