Saturday November 1 - Vancouver Canucks 3 - Edmonton Oilers 2
The Vancouver Canucks were the only road team to steal a regulation win from their opponents when they beat the Edmonton Oilers on a busy Saturday night in the NHL. Here are your highlights:
It was a hot night for the Canucks' new-look fourth line. Tom Sestito posted an assist and six hits in just 6:25 of ice time, Linden Vey scored the Canucks' second goal and Derek Dorsett took home first-star honours with a goal and an assist, including a shorthanded game-winner off a bad Ben Scrivens clearing pass early in the third period.
One thing you won't see in the NHL.com highlight package is Andrew Ference's hit to the head of Zack Kassian, late in the second period:
Kassian has been a marked man in Edmonton ever since his errant stick broke Sam Gagner's jaw during preseason last year. That incident hasn't been forgotten.
Ference received a minor penalty for a check to the head on the play. Kassian was not injured on the play: in fact, it was his third-period tripping penalty on Jordan Eberle that ultimately led to the winning goal.
UPDATE: Ference's hearing is scheduled for Monday:
The Canucks' win is their fourth straight and makes Ryan Miller the first goaltender in the league to reach eight wins. The Oilers have yet to beat a team from the Western Conference, despite going 4-0-0 against teams from the East.
It won't be long before the two teams meet again. Though the Canucks and Oilers have already met three times during the first month of the season, their next matchup is two and a half weeks away: November 19th at Rexall Place.
The Canucks didn't get off to a great start on Saturday night, and didn't get much of a contribution from the first line. But they did win the faceoff battle for the night as well as keeping their streak alive.
Sunday November 2 - Vancouver Canucks vs. Nashville Predators - 6:30 p.m. - Sportsnet Pacific, TEAM1040 Radio
Vancouver Canucks 8-3-0 second in Pacific Division
Nashville Predators 6-2-2 second in Central Division
Tonight's game against Nashville has been circled on the calendar—well, ever since Thursday's game against Montreal. The Preds have gotten off to one of the fastest starts in the NHL and are playing a different style of hockey under new coach Peter Laviolette. Nashville lost just its second regulation game of the season in its last contest—a 4-3 loss to the Flames on Friday.
The big news for the Canucks is that Bo Horvat was officially recalled from the Utica Comets on Sunday morning. He was not in the lineup on Saturday for the Comets' 5-4 win over the Adirondack Flames, and Sportsnet
is reporting that the rookie will make his NHL regular-season debut tonight.
Horvat was pointless in five games during his conditioning stint in Utica. It'll be very interesting to see what he can contribute to the Canucks tonight.
I have to feel for Tom Sestito a little bit. He did what he was asked to do last night, but I'd expect he'll be the player pulled from the lineup to make room for Horvat tonight.
Three new arrivals are leading the Predators in scoring. After being bought out by the Arizona Coyotes due to off-ice behaviour, Mike Ribeiro has eight points in 10 games, as does rookie Filip Forsberg. New acquisition James Neal, acquired during the summer in a trade with Pittsburgh, is right behind with seven goals.
Though much is being made of the Predators' aggressive new playing style, the return of Pekka Rinne has certainly contributed to Nashville's hot start. After missing 51 games last season due to hip surgery, Rinne has returned to form. He's 6-2-1 so far this year, with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage.
That being said, the big Finn has served up some real stinkers over the years against Vancouver, so anything can happen tonight.
We do know that the Canucks have struggled on their two prior back-to-back situations, both times with Eddie Lack in net. It seems likely that Lack will get the start again tonight, despite dropping a 4-2 decision to Tampa Bay on October 18 and a 7-3 stinker to Colorado on October 24.
Please note—like last Sunday, game time is 6:30 p.m., with the game televised on good old Sportsnet Pacific.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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