Game Notes: Canucks vs. Golden Knights

The Canucks play their second of a five-game homestand tonight against the Golden Knights. Tonight's game is presented by Crown Royal.

MORNING SKATE UPDATE
The Canucks held an optional team skate this morning, which injured defenceman Alex Edler took part in. Despite skating with the team, Edler is not an option for tonight's game, according to Coach Green. Jacob Markstrom, who didn't practice yesterday and was not on the ice this morning, starts in goal. One other change: Brandon Sutter is banged up and will not play, meaning Tim Schaller returns to the line-up.
Vancouver has dropped three straight games, with three games before the holiday break. Winning is always important, but it's vital the Canucks collect points during this stretch. Coach is confident his group will be prepared for the Golden Knights Thursday.

NEED TO KNOW BASIS

• Josh Leivo has seven points (5-2-7) in his last 10 games and five goals in his last nine.
• Brock Boeser has 8 points (2-6-8) in his last 8 games.
• Tanner Pearson has 9 points (3-6-9) over his last 10 games.
• Bo Horvat has 7 points (1-6-7) over his last 10 games.
• Adam Gaudette has 7 points (3-4-7) in his last 10 games.
• Quinn Hughes has 8 points (0-8-8) in his last 10 games.
• Jake Virtanen has 8 points (3-5-8) in his last 10 games.
• Quinn Hughes is 3rd among rookies with 26 points (2-24-26).

LAST MEETING - DEC. 15/19: VAN 3 at VGK 6

Vancouver closed out the fourth back-to-back game series of the season in Vegas falling 6-3 on Sunday night...Brock Boeser led his team in scoring with a goal and an assist...Ellias Pettersson and Jake Virtanen (PP) each scored...Jacob Markstrom turned away 34 of 39 shots, Michael DiPietro turned away 6 of 7 in relief.

LAST GAME - DEC. 17/19: VAN 1 vs MTL 3

Adam Gaudette opened the scoring with a power play goal at 18:21 in the first period...Josh Leivo and Tyler Myers each recorded an assist...Oscar Fantenberg led the team in blocked shots (3)...Tyler Motte led the team in hits (5)...Jacob Markstrom moved into fourth in franchise history for most games played by a goaltender; he faced 30 shots on the night.

POWERED UP

• Bo Horvat ranks tied for t-9th in the NHL for PPG (6).
• Elias Pettersson ranks t-4th for PPP (17).
• Vancouver ranks 2nd in the League with 33 power play goals this season.
• The Canucks ranks 4th in power play percentage (25.4%).

1500 GAME MILESTONE

The Dec. 19/19 game vs VGK, marks the 1500th game for Jon Sanderson, Canucks Director of Medical Services and Head Athletic Therapist. In his 21st season with the team, he has also served as an Athletic Therapist for Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey (2016), a member of the Team Canada medical staff at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games and a member of the BC Lions (CFL) medical staff.

ALL-TIME RANKING

Jacob Markstrom has played 209 of 252 career NHL games as a Vancouver Canuck. On Dec. 17/19 vs MTL he surpassed Dan Cloutier (208) for the fourth most games played in franchise history behind McLean (516), Luongo (448) and Brodeur (377). Markstrom's record over 209 GP is 85-88-26.

THE ROOKIE

With his 25th career point in his 31st game, Quinn Hughes became the 8th quickest rookie defenceman to reach 25 points over the last 40 NHL seasons. Larry Murphy set the record in 21 games.

THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM

Canucks rookie defenseman Quinn Hughes collected his third three-assist game this season on Nov. 27/19 at PIT. Hughes became the first rookie defenceman in Canucks history to record three games with three assists in a single season (also Oct. 30 at LAK and Nov. 21 at NSH). The only rookie blueliner with more in a single season is Ray Bourque (4 in 1979-80 with BOS).

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

JT Miller (13-18-31), collected at least one point in eight straight games (5-6-11) from Nov. 21-Dec. 7. The last player to record a longer point streak in his first year with Vancouver was Mark Messier in 1997-98 (5-9-14 in 10 GP).

FACING OFF

Bo Horvat ranks 1st in the NHL in face-off wins (435), even strength face-off wins (321) and power play face-off wins (92).
On Nov. 16/19 vs COL, Horvat won 26 draws in the face-off circle, tying the second highest club record in a single game (Mark Messier - Mar. 2/98 vs LA). The Canucks record stands at 28, also set by Messier on Jan. 8/99 vs FLA. Canucks Head Coach Travis Green holds the League record for faceoff wins in a single game with 33, set on Nov. 8/97 vs CHI.

PRODUCTION FROM PETTERSSON

Elias Petterson is one of five active players to reach the 30-point mark in fewer than 30 games in each of his first two or more NHL seasons. The others: Sidney Crosby (10x) Evgeni Malkin (9x) Alex Ovechkin (6x) and Connor McDavid (5x).
Pettersson recorded his 90th career point on Nov. 14/19 vs DAL, becoming the second quickest Canuck to achieve the feat, doing so in his 91st career game. Pavel Bure is the quickest Canuck to reach 90 career points, achieving the feat in 86 games.
Pettersson recorded his 100th career point in his 103rd game, becoming the second quickest Canuck to accomplish the feat. The quickest a Canuck has reached 100 points was 96 games, achieved by Pavel Bure. The third quickest is Ivan Hlinka who did so in 109 games.

WITH THE ADVANTAGE

On Nov. 21/19 at NSH, Vancouver scored five power-play goals in a game for the first time since Nov. 6, 2011 (6-2 W at CHI); the franchise record for most in a game is six, a mark set Oct. 7, 1983 (10-9 W vs. MNS) and matched March 1, 1992 (11-0 W vs. CGY).