Canucks Army Game Day 73 – Canucks @ Blackhawks (Striking Gold-obin Edition)
By Always90four
5 years agoTHE INTRO
Leave it to the Canucks to face another streaking team gunning for the playoffs. The Chicago Blackhawks have won five-straight while the Canucks have spun the wheel of destiny (no such wheel) and have sprinkled wins and losses like the Salt Bae guy Vancouver pulled off the win in Dallas yesterday and they’ll try and ride the scoring touch of Tim Schaller into this game.
That being said, Schaller probably won’t play in this one as there is a good chance Sven Baertschi makes it back tonight. Realistically, the Hawks aren’t going to make the spring dance with everyone around them racking up points as they do but they’ve made it interesting. Tonight’s game has a chance to be a throwback to the Canucks/Hawks games of old. We can all be so lucky if for one night only, it returns.
Let’s Do This!™
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
The odds for tonight’s game are: (VAN +150/CHI -182) courtesy of OddsShark
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SNP / SN 650 / 5:30 PM
LINEUPS
Sven Baertschi and Ryan Spooner both skated yesterday and could potentially play tonight. With those editions, the red-hot Tim Schaller may be forced to sit out or maybe it’s Nikolay Goldobin that sits again if Travis Green opts to give Markus Granlund a break.
These final games may be the most tricky to read the coaching decisions and that is why you need to check in to the ol’ CA GDT.
Thatcher Demko starts tonight in yet another challenging arena. The Madhouse on Madison will be rocking but Demko will need to be as cool as a cucumber if he wants to keep his team ahead.
Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 TANNER PEARSON Rating: 71.7#87 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 75.9#42 C |  LOUI ERIKSSON Rating: 71.4#100 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 72.98#29 FL1 |
 JOSH LEIVO Rating: 73.4#54 LW |  ELIAS PETTERSSON Rating: 77.0#33 C |  BROCK BOESER Rating: 81.3#5 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 77.27#7 FL2 |
 MARKUS GRANLUND Rating: 71.1#135 LW |  ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 71.4#128 C |  JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 71.5#95 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 71.35#24 FL3 |
 TIM SCHALLER Rating: 69.1#129 LW |  JAY BEAGLE Rating: 67.5#187 C |  TYLER MOTTE Rating: 70.6#111 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 69.07#31 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 ALEXANDER EDLER Rating: 76.2#20 LD |  ALEX BIEGA Rating: 71.6#80 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 73.91#23 DL1 |
 GUILLAUME BRISEBOIS |  TROY STECHER Rating: 72.8#59 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 72.79#22 DL2 |
 ASHTON SAUTNER Rating: 72.9#62 LD |  LUKE SCHENN Rating: 68.6#103 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 70.74#22 DL3 |
Nothing new to report on the Hawks roster. They’re winning and no one changes a winning lineup.
Corey Crawford should be the starter tonight. Chicago is still pressing to get the final wild-card spot in the West. If they make it, Crawford will lead them much like Jacob Markstrom has salvaged anything the Canucks have achieved this season.
Blackhawks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 BRANDON SAAD Rating: 74.7#35 LW |  JONATHAN TOEWS Rating: 79.2#22 C |  DYLAN SIKURA Rating: 73.0#64 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 75.66#23 FL1 |
 DOMINIK KAHUN Rating: 72.8#87 LW |  ARTEM ANISIMOV Rating: 72.1#103 C |  PATRICK KANE Rating: 83.6#2 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 76.16#13 FL2 |
 ALEX DEBRINCAT Rating: 80.7#8 LW |  DYLAN STROME Rating: 73.4#78 C |  BRENDAN PERLINI Rating: 73.8#56 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 75.97#1 FL3 |
 CHRIS KUNITZ Rating: 70.1#115 LW |  DAVID KAMPF Rating: 70.7#148 C |  MARCUS KRUGER Rating: 70.2#157 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.33#22 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 DUNCAN KEITH Rating: 73.8#45 LD |  ERIK GUSTAFSSON Rating: 75.8#25 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.78#15 DL1 |
 GUSTAV FORSLING Rating: 70.6#105 LD |  BRENT SEABROOK Rating: 72.3#63 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 71.47#29 DL2 |
 SLATER KOEKKOEK Rating: 69.2#125 LD |  CONNOR MURPHY Rating: 71.5#81 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 70.36#25 DL3 |
YOUR INFORMATIONAL NEEDS FOR TONIGHT’S GAME
- One more point to go. Elias Pettersson is now tied for first all-time as the Canucks leading rookie point producer (60 points). Pettersson is an interesting dude and it should not be out of the realm of possibility that he absolutely destroys his go-ahead tally. No doubt, he’ll be choked he didn’t get an opportunity to shoot on his penalty shot yesterday (which actually should have counted as a goal) so dropping a 100mph slapshot on Crawford will be the icing on the cake.
- Sven Baertschi has been cleared for contact and the fact he can still play is beyond amazing. This story has become a rallying cry for an awesome human being that deserves a proper chance to live out his career. There have been many stories in the last while about concussions and former NHLer Daniel Carcillo has spearheaded a change to how the game is played. This isn’t like Manny Malhotra’s eye injury or a severed tendon ala Kevin Bieksa, Sven Baertschi has shown serious regression in head health and it was anyone’s guess if he ever got the chance to play hockey again. He’s a valuable part of the Canucks right now and carrying on where he left off when he went away will help the Canucks finish this season the right way.
- Continuing with Baertschi, Sven left the Canucks with five goals in his last 10 games. A nice edition tonight to go along with Brock Boeser’s resurgence. Boeser is on a six-game point streak (2G/5A) and has nine points in his last 10. The “Killer B’s” line needs to come back. There are points waiting for them.
- Jake Virtanen knows this game is for him. He’s done well in two games this season against the Blackhawks accumulating two goals and an assist. Jake had a few notable plays against Dallas and his drive to the net could be a valuable asset tonight.
- Patrick Kane is one point away from 100. He’s feasted on the Canucks in his career and it’s a safe bet he gets at least a point tonight. He has points in 32 of his last 37 games, which have made up 62 of his 99 points. Patrick Kane is a Hall of Famer and it’s not even close.
MY 94 CENTS
I honestly believe the Canucks win this game. I have nothing to base it on whatsoever but if it means it keeps the Blackhawks out, the Canucks can play spoiler one more time.
And what the heck, Dekey Pete gets two goals.
And Baertschi scores too!
THE TWITTER TAKE
Patrick Sharp is a great guy but Adam Burish is the voice of reason now? A fully-loaded TTT tonight.
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