Canucks continue opening homestand against the Hurricanes
Posted October 16, 2016 11:57 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – No time for the Vancouver Canucks to think about Saturday’s shootout victory over the Calgary Flames in the season opener, as Eddie Lack and the Carolina Hurricanes visit Rogers Arena. (7pm, SNET ONE)
With the back to back situation for Vancouver, it was just an optional morning skate for the Canucks at Rogers Arena. Head coach Willie Dejardins confirmed that the lineup would remain the same after Saturday night’s win, with one exception – Jacob Markstrom will make his first start of the season in goal opposite Lack.
The Hurricanes are in the midst of a western Canadian road trip, having played just once, losing 5-4 in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.
While Daniel Sedin admitted after the game Saturday night that the Canucks managed to stick to the game plan, it stands to reason the team would like a faster start. Vancouver failed to generate much in the way of quality scoring chances against a tired Calgary team playing its third game in four nights.
“We knew it would be a tough start, where they had played, and we hadn’t for a bit.” Dejardins said after the game last night.
“We expected the first period (to be slow) but we got going a little bit in the second. It took us a little longer than we thought, for sure.”
Sunday’s game marks the latest in a very busy stretch for the Canucks to start the season. Including the matchup with the Hurricanes, the team still has eight games to play in the next two weeks.
The home stand will continue this week with games on October 18th against the St. Louis Blues, and the 20th against the Buffalo Sabres.
