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CANUCKS NEWS: He’s been the target of ire and angst for a while now, partially understandable because of his lack of a goal since opening night. Nikolay Goldobin may not be lighting the lamp, but he’s starting to get it together, assisting on goals and working hard to improve his defensive play. And as is sometimes the way in this market, many of you are coming away from last night’s 2-1 loss to the Rangers thinking more about the 2 penalties Goldy was called for instead of the snipe show and ringing what would have been the 2-1 goal for the Canucks off the crossbar.
Between Goldy’s post and out and the DJMDZ double-clanker this should have been a different game, but it’s a game of inches blah, blah, blah. It highlights why the Canucks are not quite there yet. In three of the last 4 games they needed a hero and none was to be found. Unable to hold leads, and losing in the shootout twice before last night’s regulation loss. Yes, they’re still atop the Pacific Division, but that seems more and more a condemnation of just how bad this Division is than confirmation that the Canucks are good. They’re 3 points ahead of the 9th place team in the West, hardly a comfortable lead. And if they drop tonight’s contest against the Islanders and the San Jose Sharks beat Nashville, that drops them to 2nd. Add in an Arizona win over Detroit and that would see the Coyotes just 3 points back of the Canucks. It’s fragile, to say the least.
Here’s your morning reading: The Athletties on Goldy, Markstrom and how goaltending coach Ian Clark is transforming his game, and some stuff on Elias... Post-game from The Province on the loss not overshadowing how good Marky was last night... And as good as he was, I am not sure I agree with this...
Source - I'm hearing the #Canucks are leaning towards starting Markstrom tonight. Could change but looks like Markstrom to me.
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) November 13, 2018
Of course they could win and I look silly, right? It’s the burnout factor I am worried about. We’ll update you in the Game Preview once we learn who gets the nod... The post-game wrap from our pals over at Blueshirt Banter... Ben Kuzma looks ahead to tonight’s tilt against the Islanders... The PITB take on last night’s loss... And the wrap from Canucks Army...
AROUND THE NHL
It was Cam Ward’s homecoming, but Sebastian Aho stole the thunder with an OT winner in a 3-2 Carolina win over Chicago...
Pierre-Luc Dubois with the GWG in the 3rd as Columbus took down Dallas 2-1.
Anaheim inched closer to a Wild Card spot with a big 2-1 SO win over the league leading Nashville Predators. John Gibson was stellar, stopping 34 of 35 Nashville shots including 10 in OT.