Canucks vs. Kraken Game Day: More than next-man-up with no ...

Breadcrumb Trail Links

1. Sports
2. Hockey
3. NHL
4. Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks have struggled when Quinn Hughes hasn't been on the ice this season. Now they face a whole game without him?

Get the latest from Patrick Johnston straight to your inbox Sign Up

Published Dec 28, 2024  •  Last updated 5 hours ago  •  3 minute read

Article content

Seattle Kraken vs. Vancouver Canucks

Article content

Article content

Article content

When: Saturday, 1 p.m., Rogers Arena

TV: Sportsnet. Radio: Sportsnet 650

The buzz: Just as the Vancouver Canucks looked set to turn the page on their dressing room situation — they’re looking a somewhat disjointed dressing, and not because of player disputes or anything like that, just simple injury concerns. Elias Pettersson scored two goals on Monday, but left the game early with an undisclosed injury. Quinn Hughes hurt something Saturday and was a game-time decision Monday. Neither practised Friday and head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed Saturday both won’t play Saturday against the Seattle Kraken.

That leaves the Canucks incredibly short-staffed offensively.

• How terrifying is life without Hughes likely to be? The case for Hughes as a Hart Trophy candidate is strong: just consider the splits of what’s happenning when he’s on the ice vs. off. When he’s on the ice, the Canucks have been taking 58 per cent of the total shot attempts, but when he’s on the bench, the Canucks take just 42.4 per cent of the total shot attempts. That’s a staggering difference.

Article content

Article content

• Hughes plays upwards of 25 minutes per night, nearly half the game. There’s just no replacing that. Watch for the Canucks to really buckle down defensively.

• Erik Brännström was quarterbacking the power play in practice on Friday.

“You’re not going to replace Quinn Hughes. And I don’t need him (Brännström) trying to do things that press the envelope. I think he’s just got to play a simple game. Be honest. Go back for a puck, if you see a guy give it to him. If there’s a chance to join the rush, join it. Walk the blue line. Sometimes, you know, you overlook your shots. A guy like him, like I want him to shoot the puck, he doesn’t have to try to create too much on the blue line,” Tocchet said of what the skilled, but still depth, defenceman can do with the opportunity in front of him.

Article content

The history: Seattle won two of the teams’ three meetings last season, and the Canucks had their stars available for those games.

The hope: The first game after Christmas is often a crapshoot, but at least both teams will get a practice in before Saturday’s game. The Canucks don’t have to travel, so they will be hoping that’s an added advantage in a matchup of two teams that have been off the ice for three days. And without their best defenceman and their most dynamic forward, they need to grind, grind, grind.

The fear: The Canucks have struggled to generate offence without Hughes on the ice, and now they will play a whole game without him? Yikes.

The top guns: Quinn Hughes’ campaign for the Hart is starting to solidify. He has eight points in five games. Pettersson is coming off the aformentioned two-goal game on Monday, while Brock Boeser has three goals in his last two games. It’s Kiefer Sherwood, though, who holds Vancouver’s hottest hand — he has four goals in five games.

Article content

The wounded: Canucks: Filip Hronek (shoulder, five weeks), Elias Pettersson (undisclosed, day to day), Quinn Hughes (undisclosed, day to day). Kraken: Jordan Eberle (pelvis, two months), Brandon Tanev (undisclosed, day to day)

The quote: “I think we have 44 days before the Four Nations. That’s 21 games. So it’s really a … I hate to say a sprint, but this is a focus level for us.” — Rick Tocchet on what’s in front of his team, with or without two key players.

The latest: The Kraken will be without No. 1 goalie Joey Daccord and slumping scorer Andre Burakovsky, who were both left behind in Seattle. Burakovsky is ill, while Daccord is injured. Daccord has had a strong season, so that’s a bit of a break for the wounded Canucks.

The lineup: 

DeBrusk-Miller-Boeser

Höglander-Suter-Garland

Heinen-Blueger-Sherwood

Joshua-Sasson-PDG

Hughes-Myers

Soucy-Juulsen

Forbort-Desharnais

Demko

The prediction: Slump-busting Seattle will grab a surprising 3-2 win over the undergunned Canucks.

pjohnston@postmedia.com

Recommended from Editorial

1. 

   Canucks: Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes absent from post-Christmas practice

2. 

   Return of the Stormtroopers: Vancouver Giants bring back Star Wars jerseys

Article content

Share this article in your social network