Canucks Army Game Day 27 – Canucks Vs. Kings (Checkmate Edition)
By Always90four
5 years agoTHE INTRO
It’s tough to say who the biggest winner of tonight will be: the Canucks for getting Brock Boeser back in the lineup (I’ll believe it when he’s on the ice), the lucky soul who wins the 50/50 draw worth over $1 million/14 games of Loui Eriksson paycheques, or Willie Desjardins for being a coach for yet another day in the NHL?
Vancouver will entertain the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Arena this evening in the second half of a home and home (for the Canucks anyway). The Kings were on the losing side of the equation on Saturday and will look to bounce back and make it two victories in a row after beating the Oilers on Sunday.
On paper, this game might not scream “main event” but the chance for Brock Boeser to return and make an impact will steal all of the headlines in the Lower Mainland on Wednesday morning.
Let’s Do This!™
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SNP / SN 650 / 7:00 PM
LINEUPS
All signs point to “The Flow” returning to the Canucks lineup. Brock Boeser has been fighting a groin strain for what feels like forever and tonight he could make his triumphant return against a team he could feast upon. The last time Boeser was in the lineup he was playing hurt and he had four points, so if he’s clicking with Elias Pettersson and Nikolay Goldobin there is no measure of what is possible.
Jacob Markstrom should see the start against LA. He’ll need to be a lot better than the last time they faced each other. That ears mask needs to go, though. Just move on.
Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL Rating: 70.4#106 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 76.0#44 C |  SAM GAGNER Rating: 71.5#130 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 72.62#31 FL1 |
 NIKOLAY GOLDOBIN Rating: 71.3#86 LW |  ELIAS PETTERSSON Rating: 75.1#51 C |  BROCK BOESER Rating: 79.8#9 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 75.39#7 FL2 |
 LOUI ERIKSSON Rating: 71.3#90 LW |  MARKUS GRANLUND Rating: 70.7#154 C |  JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 70.8#90 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 70.94#27 FL3 |
 BRENDAN LEIPSIC Rating: 71.0#95 LW |  ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 71.3#135 C |  TYLER MOTTE Rating: 69.0#111 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.42#19 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO Rating: 71.9#78 LD |  CHRIS TANEV Rating: 70.6#84 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 71.26#29 DL1 |
 BEN HUTTON Rating: 69.8#127 LD |  ERIK GUDBRANSON Rating: 68.0#103 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 68.89#31 DL2 |
 ALEXANDER EDLER Rating: 73.6#44 LD |  ALEX BIEGA Rating: 70.8#83 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.21#14 DL3 |
Aside from the potential change in net, don’t expect to see any switch from the lineup that you see below. The Kings are riding high after a big win against Edmonton so why change a good thing?
Peter Budaj could start but the Kings are hoping Jonathan Quick will be healthy enough to get the go-ahead for tonight.
Kings lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ALEX IAFALLO Rating: 70.9#144 LW |  ANZE KOPITAR Rating: 79.2#28 C |  DUSTIN BROWN Rating: 76.9#20 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 75.65#25 FL1 |
 KYLE CLIFFORD Rating: 70.7#103 LW |  JEFF CARTER Rating: 76.2#41 C |  TYLER TOFFOLI Rating: 74.7#36 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 73.86#18 FL2 |
 AUSTIN WAGNER Rating: 73.6#46 LW |  ADRIAN KEMPE Rating: 70.8#149 C |  MATT LUFF Rating: 74.5#37 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 72.99#6 FL3 |
 ILYA KOVALCHUK Rating: 73.4#49 LW |  MIKE AMADIO Rating: 69.8#170 C |  NATE THOMPSON Rating: 67.8#194 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.34#20 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 DEREK FORBORT Rating: 71.9#77 LD |  DREW DOUGHTY Rating: 80.0#9 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 75.97#13 DL1 |
 JAKE MUZZIN Rating: 75.5#25 LD |  ALEC MARTINEZ Rating: 73.1#53 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 74.29#14 DL2 |
 PAUL LADUE Rating: 74.2#37 LD |  DION PHANEUF Rating: 69.9#123 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.05#17 DL3 |
THE INFORMATION YOU NEED AND A LITTLE BIT YOU DON’T
- Everyone has been up in arms for the first few years of Loui Eriksson’s gaudy contract but Ilya Kovalchuk hasn’t exactly been a bargain for the Kings. Kovalchuk has 0 points in his last nine games and was benched in the 3rd period against Edmonton. Some of that is due to new head coach Willie Desjardins inability to understand how to properly deploy forwards and some of that is that he’s 35 and shouldn’t have been signed to a three-year deal. If you had to pick one of them right now, Eriksson is in a better position to succeed… but not by much.
- It’s hard to believe Jake Virtanen’s season so far but Travis Green has preached confidence in his game and the “project player” that was drafted with the 6th pick 2014 has finally blossomed into winger that can produce results both on the scoreboard and with his frame. Virtanen is two goals shy of his career best (10) from a season ago and has already become one of the top producers on the power play (2 PPG) for Vancouver. This hit on Dion Phaneuf is yet another part of his game that has grown when he isn’t asked to be the power forward player everyone labeled him as in his first three seasons.
- Since Friday, there have been six hat-tricks in the NHL. There were three on Saturday alone. Patrik Laine eclipsed all of the hype by potting an extra two on Sunday to help someone win a million dollars. Elias Pettersson looks like he’s heating up again and if Vancouver gets the chance tonight, both he and Brock Boeser could challenge for some free headwear.
- HOT TIP: Bo Horvat is currently tied for first in the NHL in tipped goals with four. He’s scored seven total this season so over half of his markers are in the dirty areas. Impressive? Yes. Surprising? No. Bo knows deflections? Absolutely.
- Did anyone have Nikolay Goldobin as the clubhouse CF% leader at the quarter mark? Me neither. His 52.67 rating is kind of surprising in the sense that Travis Green probably hasn’t been his biggest supporter and yet he’s continued to deliver and has earned his coach’s trust. Goldobin also has 3G / 6A in his last 10 games and he’s 3rd in team scoring. Jannik Hansen would never have amounted to this so this deal has officially paid off. Bank it.
MY 94 CENTS
The inevitable return of Brock Boeser is reason to be excited. When he’s healthy there aren’t a lot of better shots in the NHL, well I guess that Pettersson guy should be included too! The Canucks have been given power-play opportunities galore this season and if Boeser does in fact return, having EP40 and Boeser at the corners with Sam Gagner at the net could mean a long night for the royal opposition.
One game isn’t going to make it all better, though, and the Canucks will need to stay disciplined and try and dial back minutes to players like Bo Horvat and Alex Edler if they want to make their climb again up the rankings.
Feel good but don’t feel too good, the Canucks always have a way of fooling us.
THE FINAL WORD
Saw that Sutter sold a ticket to MDZ. I swear if that man wins it all confidence in this team will dissolve.
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