CANUCKS ARMY GDT# 37 – CANUCKS VS. OILERS (HNIC)

8 years ago

It’s time for the annual Canucks day after Christmas game against the Flames/Oilers. This year, it’s the Oilers and man are things different. Not a lot separates these two teams (injuries, records, consecutive first overall picks…wait, that’s just the Oilers) but if the Canucks want to truly separate themselves they’ll need to get help from the whole team instead of just the Sedin line. Did Santa bring the Canucks some new skills we’ve been missing. Wait and see!

BROADCAST INFO

TV; CBC (IT HNIC WITH EXTRA H AND DOUBLE THE IC)

RADIO: TSN 1040

PUCK DROP: 7PM

LINE COMBOS

Apparently, if you wait long enough for something to happen, it does. Sven Baertschi and Bo Horvat have found something in each other and they seem to like it. 3G and 1A in his last 5 is definitely the Sven we wanted to see for that 2nd round pick. Bo has a few setups but maybe that’s the beginning? Chris Tanev according to many, is in a walking boot, that’s not good. Maybe Pedan slots in? Ryan Miller has a mystery “cramps” injury so he’s out.

Jacob Markstrom will start again, Cannata backs him up.

Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:

LW	C	RW
Daniel Sedin	Henrik Sedin	Jannik Hansen
Chris Higgins	Jared McCann	Alexandre Burrows
Sven Baertschi	Bo Horvat	Radim Vrbata
Brandon Prust	Adam Cracknell	Derek Dorsett

Defensive Pairings
Alexander Edler	Chris Tanev
Matt Bartkowski	Alex Biega
Ben Hutton	Yannick Weber

As a Kelowna Rockets fan, I’m thrilled Leon Draisaitl has made it all the way to 1C even though it was at the expense of Connor McDavid. Justin Schultz is finally showing a teeny weeny bit of worth and he’s been bumped up. Don’t expect that to last though. No big changes here either, McDavid’s still all broked so it’s business as usual.

Cam Talbot was fire against the Jets so he may start again.

Edmonton Oilers lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:

LW	C	RW
Taylor Hall	Leon Draisaitl	Teddy Purcell
Benoit Pouliot	Ryan Nugent-Hopkins	Jordan Eberle
Matt Hendricks	Mark Letestu	Lauri Korpikoski
Luke Gazdic	Anton Lander	Iiro Pakarinen

Defensive Pairings
Darnell Nurse	Justin Schultz
Andrej Sekera	Mark Fayne
Nikita Nikitin	Eric Gryba

REASONS TO WATCH THIS GAME

You’re not tuning in for another 10 power plays against so at the very least we should expect a little less stupidity. That wasn’t a fun experience but the boys handled it in stride. We can thank Jacob Markstrom for standing on his head and Chris Tanev for being a human kevlar vest. Tonight, hopefully staying OUT of the box was in the pre game speech so all 4 lines can see a bit more ice time and a little less stress.
Said it earlier but Sven Baertschi might be doing something here. He could also being pulling a Mason Raymond and the bottom is about to fall out, who knows. I don’t know if we should feel good about this or wait for our hopes and dreams to be shattered. I mean, he’s getting the feeds from Horvat and that’s good right? So maybe watch for THIS? I dunno. I’m as confused as you are about this guy.
Oddly enough, a win this evening would put the Canucks 7th in the West; ironically, a bad giveaway that leads to a loss has the Nucks breaths away from last. Go figure! There are those that still watch to see if misery or magic will occur and others who could care less at this point and will wait to see if Auston will don the crapping whale. Whichever fan you are, you’re interested at the very least and playing a team that has gotten it wrong so many times should be a warning sign of what could soon occur. We are all Canucks isn’t going away. Don’t be a chotch! Watch.
Bo Horvat needs to feel the love of Christmas and now that Baertschi seems to be on the mend maybe it’s time Bo gets the last touch of the puck. Sure would help the development of the rest of the pivots. But then we wouldn’t get Matthews….always a catch.
Marky Mark and the funky bunch are riding a one game win streak and E’ERRRYBODY knows two games is where its official; its no Canada/USA but its the next best thing….I’ll wait.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

MY TAKE

The last time we saw the Canucks, they put on a valiant effort and won. If they can stay out of the box for I dunno, less than a period or so, there just might be a win in the cards. I wouldn’t be surprised though to see a Nugent-Hopkins show either. Oilers in OT…again.