Canucks Army Game Day 28 – Canucks Vs. Golden Knights (Gambling With The Idea Of Playoffs Edition)
By Always90four
5 years agoTHE INTRO
The Canucks are back at it tonight as they take on the visiting Vegas Golden Knights. Vancouver is coming off an embarrassing loss to the Kings, the Willie Desjardins’ Kings no less, while Vegas is looking to make the Canucks their fifth-straight win. Injuries have definitely caught up with Vancouver and a streaking Golden Knights team isn’t going to be easy to beat.
They wouldn’t have been easy to beat anyway.
Brock Boeser will play in his second game after coming back from a groin injury and hopefully with a faster paced game he’ll be able to factor into the game more. They could really use a Lyft tonight.
Let’s Do This!™
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SNP / SN 650 / 7:00 PM
LINEUPS
Still no Sven Baertschi due to ongoing concussion symptoms, Jay Beagle is nearing return and Brandon Sutter should be as well. Erik Gudbranson (neck) most likely is a game-time decision after sitting out against the Kings. Gudbranson has actually been a solid defender (eye test anyway) but that most likely means both Troy Stecher and Alex Biega will factor in.
Jacob Markstrom should see the start tonight.
Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL Rating: 70.5#109 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 76.1#42 C |  SAM GAGNER Rating: 71.6#122 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 72.77#31 FL1 |
 NIKOLAY GOLDOBIN Rating: 71.7#79 LW |  ELIAS PETTERSSON Rating: 75.8#43 C |  BROCK BOESER Rating: 81.0#5 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 76.18#6 FL2 |
 LOUI ERIKSSON Rating: 71.2#98 LW |  MARKUS GRANLUND Rating: 70.3#157 C |  JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 71.1#85 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 70.87#26 FL3 |
 BRENDAN LEIPSIC Rating: 71.0#99 LW |  ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 71.6#123 C |  TYLER MOTTE Rating: 69.4#106 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.68#14 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO Rating: 72.1#68 LD |  CHRIS TANEV Rating: 70.7#82 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 71.44#29 DL1 |
 BEN HUTTON Rating: 69.9#123 LD |  ERIK GUDBRANSON Rating: 68.0#100 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 68.97#31 DL2 |
 ALEXANDER EDLER Rating: 73.7#41 LD |  ALEX BIEGA Rating: 71.2#73 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.49#9 DL3 |
Paul Stastny and Erik Haula are both out at least until Christmas with lower-body injuries. The Golden Knights haven’t faltered in their absence with a four-game win streak and they look to be getting back into form to challenge their impressive run from a season ago.
Marc-Andre Fleury is riding high right now and will get the start against the Canucks.
Golden Knights lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT Rating: 81.5#7 LW |  WILLIAM KARLSSON Rating: 80.3#18 C |  REILLY SMITH Rating: 77.7#18 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 79.82#8 FL1 |
 MAX PACIORETTY Rating: 77.3#22 LW |  CODY EAKIN Rating: 71.2#136 C |  ALEX TUCH Rating: 76.6#23 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 75.04#12 FL2 |
 DANIEL CARR Rating: 70.7#106 LW |  TOMAS NOSEK Rating: 70.2#162 C |  RYAN CARPENTER Rating: 70.6#89 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 70.52#28 FL3 |
 WILL CARRIER Rating: 70.6#108 LW |  PIERRE-ÉDOUARD BELLEMARE Rating: 70.2#161 C |  RYAN REAVES Rating: 70.7#87 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.51#19 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 BRAYDEN MCNABB Rating: 72.3#58 LD |  NATE SCHMIDT Rating: 76.6#15 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.46#16 DL1 |
 SHEA THEODORE Rating: 78.1#8 LD |  DERYK ENGELLAND Rating: 71.7#66 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 74.92#8 DL2 |
 NICK HOLDEN Rating: 73.4#45 LD |  COLIN MILLER Rating: 78.2#16 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 75.82#1 DL3 |
INFORMATION YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW
- Vancouver has only one victory against the Golden Knights since their arrival into the league last season. That came last month. At first glance, the odds aren’t exactly leaning in the Canucks favour but it’s not unreasonable to think they can pull off a win with Boeser and Pettersson controlling play. The Canucks won’t need a perfect game but anything better than their effort against the Kings the other night will give us hope today.
- Troy Stecher has been the least of Travis Green’s worries and yet he was eerily close to back-to-back healthy scratches. His 51.94 CF% is second only to Michael Del Zotto’s 52.27 for all Canucks defenders. He has a 0.91 P/60 at 5v5 and yet Green wants to send a message? Ben Hutton was dealt this card a season ago and is better for it but it’s a slippery slope when it happens a bit more regularly. Thankfully, Pettersson was able to play the first game of the season.
- Scoring goals, OK lots of goals, might not be on the menu tonight. Going into this game, Vegas has a 2.92 G/GP while the Canucks are a quick Lyft ride away in the standings with 2.85. That being said, both teams have spread out their scoring with the Golden Knights having 17 skaters with at least one goal this season and the Canucks have 21 players that are equal to that task.
- Bo Horvat has been a leader of men this season, a Captain some may say. Bo has been a point-per-game player over his last 11 matches putting up 4G and 7A in that time. Much has been made of the stars a line above his own but the Canucks will go as far as Bo Horvat.
- Loui Eriksson has not tallied a point since the Islanders game November 13. Now that the top two lines have come back into form there should be more opportunity for Eriksson to feed off of Jake Virtanen and get into the dirty areas. If he plays well enough, maybe Karl Alzer would be available in a trade?
This is not a good idea.
MY 94 CENTS
It feels weird to say but the Canucks might have a chance in this one tonight. Everything suggests they could get waxed but if the game has a steady pace, the Canucks could play up to their competition. It’s a tactic they’ve employed for years. I’m looking forward to Elias Pettersson having a game we can talk about tomorrow.
Not sure if I can take another one like Tuesday. Paint drying is only so fun.
THE FINAL WORD
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