CANUCKSARMY GDT 11 – CANUCKS VS. STARS
By Always90four
6 years agoThe Vancouver Canucks return after a long break to take on the visiting Dallas Stars. Dallas is just behind the Canucks in the standings, but they have played one more game so far.
There has been lots of chatter online about the recent injury to wunderkind Brock Boeser and the call-up that will take his spot. One thing is for sure in Canucks nation: there’s always a story. The Canucks and Stars have combined for some beauties, and some stinkers here’s hoping it’s the former.
Let’s do this!
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: SNET-P
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 7:00 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
Just in case your internet connection has been out, or you wait until the next day to read the paper for your Canucks news, Boeser is day-to-day with a foot contusion after blocking a shot against the Capitals. In the likely event that Boeser sits tonight, Jayson Megna has been called up and would take his place. He practiced on the Alex Burmistrov line while Sam Gagner moved up to play with Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi.
Life comes at you fast.
The educated guess would be that Anders Nilsson continues his run of great play.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 DANIEL SEDIN |  HENRIK SEDIN |  JAKE VIRTANEN |
 SVEN BAERTSCHI |  BO HORVAT |  BROCK BOESER |
 SAM GAGNER |  ALEX BURMISTROV |  THOMAS VANEK |
 MARKUS GRANLUND |  BRANDON SUTTER |  DEREK DORSETT |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 BEN HUTTON |  CHRIS TANEV |
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO |  ERIK GUDBRANSON |
 DERRICK POULIOT |  ALEX BIEGA |
Stephen Johns (concussion) is still out of the lineup. The top line of Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Alexander Radulov have combined for 32 points through 11 games thus far. Vancouver will have its shutdown line on these guys tonight.
Kari Lehtonen should start this evening.
Dallas Stars lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 JAMIE BENN |  TYLER SEGUIN |  ALEXANDER RADULOV |
 DEVIN SHORE |  MATTIAS JANMARK |  JASON SPEZZA |
 REMI ELIE |  MARTIN HANZAL |  BRETT RITCHIE |
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL |  RADEK FAKSA |  TYLER PITLICK |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 MARC METHOT |  JOHN KLINGBERG |
 DAN HAMHUIS |  GREG PATERYN |
 JAMIE OLEKSIAK |  ESA LINDELL |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- Good stats have arrived! Through 11 games, the Canucks rank seventh in point percentage with .650, an astounding third in GA with 24, eighth in PK% with 84.2, and second in SA/gm with 29. Travis Green has put together a system that the team has bought into and they aren’t all that boring either. Is this for real?
- With one, heck two more power play points, Boeser will be tied for fourth in the league. This has to be a talking point for the coaching staff. If Boeser isn’t involved as the trigger man every time he’s on the power play, something is seriously wrong. He’s injuring players every time he shoots the puck, and he’s not getting enough credit.
- Let’s stick with Brock for a second. Boeser is averaging just over a point per game so far, and that’s good for second among rookies. Hopefully, this foot contusion thing isn’t too serious because this guy is shaping up to be one of the greats. For one night, life will be a bit more boring.
- Since Oct 1/14, Thomas Vanek has 12 points against the Stars with two power play goals. Don’t be surprised if he has a game tonight; he likes playing some Texas hockey.
- Erik Gudbranson is slowly becoming a fan favourite this year. He isn’t the most responsible guy on the ice, but he’s starting to add the grit everyone has long awaited. Look for him to be a game-changer tonight.
THE TWITTER TAKE
It’s like Stranger Things… but you know real life, and it’s the Canucks.
MY 94 CENTS
Somehow, the Canucks are one of the surprising (in a good way) teams to start the NHL season. I firmly believe if this team is for real, at least for this year, they’ll follow the same path that the 2014/15 Flames did: Overachieve, make the playoffs, and set the bar too high for next season. There is a definite progression plan becoming visible, but it IS still early, so it’s tough to get too excited. Regardless, it’s been fun so far.
Canucks win in OT.
OVER / UNDER
Megna/Sedin mentions (+/- 2) I feel like going over on this makes sense even if he doesn’t play. This story is just too hot not to mention.
Thomas Vanek breakaway slappers (+/- 0) Take the over as well. Vanek has flirted with this move now, and it will get its place in the Canucks Oddball Hall of Fame.
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