The Vancouver Canucks get back on the ice at Rogers Arena today, running a full practice ahead of a quick road trip later this week.
The Canucks will play three games in four nights, but all the games are against teams that are also struggling—hovering in the same general neighbourhood in the league standings: Arizona on Wednesday, then Dallas on Friday and Colorado on Saturday.
This Thursday is U.S. Thanksgiving—typically a time when we get a good idea of which teams will and won't make the playoffs. Right now, the Canucks are just three points out of a Western Conference wild card spot, but they're also 13th out of 14 teams in the conference. With just one game on their schedule between now and Thursday, they'll definitely be on the outside looking in.
Last year on Thanksgiving, the Canucks were 17th overall with a 9-8-6 record for 24 points in 23 games. That was good enough to slot them into the last playoff spot in the West. They went 22-30-7 in their remaining 59 games, though, to drop to 28th place by season's end.
Despite the late-game collapse against Chicago last Saturday night, everything's basically status quo with the team for now.
So let's move onto other important topics. Like...here's a first glimpse of the new SportsBar at Rogers Arena.
Acccording to
this interview with the Canucks' director of restaurants Dave Whitworth, the new bar will open in less than two weeks—for the Canucks/Leafs game on December 3.
Here's how Whitworth describes the concept:
The SportsBar will be a first-of-its kind “LIVE!” sports and dining experience that will put our fans right in the game. The SportsBar will boast Vancouver’s longest bar which will be the length of an NHL blue line and it’ll have a view into the arena which will allow for our fans to experience the energy and excitement of being at the game. And, lastly, it’ll feature heart-pounding audio-visuals that will include 120+ high definition TVs, a 16.5’ projection screen, and a live DJ to lead the entertainment experience.
Meanwhile, down on the farm...
...It has been an interesting week for goaltender Michael Garteig, primarily of the ECHL's Alaska Aces. Garteig backed up Jacob Markstrom for last Thursday's win over Arizona when Ryan Miller fell ill, and now it looks like he'll get his first taste of AHL action.
Goaltender Richard Bachman left Saturday's Utica Comets game in the third period after trying to make a save, leaving Thatcher Demko to finish the game. Bachman was still named second star in the Comets' 2-1 win over Rochester. The Comets have not yet provided an update on his condition, but he's not at practice today.
No official announcement has been made yet about a replacement for Bachman, but
Doyle Woody of the
Alaska Dispatch News, who covers the Alaska Aces, reported after the Aces' Saturday night 6-4 road win over the Wichita Thunder that Garteig was headed for Utica.
If true, that'd set up an all-rookie goalie tandem for the Comets, and further fuel the head-to-head comparisons between Garteig and Demko.
It's an interesting storyline—though Demko is by bar the more highly-touted prospect, it was Garteig and his Quinnipiac team that beat out Demko's Boston College group at least year's Frozen Four.
So far this season, 20-year-old Demko is 2-3-1 with the Comets, with a 3.41 goals-against average and .879 save percentage. His numbers are almost identical to Bachman's, which are 3-6-0 with a 3.40 goals-against average and .876 save percentage.
Meanwhile, Garteig, 25, has amassed a 7-1-0 record, albeit one league down in the ECHL. His goals-against average is 2.32, his save percentage is .926 and he has one shutout.
I'm curious to see how he'd perform at the AHL level. The Comets finish off their six-game homestand against Syracuse on Wednesday, then play back-to-back road games against Rochester and Toronto on Friday and Saturday.
Much like their parent team, the Comets are struggling this year but have shown signs of improvement. They're 3-1 in their last four games—still in last place in the North Division with a record of 5-9-1 for 11 points but no longer last in the league. Edmonton's affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, is 5-7-0 for 10 points.
Jake Virtanen picked up his first assist in a Utica uniform this weekend.
And to close today, one other AHL note:
Tonight, the Canucks players will be attending the annual Sports Celebrities Festival, a gala in support of the Canucks for Kids Fund and Special Olympics BC.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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