CANUCKS ARMY GDT 32 – CANUCKS VS. PREDATORS
By Always90four
6 years agoA familiar team returns to Vancouver, as the Canucks take on the visiting Nashville Predators.
There aren’t any milestones the Canucks are aiming for aside from a win, so they’ll have to step their game up if they want to hang around in this one. The Predators are coming off a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, but they remain one of the top teams in the league.
The Canucks are trying to rebound from losses to the Flames and Jets both of which were less than memorable. They’ll want to have a better game plan tonight.
Let’s Do This!
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: SNET-P
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 7:00 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
Looks like the Nic Dowd experiment, for the time being, is over. Hey, I’m all for trying new things, but it just didn’t make sense to put him in the lineup in the first place. Potential 20-goal-scorer Nikolay Goldobin is back into the lineup this evening from the sounds of things. Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief, but if he doesn’t factor into at least one goal, it might be back to the press box.
Anders Nilsson is the pick to start this evening. What are the odds Jacob Markstrom is thrown another game after his bad start to last game?
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 ALEXANDER EDLER #23 |  CHRIS TANEV #8 |
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO #4 |  DERRICK POULIOT #5 |
 BEN HUTTON #27 |  TROY STECHER #51 |
Ryan Johansen (upper body) and Scott Hartnell (lower body) may return to the Predators lineup this evening with Kyle Turris a likely go as well. This, of course, means the Canucks will be competing against a very dangerous Preds team, one that can easily dispose of them with a strong opening period. This happens a lot, so it’s a good guess.
Juuse Saros was recalled from Milwaukee, and Anders Lindback was sent packing.
Pekka Rinne should start.
Nashville Predators lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 ROMAN JOSI #59 |  MATTIAS EKHOLM #14 |
 ALEXEI EMELIN #25 |  P.K. SUBBAN #76 |
 ANTHONY BITETTO #2 |  YANNICK WEBER #7 |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- Nikolay Goldobin is back! It’s not like there’s any pressure to score or anything. If Travis Green is reading this, he’d be wise to check out Goldobin’s stats through four games. He has one goal and one assist. Heck, he’s 200% better than Brendan Gaunce. Keeping potential scoring in the lineup is a smart choice.
- I will not slash or hold my opponent; I will not slash or hold my opponent; I will not slash or hold my opponent. The Canucks are making a habit of slashing, holding and tripping their opponents through the last week and they’re paying for it. Green talks about details, and if he wants the Canucks to score more goals they’ll need to stay out of the box for taking dumb penalties. That at the very least, gives Vancouver a slightly better chance of winning this evening.
- OK, one more time. Everyone thinks all the Canuck milestones are done for the year, but Brendan Gaunce still hasn’t scored. Nashville was quite gracious to give Daniel Sedin his 1000th point and helped Brock Boeser out with his scoring touch, Gaunce should be a no-brainer.
- There has been much talk about Alex Edler taking too many penalties. It’s the truth. Edler currently is averaging 01:15/PIM per GP. When the puck drops, it’s basically a guarantee that Edler will be in the box for a minute or more that game. Simply not acceptable. What if Erik Gudbranson took AE’s spot for one game? Outrage? Maybe. Justified? Also maybe.
- Brock Boeser is five goals off the NHL lead. I’d say watch for it, but most of you already are.
THE TWITTER TAKE
Kurtenbach scored 21 that season. He may have been a healthy scratch on a Travis Green-led team.
MY 94 CENTS
If the Predators have the lineup they are suggesting they’ll have, it won’t be good news for the Canucks. Thankfully, putting Goldobin in the lineup could give them a small boost but don’t expect this one to lean in Vancouver’s favor. A Brock Boeser goal seems doable though.
OVER / UNDER
Canucks keep the first shot of the game out of the net (yes/no) No over/under here, plan on yes being the answer. For everyone’s sanity.
Former Kelowna Rockets are scoring a point (+/- 2) Take the under. Alex Edler is in no condition to be putting any kind of achievement on the score sheet lately and Colton Sissons is the only likely winner here. Sissons will score. Bank it.
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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