Canucks Notebook: Looking for two wins in a row

Article content

The Vancouver Canucks won 3-2 on Friday night behind the back of their goalie, but also their special teams.

Article content

Of course, they didn’t have to kill a penalty, so that was a start. But they also scored the man advantage twice, which made the power play the real difference in the game.

The Winnipeg Jets are as bad a PK unit as the Canucks; the Chicago Blackhawks will pose a much greater challenge.

NEXT GAME
Sunday

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks

5 p.m., Rogers Arena.

TV: Sportsnet Pacific; Radio: AM650

Powerful wrinkles

The Canucks practiced Saturday. Alex Chiasson, who has been playing the fourth row as well as the power game, was not present to practice.

Canucks head coach Travis Green later said the veteran winger was not feeling well.

Vasily Podkolzin, who completed the power play a couple of times Friday night, replaced Chiasson in the first power play unit in practice, assuming the role of net forward, with Conor Garland and JT Miller in the flanks, plus Bo Horvat on the bumper and Quinn Hughes on the tip.

Article content

The second unit again featured Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson as shooters on the wings, with Tanner Pearson leading the net, Nils Höglander at the bumper and Oliver Ekman-Larsson at the top.

Podkolzin progressing

Every day the young Russian seems to improve a little.

Vasily is starting to make more tight plays and making his presence known at the bow check. Those are parts of his game that were already appreciated. But his dedication to less glamorous details is gaining the confidence of the coaching staff.

Not only did he replace Pearson in the second power play unit while the veteran winger was in the penalty area, which helped create the Ekman-Larsson goal, but he was on the ice late in the game, which helped. to preserve victory.

Article content

“He is committed to all areas of the game. Understand the importance of defending, controlling. He’s willing to get in the way of a shot. It’s a heavy body against the wall, ”Green said Friday night. “I think you reward the players who are playing well. He played well tonight and stayed with them until the end.

“He’s not just looking to improve on the offensive side of the game, and I think that’s one of the most important things with young players: getting them to understand the importance of not just improving offensively, but also defensively and being able to play in that. game time. “

Healthy Schenn?

Veteran defender Luke Schenn injured his leg in one game and was placed on injured reserve more than a week ago, making him eligible to be reactivated any day. Skate with the main group since Tuesday. The Canucks have a free spot on their 23-man NHL roster right now, so it will be easy to activate once cleared by the team’s medical staff.

[email protected]

twitter.com/risingaction

The Canucks Report, powered by Province Sports, is essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. Sign up here .