The Olympic break has wrapped up, and it's time for the Vancouver Canucks to hit the ice again. They're set to face off against the Winnipeg Jets in an all-Canadian showdown at Rogers Arena on Wednesday night.
Conor Garland highlighted the importance of the remaining 28 games as a prime opportunity for young players to showcase their skills, both in games and during practice sessions.
Head Coach Adam Foote is confident in his squad's readiness, noting the increased intensity during battle drills at practice. He’s eager to see this energy translate into game action against the Jets.
Teddy Blueger was on fire before the Olympic pause, tallying four goals and three assists over eight games. Representing Latvia at the Olympics, he added an assist in their final match against Sweden.
Quick Hits on the Jets
Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor are leading the charge for the Jets this season. Scheifele boasts 27 goals and 68 points, while Connor follows closely with 25 goals and 64 points. Connor is also the shooting leader with 185 shots on net, averaging 5.8 attempts per game.
Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi share the team lead with seven power play goals each. The Jets’ power play is ranked 20th in the league, operating at a 19.1% success rate. Jonathan Toews has been dominant in the faceoff circle, winning 61% of his draws.
There's some uncertainty about who will be in net for the Jets on Wednesday. Connor Hellebuyck's post-Olympics status is unclear, leaving Eric Comrie, with his 9-9-1 record and .892 save percentage, as a potential starter. Former Canuck Luke Schenn leads the Jets with 132 hits this season.
The Story: Shaking Off the Rust
Jake DeBrusk expressed his excitement about returning to competition after a week of intense practice. “It’s nice to have that time to get practicing with the guys, getting some three-on-three drills, ramping it up. It’s new for all of us,” DeBrusk shared about the 'bye week.'
With a packed schedule, the Canucks used this break to sharpen their skills, and DeBrusk is eager to see how they perform as they come out of the pause.
Canucks’ Top Performers Over the Last Five Games
- Teddy Blueger: 2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points
- Liam Öhgren: 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points
- Jake DeBrusk: 0 goals, 3 assists, 3 points
- Elias Pettersson: 0 goals, 3 assists, 3 points
- Conor Garland: 0 goals, 3 assists, 3 points
When and Where to Watch
Catch the game on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. PT on Sportsnet or tune in to Brendan Batchelor’s radio call on Sportsnet 650 and the Sportsnet Radio Network.