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 |
![]() BO HORVAT |
![]() LOUI ERIKSSON |
|
![]() SVEN BAERTSCHI |
![]() ADAM GAUDETTE |
![]() JAKE VIRTANEN |
|
![]() ANTOINE ROUSSEL |
![]() BRANDON SUTTER |
![]() TYLER MOTTE |
|
![]() TIM SCHALLER |
![]() MARKUS GRANLUND |
![]() NIKOLAY GOLDOBIN |
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
---|---|---|
![]() ALEXANDER EDLER |
![]() CHRIS TANEV |
|
![]() MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO |
![]() ERIK GUDBRANSON |
|
![]() BEN HUTTON |
![]() DERRICK POULIOT |
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 |
![]() WILLIAM KARLSSON |
![]() REILLY SMITH |
|
![]() MAX PACIORETTY |
![]() ERIK HAULA |
![]() ALEX TUCH |
|
![]() TOMAS NOSEK |
![]() CODY EAKIN |
![]() RYAN CARPENTER |
|
![]() WILL CARRIER |
![]() PIERRE-ÉDOUARD BELLEMARE |
![]() RYAN REAVES |
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
---|---|---|
![]() SHEA THEODORE |
![]() NICK HOLDEN |
|
![]() BRAYDEN MCNABB |
![]() COLIN MILLER |
|
![]() JON MERRILL |
![]() BRAD HUNT |
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.
Yeah, a win would go a long way to boost morale.
Canucks current roster, without Pettersson, possibly Boeser, and Beagle, dictates a closer checking game. I was going to write something about Canucks getting outshot, at times badly, but for now just keep it close.
Also, welcome back Archie, known as the “Mayor of Utica”. That’s a great nickname. Compare that to Alien or Shotgun.
Whats the over/under on how long Leipsic and Eriksson last with Bo? I say they’ll be off that line before the first period is over. Also, MDZ paired with Guddy? Uhhhh……
Yeah, that pairing is going to be a real adventure. I feel sorry for the whoever draws in in goal.
Boy, with Boeser and Pettersson both out, that is a rough looking forward group.
MDZ in for Stecher ? Why does Gubrandon always get a pass? Besides the occasional time he gets a pass through he seems consistently confused at the best of times.
Practice lines often do not equal game lines. Lets save the freakouts until we see the actual lineup.
There’s *no reason* to take Stetcher out – he’s definitely been one of the Canucks’ better defensemen. He may be slightly hurt, or he may just have gotten a day off from the coaching staff.
It would seem VGK have no rookies in the line up tonight, unusual for a second year team. But this is not your usual expansion team who are in a Must Win Now mode to keep their new fan base. For $500M they were allowed access to William Karlsson, Marseshault and Fleury. For $6m in l970 the Canucks were allowed access to Ed Hatoum, Danny Seguin and Jim Wiste. And acquiring Pacioretty and Stastny further suggests this win-now-or-soon scenario. They naturally have limited amounts of prospects presently and because of this they are presently very tough to play against. TheCanucks have had a very tough Oct schedule and this does not make it any easier. But they can still win.
To me the Pacioretty trade made zero sense. They could have re-signed the UFA Neal for less money, and kept Suzuki, who along with Glass is their best prospect. Pacioretty has 1 goal in 8 games and is -4, making 7 mil a year for 4 more years. Neals stats are similar, but he is making a million less per year, and I’d take his game over Max’s anyday.
They also would have still had Tatar as a trade chip, and a 2nd round pick. Bizarre trade indeed.
I like the “death glare”. Well said and a great response from him. Can’t wait to see it on the ice!
I see the Canucks annual injury parade bell was rung (for like the 5th year in a row?!?!?). Edler and Baertschi gone tonight. Will this signal the start of #loseforhughes and #teamtank supporters?
So Bo Horvat is basically single-handedly willing this team to be not-terrible.
There is no ‘I’ in TEAM,Goon.
After watching the shootout win over the Knights the injury list will need an upgrade. Wow!!
No recap by CA? Settle in…
Scrappy and Bo is the Capt! You are welcome CA