Chicago @ Vancouver preview
Rogers Arena
Last Meeting ( Dec 17, 2023 ) Vancouver 4, Chicago 3
The Vancouver Canucks continue to roll and appear to have regained their offensive prowess as they prepare to play host to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.
The Canucks flexed their muscles in their latest victory, a 6-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
"We would've loved to have it end 3-0, but the fans, this is obviously what they came for -- two high-octane offense teams going at it," said forward Conor Garland, who scored twice in a three-point performance. "It was a fun game to be a part of, and a lot more fun when you come out on top."
The Canucks, who squandered a 3-0 lead that became a 4-4 tie, have won seven of eight games and are riding a 15-2-3 run that has them atop the Pacific Division standings.
Vancouver has a lethal offensive attack during five-on-five play, but also showed its power-play mastery with two man-advantage markers against the Maple Leafs. The Canucks had a dominant power play in the first five-weeks of the season, but had not scored twice on the power play in 23 outings.
"It's been a while since we said the power play won us a game," said forward J.T. Miller, whose power-play goal broke a 4-4 tie a little more than seven minutes into the third period. "I was just really proud of us five for sticking together after (surrendering a short-handed goal). The last thing you want is to give that up, and ... those things happen, but I thought our response was really good."
Vancouver's Elias Pettersson, who rounded out the scoring, has scored in three consecutive outings and netted 12 goals in the past 10 games.
The Blackhawks arrive in Vancouver after claiming a 4-3 overtime win over the New York Islanders on Friday, their second victory in three games, both in extra time.
"We needed a game like this, it was great," said forward Joey Anderson, who scored his first goal of the season. "The compete level was there the whole night and even when they came back at us, guys stuck with the process and made sure we got to overtime, put ourselves in a situation to get two points."
The Blackhawks have needed some positive vibes as victories have been rare. Chicago, which has recorded consecutive wins only once this season, is on a 3-8-1 skid and is last in the Central Division.
The Blackhawks, who kick off a four-game road trip before the All-Star break, are enjoying a rare victory thanks to defenseman Seth Jones, who also scored his first goal of the season 22 seconds into overtime.
"That's probably the biggest drought I've been in," Jones said. "Nothing was going in, but it's nice that I remember how to score. Put the puck to the net, and good things happen. I was in shock. I was like, ‘Wow, one actually went in, went in the back of the net.' It's a great feeling."
Jones snapped a 33-game goal drought and Anderson's last NHL tally was 21 games prior. Anderson spent the first month of this season in the minors and then missed 10 games due to injury.
"It's exciting," Anderson said. "Anytime you can score in this league, it's pretty cool. I had a couple chances a couple games ago I would have liked to maybe drop, so it gets a little frustrating."
--Field Level Media