CANUCKS ARMY GDT 14 – CANUCKS VS. RED WINGS
By Always90four
6 years agoTonight is a special night. A win by your Vancouver Canucks puts them third in the Western Conference, which oddly enough would tie the Vegas Golden Knights.
This is a sentence many could not predict. The Red Wings finish off their back-to-back at Rogers Arena after beating the Oilers 4-0 last night. Both teams are riding high but looking at the recent string of Red Wings games; the Canucks should be in for a fun night.
The Canucks are good, gang. They could get better. Is this something you can handle?
Let’s do this(t)
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: SNET-P
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 7:00 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
The Canucks officially have a new top line and below you’re looking at it. The epic arrival of Brock Boeser occurred Saturday night, and it all but secured how this team will funnel its offence going forward. With Brendan Gaunce coming back, the options to sit are limited. Alex Burmistrov had a good few games with Boeser but other than that he’s been invisible. He would be candidate number one.
In all likelihood, it would be a simple move and that Thomas Vanek/Sam Gagner line would stay pretty much uninterrupted.
Jacob Markstrom is on his game right now so he’ll remain the warrior in the pipes.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 SVEN BAERTSCHI |  BO HORVAT |  BROCK BOESER |
 DANIEL SEDIN |  HENRIK SEDIN |  JAKE VIRTANEN |
 THOMAS VANEK |  ALEX BURMISTROV |  SAM GAGNER |
 MARKUS GRANLUND |  BRANDON SUTTER |  DEREK DORSETT |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 BEN HUTTON |  CHRIS TANEV |
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO |  ERIK GUDBRANSON |
 DERRICK POULIOT |  ALEX BIEGA |
Gustav Nyquist left yesterday’s game against the Oilers with a knee-on-knee collision. He’s day-to-day. The only real change is if he plays or not and who slots in.
Petr Mrazek played last night so Jimmy Howard will get the start. But… will that even matter?
Detroit Red Wings lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 GUSTAV NYQUIST |  HENRIK ZETTERBERG |  TOMAS TATAR |
 ANDREAS ATHANASIOU |  DYLAN LARKIN |  ANTHONY MANTHA |
 DARREN HELM |  FRANS NIELSEN |  JUSTIN ABDELKADER |
 SCOTT WILSON |  LUKE GLENDENING |  MARTIN FRK |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 JONATHAN ERICSSON |  TREVOR DALEY |
 NIKLAS KRONWALL |  MIKE GREEN |
 XAVIER OUELLET |  NICK JENSEN |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- Well, for starters: Brock Boeser. As of yesterday, he was three points back of 11th in the league. Boeser is top-three in almost all the rookie categories, I think even the defensive ones! It’s a new era for the Vancouver Canucks, one that feels like it came too soon. Brock will do his best to continue on his torrid pace and might even break a few ankles with that wrist shot of his.
- If you blink, you might miss the Sedins entire ice-time. Saturday’s game had Henrik and Daniel with their lowest ice-time in what seems like forever. The last time the Sedins saw that kind of ice time regularly was in the early 2000’s, coincidentally as they were just coming into the league. A wacky prediction awaits in the 94 spot but the Sedins are being phased out.
- Bo Horvat did alright against the Red Wings just over a week ago putting up two assists. Sven Baertschi had two goals. See where this is going? The (insert clever nickname) line tasted success and could strike again. Much like the Sedins feasted on the Oilers, Flames and well, most of the NHL for about a decade, Vancouver’s new leaders are ready to do the same.
- Not only are the Canucks tied for the least amount of goals allowed so far, they’re 4th in the league with the least shots against per game. Team defense is paying off early on but it has yet to translate to goals going in the other net. What’s even crazier is that both Alex Edler and Troy Stetcher are currently out of the lineup and these numbers continue to hold.
- All the penalties. The Canucks have a problem with playing by the rules. They’ve been a bit lazy lately and have forced their teammates to play a man down. Thankfully, the Canucks sit seventh on the PK with 83.3%. A wise suggestion would be to practice being disciplined but what do I know?
THE TWITTER TAKE
This was the day before “the game”. Dear @bentley_van, you know what to do.
MY 94 CENTS
There will be no part two of the Virtanen/Kronwall hit but it was a wake-up call for any team that still underestimates the Canucks. Vancouver isn’t exactly the belle of the ball quite yet but teams are taking notice. The Canucks will be line-matched a bit harder now and that may mean fewer points for the top line but it opens up chances for the Brandon Sutter/Derek Dorsett combo.
This may even be the game where the Sedins randomly put up say, five points each. This is my section so minor blasphemy is allowed.
OVER / UNDER
Alex Biega goals (+/- 0) Take the over. The heat is off of him now so he’ll get another opportunity to put his energy to good use.
Jacob Markstrom assists (+/- 1) Ah yes, the push. Markstrom will get another opportunity to add his name to the scoresheet and he can apologize to Brock Boeser.
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