Rematch between Canucks and the Golden Knights in Vancouver

A busy schedule tonight in the NHL. This Thursday there will be ten games played. In the last one, the Vegas Golden Knights will travel to Vancouver to meet the Canucks for the second time within a week. Last Sunday the Golden Knights won 6-3 in Vegas. Will Vancouver get revenge tonight?

Play offs are at risk for Vancouver

The Canucks have gone on a serious slide, unable to string together more than two wins in a row since October 17th. Vancouver was one of the big surprises during the first month of the new NHL season, but their performance dropped significantly since November. They also have a negative record in December, with five defeats and three wins. With Elias Petterson, Vancouver has one of the most talented young players in the NHL. The Swede was already good for 35 points (fourteen goals and 21 assists).

Because of the poor results, Vancouver dropped to fifth place in the Pacific Division. They have the Calgary Flames, who are winning a surprising amount of games under interim head coach Geoff Ward, as a big rival and the Canucks need to deal with the Arizona Coyotes as well. The Coyotes have an important acquisition with Taylor Hall recently moving to the team and the Canucks still have to face Arizona three times this season. Vancouver lost 3-1 to the Montreal Canadians last Tuesday, it was already the third defeat in a row for coach Travis Green.

Golden Knights want to extend their win streak

The main goal for the Vegas Golden Knights during the regular season is clear. The hockey team wants and might be obliged to its stand to win the title in the Pacific Division. They are currently only one point behind the division leading Arizona Coyotes. Mid-November Vegas fell into a small dip, but the last few weeks the performances of the Golden Knights have been impressive.

Max Pacioretty excels in his second season as a Golden Knight. The winger currently leads Vegas with 35 points (fifteen goals, twenty assists). Last Tuesday, the Golden Knights played a home game against the Minnesota Wild. In the second period, a 0-1 deficit was turned into a 2-1 lead and Vegas eventually went on to earn two important points. Especially Mark Stone did well, giving two assist.

Expect Vancouver to lose again

The Vegas Golden Knight won their last three games, including a 6-3 win against Vancouver, while the Canucks are on a three game losing streak. Vegas can probably count on goalie Marc-André Fleury again tonight, who is performing really well after a short absence. The Canucks have won just four of their last 21 games in regulation and they're 7-12-2 in that time. With Fleury in net, his solid blueline and the Pacioretty-Stone clicking, I can't see Vancouver getting a result in their own barn.