Quinn Hughes is back. Elias Pettersson is playing better. The Canucks are generating more shots. They should be on the upswing.
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Elias Pettersson is finally scoring again. Photo by Alex Goodlett /Getty Images
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When/where: Saturday, 7 p.m., Rogers Arena
TV: Hockey Night in Canada Radio: Sportsnet 650
The buzz: The Canucks need to start racking up wins. Why not against the second (?) worst team in the NHL? That said, the Canucks are two different narratives right now — they’re a team that has been generally struggling, having lost six of 10. But they’ve also won three of five and have outshot the opposition. They are creating far more than they have in recent months. Is it a trend? They sure hope so.
• With the team playing a pair of back to backs this week, it was always clear the Canucks would need someone other than Kevin Lankinen to make at least one start. But with Thatcher Demko still not quite back to full health, Arturs Silovs gets the net at least one more time on Saturday.
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This is his ninth start of the season. He had a great performance two starts ago in Utah, but his last start vs. Anaheim was a mess. There have been too many of those this season. That said, he put in a strong performance in the Canucks’ 4-1 defeat of Chicago Nov. 16 — his only win of the season.
The history: The Canucks have beaten the Blackhawks twice this season, 6-3 and 4-1. Chicago just lost to San Jose and are a total tire fire.
The hope: Quinn Hughes is back. Elias Pettersson is playing better. The Canucks are generating more shots. They should be on the upswing.
The fear: Trap game. Chicago has no business being in this one so, of course, watch them have a good game.
The top guns: Pettersson is finally scoring. He tied the game up on Wednesday in Calgary, giving him three goals in four games. On the other hand, Brock Boeser hasn’t netted anything in 10 games and the Canucks need him to start scoring again.
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The wounded: Canucks: Thatcher Demko (lower body, week to week), Conor Garland (“banged up,” day to day). Blackhawks: Laurent Brossoit (knee, out for season).
The quote: “Obviously, it’s a big game for us. But the next 17 are all going to be big.” — Quinn Hughes on the task in front of him and his teammates.
The latest: Rick Tocchet said Friday he had yet to decide on who would start in goal on Saturday, given that there’s a back-to-back on Sunday against Utah.
The projected lineup:
Höglander-Pettersson-DeBrusk
O’Connor-Chytil-Boeser
Joshua-Suter-Garland
Åman-Blueger-Sherwood
Hughes-Hronek
M. Pettersson-Myers
E. Pettersson-Forbort
Šilovs
The prediction: The Blackhawks really do stink. The Canucks are going to win 4-1.
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