Game Notes: Canucks @ Predators

The Canucks face off against the Nashville Predators for their second of three matchups this season. The Canucks visit Bridgestone Arena again on Apr. 4 to conclude the season series. Vancouver is 2-2-1 in their last five games versus the Predators (4-3-3 in their last 10).
Tonight marks the final game of a three-game road trip (2-0-0). Following tonight's game, the Canucks have a five-game homestand before Christmas that sees visits from Philadelphia (Dec. 15), Edmonton (Dec. 16), Tampa Bay (Dec. 18), St. Louis (Dec. 20) and Winnipeg (Dec. 22).
Vancouver is 8-10-1 versus Western Conference opponents (5-5-0 versus Central Division opponents).

MORNING SKATE UPDATE

The Canucks have won three straight and Coach Green said he wants to give the same Canucks line-up a shot to make it four consecutive wins. The only change coming tonight in Nashville is Anders Nilsson starting in net.

Antoine Roussel had three assists when Vancouver hosted Nashville a week ago. He's hoping for a repeat performance not only for himself, but for the Canucks.

LAST MEETING - DEC. 6/18: VAN 5 vs NSH 3

Alex Edler scored on a one-timer from the point to give Vancouver a 1-0 lead at 7:48 of the first...Bo Horvat scored at 19:33 to give Vancouver its first 2-0 lead of the season...Jake Virtanen converted an odd-man rush for a 3-1 lead at 8:57 of the second...Elias Pettersson made it 4-1 with 1:11 left in the second scoring the GWG on a penalty shot...Loui Eriksson scored on a rebound to make it 5-1 at 1:21 of the third...Jacob Markstrom made 26 saves...Antoine Roussel had a career-high three assists (which also tied his careerhigh for points in a game).

VERSUS PREDATORS TIDBITS:

• Brock Boeser has five points (2-3-5) in four career games versus the Predators.
• Michael Del Zotto appeared in 25 games for the Predators during the 2013.14 season, registering 5 points (1-4-5). Against his former team, he has four points (1-3-4) in 13 career games.
• Alex Edler has 22 points (10-12-22) in 34 career games versus Nashville.
• Loui Eriksson has 27 points (15-12-27) in 35 career games versus Nashville.
• Bo Horvat has eight points (4-4-8) in 10 career games versus Nashville.
• Ben Hutton has three assists (0-3-3) in eight career games versus Nashville.
• Jacob Markstrom is 1-2-1 in four career games versus Nashville.
• Anders Nilsson is 1-1-0 in two career games versus Nashville.
• Antoine Roussel has 15 points (4-11-15) in 25 career games versus Nashville.

LAST GAME - DEC. 11/18: VAN 3 at CBJ 2

Josh Leivo tied it 1-1 at 8:11 of the third...Elias Pettersson tied it 2-2 at 16:56...Jake Virtanen scored the game-winning goal with 1:46 remaining...Chris Tanev, Alex Edler, Tyler Motte Nikolay Goldobin, Josh Leivo and Elias Pettersson each registered an assist...Jacob Markstrom made 34 saves.

THE ROOKIE

Elias Pettersson was named first star of the week ending December 9th after leading the NHL with eight points (2-6-8) in three games to power the Canucks to a pair of victories. He collected one assist on Dec. 4 vs MIN, then scored his third career game- winning goal and added one helper on Dec. 6 vs NSH. He capped the week with his second career five-point performance on Dec. 9 at STL.
With five points (1-4-5) on Dec. 9, Pettersson became the sixth rookie since 1967-68 and second in as many seasons to record multiple outings with at least five points in a single season. He also joined Bryan Trottier as the only NHL rookies to accomplish the feat before the end of December.
Pettersson leads all rookies in goals (16), assists (16), points (32), power-play points (9) and points per game (1.19). Only three rookies in franchise history averaged better than 0.80 points per game (min. 50 GP): Pavel Bure (1991.92; 0.92), Brock Boeser (2017.18; 0.89) and Ivan Hlinka (1981.82; 0.83). He also ranks second among rookies in power-play goals (4) and in shooting percentage (28.1%; min. 10 GP). Pettersson became the third rookie in Canucks franchise history to score a penalty-shot goal when he beat Pekka Rinne on Dec. 6, joining Ivan Hlinka (1981-82) and Pavel Bure (1991-92).
Pettersson, who led all rookies with seven goals and 10 points in eight games (7-3-10) in October, was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for October. He was also named the NHL's second star of the week ending November 4th. He shared the League lead with four goals and ranked third overall with seven points in three games.

FACE THE FACTS

Bo Horvat ranks first in the NHL in face-off wins (449), first in even-strength face-off wins (362) and first in face-offs taken (834). He also ranks 5th in PP face-off wins (57).
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 (85), 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 six games
• Josh Leivo has three points (2-1-3) in four games as a Canuck
• Jake Virtanen has three points (2-1-3) over the past three games; he scored his 10th goal on Dec. 11 at CBJ to tie a career-high
• Loui Eriksson has two points (1-1-2) over the past three games
• Alex Edler has two points (1-1-2) over the past three games
• Antoine Roussel has five assists (0-5-5) over the past five games
• Elias Pettersson has 13 points (4-9-13) over the past eight games; he is currently on a four-game point streak (3-7-10 during that span)
• Bo Horvat has six points (3-3-6) over the past six games
• Tyler Motte has three points (1-2-3) over the past five games
• Nikolay Goldobin has at least a point (1-2-3) in three straight games