CANUCKS ARMY GDT 18 – CANUCKS @ KINGS
By Always90four
6 years agoIt’s the first regular season matchup between the Canucks and the Kings from the Staples Center. Both teams have started the season relatively well with the Kings fairing slightly better with an 11-4-2 record. The Canucks have struggled recently on the power play (big surprise) while the Kings are red hot on the PK sporting a league-leading 91.9% effective rate.
LA still employs Tyler Toffoli and Dustin Brown so if Derek Dorsett were to eliminate them from the game, that wouldn’t be the worst thing.
Let’s do this!
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: SNET-P
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 7:30 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
Alex Burmistrov and Jake Virtanen were the subs yesterday at practice and seemed like the likely guys to sit tonight. Markus Granlund was switched to centre and will be between Sam Gagner and Thomas Vanek. Brandon Sutter, Derek Dorsett, and Brendan Gaunce make up the checking line. Defense is unchanged.
Anders Nilsson would be a smart start tonight so Jacob Markstrom would get the Golden Knights first visit Vancouver on Thursday.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 SVEN BAERTSCHI |  BO HORVAT |  BROCK BOESER |
 DANIEL SEDIN |  HENRIK SEDIN |  LOUI ERIKSSON |
 MARKUS GRANLUND |  BRANDON SUTTER |  DEREK DORSETT |
 THOMAS VANEK |  ALEX BURMISTROV |  SAM GAGNER |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 ALEXANDER EDLER |  DERRICK POULIOT |
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO |  ALEX BIEGA |
 BEN HUTTON |  ERIK GUDBRANSON |
Mike Cammalleri is back with the Kings and has a few PP goals to his name this year, expect that number to continue against the Canucks… because of Canucks.
Jonathan Quick should get the net this fine evening. He’s a nice fellow, mild tempered, too!
Los Angeles Kings lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 ALEX IAFALLO |  ANZE KOPITAR |  DUSTIN BROWN |
 TANNER PEARSON |  ADRIAN KEMPE |  TYLER TOFFOLI |
 ANDY ANDREOFF |  NICK SHORE |  TREVOR LEWIS |
 MICHAEL CAMMALLERI |  BROOKS LAICH |  NIC DOWD |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 DEREK FORBORT |  DREW DOUGHTY |
 KURTIS MACDERMID |  ALEC MARTINEZ |
 JAKE MUZZIN |  OSCAR FANTENBERG |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- The new power play! Haha, just kidding. It’s still the same which means it’s still awful. Figure this out, Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser and, Sven Baertschi are on the 2nd unit, but they get regular shifts on the top line while Henrik, Daniel, and Loui Eriksson are on the top PP unit, but they are rolled out on the 2nd line. This is just confusing and not right. Maybe change it up, oh I don’t know, with new personnel?
- Markus Granlund gets the pivot spot tonight which could spark not only his production but also Thomas Vanek’s. Vanek has 1G and 2A in his last 5G while Granlund hasn’t been on the scoreboard since his goal against the Capitals on Oct 26.
- Both the Canucks and Kings have been quite stingy in the GA department this season. Vancouver is sporting a 2.65 rate while Los Angeles has a slightly lower 2.41 mark. This game is not going to be about scoring, expect a goaltender battle.
- Derek Pouliot has quietly been impressive on the ice for the Canucks so far. He trails only Henrik and Daniel Sedin for top CF% on the team with 56.51. He has 11 missed shots through 14 games so seeing him on the top PP unit is a reward for being involved. If he really wanted to be a hero, he would let the coach know that the Sedins and Eriksson aren’t a great option when they have the man-advantage.
- Back to Vanek, he needs to be used a lot more, and he needs to be in the top power-play unit with Horvat and Boeser. Keep Pouliot on the back end with Edler. There is a ton of potential for this guy on the Canucks, and hopefully, the Granlund promotion will pay immediate dividends. Vanek and his clapper deserve more TV time.
THE TWITTER TAKE
When Alex Burmistrov has been such a non-factor this year that you don’t even recognize him in a freakin’ Instagram post. This is me.
MY 94 CENTS
After the dud that was the San Jose game, the Canucks need to get their game back to what it was. There is potential there still for the Canucks to make a mark in the West but games like the one against the Sharks are a humbling reminder they aren’t quite there yet. This is the first time the Kings will have seen the new Canucks setup, and it might play in the Canucks’ favour.
Exposing LA’s power play would be a significant boost as well.
OVER / UNDER
Tyler Toffoli cheap shots (+/- 1) This one is a push. Hopefully, the officials keep an eye on this rat; he’s shifty.
Brock Boeser dangles that lead to goals (+/- 2) I’d love to see a push on this but the under is the safe bet, folks.
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