Canucks aim to play role of spoiler vs. Ducks
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- If any game ever fit the description of a trap game, this one does.
The Anaheim Ducks (39-24-13) will try to make their Pacific Division playoff hopes more secure Tuesday night as they visit the future-focused Vancouver Canucks (27-40-9). In other words, the Ducks will be trying to ensure that they do not become lackadaisical and allow the Canucks to play a part in spoiling their postseason aspirations.
In theory, the Ducks should not be overly worried. They have won five of their past six games.
"We're sticking with it," Ducks forward Adam Henrique told The Orange County Register in reference to the team's work ethic. "It's not always pretty but good teams find ways to get points and get wins. Right now, that's all that really matters."
He hopes the Ducks defense will continue its trend of providing offense. In their last game, defenseman Hampus Lindholm scored 1:21 into overtime to help the Ducks erase two third-period deficits to beat the Oilers 5-4 in Edmonton.
"As soon as our D start moving pucks, we help our forwards out a lot and I think that creates a lot of offense for us and that's something we have to keep doing more," Henrique told reporters.
The Ducks will also likely lean heavily on their strong goaltending. Starter John Gibson has posted five wins in his last six games and reached the 30-victory plateau Sunday. In case coach Randy Carlyle wants to give Gibson a rest, he will be comfortable with former Canuck Ryan Miller between the pipes.
The Ducks hope to end a strong road trip with a win over the woeful Canucks, who earned only their second win in the past 10 games when they beat the Stars by a convincing 4-1 count in Dallas on Sunday.
But the Canucks and their fans will likely be thinking more about the future and their fans after highly touted prospect Adam Gaudette signed a three-year National Hockey League entry contract with the club Monday following the completion of his college season with the Northeastern Huskies.
"Adam has had a remarkable season and college career playing at Northeastern," said Canucks general manager Jim Benning in a release. "He's a very talented player and has shown an ability to score, make plays and contribute in all situations at the collegiate level. We're excited to have him join our team and continue his development as a professional."
It remains to be seen whether Gaudette, a 21-year-old Braintree, Mass., native will play Tuesday or later in the week. Gaudette was originally drafted by Vancouver in the fifth round, 149th overall in 2015.
Despite the late selection, he led the NCAA in scoring with 60 points (30-30-60) in 38 games with the Northeastern and is a finalist for the Hoby Baker award. He ranked first in the NCAA in goals (30), points per game (1.58) and power-play points (27). In addition, the 6-foot-1 and 184-pound center was named the 2018 Hockey East Player of the Year, the Beanpot tournament MVP and garnered several other monthly and weekly accolades.
In 116 career games for Northeastern from 2015 to 2018, Gaudette registered 142 points (68-74-142) -- numbers that greatly appeal to the offensively challenged Canucks. The question now is whether he can produce at the NHL level. But former Northeastern linemate Dylan Sikura, a Chicago Blackhawks prospect, thinks he can.
"He's a good team guy -- every night you know what you're getting from him," Sikura told Postmedia. "It's his passion for the game. He's pretty uncanny, and I don't think there are a lot of guys in the NCAA who like putting the puck in the back of the net like he does.
"Every night he brings the heat. He leads by example in the way he plays -- a full 200-foot game, and he'll block shots and do the little things to help the team out."
Gaudette will be measured against injured Canucks rookie Brock Boeser, who exceled in nine games with Vancouver after signing out of college last spring and encroached 60 points this season before he was sidelined for the season with a back injury.
"(Gaudette) is an exciting young prospect for us," Canucks coach Travis Green told Postmedia. "He plays with energy. He's a guy we're really excited to have."
Green believes Boeser gained from playing with the Canucks late last season and thinks Gaudette can do likewise with the rebuilding squad late in this campaign.
"If you look at Brock, it's an example of how any time you come to a new league, it's an eye opener," Green said. "Not only that, from our standpoint to get to see (Gaudette) would be a benefit."
