The Vancouver Canucks are back in action Thursday and begin a six-game road trip against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes.
Thursday’s game begins at 4:00 p.m. PT, and this road trip is the team’s second-longest of the season. They will play three games in four nights to start the trip, then play every second day, and travel from New York to Florida after Tuesday’s game.
The team practiced on Wednesday in Raleigh, and head coach Manny Malhotra shared what he has liked about his team through their first four games.
“It’s a continued work in progress, but I think in the few games when we have established a very simple and direct game, that’s what allowed us to turn the table a little bit and produce offence and play on the front foot,” said Malhotra.
“There’s no secret to it. When we execute a simple game plan, [and] get out of our zone quickly, it just gives us the ability to spend more time in the o-zone.”
Quick Hits on the Competition
The Canes hold a 2-1-1 record to begin the season but have gone winless in their two home ice appearances.
They have won their last two games and play only one home game against the Canucks before playing seven of their next eight games on the road.
Sebastian Aho has come out firing this season, he has put up seven points (4g-3a) in his last three games and has back-to-back three-point performances coming into Thursday’s game. Aho has also won 35 of his 54 faceoffs, clicking at a 64.8% win rate early in the season.
Aho is tied with Andrei Svechnikov for the most shots on the team, each of them has 15 shots on net this season.
Brandon Bussi has started three games this season, and with Thursday being the first game of a three-in-four for the Canes, he is the likely starter for Thursday night.
Not much has changed for the Canes, as they have held a 60.9% Corsi in the first four games of the season. They still love to shoot the puck from anywhere on the ice.
The Story: On the Road Again…
The team views hitting the road early in the season as a positive. The group will get an opportunity to spend a lot of time together away from the rink and bond as a team.
“It’s obviously important. Getting the chance to know your teammates, going out for a beer together or dinner, and getting to know one another a little bit on a personal level. I think the closer you are off the ice, the easier it translates on the ice, and you want to play for one another more,” Schenn said.
“Obviously, we’ve got some long road trips here, and it’s nice to get to know the boys right off the start.”
The Canucks finished last season with a 16-22-3 road record. Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk tied for the team lead with 13 goals away from home last season, while Boeser and Elias Pettersson tied with 25 points.
This six-game road trip is the second-longest of the season, with a seven-game trip at the end of January.
When and Where to Watch
Thursday’s game starts at 4:00 p.m. PT, and you can watch on Sportsnet or listen to Brendan Batchelor’s radio call on KISS West Coast.