THE INTRO
Good news! There’s no pregame ceremony starting at 7:45 tonight so this one will end at a reasonable hour. Tonight, the Canucks travel to San Jose to take on the surging Sharks. San Jose is coming off a tight game against the Capitals and will look to take over the top spot in the West with a win.
The Canucks have been spinning their tires lately but a win against the Kings in a shootout on Thursday kept them in a fight for the final playoff spot. Vancouver hasn’t fared well against the Sharks and tonight most likely won’t be that different from before. A memorable night from Elias Pettersson will be the first thing the Canucks need to stay close as well as Jacob Markstrom standing on his head… possibly literally.
Let’s Do This!™
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
CBC / SN 650 / 7:00 PM
LINEUPS
Luke Schenn was called up and may get a shot to play his first game as a Canuck. Nikolay Goldobin should stay in and really there aren’t many other decisions to make. It’s the Markus Granlund edition today so maybe he gets something done?
Jacob Markstrom will once again start. Poor guy.
Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
LW | C | RW | Forwards |
---|---|---|---|
![]() JOSH LEIVO |
![]() ELIAS PETTERSSON |
![]() BROCK BOESER |
|
![]() ANTOINE ROUSSEL |
![]() BO HORVAT |
![]() NIKOLAY GOLDOBIN |
|
![]() MARKUS GRANLUND |
![]() ADAM GAUDETTE |
![]() ZACK MACEWEN |
|
![]() LOUI ERIKSSON |
![]() JAY BEAGLE |
![]() TYLER MOTTE |
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
---|---|---|
![]() BEN HUTTON |
![]() TROY STECHER |
|
![]() GUILLAUME BRISEBOIS |
![]() ERIK GUDBRANSON |
|
![]() DERRICK POULIOT |
![]() ALEX BIEGA |
Erik Karlsson and Dylan Gambrell are still out due to illness. No other lineup notes for San Jose.
Martin Jones got the nod last time but after losing to the Capitals might Aaron Dell get a shot to continue his dominance against Vancouver?
Sharks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
LW | C | RW | Forwards |
---|---|---|---|
![]() TIMO MEIER |
![]() LOGAN COUTURE |
![]() JOE PAVELSKI |
|
![]() EVANDER KANE |
![]() TOMAS HERTL |
![]() JOONAS DONSKOI |
|
![]() MARCUS SORENSEN |
![]() JOE THORNTON |
![]() KEVIN LABANC |
|
![]() LUKAS RADIL |
![]() BARCLAY GOODROW |
![]() MELKER KARLSSON |
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
---|---|---|
![]() RADIM SIMEK |
![]() BRENT BURNS |
|
![]() MARC-EDOUARD VLASIC |
![]() TIM HEED |
|
![]() BRENDEN DILLON |
![]() JUSTIN BRAUN |
YOUR INFORMATIONAL NEEDS FOR TONIGHT’S GAME
- Elias Pettersson is getting his space again and it was evident against the Kings when he wired a wrister top shelf. He hasn’t been burning the net lately but he’s getting his chances and when Pettersson gets open, he’s been automatic. A big game against San Jose would be welcome. He has 2G / 4A in his last five games.
- Markus Granlund has two goals in his last 10 games. Nothing to write home about. He’s one point away from his second-best season since entering the NHL. His P/60 at 5v5 is just under a point with a 0.99 completion rate. There is good and there is bad with Granlund. He is holding a roster spot hostage now that the youth movement has taken over. Time’s ticking.
- It’s no secret that scoring goals in the dirty areas are the difference between the teams in the playoffs and the ones that aren’t. You’re willing to fight for the tough ones, eventually, you get rewarded. The Canucks are still struggling in that area with 454 HDCF events. The Kings have 424 and sit dead last in that category. As of now, both of these teams are not in the playoff picture. Bo Horvat is doing all the work there but he’ll need help if this team is going to continue on in April.
- Adam Gaudette needs to stay with the Canucks going forward. His value has already been seen and with the Brandon Sutter injury creating an opportunity for Gaudette, it could be the end of the line for Sutter. He moves the needle and is quickly becoming a player the Canucks can rely upon.
- Loui Eriksson on the PK is something that boggles the mind. He’s invisible in almost every other aspect of the game and yet on the PK, he thrives. Tyler Motte has been a beneficiary of this but the Canucks can’t hold out hope that their PK will lead them to victory. Hopefully, Eriksson has one more trick up his sleeve.
MY 94 CENTS
I believe the Canucks are a playoff team. Not a great one, not one that will make any noise but they have a funny way of doing the unthinkable (see Erik Gudbranson extension). Making the playoffs means that they’ll have to start stringing together a few wins in the near future and a win against the Sharks would be hyuge!
Jacob Markstrom has given the Canucks a chance and has solidified himself as the #1 guy. Bo Horvat needs to get back to being over-worked Bo. That’s the guy that is going to carry this team.
Vancouver wins in regulation. Not sure how.
THE TWITTER TAKE
BREAKING: the NHL has renamed the draft lottery to the NHL Draft Lottery Featuring the Edmonton Oilers.
— Chris Conte (@ChrisConte79) February 16, 2019
This was only a matter of time.
Gagner for Spooner. I wonder if this means Sutter is going to be traded.
Benning is smart and the fans don’t understand the great foundational value Sutter brings. Sutter’s been “very, very good” this season.
All the previous behaviours of management mean Benning likely will keep Spooner and Sutter next season to address the depth issues for the anticipated long Stanley Cup run.
freud – and somebody goes to seattle in the draft? who do you think?