The Vancouver Canucks kick off a lengthy homestand Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers, riding a three-game winning streak, but also mindful they may have to overcome the temporary loss of their leading goal scorer.
The Canucks defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 Thursday to complete their first ever three-game sweep of the California teams. Brock Boeser (six goals in 12 games) was hurt in the first period and did not return after taking a blindside check to the head from Kings' Tanner Jeannot, who was slapped with a match penalty and on Friday suspended for three games by the league.
"What a road trip," said Canucks forward J.T. Miller. "Three hard-fought games. When (Boeser) went down, obviously we got to step up. I thought everybody stepped up and played their part."
No doubt the Canucks are hoping that Boeser, who is expected to be examined by doctors Friday, makes a quick return to the lineup, similar to Oilers superstar Connor McDavid.
McDavid missed three games after suffering an ankle injury against Columbus on Oct. 28. The three-time Hart Trophy winner and defending playoff MVP returned to the lineup Wednesday and had two shots on goal but no points in a heartbreaking 4-2 loss to Vegas. McDavid was originally expected to miss two to three weeks.
This season is all about unfinished business for Edmonton with a roster chock full of title hungry veterans, like McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and defenseman Darnell Nurse.
The Oilers are focused on making another run at the championship after coming close to taking the Stanley Cup title last season. They lost in seven games to the Florida Panthers.
But it has been an uphill climb so far to prove last season's success was no fluke for the Oilers which are 6-7-1 and in fifth place in the Pacific Division, four points behind third-place Vancouver.
The Oilers led the Golden Knights for a good portion of Wednesday's game, but could not hold on as Vegas rallied to score the game winner with less than a minute left in regulation then added an empty netter for good measure.
"We work, work, work, but it is taking a lot for us to put them in right now," Nugent-Hopkins said. "We are creating chances, but we are facing some goalies who are playing well.
"Sometimes you just have to put your head down and hope for a bounce. When you get those bounces it is because of your work ethic."
Hard work is paying off for Canucks captain and leading scorer Quinn Hughes. The 2024 Norris Trophy winner as the best defenseman had a goal and an assist against the Kings and has six points (a goal and five assists) in his last three games.
"I have always tried to not to worry about the outcome and just worry about getting looks and creating things," Hughes said on Thursday. "Pretty much the whole year I have been creating chances. Sometimes it is not going in, but now you are seeing the puck going in more."
Forward Conor Garland said after the win over the Kings there is a lot of positive feeling in the dressing room heading into this six-game homestand.
"I am really happy with our effort. The last road trip we had finished in Chicago we didn't like our effort. So, we have made some steps in the right direction, and we get to go home and have a good homestand," Garland said.
