How far the Canadiens have sunk since a peak in the Stanley Cup final last season, and how the Canucks continue to get confused with all aspects of their wayward game, will appeal to the curious.
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BEN KUZMA CANUCKS GAME NIGHT
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CANUCKS VANCOUVER
6-14-2, 8th in Pacific Division
in MONTREAL CANADIENS
6-15-2, 7th in Atlantic Division
4 pm, Bell Center
TV: Sportsnet, Radio: Sportsnet 650
WHY SEE
It is not a must-see television. However, how far the Canadiens have sunk from a Stanley Cup final record last season, and how the Canucks continue to get confused with all aspects of their wayward game, will appeal to the curious. Taking on two of the league’s least productive offenses, leaking defenses and inept special teams could be tempting because something has to give. Maybe fire wagon hockey. Maybe bugs galore. The Canadiens stunned the Penguins with a 6-3 victory at Pittsburgh on Saturday when Jake Allen made 47 saves. The Canucks outshot the Blue Jackets 41-21 on Friday and fell on a tough 4-2 decision at Columbus.
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POINT LEADERS
CANUCKS
1. JT Miller GP 22 G 7 A 12 PTS 19 (-2)
2. Quinn Hughes GP 21 G 2 A 13 PTS 15 (+2)
3. Conor Garland GP 22 G 6 A 9 PTS 15 (E)
CANADIANS
1. Tyler Toffoli GP 23 G 5 A 10 PTS 15 (-3)
2. Nick Suzuki GP 23 G 4 A 11 PTS 15 (-8)
3. Josh Anderson GP 23 G 7 A 6 PTS 13 (-10)
SPECIAL TEAMS
CANUCKS: PP 15.5% (24º) PK 63.6% (32º)
CANADIANS : PP 12.9% (30º) PK 68.6 (29º)
THREE THINGS ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
• Toffoli gets hot. Tyler Toffoli, the former Vancouver winger who bombarded the Canucks with 13 points (8-5) in eight games last season, including a hat trick, has a pair of three-point attempts in his last four outings and slowly he’s on the mend with clever playmaking, a nose for the net, and a fast, accurate pitch.
• Allen to the rescue. Jake Allen did his best on Saturday and the Canadiens scored five goals in the third period at Pittsburgh to stop a seven-game slide on the road with the rare win. The three goals Allen allowed were a far cry from the six in Washington, five against the Islanders and five in Seattle this season.
• Hotbed of hockey operations. On Sunday, the Canadiens fired general manager Marc Bergevin, assistant general manager Trevor Timmins and senior vice president of public affairs / communications Paul Wilson. Jeff Gorton was named executive vice president of hockey operations. What will this mean on the ice on Monday? Probably not much.
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Reference-theprovince.com