Canucks-Rangers Preview
Henrik Sedin's visit to New York was cut short due to a hit from behind. The Vancouver Canucks, however, are looking to complete their stay in the Big Apple with four points.
The Canucks go for their first three-game winning streak of the season Tuesday night in their first meeting with the New York Rangers since their trade earlier this month.
Henrik Sedin leads Vancouver (19-17-10) with 28 assists while his 37 points are four back of Daniel Sedin's team high. Any attempt to close that gap won't come until next month after Henrik Sedin was sent home with an upper-body injury.
The All-Star center got hurt in the first period Sunday when he was driven into the boards by the Islanders' Mikhail Grabovski in a 2-1 shootout win. Grabovski was issued a 5-minute penalty for boarding and a game misconduct.
While the hit will likely keep Sedin out until after the All-Star Game on Jan. 31, Grabovski won't face further discipline from the league.
"Probably a 10-day injury or so," Canucks coach Willie Desjardins said. "We always want protection of our players. I think everybody in the league does. The league reviews a lot so that's not for me to comment on it. One thing you always want your players to feel is safe."
Jared McCann is expected to replace Sedin on the top line, joining Daniel Sedin and Jannik Hansen. The rookie combined with Daniel Sedin to assist on Ben Hutton's goal against the Islanders.
"(McCann) is a lot of faster than Henrik," Daniel Sedin said. "They are different players. Jared plays with speed and tries to beat guys 1-on-1. We played together before Christmas and did a good job. We're hoping for the best against a good team."
Another big effort from Ryan Miller could go a long way. He had 47 saves and turned aside all three shootout attempts Sunday in his second start since cramps sidelined him for six games.
He had 32 saves while Daniel Sedin's third-period tally was the difference in a 2-1 win over the Rangers (24-16-5) on Dec. 9.
Sedin has four points over the last two meetings with New York, assisting on both of his twin brother's goals in a 5-4 shootout win at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 19.
This visit includes Emerson Etem's return to MSG after being dealt by the Rangers for forward Nicklas Jensen and a draft pick Jan. 8. It was the second time in roughly six months the right wing was traded, going to New York from Anaheim over the summer.
Etem had three assists in 19 games with the Rangers.
"They've been in the playoffs the past few years, and they got the guys that they stick with," Etem said. "Sometimes you go in there and you just don't fit in. I think that's the case. I felt like I brought speed. But (they had) a couple guys with speed, it was almost like, 'Where do I kind of fit in?' And I think they felt the same way."
The Rangers won the Presidents' Trophy last season, but their 17 points since Dec. 1 rank only better than Montreal's 11.
"I have full confidence in this group that we can hang with any team in the NHL," center Derek Stepan said following Sunday's 5-2 loss at league-leading Washington.
Chris Kreider is doing his part with three goals in two games after netting a pair against the Capitals. The left wing hasn't scored in three meetings with the Canucks after getting his only career hat trick in a home victory Nov. 30, 2013.