by After suffering a 3-2 overtime loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday, the Vancouver Canucks (16-9-6) are back at it again on Thursday when they face the Vegas Golden Knights (20-8-3 ). Last season, these two Pacific Division rivals split their four-game season series, with each team earning a win home and away. This will be the first of four duels this season. The next meeting between Vegas and Vancouver will take place at the end of February.
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A key piece of the Canucks’ puzzle
Comparing the Canucks’ home and away statistics over the first 30 games of the 2024-25 season
For the Canucks to be successful, they must deliver a strong first third. Yes, the team will be tired from playing the night before, but it will have to find a way to at least match the Golden Knights’ energy in the first period. If they allow Vegas to come at them in waves, the game could be over before the puck drops in the second period.
Players to Watch:
Dakota Joshua:
Although it took some time, Dakota Joshua is starting to find his rhythm. He scored a goal against Utah and is a physical presence every night. If Joshua gets going, he should be able to help Vancouver’s bottom six create a more consistent offense.
Tanner Pearson:
If history has taught fans anything, it’s that former Canadiens love scoring against their old teams. Despite playing in the bottom six games, Tanner Pearson is always a scoring threat and will be looking to end a nine-game scoreless streak. Look for Pearson to not only perform well offensively but also play a physical game as he is currently on pace to surpass 100 goals for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
Top 5 leaders (goals, assists, points):
Vancouver Canucks (16-9-6):
Quinn Hughes: 7/30/37
Elias Pettersson: 08/18/26
Conor Garland: 8/17/25
Jake DeBrusk: 9/14/23
Brock Boeser (24 games): 11/8/19
Vegas Golden Knights (08/20/3)
Jack Eichel: 9-33-42
Ivan Barbashev: 15.15.30
Shea Theodore: 04/22/26
Mark Stone (17 games): 06/18/24
Tomas Hertl: 13.9.22
Game information:
Start time: 7:00 p.m. PT
Venue: T-Mobile Arena
TV: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
