Canucks Army Game Day 77 – Canucks Vs. Ducks (Fowl Mood Edition)
By Always90four
5 years ago THE INTRO
A late season meeting with the Anaheim Ducks is what the Canucks need to keep their fans interested down to the final game. The warm fuzzy feeling of the playoffs is now just ashes from the dumpster fire that has engulfed ownership’s hopes and dreams from this season. This game can go a few ways: the Canucks will randomly show up and blow the doors off of an equally terrible Ducks team, OR Anaheim plays a one-off of the team it used to be and the Canucks can’t keep up.
Either way, it’s another game that won’t feature Erik Gudbranson (low blow, I know). Ok, ok, maybe Elias Pettersson will emerge for his final breakout of the season. Let’s hold onto that dream.
Let’s Do This!™
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
The odds for tonight’s game are: (VAN -140/ANA +115) courtesy of OddsShark (what do these guy’s know that we don’t?)
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SNP / SN 650 / 7:00 pm
LINEUPS
Tyler Motte was injured against CBJ and we’ll find out more today. That could mean Josh Leivo comes back in if he’s healthy. Guillaume Brisebois could also be healthy again and then Derrick Pouliot could sit back in the press box, it’s a win-win.
No Quinn Hughes yet.
Jacob Markstrom will get back in the next after Thatcher Demko gave up five against the Blue Jackets on Sunday.
Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 TANNER PEARSON Rating: 74.0#44 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 77.5#34 C |  NIKOLAY GOLDOBIN Rating: 70.3#110 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 73.92#28 FL1 |
 SVEN BAERTSCHI Rating: 74.1#42 LW |  ELIAS PETTERSSON Rating: 78.4#28 C |  BROCK BOESER Rating: 81.3#4 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 77.93#3 FL2 |
 MARKUS GRANLUND Rating: 71.1#138 LW |  ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 70.6#154 C |  JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 71.2#91 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 71.00#26 FL3 |
 LOUI ERIKSSON Rating: 72.1#84 LW |  JAY BEAGLE Rating: 67.8#195 C |  TYLER MOTTE Rating: 70.3#109 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.09#26 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 ALEXANDER EDLER Rating: 76.7#19 LD |  ALEX BIEGA Rating: 71.7#74 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.18#20 DL1 |
 DERRICK POULIOT Rating: 71.0#106 LD |  TROY STECHER Rating: 73.3#45 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 72.13#28 DL2 |
 ASHTON SAUTNER Rating: 72.9#62 LD |  LUKE SCHENN Rating: 68.8#100 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 70.82#22 DL3 |
Ryan Kesler will not be in the lineup, in fact, there are reports he might not play again. Ondrej Kase had shoulder surgery and will not be ready until training camp, Jacob Larsson may return from his charley horse after sitting out a few games, Sam Steel may fill in yet again for an injured Ryan Getzlaf who was scratched last game.
Ryan Miller should get the start tonight.
Ducks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 RICKARD RAKELL Rating: 78.0#19 LW |  SAM STEEL Rating: 72.9#89 C |  JAKOB SILFVERBERG Rating: 77.0#23 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 75.98#23 FL1 |
 NICK RITCHIE Rating: 71.9#87 LW |  ADAM HENRIQUE Rating: 74.4#62 C |  TROY TERRY Rating: 73.2#80 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 73.20#23 FL2 |
 COREY PERRY Rating: 73.7#50 LW |  DEVIN SHORE Rating: 71.3#133 C |  KIEFER SHERWOOD Rating: 69.8#115 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 71.59#19 FL3 |
 MAX JONES Rating: 71.8#91 LW |  DEREK GRANT Rating: 69.8#174 C |  CARTER ROWNEY Rating: 68.7#124 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.07#27 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 HAMPUS LINDHOLM Rating: 74.6#31 LD |  JOSH MANSON Rating: 73.6#40 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.12#21 DL1 |
 CAM FOWLER Rating: 75.6#24 LD |  ANDY WELINSKI Rating: 71.2#83 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 73.40#19 DL2 |
 JAYCOB MEGNA Rating: 72.3#77 LD |  KORBINIAN HOLZER Rating: 67.8#102 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 70.08#27 DL3 |
YOUR INFORMATIONAL NEEDS FOR TONIGHT’S GAME
- The Canucks are the runaway leaders of being shutout this season with their latest goose egg putting them at 10. If they were to blank the scoresheet two more times, they would tie the 1971-72 Canucks for 26th all-time for most times being shutout in a season. Take a bow 2018/19 Canucks, take a bow.
- Vancouver is tied for 2nd in the NHL for most shootout games this season (4-5 in those games). Even though they’ve taken the most shots (38) in the bonus round, they have the 11th worst SH% at 21.1%. This team is finding so many different ways to be bad.
- Since the Trade Deadline, Luke Schenn is 4th in hits (53) in the NHL while Erik Gudbranson (34) is 41st in the league. If Jim Benning needs a physical defenseman or even just a roster player, Schenn can hang around for pennies. Realistically, this should not be the type of player brought back into the fold but as a sixth defender, the Canucks could do worse, which they have already. That being said, Quinn Hughes will take a spot, Troy Stecher isn’t going anywhere, Alex Edler is back (we assume), Ben Hutton, and probably Chris Tanev. There’s room for one and maybe two on the back end but as a seventh-defenseman he’d be ok and cheaper than the rumored Tyler Myers.
- Bo Horvat is two goals shy of 100 for his career, and three points back of 60 on the season. In the lead up to his eventual Captaincy, Bo has put out a season that should leave no doubt that when the turnaround happens with the Canucks, he’ll be the one that carries this team. Sure, Pettersson and Boeser will have the flash and dash but Horvat will be on the ice for the final faceoff when they challenge for the Cup again one day. He’s been everything to this team this season, he’s been worked to the bone, and he’s still fighting to keep his team above water.
- Brock Boeser had his point streak snapped at nine games. He’ll get a chance to finish up his season with a six-game streak. That is, providing his team is able to score even one goal this time.
MY 94 CENTS
C’mon man, they can’t even score against the Blue Jackets? Vancouver is going to come out like they’re all-stars tonight and we’ll be talking about how it’s too bad games like this didn’t happen earlier and blah, blah, blah. This Canucks team is awful and with the few bright spots this season getting the credit they deserve, this team needs a serious shakeup.
An Elias Pettersson bounce back game could really help things along. If it’s bad enough, Wheel of Fortune doesn’t end until 7:30 and Jeopardy have been good lately, don’t forget about Trebek.
That’s where this season has gone, folks.
THE TWITTER TAKE
Do not pass go, do not collect $200.
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