CANUCKS ARMY GDT 26 – CANUCKS @ PREDATORS
By Always90four
6 years agoIn the final game of the Canucks road trip, Vancouver travels to Nashville to take on the red-hot Predators.
Things haven’t exactly fallen off the rails but the current state of the Canucks is in a bit of disarray. Injuries have forced Vancouver to rearrange their lineup in a way that hasn’t been too pleasing in the last few games but the inclusion of Nikolay Goldobin tonight will be a nice wrinkle.
There was a lot more to look forward to in Nashville six years ago, now the Canucks will hope to play a solid 60 minutes and not get run out of the building.
Let’s do this!
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: SNET-P
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 5:00 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
There are a lot of questions surrounding the team’s current makeup not the least of which is the goaltending situation. Will Anders Nilsson be given the net again to see if he can earn the #1 job? As far as injuries go, still no Derek Dorsett, Erik Gudbranson or Brandon Sutter. Their injuries are continuing.
No Derek Dorsett now or for the foreseeable future, unfortunately.
Going on a hunch, Anders Nilsson gets the start again.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 SVEN BAERTSCHI |  BO HORVAT |  BROCK BOESER |
 DANIEL SEDIN |  HENRIK SEDIN |  LOUI ERIKSSON |
 THOMAS VANEK |  ALEX BURMISTROV |  SAM GAGNER |
 BRENDAN GAUNCE |  MARKUS GRANLUND |  JAKE VIRTANEN |
Ryan Ellis (knee surgery), Scott Hartnell (lower body) and former Canuck Yannick Weber (lower body)are all out of the lineup. Hartnell is on IR currently. Nick Bonino is back and the top line centered by Ryan Johansen will be looking to pad the stats.
Pekka Rinne will be the likely starter. He’s pretty good in case anyone forgot.
Nashville Predators lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 FILIP FORSBERG |  RYAN JOHANSEN |  VIKTOR ARVIDSSON |
 KEVIN FIALA |  KYLE TURRIS |  CRAIG SMITH |
 PONTUS ABERG |  NICK BONINO |  CALLE JARNKROK |
 MIIKKA SALOMAKI |  COLTON SISSONS |  AUSTIN WATSON |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- He won’t score every game and it feels like an eternity since he did but Brock Boeser still has four goals and an assist in his last five games. Nashville hasn’t seen his amazing talents yet and may be perplexed on how to approach his ferociousness. Look for a bounce-back game for BB.
- Thomas Vanek is silently getting it done for the Canucks. He has power play points, he has 5v5 contributions and from the looks of things he’s helping run the systems on the bench. The Canucks could land some nice returns for Vanek once the deadline arrives but for now, he’s the calm, cool, veteran that is Mr. Consistent. He’s always a threat to explode and gets almost no publicity.
- All the talk about the Canucks being “average” or getting “average goaltending” shouldn’t be overly surprising. They aren’t a top-tier club and are riding the streaks. Average for the Canucks should be a compliment right now and if everyone takes a step back they might realize the same thing. Should the team be average? No. If Travis Green inserts the guys that can score goals into the lineup and focuses on a higher conversion rate on the PP, this team will eclipse average and become a playoff challenger.
- Nikolay Goldobin deserves this chance to play. He’s a goal scorer, he apparently has PK abilities and the Canucks need his talent. Goldobin has 7 goals and 12 assists in the AHL this season and there’s no way he can’t make the Canucks better right now.
- Playoffs? Playoffs? OK, it’s early but the Canucks are very much in the conversation and a win tonight puts them in a T-6 with San Jose. Talking about the playoffs right now isn’t exactly a good idea but wins against Western opponents will be the ultimate judge if they are worthy of at least a round.
THE TWITTER TAKE
This is a problem that many arenas have. Rogers Arena, you’re up! Personally, I would rather watch Predators hockey than stand in line… wait Canucks hockey, nevermind.
2nd Take:
This is awesome! Knowing how Philadelphia sports fans are, this guy is pretty much bonkers!
MY 94 CENTS
The well-rested Canucks bounce back tonight and surprise a very good Predator team. Brock Boeser gets back on his jam and Daniel Sedin gets a point. I’m an occasional optimist what can I say?
OVER / UNDER
Colton Sissons goals (+/- 0) Take the over. He’s a Kelowna Rocket and has done alright in the handful of games against the Canucks.
Alex Edler goals (+/- 0) Sticking with the Rockets theme, Edler gets one as well and the township of Kelowna rejoices!
“The Pint is your home for all things game day. Come down for game day specials like $5 mugs of bud and bud light and get 20% off food if you’re a season ticket holders”
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