The Nuck Stops Here: 2nd Unit PP, Henrik Sedin Milestone

‘The Nuck Stops Here’ is a Vancouver Canucks news and opinion column running every Sunday throughout the season.

NEWS

(Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports)
Former Canucks head coach John Tortorella (Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports)

Canucks to receive compensation for Blue Jackets’ John Tortorella hire

On Wednesday, the Columbus Blue Jackets announced the firing of head coach Todd Richards, and the subsequent hiring of John Tortorella. Why is this of interest to Canucks fans? Well, Tortorella still has three years left on his original five-year contract with the Canucks, meaning the team will receive compensation in the form of a second-round draft pick. The pick will reportedly come in one of the next three drafts, with the year to be chosen by the Blue Jackets organization.

Henrik Sedin plays 1100th NHL game

With Saturday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, captain Henrik Sedin has officially played 1100 National Hockeu League games. He is just the 33rd NHL’er to play that many games, and is just 40 behind now-President of Hockey Operations Trevor Linden for the franchise lead in games played.

Scores of the Week

Vancouver Canucks – 1 : Edmonton Oilers – 2 (OT)

Vancouver Canucks – 2 : Washington Capitals – 3

Vancouver Canucks – 2 : Detroit Red Wings – 3 (OT)

Current Record: 3-2-3 (3rd in Pacific, 9th in West, 18th in NHL)

ANALYSIS

Canucks struggling in 3-on-3 situations

Heading into the season, it appeared the Canucks would have an advantage over other teams in the department of three-on-three overtime. With the Sedin twins already lethal at five-on-five, three-on-three seemed like a cakewalk in the eyes of many, and throwing in the likes of Alex Edler and Radim Vrbata only added to the threat. However, it has hardly gone according to plan in the reformed overtime period for the Canucks. In three attempts, against the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings, the club is zero-for-three, all losses coming on home ice. Yes, it is early, and there is undoubtedly still time for them to turn it around, but the early signs are definitely concerning for the Canucks, and considering the Los Angeles Kings missed last year’s playoffs by just three points, they can’t afford to be throwing points around. Early indicators show that maybe, just maybe, the Canucks would have been better off with the shootout.

Feisty winger Burrows is currently injured (Photo by Mark S. Mauno).
Alex Burrows part of a successful second power play unit (Photo by Mark S. Mauno).

Second unit power play clicking

One of the prominent issues facing the Canucks last year was the struggles of the second unit power play. Combining for just a handful of goals all season, the primary unit was relied on heavily to produce offence with the man advantage. This makes the early goings promising for the Canucks secondary unit, who have already produced three goals on the season. Coming courtesy of Bo Horvat, Chris Tanev and Brandon Sutter, the Canucks are boasting a solid cast of secondary offence on the power play, and should it keep up at even close to the pace it’s already producing at, the second unit could prove immensely dangerous and valuable as the season wears on. Granted, the first unit hasn’t been lighting it up thus far, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that the secondary group is off to quite the start.

AROUND THE BLOG-O-SPHERE

Fun links about the Vancouver Canucks from all around the internet

Defenceman Ben Hutton: “I’ve always been a happy guy” [Vancouver Sun]

Game day report for the game played this evening [TSN]

Iain MacIntyre on the pressure being put on Bo Horvat [Vancouver Sun]

Five reasons a big trade is coming [The Canuck Way]

Five takeaways from the Canucks’ recent loss to the Washington Capitals [Sportsnet]

Ryan Miller taking new approach during hot start to the season [National Post]