Pacific Division notebook

Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk says he's not trying to make statements or send messages.
The 19-year-old rookie insists he's merely trying to earn his keep in the NHL, so if he frequently appears to be in an opponent's grill or eliciting hostile reactions … well, stuff happens.

Tkachuk, the sixth player chosen in the 2016 NHL Draft, is the Flames' penalty-minutes leader with 62; he has played 31 of Calgary's 35 games.
As important, he has six goals and 12 assists for 18 points in the first 31 games of his NHL career.
The package that is the son of former NHL power forward and USA Hockey Hall of Fame member Keith Tkachuk cannot work without all its parts, including playing on the edge.

"A lot of people have asked me that," Tkachuk said. "It's not something I go out of my way on at all. It just kind of happens, I don't know if it comes with being a young guy or not being familiar with lot of the guys [in the League], trying to be at the net a lot and around the puck as much as possible. I just seem to be involved."
Tkachuk said his teammates have not tried to dissuade him with warnings or counsel against occasionally firing up rivals.
"No, not really, not when it comes to playing your game," Tkachuk said. "There's not much they can say, other than, 'Keep playing your game.'"
Tkachuk's stock has been rising for some time.
After scoring 107 points (30 goals, 77 assists) with London of the Ontario Hockey League last season, he has earned attention during his direct jump to the NHL.
"I think things have gone pretty well so far," Tkachuk said. "I'm just trying to improve as much as possible. Obviously it's the hardest league, the NHL. Things won't go your way all the time. I'm slowly finding out my game can be successful in the NHL."
He said there have been no great revelations or discoveries in his first season.
"No, only that it's just such a hard league," Tkachuk said. "It's so hard to score goals and every player is such a good player and every team such a good team. There are no easy games, and there's no such thing as an easy night. You've got to come to play, come to play every night or you're going to get buried."

After cracking Calgary's lineup out of training camp, Tkachuk's aggressive game brought a variety of emotions for his family.
"A little strange, and stressful, but we're enjoying it," Keith Tkachuk said.
Matthew's mom, Chantal, said she was proud of her son but his style made her nervous.
"Far more nervous with Matthew than I ever was with Keith," she told FOX Sports.
Tkachuk said he's aware his playing style isn't easy for his mom to watch.
"She does get nervous," he said. "Both of them get pretty nervous watching because I think it's still crazy [to them] that it's the NHL and everything. My mom is my biggest fan, she wants to see me do well.
"They're watching every game, and I know the way I play doesn't make her more comfortable. She knows that's what playing around the net and playing with the puck is going to lead to, that there are going to be some physical battles. You have to expect it and my parents know that."

Stecher surprises

Vancouver Canucks coach Willie Desjardins doesn't mind admitting he underestimated rookie defenseman Troy Stecher.
Stecher, who signed with the Canucks as a free agent on April 13 after three seasons at the University of North Dakota, was sent to Utica of the American Hockey League after training camp and again after an October recall when he played his first three NHL games.

After being called up by the Canucks on Nov. 4, Stecher, 22, has earned a bigger role and surprised his coach.
"Lots of great things to say about Stecher," Desjardins said. "I didn't expect him to play at the start of the year. I worried about his size (5-foot-10, 190 pounds), worried about just the heaviness of the NHL guys. But he's surprised me. He's come in and not only has he been able to hold on, he's logged big minutes for us.
"I didn't expect him to be able to do that, but he's been good for us. And not just that he's played, but the energy he brings and his passion for the game … help our room."
Stecher, a native of Richmond, British Columbia, has shown good ability to move the puck. He has nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 24 games, and has averaged 20:53 of ice time.
His emergence has helped the Canucks cope with injuries to Chris Tanev, who missed 22 games with a lower-body injury but has returned, along with Alexander Edler (nine games, fractured finger), Philip Larsen (seven games, head) and Erik Gudbranson (three games, wrist), who remain sidelined.

Stat pack

In the race for first place in the Pacific Division, the Anaheim Ducks have been a cut above in one important category; play within the division. Anaheim has the best record against its division rivals, 8-2-2. … The Calgary Flames are the NHL leader in shorthanded goals, with six. … With 987 hits through 32 games (30.7 per game) the Los Angeles Kings are No. 1 in that category. … The Ducks continue their mastery of the dots, leading the NHL in faceoff percentage at 56.2 in 34 games. The Colorado Avalanche are next at 53.2 percent. Through games Tuesday, 12 of the League's 30 teams were above 50 percent. … The Kings have a schedule of extremes this season. They continue a nine-game road trip this week, then have a seven-game homestand in January followed by a stretch of nine of 10 on the road that carries them to Feb. 9. The Kings will have played 30 road games and 24 home games before a six-day break on Feb. 10. Los Angeles has another seven-game homestand in March.

Games to Watch

Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames (Dec. 23, 9 p.m. ET; SNW, SNP, NHL.TV)
The Canucks start a run of seven of the next eight against Pacific Division rivals, an opportunity to overtake some of the teams ahead of them in the standings. This stretch concludes with a home-and-home against the Flames Jan. 6-7.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Arizona Coyotes (Dec. 23, 9 p.m. ET; FS-A, SNO, NHL.TV)
Maple Leafs rookie Auston Matthews, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft and a native of Scottsdale, Arizona, plays his first NHL game in his home state when Toronto skates against the Coyotes at Gila River Arena.
San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks (Dec. 27, 10 p.m. ET; SN, PRIME, CSN-CA, NHL.TV)
It's the fourth of five games between the Pacific Division contenders. Each of the first three was decided by one goal: The Sharks won 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 25 and the Ducks had 3-2 victories on Nov. 26 and Dec. 9. They don't play again until the Ducks come to San Jose on March 18.
Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers (Dec. 29, 9 p.m. ET; SNW, FS-W, NHL.TV)
The Oilers will come into this game with five days' rest, and the Kings will be concluding a nine-game road trip. Los Angeles has some better schedule days ahead, including a seven-game homestand beginning Jan. 5.
Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames (Dec. 29, 9 p.m. ET; SN360, PRIME, NHL.TV)
The Flames, who have surged after a slow start, will get a chance to gauge their improvement when they play the Ducks, who have been near the top of the division standings for most of the season.
San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings (Dec. 31, 10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, CSN-CA, NHL.TV)
The Sharks face their California rivals in the second game of a back-to-back; San Jose is home against the Philadelphia Flyers on Dec. 30. After a nine-game road trip, it will be the first home game for the Kings since Dec. 10. The Sharks and Kings play again in San Jose on Jan. 3, then finish their five-game season series Jan. 18 in Los Angeles.