Canucks Army Game Day 66 – Canucks @ Golden Knights (Shame Edition)
By Always90four
5 years agoTHE INTRO
The Vancouver Canucks are in Vegas today to take on the ever-popular Golden Knights. The atmosphere will be booming and Vegas is riding a bit of a win streak. The Canucks are looking for answers right now and they could really use some EP40 magic. Pushing for the playoffs will still occur but the Canucks should focus on a 60-minute effort and get ready to welcome Jack Hughes to their team in June.
Despite everything that’s happened this season, Vancouver has ended up where we all thought.
Let’s Do This!™
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SNP / SN 650 / 1:00 PM
LINEUPS
Travis Green didn’t exactly go line blender on his roster but there are some curious choices which Green says “might work”. Adam Gaudette is on a line with Brock Boeser and Antoine Roussel while Elias Pettersson will be graced with Nikolay Goldobin and Tanner Pearson.
Luke Schenn swapped in an out with Derrick Pouliot and Ashton Saunter. Luke Schenn should be the play here.
Jacob Markstrom should be back between the pipes today. Thatcher Demko will get the starts as needed but everyone will need to chill out and realize his NHL game will also take time.
Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 RYAN SPOONER Rating: 71.4#123 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 76.8#42 C |  JOSH LEIVO Rating: 73.5#50 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 73.90#27 FL1 |
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL Rating: 73.1#66 LW |  ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 72.4#95 C |  BROCK BOESER Rating: 81.6#6 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 75.72#14 FL2 |
 TANNER PEARSON Rating: 71.9#90 LW |  ELIAS PETTERSSON Rating: 78.7#27 C |  NIKOLAY GOLDOBIN Rating: 70.6#97 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 73.70#6 FL3 |
 LOUI ERIKSSON Rating: 70.4#116 LW |  JAY BEAGLE Rating: 67.4#186 C |  TYLER MOTTE Rating: 68.8#118 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 68.85#31 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 BEN HUTTON Rating: 71.6#83 LD |  TROY STECHER Rating: 73.2#46 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 72.38#28 DL1 |
 ALEXANDER EDLER Rating: 75.6#23 LD |  ALEX BIEGA Rating: 72.4#60 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 74.01#15 DL2 |
 DERRICK POULIOT Rating: 71.2#94 LD |  ASHTON SAUTNER Rating: 73.3#41 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.26#11 DL3 |
Erik Haula is still out with a lower-body injury. Other than that, Vegas has won their last three games so nothing should change.
Marc-Andre Fleury should start this afternoon but Malcolm Subban could probably handle this current Canucks squad.
Golden Knights lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT Rating: 78.8#13 LW |  WILLIAM KARLSSON Rating: 77.8#33 C |  REILLY SMITH Rating: 77.2#22 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 77.92#17 FL1 |
 MAX PACIORETTY Rating: 78.1#19 LW |  PAUL STASTNY Rating: 77.8#32 C |  MARK STONE Rating: 80.5#7 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 78.81#2 FL2 |
 RYAN CARPENTER Rating: 71.2#105 LW |  CODY EAKIN Rating: 71.9#110 C |  ALEX TUCH Rating: 75.6#35 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 72.90#12 FL3 |
 TOMAS NOSEK Rating: 71.1#134 LW |  PIERRE-ÉDOUARD BELLEMARE Rating: 71.0#141 C |  RYAN REAVES Rating: 71.2#86 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 71.14#17 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 NATE SCHMIDT Rating: 77.7#12 LD |  DERYK ENGELLAND Rating: 71.7#75 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.72#15 DL1 |
 BRAYDEN MCNABB Rating: 72.8#63 LD |  SHEA THEODORE Rating: 77.8#10 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 75.29#5 DL2 |
 JON MERRILL Rating: 73.2#56 LD |  COLIN MILLER Rating: 77.1#21 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 75.14#2 DL3 |
YOUR INFORMATIONAL NEEDS FOR TONIGHT’S GAME
- The power-play has been a constant source of frustration this season for the Canucks and their fans alike. Rightfully so. Vancouver has amassed 207 power-play opportunities this season which is good enough for seventh in the league. The downside is they have scored 30 times which is the eighth-worst in the NHL. Sitting at 15.0%, it really can’t get much worse unless they get Markstrom to create outlet passes to start the rush. Travis Green has messed around with his PP units so hopefully, a spark is created.
- Vancouver is a sure bet to lose if they’re scored on first. Their 24 losses are just behind Detroit with 25 and Los Angeles with 29 in that category. This isn’t a beat up the Canucks session but they can’t expect to make the playoffs if a quarter of their season is them losing if the other team gets on the board before they do. Can’t happen.
- Elias Pettersson has three goals in his last 15 games. Let that sink in. Today needs to be the day he ends that streak.
- Antoine Roussel has goals in three of his last five road games which softens the blow as some of the other “stars” have been left off the score sheet. Roussel has been a breath of fresh air and the aura of Alex Burrows definitely lives on. The Canucks got a steal of a player in Roussel.
- Ryan Reaves and Will Carrier are 1/2 in the NHL in hits. Expect to see a few shifts and big hits from these two.
MY 94 CENTS
Having finally attended a Golden Knights game earlier this season, I’m amazed Vegas doesn’t draw the most penalties in the league (they’re not even top-10!). The building overall is something to behold, there’s always something going on. You truly feel like an outsider if you aren’t cheering for the Knights. The Canucks can survive today but I’d imagine they’ll need goals from their stars today; they’re due.
THE TWITTER TAKE
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