The Canucks improved to 13-5-and-1 on the season nearing the quarter mark, one point behind the first place Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific Division with the same number of games played.
Following Monday night’s 3-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks, Vanouver has the 3rd most points in the NHL, 27.
The Canucks ended a two-game skid.
“The Sharks worked hard, it was a hard working game,” Vancouver head coach Rick Tocchet said postgame. “I thought we went into the game knowing it was going to be a tough game, and it was.”
Tocchet tried his best not to diss the struggling Sharks, winners of just three games out of 18 this season.
Canucks forward Nils Höglander was fined $2,864.58 by the NHL, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for slew-footing San Jose’s Kevin Labanc late in the 2nd period.
Red Hot Canucks Huggy
South of the border in the 1990’s, ESPN anchor Dan Patrick popularized the Spanish term “en fuego” to describe a player on a hot streak. It’s the perfect description at the moment for Canucks captain and top defenceman Quinn Hughes, who leads the NHL in scoring with 30 points.
“Huggy” had two points against San Jose and has 14 over his last eight games, dating back to his last pointless contest against the Dallas Stars on November 4th. He’s in the process of rewriting the Canucks record books in terms in scoring from the blueline.
The Royal Treatment
It twas a royal evening at Rogers Arena for the match against the Sharks.
Prince Harry, 2nd son of Princess Diana and grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, took in the game with his wife Meghan after dropping the ceremonial pregame puck. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in town to celebrate the 2025 Invictus Games coming to Vancouver and Whistler.
Harry helped found the event that allows injured and disabled military veterans from around the world to participate in Olympic style games.
Canucks coach Tocchet had a chance to fist bump with the 2nd in line to the English throne.
“I don’t if you’re allowed to do that,” ‘Tock’ said to laughter postgame. “I did it, he did it though. I don’t know, he kind of looked at me, but he did it, so … pretty cool to get a fist bump from him, right?”
Elsewhere …
— The Boston Globe reports on Bruins forward Milan Lucic’s arrest and court appearance following an argument with his wife. Lucic pleaded not guilty to an assault and battery charge.
— NHL.com has the story of the Dallas Stars creating and unveiling a statue for former Stars forward and Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Modano. He’s the club’s all-time leading scorer and helped them win a Stanley Cup in 1999.
— Our pals at Lightning Insider have the story of Monday’s highest profile game as the Tampa Bay Lightning won their third in a row by coming from behind to defeat the Boston Bruins.
No Pucks
Due to a lack of building availability and because of the American Thanksgiving holiday, there are no NHL games Tuesday or Thursday this week.
ICYMI:
— Canucks With The Top 3 Scorers In The NHL; The History
— The Hugeness Of The Canucks Bo Horvat Trade
