Vancouver Canucks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning - Saturday October 18 - 7:00 p.m - CBC
Vancouver Canucks 3-0-0 fourth in Pacific Division
Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1-1 third in Atlantic Division
It wasn't their best game, but the Vancouver Canucks rolled into Edmonton, grabbed their two points, and have headed back home to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday at Rogers Arena.
Ryan Miller was Vancouver's best player, recording 28 shots for his first shutout as a Canuck, while all the team's offense was generated by the first line. Radim Vrbata scored what proved to be the winning goal midway late in the second period on a beautiful cycle play, then Daniel Sedin added an empty-netter with 45 seconds left in the game.
Here are your highlights:
It was the Oilers' best defensive game of the year, but Ben Scrivens' guaranteed win did not come to pass. Their next chance will come Monday, when Tampa Bay continues its western swing.
Perhaps the biggest news of the night out of Edmonton was the fact that Toronto Maple Leafs general manager David Nonis flew in to catch the game.
When I first heard this news, I assumed he'd be scouting Oilers for a chance to make a blockbuster deal with a floundering team. Then I saw this:
Nonis was also spotted talking to Trevor Linden during the Canucks broadcast. I haven't actually heard any reports of him talking with Craig MacTavish last night, so it makes you wonder if something might be brewing with the Canucks.
If Vancouver is looking to make a deal, Jim Benning will be working from a position of relative strength. Yes, the Canucks have only played three games—against teams from Alberta—but they're one of just two teams in the league to boast a perfect record going into Saturday's action. The New York Islanders (!) are the other, at 4-0-0: they face Pittsburgh tonight.
While the Canucks have just arrived back in town from Edmonton, the Lightning have been here for a couple of days. They practised on Friday at Rogers Arena and the game-day skate times have been switched today. Tampa Bay was on the ice at 10:30, while the Canucks are out now.
There is a change on the Canucks' defense tonight. Ryan Stanton suffered a lower-body injury after blocking a shot in Friday's game against the Oilers, so Yannick Weber will draw in for his first action of the season. Frank Corrado has also been recalled from Utica as the seventh defenseman.
So Eddie Lack is in *and* there will be a "few other changes?" Sounds to me like Bo Horvat will be making his NHL debut. No word yet on practice line combinations, so we'll have to wait and see how things play out.
One thing we do know: tonight's national broadcast will be called by a local boy. It's been a long time since ex-Sports Pager Dave Randorf was on the Canucks beat!
I can't make tonight's game, but I envy those of you who will be in attendance at Rogers Arena tonight—and hope you'll share your on-the-scene observations with the rest of us.
Steven Stamkos is obviously the Lightning's marquee attraction. He didn't visit Vancouver last year due to his broken leg, but I saw him live back on December 11, 2010—the night the Canucks retired Markus Naslund's No. 19.
Vancouver lost 5-4 in the shootout that night, and Stamkos had two goals and assist. At that time, he was just a 20-year-old finding his way in the league. Now he's a grizzled veteran of 24, rightly recognized as one of the NHL's top talents. Win or lose tonight, he should be a treat to watch.
The game will also be Jason Garrison's first back in Vancouver since he was traded last summer. Joe Smith of the
Tampa Bay Times reports that Garrison has fit in nicely in his new home—and that he refused the first deal for which he was asked to waive his no-trade clause back in June. I wonder what that might have been?
Garrison is reunited in Tampa with ex-Canucks assistant coach Rick Bowness, who handles the defense. He's pointless through four games—it's interesting to note that he hasn't been used on the power play, but is seeing penalty-kill time and playing serious defensive minutes. Will he be a thorn in the side of his ex-teammates tonight?
The Lightning's offensive star on the blue line so far this season has been 23-year-old Victor Hedman, who leads the team with seven points and has made an early case for consideration in this year's Norris Trophy conversation.
Other star figures in the organization include 2014 Vezina Trophy nominee Ben Bishop, who will start in net, and B.C.'s own Jon Cooper, who was nominated for the 2014 Jack Adams Trophy as coach of the year.
So—lots to watch tonight as the Canucks continue a busy stretch of five games in eight nights—all quality opponents from here on out.
This is where we start to see what this year's team is made of. Enjoy the game!
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»