Game Notes: Canucks at Flames

MATCH-UP INFO

LAST MEETING - FEB 8/20: VAN 2 vs CGY 6

Tanner Pearson opened the scoring 34 seconds into the first period...Adam Gaudette scored unassisted to tie the game 2-2 at 18:13 of the first period...Quinn Hughes logged a team-high 23:46 in TOI...Bo Horvat led all Vancouver skaters in shots (5) and faceoff wins (9)

LAST GAME PLAYED - JAN. 14/21: VAN 2 at EDM 5

Nate Schmidt scored his first goal as a Canuck at 3:24 of the second period...Tyler Motte notched his first goal of the season at 10:21 of the second period...Travis Hamonic recorded his second point in as many games with an assist on Motte's second period goal...Quinn Hughes also recorded an assist on the play, his third in two games...Bo Horvat led all Canucks skaters in shots (6), and faceoffs won (16)...Thatcher Demko faced 46 shots.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

FAMILIAR FOES

Vancouver will line up against three former Canucks when they take on the Flames tonight as Jacob Markstrom (G), Chris Tanev (D), and Josh Leivo all signed with Calgary this past offseason...Jacob Markstrom posted a 99-93-27 record in 229 games with the Canucks and currently ranks firth among Vancouver netminders for all-time wins...Chris Tanev played 514 games in a Canucks uniform, recording 118 points (22-96-118) and 121 penalty minutes...Josh Leivo laced up for 85 games played with Vancouver, registering 37 points (17-20-37) and 29 penalty minutes.

START THEM YOUNG

Nils Höglander became the 20th player in Canucks history to score in his NHL debut, Jan. 13/21 at Edmonton. At 20 years, 24 days, Höglander is also the fifth-youngest Canucks player to score in his NHL debut, behind Rick Lanz (19 years, 24 days), Dan Woodley (19 years, 283 days), Elias Pettersson (19 years, 325 days), and Bryan McSheffrey (20 years, 16 days), per NHL Stats.

OPENING THE FLOODGATES

Brock Boeser is the 12th player in Canucks history to score 2+ goals in a season opener. Boeser's two-goal performance in Vancouver's season opener on Jan. 13/21 at Edmonton was his 12th career multi-goal game, tying him with Don Lever and Patrik Sundstrom for most career multi-goal games in Canucks history before the age of 24. Only Pavel Bure (38), Tony Tanti (27), and Trevor Linden (21) lead Boeser in that department.

HERE TO ASSIST

With two assists in Vancouver's season opener at Edmonton on Jan. 13, Quinn Hughes reached 50 assists in his first 74 career regular season games, tying Chris Chelios for 5th fewest games played by an NHL defenceman to reach that mark. Hughes trails only Larry Murphy (62 games), Mark Howe (65 games), Stefan Persson (66 games), and Brian Leetch (69 games) on the list of fastest defenceman to record 50 assists.

NEW FACES IN 2020.21

Heading into the 2020.21 season, a total of four players have or will make their debut in a Canucks uniform.
- Braden Holtby signed with Vancouver as a free agent on October 9. Last season, Holtby posted a 25-14-6 record with the Capitals. In 48 games played, he posted a 3.11 GAA and .897 SV%. Holtby owns a career 282-122-46 record in 468 games played, compiling a 2.53 GAA and .916 SV%. He also led the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup Championship in 2017.18. - Nate Schmidtwas acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in October for a 2022 third round pick. He recorded 31 points (7-24-31) in 59 games for the Golden Knights in 2019.20. Schmidt ranked second among Vegas blueliners in goals (7), assists (24), points (31), and power play points (7). - Travis Hamonic signed with Vancouver as a free agent on January 12. Hamonic played in 50 games last season for the Calgary Flames, recording 12 points (3-9-12) and ranking second in average ice time with 21:12 minutes per game. Prior to joining the Canucks, Hamonic had played in 637 NHL games, collecting 188 points (37-151-188) and 591 penalty minutes. - Jayce Hawryluk compiled 10 points (3-7-10) in 26 games split between Ottawa and Florida in 2019.20. He recorded a four-game point streak (1-3-4) from Feb. 29 to Mar. 7. Hawryluk joined the Canucks as a free agent on October 19.