TORONTO - It is not entirely a coincidence that the years-long surge in Vancouver Canuck penalty killing began about the time Chris Higgins arrived in 2011. Just like it’s probably not a complete coincidence now that the short-handed unit is struggling largely without him.
The lively winger has been back for five games after missing the first month of the National Hockey League season with a broken foot. And although Higgins is regaining ice time on merit, the 32-year-old has had just 2:42 of penalty-kill time in his five games — five games in which the Canucks have surrendered seven power-play goals on 17 disadvantages for a dismal kill rate of 58.