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Vancouver Canucks face NY Islanders without Jannik Hansen, Chaput called up |
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Monday November 7 - Vancouver Canucks at New York Islanders - 4 p.m. - Sportsnet Pacific
Vancouver Canucks: 12 GP, 4-7-1, 9 pts, sixth in Pacific Division
New York Islanders: 12 GP, 4-6-2, 10 pts, seventh in Metropolitan Division
As they prepare for the fourth game of their longest road trip of the year, the Vancouver Canucks are still looking to collect their first point. Tonight's probably their best chance to get a win, as they match up against the struggling New York Islanders.
The Islanders have failed to gel after an offseason that saw them lose forwards Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen and Matt Martin to free agency. Marquee signing Andrew Ladd has been a huge disappointment, with just one assist so far in 12 games. Jason Chimera was also acquired over the summer after scoring 20 goals with the Washington Capitals last year. He has three assists this season and is a minus-five.
After a strong performance with Team Europe at the World Cup of Hockey, defenseman Dennis Seidenberg was signed to a one-year, $1 million deal. He has delivered—third in team scoring with four goals and eight points, and a plus-10.
Goaltender Jaroslav Halak also played well for Team Europe at World Cup, but his success has not carried over to the regular season. The Islanders are carrying three goalies—Thomas Greiss and Jean-Francois Berube, as well as Halak—and it's making for a crowded crease. Berube hasn't had any game action, but the rotation has complicated life at practice enough that Allan Walsh, who's the agent for both Halak and Berube, went public about the issue.
That tweet caused Islanders general manager Garth Snow to let other GMs around the league know that Halak was available for a trade if they're interested, but everything has remained status quo in Brooklyn since that firestorm.
Halak gets his third straight start tonight after relieving Thomas Greiss in the first period of the Islanders' 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning last Tuesday. His last two games were both shootout losses—to the Philadelphia Flyers and the Edmonton Oilers.
On the blue line, the Islanders will be without defenseman Travis Hamonic, who was placed on IR today after suffering an upper-body injury against Edmonton on Saturday. He's expected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks.
The Canucks also have a new injury to deal with. Jannik Hansen has been sent home to Vancouver for further evaluation. Word is, it's a shoulder issue.
Utica Comets leading scorer Michael Chaput has been recalled. Signed as an unrestricted free agent this summer, the 24-year-old centre has two goals and 13 points in 10 games with the Comets so far this season. Originally drafted in the third round by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010, Chaput has 58 games of NHL experience, all with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has two goals and eight points in the NHL, and did not receive a qualifying offer from Columbus after spending most of the 2015-16 season with the AHL's Lake Erie Monsters, where he won the Calder Cup.
Chaput also had a standout moment during his junior career. He was named the 2012 Memorial Cup MVP and was the tournament's leading scorer, posting 12 points in six games for the Cup-winning Shawinigan Cataractes.
Look for 6'2", 202-pound Chaput on the fourth line tonight, wearing No. 45.
With Hansen sidelined, Loui Eriksson returns to the top line with the Sedins. It's hoped that Alex Edler will be able to play, which will also see the defense pairings shuffle.
So far, here's all we know. Are these tonight's extras?
Ryan Miller gets back in net after the fiery finish to his Saturday night in Toronto. Will the Canucks be able to ride the momentum from the emotional loss to the Leafs to their first road win of the year?
To wrap up today—hopefully this puts at least a wry smile on your face for a moment.
Enjoy the game.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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