After an emotional win against the Boston Bruins, the Canadian receives a visit from the NHL’s best offense, the Vancouver Canucks. It will be a special game for Tanner Pearson.
The Journal offers you five elements to keep in mind at this meeting.
Five things to keep in mind when visiting the Canucks
1 – Still without Armia and Ylönen
We don’t touch a formula for success. Despite playing a second game in as many nights, Martin St-Louis will maintain the same lineup. During the attack, Jesse Ylönen and Joel Armia will miss their turn again. Ylönen will watch the fifth game in a row from the press bridge, compared to two for Armia.
On the blue line, Jordan Harris will be a questionable case. Harris injured his upper body in the second period against the Bruins and ran about 10 minutes Sunday morning. CH will protect itself by recalling defender Gustav Lindström from the Laval Rocket.
2 – It’s Jake Allen’s turn
Cayden Primeau in Detroit against the Red Wings on Thursday. Samuel Montembeault in Montreal against the Bruins, Saturday. We continue the rotation with a Jake Allen start against the Canucks on Sunday, again on the ice at the Bell Center.
In his last start against the Lightning, Allen allowed four goals on nine shots in the first period before passing the torch to Montembeault.
Allen is 3-2-1 with a 3.10 GAA and .910 save percentage this season. He will compete against a former Canadian who has never worn the CH jersey, Casey DeSmith.
DeSmith, acquired in the trade for Tanner Pearson, is having a good time in Vancouver with a 3-0-1 record, a 2.82 GAA and a .919 save percentage.
3 – Money on the board
“I’m sure he’ll pay some amount, I’ve already teased him about it! I hope we win for him tonight.”
Johnathan Kovacevic revealed a little secret with this confession about Tanner Pearson. Tradition requires that Pearson write a sum of money on the team board to encourage his teammates to win this symbolic game.
“I have played against one of my old teams in the past, but this will be different as there are still some familiar faces on the Canucks,” Pearson said. But it’s big what he said, Kovacevic should focus on his own money!”
4 – An offensive team
The Canucks represent one of the greatest stories in the NHL to start the season with a record of 10-3-1. Elias Pettersson leads the table with 25 points (7 goals, 18 assists) and Quinn Hughes dominates the defense with 22 points (5 goals, 17 assists).
Getty Images via AFP
“Everyone is on the same wavelength and we have a very good structure,” said winger Anthony Beauvillier, describing his team’s departure. We also have a contribution from all our players.
The Canucks are the team that averages the most goals per game with 4.36.
5 – Rick Tocchet’s team
Rick Tocchet had been on the Canucks’ bench in attack since January 2023 after Bruce Boudreau was fired and now had the time to put his stamp on his team.
“Last year we played around thirty games under Rick,” Beauvillier remembers. He enforced his structure and the keys they wanted for our team. But with the camp we managed to get even more into his system.”