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Rookie showdown between Boeser and Barzal highlights Islanders vs. Canucks |
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Monday March 5 - Vancouver Canucks vs. New York Islanders - 7 p.m. - Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet 650
Vancouver Canucks: 65 GP, 24-32-9, 57 pts, seventh in Pacific Division
New York Islanders: 66 GP, 29-29-8, 66 pts, eighth in Metropolitan Division
When I first started covering Vancouver Canucks games from the press box midway through the 2009-10 season, the team won nearly every home game. From January 1 to the end of the season, they lost just twice in regulation. One of those times was a 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders, where then-rookie John Tavares dominated the proceedings with two goals and three assists.
It was a memorable performance. I'm a little shocked to realized that it happened eight years ago—and that I've been in the press box from Tavares' rookie season all the way to his potential final appearance in Vancouver in an Islanders uniform.
Will he re-sign? Garth Snow didn't even consider moving him at the trade deadline, despite the fact that the Islanders' playoff hopes are dimming by the day. The team is just 2-6-2 in its last 10 games—worst in the entire Eastern Conference—and has fallen to last place in the Metro thanks to the Rangers' unexpectedly successful post-deadline road trip through Western Canada. The Isles are currently five points out of the second wild-card, with four teams to pass.
Though the Islanders have struggled with injuries to their defense and consistency in goal this year, Snow made only a couple of minor tweaks to his team at the trade deadline. He brought in defenseman Brandon Davidson from Edmonton in exchange for a third-round pick and got younger in his bottom six by acquiring gritty 26-year-old Chris Wagner from Anaheim in exchange for 38-year-old Jason Chimera. Garth also re-signed his other major impending UFA, Josh Bailey, to a six-year deal with an AAV of $5 million per season.
With 16 games left on the schedule, Bailey has already hit new career highs with 16 goals and 64 points. He's one point behind Tavares in the team's scoring race but like the Canucks, the Islanders are currently being led offensively by a super-rookie: in their case, Mat Barzal.
Tonight will mark the first NHL game in his home market for the 20-year-old Barzal, who started with the Coquitlam Express of the BCHL before spending four seasons with the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds on his way to the NHL. And speaking of Islanders' players and five-point games, those have already become Barzal's trademark.
He's the first rookie in 100 years to have three five-point games in a season and is the only player other than Nathan MacKinnon to have more than one this year:
Barzal has cooled off a bit lately, and is pointless in his last two games, but his 67 points currently rank him 15th overall in NHL scoring. He comes into tonight's game 12 points ahead of second-place Brock Boeser in the rookie scoring race, although Brock's 29 goals are still well ahead of any other first-year player.
I'm pumped to watch these two go head-to-head, although I'm also expecting another busy stats night. The Islanders lead the NHL in goals against (3.56) and shots allowed (35.9) this season, and the Canucks have picked up the pace offensively over the last month. Since that breakout 6-0 win over Dallas on February 11, the Canucks are tied for ninth in goals for, with 35 goals in 10 games, and have fired an average of 34.7 shots per game on net.
That outburst coincides with Daniel Sedin's scoring surge, and a suddenly effective power play that has gone 8-for-33 over that stretch, for a success rate of 24.7 percent.
Daniel has a chance to set a new personal record tonight.
Travis Green doesn't sound like he's ready to cut ties with his veteran leaders just yet:
At practice on Sunday, we learned that yes, Sven Baertschi is sidelined long-term:
New arrival Jussi Jokinen skated with the Sedins at practice on Sunday and will make his Canucks debut tonight:
Nikolay Goldobin will also play, but probably in a different role.
Nic Dowd takes the scratch tonight in what should be a pretty wide-open affair.
To wrap today: Ty Ronning gets rewarded for an outstanding season with the Vancouver Giants:
Like his father Cliff, Ty looks like he'll get a shot at making an impact in the NHL as an undersized foward.
Ty's 55 goals in 64 games have him tied for second in WHL scoring so far this season—and he had a chance to meet with president Glen Sather when the New York Rangers were in town last week.
Fans in Minnesota lament the fact that Chuck Fletcher picked Joel Eriksson-Ek in the first round of the 2015 draft, three spots before the Canucks took their hometown boy Brock Boeser. I wonder if we'll end up feeling the same kind of local-hero remorse about Ronning, who was taken by the Rangers in the seventh round, 201st overall, in 2016?
In the seventh round alone, the Canucks had two picks that year, taking Rodrigo Abols at 184 and Brett McKenzie at 194.
Enjoy the game!
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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