Quinn Hughes may finally scratch that itch to play Wednesday after missing six games with an injury. The timing couldn’t be better
Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings
When/where: Wednesday, 7 p.m., Cypto.com Arena
TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650
What the Canucks captain can’t handle, especially as a self-professed hockey nerd, is not playing. He needs to be all in, all the time. He even hates missing practice.
“The most games I’ve missed in my career is six, and I hate missing them,” he said of an oblique-muscle strain that kept the reigning Norris Trophy winner from competing for the U.S. at the 4-Nations Face-Off and being a driving force for the Canucks. “It’s hard for me. I’m a competitor.”
Their 6-1-1 run before the NHL break suddenly seems like a long time ago. They have lost two-straight games on this five-game road trip, and scored just twice in the process. Their 15 shots Sunday in a 2-1 loss at Salt Lake City was one short of a season low. Twenty shots were blocked and 16 missed the mark. That’s alarming.
The Canucks rank 31st in shots per game (25.5) and 25th in goals per outing (2.74). And if that isn’t bad enough, they’re now on outside of the playoff chase. The Canucks were one point up on Calgary for the second Western Conference wild-card spot, but the Flames topped the Washington Capitals 3-1 on Tuesday.
One player doesn’t make any team, but what Hughes can do to generate offence and lead by example. And if you can’t get jacked up about your consummate captain willing to possibly ride to the rescue, you have a big problem.
For starters, Hughes can either transport the puck at speed, or spring a forward with a long laser pass to gain the offensive zone. And once Hughes is there, he is not only adept at walking the blueline to look for the best passing and shooting options, he will out-leg defenders, get around the net and cause matchup confusion.
As the power-play quarterback, he will give it the needed dimension of quicker rotations and better shot selection, rather than remaining plodding and predictable.
It’s why Hughes continues to lead the Canucks in scoring with 59 points (14-45) in 47 games and remains in the conversation for a second-consecutive Norris Trophy and Hart Trophy consideration. He’s just five points shy of leading all defencemen in scoring, despite playing 12 less games. His overall value to the Canucks can’t be overstated.
The fear: Winning is a habit, but so is losing. The Kings have the fewest regulation losses on home ice (19-3-2) and one of those rare setbacks came against the Canucks. Everybody stepped up that night and played their part.
The top guns: Jake DeBrusk has three goals in his last five games, leads the club with 21 goals and is on pace for a career-high 31. He also fifth overall in road goals with 15.
The projected lineup:
DeBrusk-Pettersson-Hoglander
Joshua-Chytil-Garland
O’Connor-Suter-Boeser
Bains-Blueger-Sherwood
Hughes-Hronek
M Pettersson-Myers
Soucy-Mancini
The prediction: The Kings have found their game and the return of Drew Doughty after missing 47 games with an ankle fracture is vital. Their power play is dreadful at 29th and 18th at home, but the penalty kill is fifth best. The Kings prevail 3-2.