THE INTRO
Both the Canucks and Golden Knights have had similar starts to the season, the only difference is the Golden Knights are expected to be better than .500. The Canucks have welcomed their dads for a two-game road trip to Vegas and Arizona so we can all assume Elias Pettersson’s dad is going to be the life of the party. OK, maybe some of us will assume this. No one? Fair enough.
A Canucks win in Vegas would be a nice change of pace after getting dismantled by the Capitals.
Let’s Do This!™
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SN 360 / SN 650 / 7:00 PM
LINEUPS
Let’s try not to miss anything here: Troy Stecher was the odd man out in practice yesterday with Michael Del Zotto getting back in, Brendan Leipsic rode shotgun with Bo Horvat and surprisingly Loui Eriksson. Brock Boeser is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, Elias Pettersson is still in concussion protocol and somehow Nikolay Goldobin was demoted to the fourth line, makes sense.
Darren Archibald was recalled from Utica to make way for a potential Boeser sub.
Jacob Markstrom may get tonight’s game with Anders Nilsson seeing the net tomorrow in Arizona. What do I know, they always mess with us on these ones.
Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 BRENDAN LEIPSIC Rating: 72.2#78 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 75.4#47 C |  LOUI ERIKSSON Rating: 71.6#90 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 73.08#31 FL1 |
 SVEN BAERTSCHI Rating: 74.0#41 LW |  ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 73.2#89 C |  JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 70.3#95 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 72.51#24 FL2 |
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL Rating: 70.7#101 LW |  BRANDON SUTTER Rating: 72.0#120 C |  TYLER MOTTE Rating: 67.9#116 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 70.24#29 FL3 |
 TIM SCHALLER Rating: 70.0#118 LW |  MARKUS GRANLUND Rating: 70.9#149 C |  NIKOLAY GOLDOBIN Rating: 70.4#94 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.40#18 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 ALEXANDER EDLER Rating: 74.0#34 LD |  CHRIS TANEV Rating: 71.2#73 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 72.61#27 DL1 |
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO Rating: 71.8#76 LD |  ERIK GUDBRANSON Rating: 68.7#95 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 70.27#31 DL2 |
 BEN HUTTON Rating: 70.1#112 LD |  DERRICK POULIOT Rating: 71.1#96 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 70.61#25 DL3 |
Alex Tuch could make his season debut tonight after missing his team’s first eight games with a lower-body injury. He recently signed a fancy seven-year extension and he wants to show off for his club. Paul Statsny is also out with an LBI until roughly December.
Marc-Andre Fleury should get the start tonight.
Golden Knights lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT Rating: 82.9#6 LW |  WILLIAM KARLSSON Rating: 82.4#9 C |  REILLY SMITH Rating: 78.2#16 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 81.17#4 FL1 |
 MAX PACIORETTY Rating: 75.6#30 LW |  ERIK HAULA Rating: 74.5#58 C |  ALEX TUCH Rating: 73.8#47 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 74.64#18 FL2 |
 TOMAS NOSEK Rating: 70.3#162 LW |  CODY EAKIN Rating: 71.2#142 C |  RYAN CARPENTER Rating: 71.1#89 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 70.89#24 FL3 |
 WILL CARRIER Rating: 69.9#120 LW |  PIERRE-ÉDOUARD BELLEMARE Rating: 70.0#167 C |  RYAN REAVES Rating: 69.5#102 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 69.81#24 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 SHEA THEODORE Rating: 76.8#15 LD |  NICK HOLDEN Rating: 72.7#56 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.76#17 DL1 |
 BRAYDEN MCNABB Rating: 72.8#54 LD |  COLIN MILLER Rating: 76.2#23 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 74.51#12 DL2 |
 JON MERRILL Rating: 70.4#108 LD |  BRAD HUNT Rating: 73.6#41 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.03#11 DL3 |
INFORMATION YOU NEED AND SOME YOU DON’T
- Although there is only a brief history with the Golden Knights, Brandon Sutter leads all Canucks with three points against Vegas. Daniel Sedin is technically tied with him but, you know, he’s retired. The way Sutter has been playing lately, he won’t be an unlikely hero in this one. Imagine if Sutter and Eriksson stood out, just imagine.
- Travis Green must want a physical matchup tonight as Michael Del Zotto seems to be playing. The Canucks top-four hit producers against VGK last season were Jake Virtanen (10), Troy Stecher (10), Alex Edler (10), and Brandon Sutter (10). Del Zotto, Alex Biega, and Darren Archibald round out the next closest. Will speed win out? Not if hits radio dominates the evening.
- Brendan Leipsic will slot back in against his old team and considering he has been off for a bit, he’ll want to prove to Green he can hang around a bit longer. Leipsic has one goal this season but it was the game-winner against Calgary in the opener. Everyone needs a boost and guys like Leipsic just need to play the game that got them there. Don’t do too much. Too much can stand out in the wrong way.
- Breaking down the shot game reveals a few things: Vegas has the puck more and doesn’t give up many shots and the Canucks… well, the opposite. The Golden Knights are third in CF% in the league with 58.99 percent while the Canucks are the third-worst team with 42.48 percent. Don’t expect Vancouver to be dominating the shot game tonight, it’s not their thing.
- Vancouver needs Pettersson back ASAP. Through five games, Pettersson leads the league in primary points at 5v5 and primary points per 60 minutes. That can’t last but when you are reminded this often how great his first stint was, it’s heartbreaking.
MY 94 CENTS
The hits just keep on coming for the Canucks. Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson are both expected to be out for tonight’s game, Pettersson still in concussion protocol and Boeser has a lower-body injury. Brock could be a game-time decision. I am not sure what Canucks team we’ll get tonight but at least they won’t have to face the onslaught of pain that is the Capitals.
Loui Eriksson is due for some good news, maybe he’ll be the star tonight?
THE FINAL WORD
end of #Canucks Pettersson scrum
Q: does this make you want to go back to Sweden?
A: (silence and death glare)
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) October 23, 2018
And I CAN’T get a media pass? Sheesh, who asks questions like this? Could be one of the dumbest questions we’ll hear all season.
