The Nuck Stops Here is a Vancouver Canucks news and analysis column that runs every Sunday throughout the season.

NEWS

Canucks forward Daniel Sedin (Icon SMI)

Daniel Sedin Named NHL’s 2nd Star of the Week

The following is a press release from the Vancouver Canucks organization:

Vancouver, BC –Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin has been named the NHL’s second star for the week ending November 22.

Sedin led the NHL with five goals and ranked second with seven points (5-2-7) in four games. He scored in each of the team’s first two games: a 4-3 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 16 and a 4-1 defeat against the Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 18. Sedin then registered four points (3-1-4) including his 900th NHL point, sixth career hat trick and 74th career game-winning goal, in a 6-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 21. In registering his 900th career point, Sedin (337-567-904) became the second player in Canucks history to reach the 900-point milestone, following his brother Henrik (218-718—936). He finished the week with one assist in a 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 22.

The 35-year-old Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, native currently ranks in the top 10 in the League and leads the team in both goals (10) and points (23); he also ranks second on the club in assists (13). Sedin has registered 14 points (7-7-14) in the last 10 games and currently sits on a five-game consecutive point streak, collecting eight points (5-3-8) during that span.

Martin Jones of the San Jose Sharks and Kevin Shattenkirk of the St. Louis Blues were also named the NHL’s first and third stars, respectively.

(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

Canucks recall Pedan, Reassign Fedun

The following is a press release from the Vancouver Canucks organization:

Vancouver, BC – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that the club has recalled defenceman Andrey Pedan from the AHL Utica Comets and reassigned defenceman Taylor Fedun to Utica.

Pedan, 22, has appeared in 15 games with Utica this season, where he currently sits tied for first among Comets defencemen in scoring with seven points (1-6-7) and leads the club with 28 penalty minutes. During the 2014.15 season, Pedan appeared in 42 games with the Comets registering 14 points (3-11-14) and 70 penalty minutes. Prior to being acquired by Vancouver on November 25, 2014, Pedan played six games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, recording three assists and 51 penalty minutes.

The Moscow, Russia native played three seasons with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League before making his professional debut in 2012.13 with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The 6’5”, 217-pound defenceman was originally selected by the New York Islanders 63rd overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Fedun, 27, has appeared in 14 games with Utica this season, collecting six points (2-4-6) and eight penalty minutes. He also leads the Comets in plus-minus with a +6 rating. Fedun split the 2014.15 season between San Jose and the Worcester Sharks. He collected four points (0-4-4) in seven games with San Jose and 34 points (6-28-34) in 65 games with Worcester, where he was tied for fourth in team scoring. He also appeared in four playoff games for Worcester, notching one goal.

The Edmonton, Alberta native has appeared in 11 career NHL games with San Jose and the Edmonton Oilers, posting six points (2-4-6) and four penalty minutes.

Scores of the Week

Vancouver Canucks – 2 : New Jersey Devils – 3

Minnesota Wild – 2 : Vancouver Canucks – 3

Dallas Stars – 3 : Vancouver Canucks – 2 (SO)

Current Record: 9-8-7 (25 Points ~ 4th in Pacific Division, 9th in Western Conference, 18th in NHL)

ANALYSIS

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller (Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports)

Ryan Miller Back on a Hot Streak?

After starting the season white hot, with a 1.21 GAA and a .955 SV% through his first four contests, Ryan Miller very much came back to earth. With a GAA and SV% of 2.93 and .898 respectively over his next 14 games, Miller’s play was far from excellent, and was contributing more to the problem than the solution. However, the 35-year-old’s past two starts may be a sign of good things to come. Wednesday night against the Minnesota Wild, Miller put up a .939 SV%, stopping 31 of 33 shots, and followed that up with a .920, 23-of-25 performance against the Dallas Stars, which also saw him make a couple highlight reel stops in overtime. The Canucks need to start putting up wins, and Miller getting back onto a hot streak is the first step towards consistent victories.

Penalty Kill Faltering

Over the past handful of seasons, even the John Tortorella year, the penalty kill has been an enormous part of any Vancouver Canucks success, but through 24 games, it hasn’t been quite up to par. Ranking 23rd with 77.6% efficiency, the PK has been a massive disappointment thus far. Early on, the Canucks were a top team down a man, and it’s no coincidence that it was then that they saw success. With goals as hard as they are to come by in the NHL, the Canucks can’t afford to be going around handing out power play markers to other teams, especially with their own PP being as up-and-down as it is (don’t let the 11th place ranking fool you, it’s a relatively hot-and-cold group on the man advantage). It should be a priority for the club to get their penalty killing in order, and if they can’t, they may need to make some personnel changes (though admittedly, a Brandon Sutter return would undoubtedly help).

Jannik Hansen: "Our penalty kill is in rough shape now. We need to straighten it out or points are going to be hard to come by." #Canucks

— Ben Kuzma (@benkuzma) November 28, 2015

AROUND THE BLOG-O-SPHERE

Fun links about the Vancouver Canucks from all around the internet

Brad Ziemer on the versatility of Jannik Hansen [National Post]

A quarter mark report on the Canucks [Sportsnet]

Another quarter report, this one courtesy of Craig Button [TSN]

Canucks are benefiting from CHL prospects [Hockey’s Future]

Bo Horvat is on the second line hot seat [Calgary Herald]

The Canucks are succeeding in managing their losses, with yet another going in the OTL column on Friday [The Province]