I know, I know, I’m not Always90Four — who is away until tomorrow celebrating a very special occasion — and these are far from regular circumstances for a game preview.

With training camp ramping up, and the Canucks having already played two scrimmages, they’re increasing the intensity and getting the players used to a gameday routine. This morning the Canucks had their players participate in a short on-ice session and will be back at the rink tonight at 7 PM for a scrimmage at Rogers Arena.

This game will not be live-streamed nor open to the public, but yours truly will be in attendance, bringing you an exhausting — but certainly necessary — post-game report, detailing as many events from the game as humanly possible.

Head coach Travis Green spoke with media this morning and explained that the thinking behind the schedule the Canucks will employ both today and Saturday with a morning skate and night time scrimmage is an attempt at trying to mimic what a game would look like for his players. “Just trying to get the players game touches,” said Green.

The intensity level at camp has picked up each day and the compete level has picked up in each of the first two scrimmages, certainly thanks in part to the conditioning punishment the losing side has to go through post scrimmage:

Vancouver’s about to be man handling teams and ripping clappys through the net (via @Canucks) pic.twitter.com/byEYkPX0gj

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) July 15, 2020

Tonight’s scrimmage will consist of two 25-minute periods and all penalties will result in a penalty shot.

Goaltender Thatcher Demko also commented on the intensity level and says he feels tonight’s scrimmage will be the most competitive one yet.

“It’s good for guys to build that mindset… each day the intensity level goes up and it’s important for everyone.”

These games will serve as a training camp for us as well, as we get into midseason form to bring you coverage of each game throughout the Canucks’ return to play in roughly two weeks’ time.