Vancouver Canucks Are a Tough Test For the New York Islanders

The Islanders will travel to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, November 14 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver is a great team, and is 8-3-3 this season, and presents a serious challenge for the 6-6-4 Islanders. The Islanders need points in every game in a long West Coast swing, though this game will be difficult. The Islanders need to overcome injuries to their top line and all of their left-handed shooting defensemen.

Vancouver will try to exploit the fact the Islanders are short-handed. Despite being short-handed, the Islanders have gotten points in four games in a row. The Canucks are of the top teams in the National Hockey League, despite only being in third place in the Pacific Division. Vancouver could win the Stanley Cup this year as they are a deep and talented team. The gritty Islanders just need to get a point in any way possible.

Vancouver: Get Another Point

The key against the skilled team is for the Islanders to get a point in any way possible. The Islanders need to keep progressing through the schedule until their injured players get back. Even so-called “loser points” are acceptable. Getting a point in this game is not only important because this is a difficult West Coast Road trip, but the Islanders need to continue on this successful and long road.

Getting a point is also important to keep pace in the Metropolitan Division, where the Islanders currently find themselves in fifth place, and the Eastern Conference, where the Islanders currently find themselves in 10th place. The Islanders can not fall further behind. They are looking up at the Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, and New Jersey Devils in the standings.

Canucks Have Multiple Scoring Threats and a Strong Defense

Vancouver has multiple scoring threats and is very good defensively. As far as scoring threats go, Quinn Hughes, J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser, and Conor Garland all have at least 11 points. Boeser is hurt and may not play. They present a deep-scoring challenge for the Islanders. Elias Pettersson is struggling for the Canucks with only nine points. He has been the subject of much consternation around the National Hockey League but he will probably break out soon.

Vancouver has only allowed 44 goals. The Islanders, who are a good defensive team have allowed 50. Not only is Vancouver a good defensive team, but their goaltenders, Kevin Lankinen and Arturs Silovs, have played very well. Lankinin has a 2.46 Goals against Average and a .911 save percentage. He will look to hold down the New York offense tonight.

Vancouver’s Roster

The Canucks are 8-8-3 and have a skilled and deep roster that presents a challenge for the Islanders. The Canucks won their last game 3-1 against the Calgary Flames.  In the first line, the Canucks have Pius Suter, J.T. Miller, and Jonathan Lekkerimaki. The second line may be better. On the second line for the Canucks are Jake DeBrusk, Elias Pettersson, and Conor Garland. The third line is Danton Heinen, Teddy Blueger, and Kiefer Sherwood. The fourth line has Nils Hoglander, Aatu Raty, and Arshdeep Bains. Raty is a former Islander.

The defensive pairings for the Canucks are Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek. Carson Soucy and Tyler Myers form the second defensive pairing. Erik Brannstrom pairs with Vincent Desharnais to form the third defensive unit. In goal, the Canucks have Kevin Lankinen and Arturs Silovs. Lankinen has been excellent for the Canucks, but he has started in the last five games, so it is reasonable to assume the Islanders will see Silvos.

Conclusion

With so many players injured the Islanders just need to keep ticking off games from the schedule. The Islanders need another point here against a challenging opponent on a difficult West Coast trip. Improbably, the Islanders have points in four straight games. The New York Islanders continue their West Coast trip after this game. The Islanders next travel to Seattle on November 16, and Calgary on November 19. On their way back to the East Coast the Islanders play in Detroit against the Red Wings on November 21. The Islanders come home, finally, to host the St. Louis Blues on November 23.