Don鈥檛 look now but the injury-riddled Vancouver Canucks find themselves perched atop the Pacific Division after the first month of the NHL season (the first time that鈥檚 happened since 2006). A look back at a surprisingly strong October:
By the numbers
Record: 8-6-0 (4-2-0 home, 4-4-0 away) 16 points (1st, Pacific Division; ); GF: 40 (9th overall); GA: 44 (27th overall); PP: 17.0% (20th overall); PK: 83.3% (9th overall).
Leading scorers: (8 GP, 7-3-10), (14 GP, 7-3-10), (14 GP, 5-2-7), (12 GP, 2-5-7). Goalies: (8 GP, 5-3-0, 2.96 GAA, .911 save percentage), (6 GP, 3-3-0, 2.67 GAA, .912 save percentage).
Fun number: is averaging two points per game (scoring two points in his first match on Halloween night against Chicago after being called up from the AHL).
Player of the month
It鈥檚 Pettersson in a runaway. The rookie sensation, , has taken the league by storm, producing at a 100-point pace and drawing comparisons to and even Wayne Gretzky. Pettersson was named the NHL鈥檚 rookie of the month for October. If he鈥檚 not already the face of franchise, it鈥檚 not far off. Honourable mention: Horvat.
Elias Pettersson (), who led all rookies with seven goals and 10 points in eight games (7-3鈥�10), has been named the NHL鈥檚 鈥淩ookie of the Month鈥� for October.
鈥� NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL)
Biggest surprise: With a stick tap to the late-month, minute-munching efforts of defenceman , the nod goes to Virtanen, who rounded out the month in style on Halloween with the first two-goal game of his career. His goal-scoring exploits have also spawned the humorous 鈥樷�� phenomenon.
Biggest disappointment: While a reported nagging groin injury has contributed to the slow start (two goals) for sniper Boeser, veteran , he of the six-year, $36M contract, has yet to score in 14 games this season.
Best win: Horvat netted the OT winner in a 2-1 victory on Oct. 20 over the hated Boston Bruins.
Worst loss: On Oct. 27, the Canucks were pounded 5-0 by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Best fight: A helmet knock to on Oct. 3, but the surprise factor of Horvat dropping the mitts with Boston鈥檚 Noel Acciari allows that spirited bout to take top spot.
Injury update: The Canucks have been beset by injuries. Currently on injured reserve: promising goalie prospect (concussion), veteran centre (fractured forearm), the team鈥檚 top defence pair of (lower-body injury) and (hip), goalie Nilsson (broken finger), centre (upper-body injury) and winger (upper-body injury).
On the farm: Vancouver鈥檚 AHL club, the , finished October with a 4-6-0 record, good for sixth in the league鈥檚 North Division. Darren Archibald, Adam Gaudette, Guillaume Brisebois, Alex Biega, Gaunce, Richard Bachman and Jalen Chatfield have all been summoned at some point by the big club due to the rash of injuries. Reid Boucher (8 GP, 9-3-12) leads the Comets in scoring, while defence prospect Olli Juolevi (10 GP, 1-5-6) is off to a solid start offensively.
Coming this month: The Canucks play , with home games against Colorado (Nov. 2) and Montreal (Nov. 17), sandwiched around a six-game road trip that will see them play in Detroit, Boston, Buffalo, New York (Rangers and Islanders) and Minnesota, all within the space of 10 days. Then it鈥檚 back home for a Nov. 19 game with Winnipeg, three California games in four nights against Anaheim, San Jose and L.A., before wrapping up the month at home with games on Nov. 27 against L.A. and Nov. 29 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Extended Canucks coverage
Vancouver Island Free Daily editor Philip Wolf can be reached via email at philip.wolf@blackpress.ca or on Twitter
