THE INTRO

The Canucks return home after a four-game road trip to face the Calgary Flames. Calgary is sitting atop the Western Conference with 73 points, only a few behind where most feel the Canucks will finish this season. The Flames are surging in their last 10 with a 7-2-1 record. Vancouver isn’t quite the equal match going 4-3-3 in that same stretch.

Elias Pettersson is still getting it done as is Jacob Markstrom. Vancouver saw a few slump busters last game but they’ll need to get the whole team moving to make it interesting tonight.

Let’s Do This!™

TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP

CBC / SN 650 / 7:00 PM

LINEUPS

Still no Sven Baertschi, Alex Edler is still out as well and there probably won’t be any drastic changes to the lineup, unless Green does the unthinkable and sits Erik Gudbranson. The Canucks will win the lottery before that happens.

Jacob Markstrom is getting the Bo Horvat treatment: no rest, play every game, be the horse. He’ll start again tonight.

Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:

LW	C	RW	Forwards
MARKUS GRANLUND Rating: 72.1#78 LW	BO HORVAT Rating: 76.2#44 C	JOSH LEIVO Rating: 72.6#72 RW	FL1 Rating Rating: 73.62#31 FL1
NIKOLAY GOLDOBIN Rating: 70.5#103 LW	ELIAS PETTERSSON Rating: 79.0#26 C	BROCK BOESER Rating: 82.1#4 RW	FL2 Rating Rating: 77.18#5 FL2
ANTOINE ROUSSEL Rating: 72.7#68 LW	BRANDON SUTTER Rating: 71.5#132 C	JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 71.9#77 RW	FL3 Rating Rating: 72.06#19 FL3
LOUI ERIKSSON Rating: 71.2#99 LW	JAY BEAGLE Rating: 67.7#191 C	TYLER MOTTE Rating: 69.4#114 RW	FL4 Rating Rating: 69.44#30 FL4

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS		Defense
CHRIS TANEV Rating: 71.5#76 LD	ERIK GUDBRANSON Rating: 68.7#100 RD	DL1 Rating Rating: 70.12#31 DL1
BEN HUTTON Rating: 72.1#73 LD	TROY STECHER Rating: 73.1#45 RD	DL2 Rating Rating: 72.59#23 DL2
DERRICK POULIOT Rating: 70.2#109 LD	ALEX BIEGA Rating: 70.9#86 RD	DL3 Rating Rating: 70.54#25 DL3

Calgary has a red-hot lineup right now so unless someone gets hurt this morning, nothing will change.

David Rittich should get the start tonight.

Flames lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:

LW	C	RW	Forwards
JOHNNY GAUDREAU Rating: 82.7#4 LW	SEAN MONAHAN Rating: 80.9#16 C	ELIAS LINDHOLM Rating: 78.2#31 RW	FL1 Rating Rating: 80.58#9 FL1
MATTHEW TKACHUK Rating: 79.6#11 LW	MIKAEL BACKLUND Rating: 75.1#52 C	MICHAEL FROLIK Rating: 73.2#60 RW	FL2 Rating Rating: 75.97#11 FL2
SAM BENNETT Rating: 71.7#123 LW	MARK JANKOWSKI Rating: 71.9#122 C	JAMES NEAL Rating: 72.2#72 RW	FL3 Rating Rating: 71.93#21 FL3
ANDREW MANGIAPANE Rating: 72.2#76 LW	DEREK RYAN Rating: 73.6#77 C	GARNET HATHAWAY Rating: 71.1#89 RW	FL4 Rating Rating: 72.30#3 FL4

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS		Defense
MARK GIORDANO Rating: 80.3#5 LD	T.J. BRODIE Rating: 77.9#10 RD	DL1 Rating Rating: 79.08#3 DL1
NOAH HANIFIN Rating: 75.3#23 LD	TRAVIS HAMONIC Rating: 72.6#51 RD	DL2 Rating Rating: 73.92#15 DL2
DALTON PROUT Rating: 69.9#114 LD	RASMUS ANDERSSON Rating: 71.0#84 RD	DL3 Rating Rating: 70.44#26 DL3

YOUR INFORMATIONAL NEEDS FOR TONIGHT’S GAME

• Elias Pettersson has been held pointless only three times in the last 10 games. Even without a point, he couldn’t buy one in two of the three if he tried. Pettersson threw the kitchen sink at the net in Philadelphia but it was only a matter of time before he got back in his groove. Pettersson is two points away from 50 and he’s had success against the Flames this season so don’t count him out.
• The Vancouver power play has hit rock bottom. There isn’t anything to discuss. Break it down and build it back up. They have been given the 3rd fewest power plays at home this season while they lead the league on the road??? The Canucks have only scored 12 PPG at home and 17 on the road. It’s a mess. Instead of putting all the focus on Pettersson, get Brock Boeser and Troy Stecher as the final two options and see what happens. It can’t get any worse.
• Calgary has the 2nd highest giveaway total in the NHL with 749. Vancouver has been cognitive of turnovers and they could pounce if Calgary is willing to be risky with the puck.
• Both teams have been familiar with the penalty box this season. The Canucks have been penalized 209 times while the Flames have been sent to the box 205 times, essentially one less game as the Flames have a game in hand on the Canucks. The power play will be on full display tonight but for Vancouver, they’ll most likely just spin their wheels.
• Erik Gudbranson is not a very good NHL defenseman. This isn’t a revelation by any means but there are so many statistics that prove this, even a guy who writes game previews who has played well under 350 NHL games should be able to tell he shouldn’t be in the lineup anymore. He doesn’t contribute offensively, he’s a defensive liability (which his sole position on the ice should alarm you) and when he’s not giving up goals and not getting any points, he’s in the penalty box. Travis Green and Jim Benning need to see that this has to end.

MY 94 CENTS

The Canucks have proven they can hang around the one-goal games and a roll of the dice will usually determine the end result. Sadly, the end result has been losses. The slow starts have handcuffed Vancouver and playing from behind early on isn’t a recipe for success. Calgary is going to be a tough opponent tonight and after watching their power play move the puck the other night, the Canucks don’t have answers for what the Flames will bring.

Travis Green better have something up his sleeve because what he’s trotted out in the last month isn’t going to get two points.

THE TWITTER TAKE

Wouldn’t be Friday night without endless back and forth on #Canucks drafting history

— Matt Baker (@BakesTakes84) February 9, 2019

What’d I miss?