Saturday October 13 - Vancouver Canucks 3 - Florida Panthers 2
Lost in all the talk of retribution and concern for injured Elias Pettersson, the Vancouver Canucks played a terrific road game in their 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers and are now riding a two-game winning streak. Here are your highlights:
Mike Matheson's chokeslam on Pettersson knocked him out of the game with 15:03 to play in the third period and the score tied 2-2.
Though there was no penalty on the play, Matheson is scheduled for a
phone hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety on Monday.
According to NHL.com, "The following grounds are being considered for supplemental discipline: interference/unsportsmanlike conduct. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to the infraction upon review."
After the game, Travis Green said "The league is trying to protect the good young players and that’s a dirty play," according to
Patrick Johnston from The Province.
Green also made it clear that he didn't want his players to try to avenge their fallen teammate.
“You’ve got to show composure when you’re in a game. It’s a 3-2 hockey game. There’s 12 minutes left. You’re talking about a guy that has one fight in his career. I don’t think he’s known as a dirty player. You’re in a hockey game, you don’t just go start chasing guys around the rink.
“That’s just not the way it is. I’m just not going to talk about retribution.”
Of course, the game-winning goal did turn out to be the team's revenge—a beautiful effort by Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi that came just 1:14 after Pettersson was injured.
And yes, that's Matheson who gets dusted by Baertschi at the blue line.
The Canucks were able to escape with the two points despite losing two centres in the third period. In addition to Pettersson, Jay Beagle was knocked out of the game with 3:11 to play in regulation after a Mike Hoffman shot hit him just above the top of his glove.
Brandon Sutter and Bo Horvat alternated on faceoff duties the rest of the way. They won three-out-of-four and the Panthers got just one shot on net as the clock ticked down.
Here's the Sunday update on Beagle and Pettersson:
It seems like good news that Pettersson is flying with the team, especially after Jason Botchford took the Canucks to task for sending Thatcher Demko to Utica while he was still in concussion protocol, in Saturday night's edition of The Athletties:
Demko's concussion symptoms did worsen when he got to Utica, and he has just recently resumed intense physical activity, with the hope of being ready for game action soon. Botchford also mentions that Antoine Roussel's flight from Montreal to Vancouver for training camp after his offseason concussion might have set back his recovery.
But don't forget—head injuries are unpredictable. A quick Google search suggests that different people will react in different ways to flying after suffering concussions, and that there are a number of different conditions that might make symptoms worse for some people.
Demko was medically cleared to fly to Utica. Presumably, Pettersson has also been cleared today. With any luck, that means he'll be back in action before too long.
After all, he has streaks to uphold! Back in the second period, Petey extended his career-opening point streak to five games with his fifth goal of the season—a power-play snipe that was reminiscent of his hot shot on Mike Smith in the season-opener against Calgary at Rogers Arena.
That ties the Canucks' franchise record for games with a point to start an NHL career. It also keeps Pettersson atop the rookie scoring race, two points ahead of Ottawa's surprising rookie defenseman Maxime Lajoie. Pettersson's five goals also have him tied for sixth overall in the league at the moment—with some dudes named Kane, Toews and Bergeron.
As for Beagle, his hand is broken and he'll be out for awhile so, of course, the Canucks managed to stay completely healthy for a little more than two periods.
As Iain MacIntrye mentions, Adam Gaudette's a possibility for a recall. He's off to a good start with the Utica Comets, with two goals and four points in the Comets' back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday.
The Comets kicked off their weekend visit to Toronto in spectacular fashion on Saturday, jumping out to a 6-0 lead against the Marlies on their way to a 7-3 win. The teams will face off again for a Sunday rematch, once again at 1 p.m. PT. If you're in the U.S., the game is being televised on NHL Network.
The Canucks could get by without recalling a centre from Utica. Markus Granlund, Tyler Motte and Tim Schaller all have some experience playing in the middle.
During that brief moment of full health on Saturday, the Canucks needed to open up a roster spot for the now-healthy Antoine Roussel. The decision was made to put utility defenseman Alex Biega on waivers.
Now 30, Biega is no stranger to the minor leagues, but hasn't been on waivers since 2015. His last game with the Comets came nearly two years ago as part of a brief three-day conditioning assignment.
Despite the injuries, it's not possible to halt Biega's waiver process. He is officially on the wire today; we'll find out on Monday whether he clears. He might be an option for the Penguins, who lost right-shot defenseman Justin Schultz to injury during their game on Saturday.
Coincidentally, the Canucks' next game comes against the Penguins on Tuesday.
Let's wrap up today with this odd tidbit:
The enigmatic blueliner continues to find ways to bounce from the penthouse to the outhouse, no matter what league he's playing in.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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