Even though they dropped the final game of their latest road swing, the Vancouver Canucks are back home feeling good about their game as they prepare to host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.
The Canucks return home after cobbling together a 4-1-1 mark during a six-game trip that ended with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.
Now, Vancouver needs to start piling up points at home. Despite their road success (10-2-1 on the season), the Canucks have a paltry 3-5-3 home record heading into a crucial six-game homestand. Vancouver plays nine of its next 11 outings in its rink.
Canucks coach Rick Tocchet is challenging his players to concentrate solely on the start of the game instead of worrying about the result.
“We can’t wait for the second period to get going, it’s a mental thing,” Tocchet said.
By duplicating their road performances, the Canucks should be fine, and they know it.
“Just stick with it,” goaltender Kevin Lankinen said. “Nothing really changes. I can only speak for myself, but it’s the same puck, it’s the same game wherever you play. I enjoy playing here and believe we can get on a real roll here.”
The Canucks may soon receive a significant boost or two. Top goalie Thatcher Demko, who has yet to play this season as he recovers from a knee injury, is practicing with the club and nearing a return.
“He’s looked really good in practice,” Tocchet said. “He’s in a good space right now. And when he comes and he’s ready to go, I’m all for it.”
Additionally, J.T. Miller is back skating with the club after leaving for personal reasons on Nov. 19.
The Blue Jackets arrive after taking a 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday, done in by surrendering four goals in the second period. Columbus opened the scoring but could not hold on against the high-octane Oilers, who enjoyed an offensive breakout.
Columbus has lost two straight after kicking off a five-game road trip with a victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, which had the Blue Jackets on a 5-0-1 run.
“We started correctly, we played hard, we played well,” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said after the Edmonton game.
Columbus lost control when the Oilers’ second-period goal to take a 2-1 lead was challenged but upheld. That gave Edmonton a power play that produced another goal, and suddenly it was a two-goal deficit just four minutes into the period.
“That happens. We obviously had a different opinion on what happened there and we made the decision to challenge,” said Blue Jackets forward Cole Sillinger, who scored once and added an assist. “Unfortunately it didn’t go our way, but that’s part of the game. That’s hockey. We didn’t get it and we had to lean on our kill.”
Unfortunately for the Blue Jackets, the penalty kill has been a problem. They have surrendered an opposition power-play goal in 11 consecutive games, allowing 16 man-advantage markers in that span. Opponents have scored seven power-play goals against Columbus in the last three games.
“If you can’t kill ’em, you better not get in (the penalty box),” Evason said. “We have to keep our sticks off people. We have to keep them on the ice and not get any stick infractions. We have to clean it up, for sure.”