Game Notes: Canucks @ Blue Jackets

The Canucks face off against the Columbus Blue Jackets for their first of two matchups this season. The Blue Jackets visit Rogers Arena on Mar. 24 to conclude the season series.
Tonight marks the second of a three-game road trip that also sees a visit to Nashville (Dec. 13). The Canucks are 1-0-0 on the trip to date.

MORNING SKATE UPDATE:

The Canucks will ice the same line-up tonight in Columbus as they did in St. Louis Sunday, said Coach Green, adding that Jacob Markstrom starts in goal once again. Adam Gaudette, who did not play against the Blues because of illness, took part in an optional morning skate Tuesday and is feeling better.

LAST MEETING - MAR. 31/18: VAN 5 vs CBJ 4 (OT)

Alex Edler netted the game-winner in overtime...Darren Archibald and Nikolay Goldobin each notched a goal in the second to give the Canucks a 2-1 lead after trailing by one at the end of the first...Jussi Jokinen led the Canucks in scoring on the night (1-2-3)...Bo Horvat scored the Canucks fourth goal of the night...Thatcher Demko posted his first career win in.

VERSUS BLUE JACKETS TIDBITS:

The Canucks went 2-0-0 against the Blue Jackets last season.
Loui Eriksson appeared in his 500th career game, Apr. 25/13 vs CBJ,
Antoine Roussel appeared in his 100th career game, Mar. 4/14 vs CBJ.

LAST GAME - DEC. 9/18: VAN 6 at STL 1

Elias Pettersson collect five points (1-4-5) for the second time in his career, which also included the game-winner...Brock Boeser netted his second career hat trick...Bo Horvat collected his collected his 14th goal of the season while Nikolay Goldobin netted his fifth...Jacob Markstrom faced 23 shots.

HIGH FIVE

Elias Pettersson posted his second career five-point outing (also Nov. 2 vs. COL). The fifth-overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, who leads all first-year skaters with 15-15-30, became the sixth rookie in the NHL's expansion era (since 1967-68) and second in as many seasons to record multiple outings with at least five points in a single season. Pettersson also joined Bryan Trottier as the only NHL rookies to accomplish the feat before the end of December.

FACE THE FACTS (through Dec. 9)

Bo Horvat ranks first in the NHL in face-off wins (442), first in even-strength face-off wins (356) and first in face-offs taken (812). He also ranks 5th in PP face-off wins (56).
Horvat tied a season-high 23 face-off wins (the third time this season) on Nov. 19 vs MTL and had 40 total face-offs on Nov. 6 at DET
Horvat ranks second on the team in points (28) and assists (14), first in shots (80), face-off win percentage (54.4%) and TOI (among forwards; 20:52). He also shares the team lead in power-play goals (4) and ranks second in goals (14), power-play points (8).

THE GOING RATE

• Brock Boeser has six points (5-1-6) over the past five games
• Jake Virtanen has three points (1-2-3) over the past seven games
• Alex Edler has three points (2-1-3) over the past six games
• Antoine Roussel has five assists (0-5-5) over the past four games
• Elias Pettersson has 11 points (3-8-11) over the past seven games
• Bo Horvat has ten points (4-6-10) over the past ten games (six points (3-3-6) over the past five games)
• Tim Schaller has two assists (0-2-2) over the past four games
• Tyler Motte has two points (1-1-2) over the past four games
• Josh Leivo has a goal in three of his past six games played (3-0-3)
• Nikolay Goldobin has eight points (3-5-8) over the past ten games

STAR GAZING

Pettersson was named first star of the week after leading the NHL with 2-6-8, including two game-winning goals, in three outings to power the Canucks (13-16-3, 29 points) to a pair of victories. He collected one assist in a 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild Dec. 4. Pettersson then scored his third career game-winning goal and added one helper in a 5-3 triumph over the Nashville Predators Dec. 6. He capped the week with 1-4-5, his second career five-point performance (also Nov. 2 vs. COL: 2-3-5), in a 6-1 victory against the St. Louis Blues Dec. 9. The 20-year-old Sundsvall, Sweden, native - who was selected fifth overall in the 2017 NHL Draft - paces all rookies with 15 goals, 15 assists and 30 points in 26 contests this season. His four game-winning goals also lead all rookies and share fourth place in the entire League.