Canucks in MARCH
W 3-1 vs STL - Yannick Weber got a goal and an assist in a win over a very solid St. Louis Blues team. Horvat (9) and Kassian (14) also scored. Ryan Miller made 21 saves.
W 1-0 vs SJS - Bonino scored the lone goal in the first game for both teams post deadline. Miller made 23 saves behind a rock solid defensive effort for the shutout.
W 3-2 @ ARI - Bo Horvat had two goals, the first one assisted by Mason Raymond for his first point in a Canucks uniform since being reacquired from Calgary at the deadline. Yannick Weber had two assists, bringing him to 21 for the year so far, and Daniel scored the game winner mideway through the third and also picked up an assist.
L 5-3 @ SJS - Vrbata scored two goals (24, 25) in a losing cause as San Jose was all over the Canucks. Deadline acquisition David Clarkson scored two goals and added an assist, while underrated pickup Matt Frattin also scored (his 13th of the season) en route to the victory.
W 2-1 vs ANA - Both Sedins scored a goal as the Ducks' woes continue. Ryan Kesler scored on his former team, but his was the only Anaheim goal to beat Ryan Miller, who made 28 saves for the win.
W 1-0 vs LAK - Miller played another solid game, with the 28 save shutout earning him first star on a night he had little run support. Chris Higgins scored the lone Canuck goal past Jonathan Quick but it turned out to be enough.
W 5-1 vs TOR - Phil Kessel was coming off a hat trick against Calgary but was stymied by Ryan Miller and only picked up an assist on the lone Maple Leaf goal of the night by Morgan Rielly. It was a rough affair, with a first period fight between Kassian and Devane and a second period bout between Sestito and Kadri. Two roughing penalties were also given out as well as a misconduct. Vancouver fired 40 shots on Bernier and got five past him, including two by Chris Higgins.
L 1-0 vs PHI - Steve Mason was a brick wall for the Flyers, stopping all 28 Vancouver shots while Shayne Gostisbehere rifled his third of the year past Ryan Miller on a second period powerplay to give Philly the win.
OTW 4-3 vs CBJ - Markstrom prevailed in a battle of the backups with Curtis McElhinney. Henrik had the unlikely hat trick, tying the game late in the third with his second then capping off the trick in overtime with just 43 seconds left to play.
W 2-1 @ LAK - Jannik Hansen (10) and Zack Kassian (15) both scored in the first period, with Hamhuis assisting on both goals. The lead would hold despite a Jeff Carter goal in the second and a threatening push in the third from the Kings. Miller made 25 saves for the victory.
SOL 3-2 @ ARI - The Sedins were reunited on the top line, with Kassian being the designated 'triplet' for the day, after Hunter inexplicable put his lines in a blender following two wins. Bo Horvat was moved up to the third line, Bonino demoted to the fourth line, and Mason Raymond moved up to the second line. Vrbata and Daniel scored, but goals from Shane Doan and Mikkel Boedker left us tied after regulation. The game went to a shootout, where no Canucks shooter managed to solve Mike Smith. Boedker and Sam Gagner scored shootout goals for the Coyotes to get the extra point.
W 2-0 vs WPG - The Jets minus Wheeler, Little and Stuart got steamrolled. Vancouver outshot them 38-12. Pavelec put in a good effort, making 36 saves, but goals from Mason Raymond and Henrik Sedin (who also had an assist for a two point night) lifted the 'Nucks to the win. Miller had one of the easiest shutouts of his career, making only 12 saves, but he'll take it.
OTL 3-2 vs COL - Henrik's 20th of the year and a 32 save performance by Miller was wasted as Iginla (of course) ended it a minute into overtime.
W 2-1 vs DAL - Deadline acquisition Cam Talbot made 34 saves for the Stars but still left with the L. Henrik had two assists and Ryan Stanton scored for the second straight game.
L 2-0 @ STL - Brian Elliott shut out the visiting Canucks and David Backes scored two goals. In spite of the loss Chris Tanev earned second star honours with an all around impressive defensive effort in 21:32 of icetime. Three hits, two takeaways and a blocked shot were his statline.
L 3-1 @ NSH - Vancouver played a weak game and made Carter Hutton look good, scoring only once on him in 23 shots. Mike Fisher (10), Roman Josi (10) and Gabriel Bourque (9) all scored on Jacob Markstrom as Nashville cruised to victory. Filip Forsberg was first star with two assists. Dan Hamhuis suffered an upper body injury and may be out for a week or two.
Record (March): 42-28-7 (10-4-2), 91 points, 6th in West (1st in Pacific)
Stat Leaders:
G - Vrbata (27), Henrik (20), Kassian (15), Higgins (13), Hansen (12)
A - Henrik (32), Daniel (25), Bonino (24), Weber (22), Higgins (21)
Pts - Henrik (52), Vrbata (45), Daniel (36), Bonino, Higgins (34)
+/- - Stanton (+15), Bonino (+14), Corrado (+12), Burrows (+9), Vrbata, Hansen, Horvat, Tanev (+5)
PIM - Kassian (120), Higgins (39), Sestito (39), Hansen (38), Hamhuis, Weber (34)
Shots - Vrbata (228), Weber (181), Daniel (169), Higgins (165), Hamhuis (159)
Hits - Kassian (232), Hansen (134), Richardson (126), Hamhuis (112), Bonino (87)
TkA - Tanev (55), Hamhuis (45), Corrado, Higgins (29), Richardson, Bonino, Vrbata (27)
SB - Tanev (191), Corrado (144), Hamhuis (108), Weber, Edler (101), Bonino, Vrbata, Stanton (54)
FO% - Horvat (56.0%), Henrik (53.4%), Bonino (53.1%), Richardson (52.1%)
Goalies:
Miller - 33-20-5, 8 SO, 1.87 GAA, .937 SvPct, 30.86 GSAA
Markstrom - 5-4-1, 1 SO, 2.58 GAA< .916 SvPct, -1.13
Injuries:
- D Dan Hamhuis (neck) OUT 1-2 weeks
Prospects:
- F Cole Cassels (OHL) 58gp, 21-48-69, looking a little more agile on his skates
- F Jared McCann (OHL) 58gp, 20-37-57, showing self discipline in staying out of the box lately
- G Joacim Eriksson (SHL) 32gp, 17-11, .873sv%, developing his mental toughness and ability to stay in games when things go poorly early
- D Gustav Gorsling (SHL) 48gp, 5-15-20, -4, showing growth at both ends of the ice, his first step is quicker, his passes are crisper and he's been using his stick more effectively to break up plays
- D Ben Hutton (NCAA) 38gp, 9-24-33, -2, has been playing more aggressively and adding some snarl to his game
- F Dane Fox (AHL) 69gp, 20-27-47, 131pim, showing improved passing skill
- F Nicklas Jensen (AHL) 69gp, 25-27-52, 120pim, -6, has been learning to be a pro in how he carries himself and prepares day in and day out
- F Jake Virtanen (WHL) 58gp, 20-36-56, +2, is throwing even better and harder hits
- D Carson Soucy (AHL) IOW 59gp, 4-11-15, 80pim, +1, UTI 12gp, 3-4-7, 10pim, -2, has shown improved puck handling and protection skills since coming over and starting to work with Utica's coaches, which has earned him increased opportunity and led to very good production early on in his career with the Comets