CANUCKS ARMY GDT 13 – CANUCKS VS. PENGUINS (HNIC)
By Always90four
6 years agoBack to their rightful spot in the second game of the Hockey Night in Canada doubleheader, the Canucks get set to face the visiting Penguins at Rogers Arena. The Penguins have been less than lucky on their western road swing getting their only win against the Edmonton Oilers back on Wednesday before falling to the Flames the next night.
The Sidney Crosby media circus will most likely be out in full effect tonight, so it would be a good night for the Canucks to bounce back from their two-game slump. Grab a cold one and a slice of pizza and sit back for what we can all hope is another Canucks/Penguins classic.
Let’s do this!
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: CBC (Hockey Night in Canada Game #2)
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 7:00 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
There’s good news on the horizon: Alex Edler and Loui Eriksson are on the mend and could be in the lineup within a week! For now, though, Alex Biega will occupy Edler’s spot, but the real question is who comes out when Eriksson returns? Sam Gagner might be the leading candidate there or maybe Alex Burmistrov?
The Bo Horvat line will get an opportunity tonight to shine. National audience against the reigning back-to-back champs, it’s put up or shut up time.
Also, Brock Boeser was seen in ‘the spot’. Huge if true:
Jacob Markstrom will be in the starter’s net.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 SVEN BAERTSCHI |  BO HORVAT |  BROCK BOESER |
 DANIEL SEDIN |  HENRIK SEDIN |  JAKE VIRTANEN |
 MARKUS GRANLUND |  BRANDON SUTTER |  DEREK DORSETT |
 SAM GAGNER |  ALEX BURMISTROV |  THOMAS VANEK |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 BEN HUTTON |  CHRIS TANEV |
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO |  ERIK GUDBRANSON |
 DERRICK POULIOT |  ALEX BIEGA |
Disgruntled former Canucks’ defenceman Frank Corrado is in the lineup, and he’ll look to try and be a hero. If he were a hero, the Canucks probably wouldn’t have put him on waivers… just saying.
The rest is straightforward – Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel highlight the roster, but a little grit from either Bryan Rust or Ryan Reaves may just ignite some other sparks.
Matt Murray should get the start because from what I’ve heard, Marc-Andre Fleury doesn’t play there anymore.
Pittsburgh Penguins lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 CONOR SHEARY |  SIDNEY CROSBY |  PATRIC HORNQVIST |
 TOM KUHNHACKL |  EVGENI MALKIN |  BRYAN RUST |
 JAKE GUENTZEL |  RILEY SHEAHAN |  PHIL KESSEL |
 JOSH ARCHIBALD |  GREG MCKEGG |  RYAN REAVES |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 OLLI MAATTA |  KRIS LETANG |
 BRIAN DUMOULIN |  CHAD RUHWEDEL |
 IAN COLE |  FRANK CORRADO |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- Vancouver has actually faired pretty well against Pittsburgh at Rogers Arena when it comes to the scoreboard, not the final score, but the lead-up. Last season was the only game in the last four meetings where the Canucks failed to record a goal. That Willie Desjardins-led team was awful and deserved what they got. This year, Travis Green has put shooters in roles to shoot, and his team should return to form where Vancouver averaged just under four goals a game in the last three meetings at home.
- Last game, Alex Biega was awoken from whatever slumber he was in, and it looked like he could not be stopped. He didn’t score, but he had numerous chances, and his full court press looked on point. It would be great to see him sampled on the PP2 unit to see what he has to offer. The motivation of Alex Edler returning may put an extra fire beneath Biega to contribute.
- Sidney Crosby. With one point (a lowly assist) in his last five games, Crosby is due to feast on a less than stellar defence. Since the start of 2013/14, Crosby has only been held pointless twice against the Canucks. It feels like a Derek Dorsett/Brandon Sutter kind of night.
- A hybrid random powerplay. Based on the Canucks’ top PP leaders, Boeser, Horvat, Daniel Sedin, Michael Del Zotto and either Sven Baertschi or Thomas Vanek would be an interesting way to shake things up. If they’re all producing, why not load up a random unit and see what happens?
- The Thomas Vanek Breakaslap or the Slapaway? Not sure what to call it. Vanek has his chance again tonight, calling it.
THE TWITTER TAKE
MY 94 CENTS
The Penguins have not been very good on their road trip, and the Canucks haven’t been necessarily as bad as their last two results have shown. Vancouver is due for a big win against a good team and wouldn’t you know it, Pittsburgh is in town. Vancouver’s power play is getting chances, but they haven’t set themselves up to see continued positive results. Tonight, I believe that all changes.
OVER / UNDER
Alex Biega shots (+/- 2) The push feels like the right way to go. Maybe don’t be a ton on this one though.
Matt Duchene to VAN references on the broadcast (+/- 1) Sticking with the push on this too! Trade rumours got hot yesterday, so this may reopen.
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