Game Notes: Canucks vs. Sharks

The Canucks face off against the San Jose Sharks tonight in their second of four match ups this season. Vancouver lost the first contest by a score of 4-0 on Nov. 23/18 at San Jose. The Canucks head to San Jose on Feb. 16 and the Sharks return to Vancouver on Apr. 2 to conclude the season series. Vancouver is 1-3-1 in their last five games versus San Jose and 1-8-1 in their last 10 GP.

MORNING SKATE UPDATE

Zack MacEwen, who was recalled by the Canucks Sunday, skated Monday morning as part of an optional session at Rogers Arena. The 22-year-old forward was joined by Brisebois, Tanev, Sutter, Schaller and DiPietro; the physical forward said he's ready if he gets the call. Coach Green confirmed after MacEwen spoke that he'll make his NHL debut tonight.

Elias Pettersson has five points in his last five games and is coming off a two-assist win over the Calgary Flames where he scored the shootout game-winner. Anyone else might be happy with that effort of late, but not Petey. He previewed Vancouver's game against San Jose and talked personal expectations.

Also of note: a BC Hockey Hall of Fame press conference was held Monday at Rogers Arena announcing Henrik and Daniel Sedin are part of the 2019 class of inductees. Former NHLer Barret Jackman, former official Shane Heyer, pioneer Karen Wallace, and Canucks chief amateur scout Ron Delorme will also be inducted.

LAST MEETING - Nov. 23/18: VAN 0 @ SJ 4

Erik Gudbranson led the team in hits (5)...Chris Tanev blocked four shots...Anders Nilsson faced 24 shots.

LAST GAME - Feb. 9/19: VAN 4 vs CGY 3 (SO)

Elias Pettersson netted the game-deciding goal in the shootout to give the Canucks the victory...He also led Canucks skaters in points with two assists...Bo Horvat opened the scoring at 0:44 in the first period...Josh Leivo gave Vancouver a 2-1 lead with a goal at 12:58 in the second...Brock Boeser tied the game 3-3 late in the second period to force extra time...Jacob Markstrom faced 47 shots and made a season high 44 saves.

DIVISION RIVALS

Vancouver has a 7-5-3 record versus Pacific Division teams this season. Including tonight's contest, more than half (14) of their remaining 26 games are against divisional opponents.

THE ROAD TO 50

Among players to debut with the Canucks franchise, Brock Boeser required the second fewest games played to score his 50th career goal (110 GP), trailing only Pavel Bure (82 GP) (source: NHL PR).

THE ROOKIE

Elias Pettersson joins an elite list of 10 players who have scored at least 25 goals in thier first 44 games played, aged 20 or younger (Ovechkin, Martin, Murdoch, Bossy, Lindros, Robitaille, Yzerman, Gretzky, Hawerchuk, Boeser).
With his 50th point of the season Feb. 9/19 vs CGY, Pettersson became the 11th Canuck to score 50 or more points in their rookie season. Pavel Bure and Ivan Hlinka share the club record of 60 points in a rookie season.
Pettersson not only leads his team but all rookies in goals (25), points (50), power-play goals (7), power-play assists (t-7), power-play points (14), game-winning goals (7), and points per game avg (1.11).
Pettersson was named to Team Pacific Division for the 2019 NHL All-Star Game. He became the youngest Canucks player and just the third Canucks rookie (Tallon, Boeser) named to the honour. He participated in the Fastest Skater and Puck Control Relay,
With his seventh GWG Jan. 2 at OTT, Pettersson established a new Canucks single-season record for most GWG scored by a rookie.
With a hat trick on Jan. 2 at OTT, Pettersson became just the fourth active player to accumulate 40 or more career points within his first 40 NHL games. He also became the first rookie in Canucks franchise history to score a hat trick that included an OTG. He is the eighth Canucks rookie to net a hat trick.
Pettersson was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month recipient for the month of December after leading all rookies in goals (6), assists (11), points (17), game-winning goals (4) and plus/minus (tied, +8) in 14 games.
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 named the NHL's second star of the week ending November 4th (sharing the League lead with four goals and ranked third overall with seven points in three games) and was named first star of the week ending December 9th (after leading the NHL with eight points (2-6-8) in three games).
With five points (1-4-5) on Dec. 9 at STL, Pettersson became the sixth rookie since 1967-68 to record multiple outings with at least five points in a single season. He also registered five points (2-3-5) on Nov. 2 vs COL.

SWEDE RECORD

Playing in his 783rd career game Dec. 22 vs WPG (all with Vancouver), Alex Edler passed Harold Snepsts for most games played by a defenceman in Canucks franchise history.
Edler also leads the way among Canucks defencemen in career points (354), power play points (163) and shots (1755). He ranks second among Canucks blueliners in goals (89; 4 behind Mattias Ohlund), second in assists (265; 25 behind Dennis Kearns) and second in power play goals (43; 5 behind Sami Salo).
Edler is currently 1st the NHL in blocks per game (2.9; min. 10 GP). He has led the team in TOI in 24 of 38 GP and has led both teams in TOI in 15 of 38 GP.

FACE THE FACTS

Bo Horvat ranks first in the NHL in face-off wins (736), first in even-strength face-off wins (604) and first in face-offs taken (1376). He also ranks 7th in PP face-off wins (97).
Horvat ranks T-2nd in team goals (19), second in power play goals (5), points (43), assists (24) and power play points (11) and first in face-off win percentage (53.5%; min. 10 GP), shots (163) and TOI (among forwards; 20:54).

THE GOING RATE

• Brock Boeser has 10 points (5-5-10) in 10 games
• Elias Pettersson has 11 points (6-5-11) in the last 10 games
• Josh Leivo has seven points (3-4-7) in eight games
• Antoine Roussel has five points (2-3-5) over the past seven games