VANCOUVER — Bo Horvat readily admits things haven't gone his way through the first quarter of the season.
Tasked with an increased role in his second year with the Vancouver Canucks, the young centre has just two goals and six assists to go along with a minus-10 rating in 22 games.
Despite the early difficulties, Horvat feels like things are beginning to turn.
"My game's starting to evolve," the 20-year-old said recently. "I'm hoping, cross my fingers, but for now I've just got to stick with the process."
Horvat entered his rookie campaign with next to no expectations and steadily improved throughout the year, finishing with 13 goals and 12 assists in 68 games, and was one of the Canucks' best players in the club's first-round playoff loss to the Calgary Flames.
The ninth overall pick in 2013 came to training camp this September stronger and faster, hoping to play further up the lineup in a more prominent offensive role while also adding special teams' duties to his portfolio.
But things haven't gone according to plan for either Horvat or the Canucks, who have struggled out of the gate with an 8-8-6 record, including a recent road trip that saw Vancouver go a dismal 1-4-2.
"For (Horvat) I think it's just the outside expectations," said captain Henrik Sedin. "Last year (eight) points after 16, 18 games was really good. Now all of a sudden he's a year older and everyone thinks he's going to put up a point a game."
While he's far from the only culprit, a penalty kill that finished No. 2 in the NHL last season ranked just 18th heading into Monday and has allowed at least one goal against in nine of the last 10 outings.
"We have high expectations for Bo," said Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins. "I can't say I'm disappointed with his play. He's battled all the time. He hasn't got the results he wants, but he's got a great attitude and he'll get his game back the way he wants it."
Horvat has moved into the No. 2 centre spot with Brandon Sutter out injured, and had one of his better recent performance in Vancouver's 6-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday that saw him go head-to-head with Patrick Kane's line the majority of the night.
"He's a really smart young man and he's getting it," said Sedin. "Deep inside I think he tries to do a little bit too much. That usually costs you in this league, but he's going to be OK."
Horvat had another decent outing in Vancouver's 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Sunday and is hoping to carry those positive vibes forward when the Canucks open a tough four-game road trip in Minnesota on Wednesday before travelling to Dallas, Anaheim and Los Angeles.
"I don't think it's a sophomore jinx or whatever you call it," Horvat said. "It's just me getting back to the little things I know how to do and eventually things are going to start happening."
