Game Notes: Canucks @ Penguins

The Vancouver Canucks play their fifth road game of a six game road trip, that sees the last stop in Winnipeg (Oct. 18). Vancouver's first four stops on the road were in Calgary (Oct. 6), Carolina (Oct. 9), Tampa Bay (Oct. 11) and Florida (Oct. 13); the Canucks are 2-2- 0 on the trip to date.

The Canucks and Penguins play their first of two games this season tonight. Pittsburgh visits Vancouver on Oct. 27/18.
In 2017.18, Brock Boeser led Canucks skaters in scoring with six points (5-1-6) in the season series versus the Penguins.

MORNING SKATE UPDATE

Coach Green confirmed that Adam Gaudette will make his season debut, likely skating between Nikolay Goldobin and Loui Eriksson on the Canucks second line (if Monday's practice is to be trusted). Markus Granlund will shift to centre on the fourth line skating with Tim Schaller and Tyler Motte. Antoine Roussel moves to the third line with Brandon Sutter and Jake Virtanen, while Sven Baertschi moves back up to the top trio with Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser. Anders Nilsson gets the start in goal, his third straight. Nilsson said his success is a product of finding the sweet spot in his game.

LAST MEETING - Nov. 22/18 VAN 5 at PIT 2

The Canucks won their third straight road game...Brock Boeser notched two goals and extended his goal scoring streak to 4 games...Loui Eriksson played in his 800th career game...Derrick Pouliot recorded the game-winner and Brandon Sutter collected the empty-netter in their first visits back to Pittsburgh...Loui Eriksson also recorded a goal...Anders Nilsson faced 45 shots...the Canucks power play went 2/3.

LAST GAME - OCT. 13/18: VAN 3 at FLA 2

Bo Horvat netted the game winner during his 300th career game...Elias Pettersson opened the scoring and extended his scoring streak to five games with a power play goal at 14:48 in the second period...Antoine Roussel recorded his second career penalty shot goal while making his debut as a Canuck...Sven Baertschi led Canucks skaters is scoring with two points (0-2-2)...Chris Tanev tied a Canucks 2018.19 season high for hits (8)...Anders Nilsson collected his second victory of the season in his second consecutive start, making 24 saves.

QUICK HITS (through Oct. 14/18)

-Alex Edler is tied for seventh in the League for most points by a defenceman (0-5-5) and sixth for TOI/GP (25:54) among blueliners.
-Elias Pettersson leads all rookies in scoring with eight points (5-3-8) and goals (5); he ranks t-7th in the league in goals scored and t--14th for most points this season.
-Anders Nilsson ranks t-4th for lowest GAA (1.51), tied for 7th for most wins (2) and tied for 5th in save percentage (.950).
-Elias Pettersson is one of 11 players to have scored in five or more consecutive games.
-Alex Edler leads the League in Blocked Shots (29).
-Bo Horvat ranks sixth in face-off wins (58).
-Vancouver ranks t-7th for most goals score (19); the Canucks rank t-3rd for most goals in the third period (9).
-Brock Boeser enters tonight's game on a three game scoring streak (1-2-3).

WELCOME TO THE SHOW

Pettersson is tied for second for most points in the first 5 NHL since the 1997-98 season, alongside Will Butcher, Auston Matthews, Tomas Hertl and Sidney Crosby. Only Evgeni Malkin had more (5-4-9) during the 2006-07 season.
Pettersson is tied for second in Canucks history for the most points through his first four career games, alongside Curt Fraser (4-3-7) and Stan Smyl (1-6-7); Thomas Gradin collected 8 (5-3-8) in his first four NHL games.
With six points (3-3-6) through his first three games, Pettersson is tied for second in franchise history for the longest point streak to start a career. He shares second with Gary Lupul (1979-80) and Jere Gillis (1977-78). Don Tannahill holds the record at five games (1972-73).
Elias Pettersson became the 7th rookie since 1990-91 to record 5 points through his first two NHL games. Jesper Bratt (2017-18), Vladimir Tarasenko (2012-13), Anze Kopitar (2006-07), Brent Seabrook (2005-06), Radim Vrbata (2001-02) and Alexandre Daigle (1993-94) were the other six to accomplish the feat.
In his second game, he also became the sixth player in franchise history to score at least one goal in each of his first two games. Rick Lanz was the last Canuck to do so in 1980-81.
He also joined Thomas Gradin (4-1-5 in 1978-79) as the only rookies in Canucks franchise history to record at least five points through their first two NHL games.
Elias Pettersson became the fourth player in Canucks history to have a multipoint game in his NHL debut (others were Curt Fraser and Thomas Gradin on Oct. 11/78 and Jason Jaffray on Dec. 12/07).
He is the third player in Canucks history to score in his NHL debut before celebrating his 20th birthday, joining Rick Lanz (Oct. 10/80) and Dan Woodley (Oct. 8/87).
He is the sixth player in Canucks history to score a goal in the first period of his NHL debut.
Finally, he is the 19th Canucks rookie to score in his NHL debut.

HOW SWEDE IT IS

Points in first four career games by notable Swedish players:
Elias Petterson: 7 points
Mats Sundin: 5 points
Daniel Alfredsson: 5 points
Peter Forsberg: 4 points
Henrik Zetterberg: 3 points
Daniel Sedin: 2 points
Henrik Sedin: 2 points
Markus Naslund: 1 point