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NEXT GAME: Saturday
Pittsburgh Penguins at the Vancouver Canucks
19h, Rogers Arena, CBC, SNET1, CITY, SNET 650 AM
THE GREAT MATCHUP
Ben Hutton vs. Sidney Crosby
With the Canucks' blue line decimated by injury, Ben Hutton had all the extra minutes. He played nearly 30 minutes in Vegas on Wednesday and nearly 25 the next night against the Coyotes in Arizona.
It is safe to badume that he will receive a high dose of the best Penguins players. As for The Kid … well, have you seen the goals he's scored this week? The best player in the world remains on mission. Attention, Canucks.
FIVE KEYS OF THE GAME
1. Power of pens
The Penguins lit the lamp nine times Thursday in Calgary. They scored six goals Tuesday in Edmonton. They have a power play that marks every third opportunity.
Unlike the surprise defeat of visiting Canucks last week, the powerful Penguins are now playing at all levels.
2. Trojan warrior
Troy Stecher is flying. He is in the top 10 defensemen of the NHL with equal strength. The numbers have been solid for him over the last year. He's getting results right now. And on a blue Canucks line that struggled to produce last year, it's a big development.
3. Vitamin EP
Elias Pettersson got the green light and will play against the Penguins. It's been two weeks since Mike Matheson threw him dangerously on the ice. Not being able to play burned Pettersson. We saw on Thursday in Arizona how difficult things can be without the most dynamic striker on the team.
Brock Boeser, who is suffering from a problem in the groin since last week's game in Pittsburgh and has missed the last two games against the Golden Knights and Coyotes, is also back.
"We missed their attack," said Travis Green honestly Saturday.
Pettersson's return from the list of injured reservists means that one of Darren Archibald or Adam Gaudette will be sent back to the Utica Comets.
4. Lucky Loui
Winger Loui Eriksson continues to have opportunities, to exert a positive influence on the ice, but one thing is missing: a goal. It must come soon, right?
He had great opportunities to skate with Bo Horvat.
5. Putting in PP
The power play lacks Brock Boeser. The power play has missed Elias Pettersson. Brock Boeser too.
6. Tanev still missing
Green said Chris Tanev, who suffered a bruise on his hip after blocking a shot on Wednesday in Las Vegas and missing Thursday's game in Arizona because of that, is not ready to leave and will sit Saturday night .
He participated in morning skating and skated with Derrick Pouliot. Alex Biega will stay in training.
LINES EXPECTED FROM CANUCKS
LW – C – RW
Nikolay Goldobin – Elias Pettersson – Brock Boeser
Loui Eriksson – Bo Horvat – Brendan Leipsic
Antoine Roussel – Brandon Sutter – Jake Virtanen
Tim Schaller – Markus Granlund – Tyler Motte
Defense pairings
Ben Hutton – Erik Gudbranson
Derrick Pouliot – Troy Stecher
Michael Del Zotto – Alex Biega
Goalkeepers: Jacob Markstrom, Anders Nilsson
Infirmary: Sven Baertschi (concussion), Jay Beagle (wrist), Chris Tanev (hip), Alex Edler (knee)
EXPECTED LINES OF PENGUINS
LW – C – RW
Jake Guentzel – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Carl Hagelin – Evgeni Malkin – Phil Kessel
Dominik Simon – Derick Brbadard – Patric Hornqvist
Riley Sheahan – Matt Cullen – Daniel Sprong
Defense pairings
Brian Dumoulin – Kris Letang
Olli Maatta – Jamie Oleksiak
Jack Johnson – Chad Ruhwedel
Goalkeepers: Matt Murray, Casey DeSmith
Infirmary: Justin Schultz (broken leg)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power play
Canucks: 20% (18th); penguins: 35% (3rd)
Sentence to kill
Canucks: 83.7% (10th); penguins: 86.4% (4th)
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