GATCOMB ON PLAYING IN VANCOUVER
It’s not quite a homecoming, but Monday’s game might have a little extra meaning for Marc Gatcomb. The Islanders forward spent two years in the Canucks organization playing in Abbotsford, but did not play an NHL game with Vancouver. Monday would mark his first game in Rogers Arena as an NHLer.
“You know, the city here is awesome. It’s very pretty, driving in the rink, see the mountains, stuff like that,” Gatcomb said. “I still have a bunch of close friends on the other team that I stay in touch with pretty frequently. So catch up with them tonight, grab dinner, but yeah, it’s good to be back.”
SEASON SERIES
The Islanders trail the season series 0-1-0 after falling 4-1 to the Canucks on Dec. 19 at UBS Arena.
The Islanders are 6-0-3 in their last nine trips to beautiful British Columbia with their last regulation loss coming on Jan. 6, 2015.
CANUCKS NOTES
– Kevin Lankinen will start in goal for the Canucks. Lankinen is 6-13-4 this season with a 3.37 GAA and an .887 SV%.
– Kiefer Sherwood was dealt by the Canucks to the San Jose Sharks on Monday morning for a pair of second-round picks and defenseman Cole Clayton who will report to AHL Abbotsford.
– The Canucks are currently mired in a 10-game winless stretch (0-8-2) with their last win coming on Dec. 29. Vancouver has lost seven straight games in regulation – including a 6-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night. It is the Canucks first 10-game losing streak since 1998 and has them last in the NHL with 37 points.
– During their 10-game slide, the Canucks have scored 17 goals over that span (1.70 per game) and have allowed 45 (4.50 per game), both league worsts. Vancouver’s penalty kill is 13-for-23 (56.5%) over that span.
– The Canucks hold the NHL’s worst home record at 4-13-3.
– Elias Pettersson leads the Canucks with 29 points (13G, 16A) in 40 games. Defenseman Filip Hronek leads the team with 24 assists.
– Goaltender Thatcher Demko will not play on Monday night, as he is currently on injured reserve. Demko has been out since Jan. 10. Demko is 8-10-1 this season with a 2.90 GAA, an .897 SV% and one shutout.
– Marco Rossi, who was part of the trade package for defenseman Quinn Hughes, is also on IR with a lower-body injury. Rossi had two points (1G, 1A) in eight games with Vancouver prior to his injury.
