Vancouver's problem has been scoring, not chaos. The Canucks have scored 2 goals in each of their 3 losses since beating Anaheim, and Toronto beat them 4-2 at home with a lineup missing several regulars. The players say the defensive structure is better than it was early, when they were losing by 4 and 5. That's a reasonable read of the recent scores. It just hasn't turned into wins, and 3-12-1 is the worst record in the league.
Leevi Merilainen made 24 saves against Toronto and has been carrying the load with Thatcher Demko out. Henrik Sedin has said he hopes Demko is back before Christmas, and it's November 2. Brock Boeser scored on the power play and Max Sasson added the other goal against the Leafs, but Vancouver lost Filip Chytil to IR on October 30. That's another center gone from a lineup already missing Akil Thomas, and the forward group is thin.
Anaheim's injury list may be about to get shorter. Troy Terry and Ian Moore are both back at practice, and Pavel Mintyukov came off IR before the Ottawa game. Terry isn't expected back right away, but he's close, and getting him back would help a top 6 that has relied on Gauthier. Ryan Poehling is still weeks away. Puck drop is 6:00 PM PT. Vancouver will be coming off a few days' rest, and Anaheim has a short flight up the coast after Sunday's comeback. If the first meeting is any guide, neither goalie is likely to steal it.
