The Vancouver Canucks (2-4) continue their six-game Eastern road trip when they take on the New York Rangers (4-2) at Madison Square Garden. Game time is 3pm PT. After starting the season with wins in two of their first three games, the Canucks have dropped three in a row following a 4-1 loss in New Jersey on Saturday.
What we know
The Canucks bucked conventional hockey wisdom and held an optional skate on Sunday morning after playing on Saturday afternoon. Today’s game with the Rangers comes on the heels of a 4-1 loss in New Jersey on Saturday and will be the team’s third game in four nights to start its lengthy road trip.
Based on the fact that he was first off the ice this morning, Kevin Lankinen appears likely to get the start in goal. It’s been a tough start to the season for the affable Finn. On top of allowing 22 goals in his first four starts, he took the loss on Saturday despite playing just 5:27 of relief duty. Lankinen was forced into the game late in the first period when starter Leevi Meriläinen lost a skate blade and needed repairs. He allowed one goal on three shots, but that goal turned out to be the game winner so Lankinen got saddled with the loss.
Linus Karlsson opened the scoring with his first goal of the season. It came on an early first-period power play. Jake DeBrusk had an assist and a game-high seven shots on goal. Elias Pettersson was held off the scoresheet for the first time this season, but still leads the team with eight points.
The penalty kill is in a world of hurt in the early stages of the season. For the second straight game, the Canucks surrendered three power-play goals, and over six games they’ve allowed 11 goals in 23 shorthanded opportunities. The penalty kill is 52.2% and has allowed at least one goal in all six games played.
After scoring 17 goals in the team’s first three games of the season, the Canucks have managed just five goals in their last three outings and just three at even strength. The Canucks have yet to score a 5-on-5 first-period goal this season.
With the heavy schedule, the Canucks could make changes to their line-up for this afternoon’s game. Aatu Räty, who was a healthy scratch on Saturday, could draw back in up front. While former Ranger Victor Mancini and Guillaume Brisebois are both available on defence.
After scoring three goals and recording four points in his first two games, Marco Rossi has gone four games without a point.
The Opponent
The Rangers return to action following a 3-1 loss in Washington on Friday night. That put an end to the team’s four-game win streak. Alexis Lafreniere scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season after he recorded a hat trick on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. Lafreniere, who turns 25 today, leads the Rangers with six points in the early going this season. Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox each have five points.
Friday’s loss came with a significant cost as star netminder Igor Shesterkin suffered a lower body injury midway through the second period. It was announced on Saturday morning that he is done for the season. Shesterkin was replaced by Victoria native and former Kamloops Blazer Dylan Garand, who will get the start today and could carry the load for the foreseeable future. The Rangers are the third-best defensive team in the league right now, surrendering 11 goals in their six games (1.83 per game), and two of those goals have been empty-netters.
Former Canuck JT Miller has just one goal through five games, but he carries a three-game point streak (1+2) into action this afternoon. Meanwhile, Marcus Pettersson has been held pointless through his first six games as a Ranger. He has taken one minor penalty and is +2 so far this season.
The Rangers have made the most of home ice, posting a 3-0 record at MSG, beating Tampa Bay, Utah, and the Islanders so far.
According to the NHL, the Rangers are the youngest team in the league at the moment, averaging 26.47 years old. They are in the midst of a rebuild after peddling the likes of veterans Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck and Jacob Trouba in recent years. Their roster includes 2007-born defenceman Alberts Smits who was taken fifth overall in June’s draft. At 18 years and 10 months, the Belarussian is the fourth youngest player – and youngest defenceman – in the league this season.
News and notes
Last year’s season series was unique in that the road trip posted a shutout victory on both occasions. New York blanked the Canucks 2-0 in Vancouver last October while Thatcher Demko made 23 saves for the shutout win at MSG just before Christmas.
The Rangers will play their lone game in Vancouver this season on Friday, November 13th.
Today’s referees are TJ Luxmore and Justin Kea.
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