The Vancouver Canucks return to action on Thursday night when they play the Vegas Golden Knights in their division, capping up a brief two-game road trip.
The Canucks are looking to bounce back after traveling across one state after losing to Utah 3-2 in overtime. The Canucks and Golden Knights will play each other four times this season, starting on Thursday. Last season, the two Pacific Division teams split their season series, with each club winning two games.
Head coach Rick Tocchet hailed Dakota Joshua’s performance as a positive step after Joshua scored his second goal of the season on Wednesday. After missing the first month and a half of the season due to surgery after receiving a cancer diagnosis, the 28-year-old attacker is starting to get his bearings. He has already scored two goals in his past five outings.
For the first time this season, Phil Di Giuseppe and Linus Karlsson are traveling with the Canucks. Despite battling ailments at the start of the season, Karlsson and Di Giuseppe have both played well for the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL.
With a 20-8-3 record, the Golden Knights are in first place in the Pacific Division. They are starting a three-game homestand with Thursday’s game, and they have won five of their past six games.
Fast Hits on the Rivals
With nine goals and 33 assists for 42 points in 31 games, Jack Eichel leads Vegas. Eichel is tied for second place in the league with 33 assists. He has contributed to nine of Ivan Barbashev’s team-high 15 goals this season and has received 12 of his assists on power plays.
Barbashev, who plays on the top line with Eichel and Mark Stone, was called up day-to-day by Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy after missing practice on Wednesday.
Barbashev is the only player for Vegas to score ten goals this season; Pavel Dorofeyev (12) and Brett Howden (11) are also in that group.
In addition to playing a lot of five-on-five and special teams minutes, Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore average 22.5 minutes a game on defense.
Brayden McNabb and Noah Hanifin complete Vegas’ top four.
With four goals and 22 assists for 26 points in 30 games, Theodore leads Vegas’ defense in scoring.
Adin Hill has made 20 starts in goal this season, with two shutouts, a 2.78 goals-against average, and an.899% save percentage.
The Narrative: Thatcher Demko regaining her footing
Thatcher Demko has been playing excellent goalie during his previous two outings and appears to be settling into the crease. In his previous two starts, he has stopped 58 of the 62 shots he has faced and given up four goals, compared to the projected 6.83 goals against.
Demko stopped 30 of the 31 shots he faced against the Avalanche on Monday, earning him his first victory of the season.
Demko is scheduled to start on Wednesday, and Kevin Lankinen is anticipated to start on Thursday. Despite battling the sick over the preceding week, Lankinen backed up in Utah on Wednesday.
Lankinen’s three shutouts this season tie him for the league lead.
Top Players for the Canucks in the Past Five Games
