Canucks Army Game Day 15 – Canucks vs. Avalanche (Calder Watch Edition)
By Always90four
5 years agoTHE INTRO
Riding high after yet another comeback win, the Canucks welcome the Colorado Avalanche to Rogers Arena this evening to hopefully put another impressive W up on the board. The Avalanche are licking their wounds after getting blasted by the Flames in the third period last night. Holding a 4-1 lead going into the final frame, the Avs completely blew it and lost 6-5.
Knowing the Canucks, they don’t mind if the other team scores first, their record is pretty good when they play from behind. It’s not exactly a wise practice to continue, but hey, it works for now. Canucks will go for the jugular tonight.
Let’s Do This!™
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SNP / SN 650 / 7:00 PM
LINEUPS
Bo Horvat took a maintenance day on Thursday so Brendan Leipsic drew into line combinations. Troy Stecher was back on the ice after going through concussion protocol but he’s OK. Brandon Sutter is on IR much like the rest of the guys that have been routinely mentioned here in the last week. If you missed a game then here is who won’t be playing anytime soon: Alex Edler (MCL), Jay Beagle (Wrist), Brandon Sutter (Shoulder), Sven Baertschi (Concussion), Chris Tanev (Hip), and Anders Nilsson (finger).
Brendan Gaunce was thankful for his recall and scored last game. Alex Biega could still be in the lineup if Chris Tanev can’t play. Vancouver called up Jalen Chatfield but don’t expect him to play.
Jacob Markstrom should start after another monster performance against the Blackhawks and Colorado looking for a big comeback, Richard Bachman would be better utilized against Detroit next week.
Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 NIKOLAY GOLDOBIN Rating: 70.1#107 LW |  ELIAS PETTERSSON Rating: 75.4#47 C |  BROCK BOESER Rating: 80.0#8 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 75.18#26 FL1 |
 TIM SCHALLER Rating: 69.9#113 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 75.9#44 C |  MARKUS GRANLUND Rating: 71.3#91 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 72.37#26 FL2 |
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL Rating: 70.2#111 LW |  BRENDAN GAUNCE Rating: 69.5#173 C |  LOUI ERIKSSON Rating: 71.3#86 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 70.32#30 FL3 |
 TYLER MOTTE Rating: 68.4#133 LW |  ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 72.9#89 C |  JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 70.2#105 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.52#17 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 BEN HUTTON Rating: 70.5#107 LD |  ERIK GUDBRANSON Rating: 68.7#100 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 69.57#31 DL1 |
 DERRICK POULIOT Rating: 70.2#110 LD |  TROY STECHER Rating: 71.8#68 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 71.02#28 DL2 |
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO Rating: 71.3#88 LD |  ALEX BIEGA Rating: 70.3#91 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 70.80#21 DL3 |
With such an embarrassing finish to last night’s game, Colorado needs to hit the reset and just do their thing. No changes yet, but keep an eye on DFO.
Semyon Varlamov should start tonight.
Avalanche lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 GABRIEL LANDESKOG Rating: 79.5#12 LW |  NATHAN MACKINNON Rating: 88.0#2 C |  MIKKO RANTANEN Rating: 80.1#7 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 82.52#2 FL1 |
 ALEXANDER KERFOOT Rating: 73.7#50 LW |  VLADISLAV KAMENEV Rating: 72.2#109 C |  COLIN WILSON Rating: 70.6#100 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 72.19#28 FL2 |
 MATTHEW NIETO Rating: 70.3#108 LW |  CARL SODERBERG Rating: 71.7#125 C |  MATT CALVERT Rating: 70.3#107 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 70.76#27 FL3 |
 MARKO DANO Rating: 69.5#121 LW |  SHELDON DRIES Rating: 73.3#75 C |  A.J. GREER Rating: 71.8#80 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 71.55#7 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 SAMUEL GIRARD Rating: 73.5#41 LD |  ERIK JOHNSON Rating: 75.3#26 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.38#16 DL1 |
 IAN COLE Rating: 73.0#51 LD |  TYSON BARRIE Rating: 78.3#14 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 75.68#6 DL2 |
 NIKITA ZADOROV Rating: 70.4#108 LD |  PATRIK NEMETH Rating: 71.8#78 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 71.11#19 DL3 |
INFORMATION YOU NEED AND SOME STUFF YOU PROBABLY DON’T
- We’re a month into the season and Bo Horvat is tied with Elias Pettersson for the team lead in points with 10. Jake Virtanen’s big game put him into a tie with Brock Boeser for third on the team with seven points. Those four players have amassed 21 goals and are responsible for 53% of the Canucks goals this season. They started the kids and the kids are alright. It hasn’t been all roses but it’s been entertaining.
- Bo Horvat has five points in six games against the Avalanche since 2016. He scored in two of his last three against them so tonight might be a game Horvat can pony up another tally. He’s taken the team and put them on his back. Expect Bo to keep his momentum against Colorado.
- It isn’t Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, or Alex Tanguay in the 2000’s but the current powerhouse combination of Mikko Rantanen, Nathan Mackinnon, and Gabriel Landeskog is downright scary. Dominating the Top-10 in scoring at first, fifth, and tenth respectively should have Travis Green on alert he’ll need to contain at least two of them this evening. Easier said than done.
- Injuries have plagued the Canucks to begin the season and yet their PK has remained stable. Vancouver is ranked eighth in the league when shorthanded and they are now without Edler, Sutter, Beagle, and even Tanev. The “next man up” approach is paying off for Travis Green.
- I might have my CA rights revoked for this but the since 2010/11 season, Erik Gudbranson ranks 12th of 983 players in +/- for players having played at least 100 games with -72. There are lots of reasons that can lead to this and it’s not exactly a stat to make a point with but just look at that number, he’s getting paid $4M for the next three seasons to most likely be on the ice more than enough times when the puck goes in Vancouver’s net. Yikes.
- Elias Pettersson took the October Rookie of the Month honour and will look to build on that in November. His 10 points as mentioned above are also tied for the Canucks’ team lead. There could be a lull in his production at some point but by the end of this season he might run away with this thing. If Pettersson gets even close to playing the rest of the season healthy he could close in on the 90 point mark. That probably isn’t happening but at the great Jay-Z said “Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t”. I’m hoping he’s right.
MY 94 CENTS
They beat the Blackhawks, they beat the Wild, and they can totally beat the Avalanche. Mr. Rookie October, Elias Pettersson, will be primed to get back onto the score sheet and Canucks fans wouldn’t mind that either. Pettersson hasn’t had a hat-trick yet and it feels like something crazy like that needs to happen.
The #ShotgunJake movement was all fun and games but he stepped up and deserves the love. The project player has almost matured and I think he is coming into his own. Regardless, tonight will be about Pettersson after I thought Boesermania was going to run wild against the Blackhawks, I’m ready to be correct. I’m due.
THE FINAL WORD
But should they?
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