1. The Islanders may have hung seven goals in the third period on the Canucks the last time they played here (March 10, 2014), but that was a Vancouver team truly in a freefall at the time.
The team the Canucks face on Tuesday night are a different animal. Their young core has emerged and the acquisitions of goalie Jaro Halak and defencemen Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy have turned them into an Eastern Conference contender.
Then there is budding superstar John Tavares.
Canucks coach Willie Desjardins was an assistant coach at the World Juniors in 2009 — where Tavares was the MVP — and has watched him grow since, so he knows what a difference-maker the dynamic centre can be.
“He was pretty good but now he’s really, really good,” said Desjardins. “He’s just moved to another level. You always thought he’d be a good player, but maybe his skating wouldn’t be good enough. But he’s an elite player. You don’t get that way by being lucky. He worked at his game to get to this next level. He’s always been really gifted and he wants to win. Those are pretty good qualities.”
The Islanders are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Oilers on Sunday, so you know they won’t be in a good mood.
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2. It looks like we won’t get to see former Canuck Michael Grabner in Tuesday’s game, though he’s with the team.
Grabner, who was part of the Keith Ballard trade with Florida in 2010, has had a tough year. He missed the start of the season with hernia surgery, then came back and scored two goals in five games in early December before the Isles put him back on IR. They have to make a personnel move before they can get him back on the roster, so he’s in limbo for the moment.
Grabner, of course, was waived by Florida that fall, picked up by the Islanders and scored 34 goals en route to making the all-rookie team.
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3. The Canucks have to be happy with the play of their three prospects — drafted last June — at the World Junior tournament.
U.S. goaltender Thatcher Demko was excellent against Canada and in the tourney overall. Smallish Swedish offensive defenceman Gustav Forsling had a strong tourney as well and was chosen to the media all-star team. And Abbtotsford native Jake Virtanen showed he’s a terrific skater and very physical on a stacked Team Canada.
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