GAME DAY: New York Islanders (26-12-1) at Vancouver Canucks (22-12-3)
Rogers Arena, 7 p.m.
TV: Sportsnet Pacific; Radio TSN 1040
Five things we learned heading into the Canucks’ game with the Islanders on Tuesday at Rogers Arena:
1. Eddie Lack starts against the team that pummelled him for six goals in the third period on March 10.
It’s a bit of a surprise, seeing as Ryan Miller has been red-hot in the last two weeks. But it’s a chance to get Lack, who hasn’t played since Dec. 17, back into some action, and what better way to expiate the ghosts of that game?
Last March, Lack had a 3-0 shutout going after two periods, but — with a lot of help from his teammates — wilted as the Isles scored seven times on 15 shots (one was an empty-netter).
“That was probably the worst game of my pro career,” Lack said. “It gave me more motivation during the summer when I was working out. Obviously, it’s something I want one more shot at.”
2. Canucks rookie Bo Horvat was glued to his TV during the World Junior final against Russia on Monday night.
Horvat would have been a core player on Canada’s gold-medal-winning team, but the Canucks felt he was too valuable to them to be able to loan him to Team Canada.
“That was probably one of the best hockey games I’ve watched in a long time,” said Horvat. “I was so nervous. I wanted them to win so bad. The excitement and the comeback by the Russians. I was getting worried but I knew the guys would be OK. They did a great job.”
3. The Islanders activated Michael Grabner, the former Canucks winger who’s hardly played this season due to hernia surgery.
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.
To activate Grabner, they put Lubomir Visnovsky (upper body) on IR. With first-line winger Josh Bailey out, Grabner will start on the top line with John Tavares and Kyle Okposo. Jaro Halak will start for New York.
4. John Tavares, the Islanders captain and resident superstar, expects his team to rebound after an embarrassing 5–2 loss in Edmonton on Sunday.
“Any time you have a loss it’s disappointing, and it’s not our expectation,” he said. “It wasn’t our best game and we know we have to be better. I think we’re excited after a day off and looking forward to getting back at it.”
The Isles are for real this season, so this won’t be an easy game by any stretch for the Canucks.
Tavares, by the way, called Rogers Arena one of his favourite places to play in the NHL. He had a five-point game here as a 19-year-old.
5. The Canucks had an optional morning skate, but their lineup is expected to look like this:
D.Sedin-H.Sedin-Burrows
Higgins-Bonino-Vrbata
Matthias-Richardson-Kassian
Dorsett-Horvat-Hansen
Edler-Tanev
Stanton-Bieksa
Sbisa-Weber
Lack
Miller
