October 12, 2013: Vancouver Canucks Preview
Season series: The Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks last met during the 2011-12 season, splitting a pair of games. Vancouver won the first game 4-3 in a shootout, coming back from a 3-0 deficit. Cody Hodgson scored one of those goals and the shootout winner. Montreal won the second game 4-1, on the strength of two Erik Cole goals.
Big story: Montreal continues its Western Canada road trip against Vancouver. It's the third of four games before the Canadiens return for a six-game homestand.
Team Scope:
Canadiens: P.K. Subban had three assists in the Canadiens' 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. It was the first win for Montreal on the current road trip (1-1-0).
"I thought it was a great team effort. We stuck to the game plan and we didn't get frustrated when they got a goal early on," Subban said. "We battled back and we did it for each other. It feels great to get our first win on this road trip. We have two more really important games and an opportunity to build some momentum coming out of this road trip."
Brendan Gallagher, who had a power-play tally, agreed it was a big road win.
"You can't start a road trip going 0-2, so this was a big win for us," Gallagher said. "It's tough to win in road buildings in this League, so when you go up in a game you have to take advantage of it."
After dropping the first game of the road trip to the Calgary Flames, the Canadiens bounced back Thursday night. After Vancouver, the road trip concludes against th Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.
Canucks: The Canucks lost to the San Jose Sharks for the second time this season -- and ninth time in a row -- when they were beaten 4-1 at Rogers Arena on Thursday. Coach John Tortorella noted his team needs to improve.
"I don't think we had many guys going. I'm not going to sit here and pick it apart … but we certainly didn't have enough players going, making a difference," Tortorella told the team's website.
Roberto Luongo, who finished with 25 saves, allowed two goals in the first period, including one with less than a minute left that gave the Sharks a 2-0 lead.
"The first period, we were a little tentative and against a team like that you have to play 60 minutes to give yourself a chance," Luongo said.
Who's hot: Alex Galchenyuk had a goal and an assist Thursday night for the Canadiens, extending his point streak to four games (one goal, six assists). … Despite behind held pointless on Thursday, Jason Garrison has points in four of the Canucks' five games this season (two goals, three assists).
Injury report: The Canadiens are without defensemen Alexei Emelin (right knee surgery), Davis Drewiske (sprained shoulder) and Douglas Murray (upper body) and forward George Parros, who suffered a concussion last week. … Forwards Jordan Schroeder (broken foot), Alexandre Burrows (foot) and Zack Kassian (undisclosed) will not play for the Canucks.
Game Preview by: http://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/preview?id=2013020073
Big story: Montreal continues its Western Canada road trip against Vancouver. It's the third of four games before the Canadiens return for a six-game homestand.
Team Scope:
Canadiens: P.K. Subban had three assists in the Canadiens' 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. It was the first win for Montreal on the current road trip (1-1-0).
"I thought it was a great team effort. We stuck to the game plan and we didn't get frustrated when they got a goal early on," Subban said. "We battled back and we did it for each other. It feels great to get our first win on this road trip. We have two more really important games and an opportunity to build some momentum coming out of this road trip."
Brendan Gallagher, who had a power-play tally, agreed it was a big road win.
"You can't start a road trip going 0-2, so this was a big win for us," Gallagher said. "It's tough to win in road buildings in this League, so when you go up in a game you have to take advantage of it."
After dropping the first game of the road trip to the Calgary Flames, the Canadiens bounced back Thursday night. After Vancouver, the road trip concludes against th Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.
Canucks: The Canucks lost to the San Jose Sharks for the second time this season -- and ninth time in a row -- when they were beaten 4-1 at Rogers Arena on Thursday. Coach John Tortorella noted his team needs to improve.
"I don't think we had many guys going. I'm not going to sit here and pick it apart … but we certainly didn't have enough players going, making a difference," Tortorella told the team's website.
Roberto Luongo, who finished with 25 saves, allowed two goals in the first period, including one with less than a minute left that gave the Sharks a 2-0 lead.
"The first period, we were a little tentative and against a team like that you have to play 60 minutes to give yourself a chance," Luongo said.
Who's hot: Alex Galchenyuk had a goal and an assist Thursday night for the Canadiens, extending his point streak to four games (one goal, six assists). … Despite behind held pointless on Thursday, Jason Garrison has points in four of the Canucks' five games this season (two goals, three assists).
Injury report: The Canadiens are without defensemen Alexei Emelin (right knee surgery), Davis Drewiske (sprained shoulder) and Douglas Murray (upper body) and forward George Parros, who suffered a concussion last week. … Forwards Jordan Schroeder (broken foot), Alexandre Burrows (foot) and Zack Kassian (undisclosed) will not play for the Canucks.
Game Preview by: http://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/preview?id=2013020073
