Game Notes: Canucks vs. Capitals

The Canucks host the Capitals for their second of a two-game homestand. Following tonight's game, the Canucks embark on a two-game road trip starting Wednesday versus Vegas and concluding Thursday against Arizona.
The Canucks and Capitals play their first of two games this season starting tonight. The Canucks visit the Capital One Arena on Feb. 5.
Tonight marks Erik Gudbranson's 400th career NHL game.

MORNING SKATE UPDATE

Following a team day-off Sunday, the Canucks held a full team morning skate Monday morning. Elias Pettersson skated with the team for the first time; he didn't take part in line rushes, but looked to be at full speed during drills. He will speak to the media after practice Tuesday.
Coach Green said Pettersson remains in concussion protocol, but he expects the rookie to travel with the team during their upcoming two-game road trip to Vegas and Arizona. Anders Nilsson starts against the Capitals.

VERSUS CAPITALS TIDBITS:

LAST MEETING - JAN. 9/18: VAN 1 at WSH 3

Daniel Sedin notched the Canucks lone goal on the PP...Alex Edler and Henrik Sedin picked up assists...Edler led the team in shots (7)...The power play went 1-3...Jacob Markstrom faced 36 shots.

LAST GAME - Oct. 20/18: VAN 2 vs BOS 1 (OT)

Brandon Sutter put the Canucks up 1-0 with a rebound goal at 3:40 of the first; Jake Virtanen and Troy Stecher registered an assist on the play...Bo Horvat scored with 1:48 remaining in OT to give the Canucks a 2-1 win; Brock Boeser notched an assist on the play...Jacob Markstrom made 30 saves...Erik Gudbranson and Alex Edler each had a game-high 4 hits.

QUICK HITS (through Oct. 20/18)

Brock Boeser scored his first career overtime goal 34 seconds into the extra frame on Oct. 16 at PIT; it was his seventh career game-winning goal which leads all Canucks players since his NHL debut on March 25, 2017 - two more than Daniel Sedin (5) over that span. He had a four game scoring streak (2-2-4) from Oct. 9-16.
Alex Edler is tied for ninth among defencemen in assists (5). He is also 14th in the NHL for TOI/GP (24:39).
Alex Edler leads the League in blocked shots (38) while Chris Tanev ranks third (22).
Elias Pettersson leads all rookies in scoring with eight points (5-3-8) and goals (5); he ranks t-12th in the league in goals scored (and shares the team lead in this category with Bo Horvat). He is also one of 18 players to have scored in five or more consecutive games and the only rookie so far to accomplish the feat.
Bo Horvat ranks tied for sixth in face-off wins (88), third in even-strength face-off wins (73) and fifth in faceoffs taken (162).
Anders Nilsson is currently tied for seventh in wins (3). Among goaltenders to play in at least four games, Nilsson ranks 11th with a.925 save percentage.

THE GOING RATE (through Oct. 20/18)

• Brock Boeser has five points (2-3-5) over the past six games
• Jake Virtanen has three points (1-2-3) over the past five games
• Brandon Sutter has two goals over the past three games
• Sven Baertschi has five points (2-3-5) over the past six games
• Bo Horvat has six points (5-1-6) over the past seven games
• Tim Schaller has two assists over the past three games
• Elias Pettersson has registered at least a point in every NHL game played so far (5). His 1.60 points per game rate ranks 10th in the NHL.