Stamkos, Predators break out against Canucks amid slow start to season – Hockey

On By Littum

VANCOUVER — When the Nashville Predators signed free agents Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei on July 1, many observers declared them the clear winners of the NHL offseason.

But results – and goals – have been difficult to achieve. The Predators were tied for last in the NHL standings before facing the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday at Rogers Arena. They then scored five away goals for the first time all year to claim a 5-3 victory.

“We’re growing, we’re building,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “It’s just been a slow, slow grind for us right now.”

The win was fueled by a pair of power-play goals from Stamkos, who moved past Mike Gartner and Jaromir Jagr for 11th all-time with 219 career tackles on the man advantage.

“Just hearing those names, obviously as a hockey fan in general it’s pretty cool to walk past some Hall of Fame quality players,” Stamkos said. “Obviously I’ve been in the league for a long time, so I’ve definitely had my fair share of power play goals and played with some pretty great players along the way that have given me those opportunities.”

Stamkos’ first of the night tied the Predators at 2-2 in the second period after Elias Pettersson had put Vancouver ahead with a power play goal of his own.

After accepting a pass from Roman Josi at the left face-off dot, Stamkos drove high up in the zone before snapping a wrister past Kevin Lankinen.

Josi put the Predators ahead just over two minutes later, and Stamkos connected for his second of the night with 22 seconds left in the second — sliding down low to convert a cross-ice pass from Marchessault.

“Overall, I liked our five-on-five (game),” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said. “Obviously, the PK wasn’t good. That kind of was the difference in the game.”

Strong on the road this season with a 6-1 road record, the Canucks continue to struggle to find consistency on home ice. They are yet to win back-to-back games and have now given up five goals or more in five of their 10 home games.

“There are parts of our game that we want to get better at and we have to change habits,” Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers said. “Whether it’s stopping and starting, supporting each other, talking, communicating better on the ice to help each other in different situations.

“But that’s part of the year. You’ve got to keep building. You can’t dwell on something bad that happens. You’ve just got to keep working together, come in tomorrow or the next day and find out of how you can improve.”

Vancouver top line center JT Miller played a Canuck career low 11:41 on Sunday. But when asked if Miller saw limited action because of concerns about an injury problem that has lingered since the preseason, Tocchet said succinctly, “No.”

After being part of the penalty kill for Stamkos’ 4-2 goal, Miller saw just two changes in the third period.

“He wasn’t one of the guys I thought could get us back in the game,” Tocchet said.

With a 2-3 record on their current home court, the 9-5-3 Canucks will host the New York Rangers on Tuesday before embarking on a six-game road trip. 6-10-3, the Predators finish their current road trip in Seattle on Wednesday.

LOOKING DOUBLE

The Canucks on Sunday called up 20-year-old defenseman Elias Pettersson – not to be confused with the team’s star center – from the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks. The 2022 third-round pick warmed up but didn’t make his NHL debut.

PLAYING FOR A CURE

The Canucks held their annual Hockey Fights Cancer night on Sunday. Special guests included twins Weston and Bennett Openshaw, who were diagnosed with leukemia aged two but completed their final round of chemotherapy last month. They participated in the ceremonial faceoff while wearing the jerseys of Canucks winger Dakota Joshua, who returned to action this week after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer. Longtime Canucks broadcaster Joey Kenward was also on hand to share his story. After being diagnosed with leukemia last year, he is now in remission following a stem cell transplant.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on November 17, 2024.