CANUCKS ARMY GDT 4 – CANUCKS VS. FLAMES (HNIC)
By Always90four
6 years agoThe Canucks are coming off of an entertaining yet disappointing loss to the Jets a few nights ago while the Flames are in town after playing the Senators last night and having their lunch handed to them. It’s the first regular-season matchup between Vancouver and Calgary, and we could be in for a doozy.
Apparently, it’s alumni week at Rogers Arena as Eddie Lack is back (but apparently not in net) for the Flames. Poor, poor Eddie.
Let’s do this!
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: SN1, CITY (HNIC GAME #2)
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 7:00 PM (Or whenever the Leafs shootout ends)
LINE COMBINATIONS
Trying to guess what Canucks head coach Travis Green has up his sleeve is proving to be an adventure in and of itself. It seems like there will be a rotating cast of healthy scratches, and tonight’s lineup proves as much. Alexander Burmistrov is back in the Canucks lineup after missing Thursday night’s tilt and Jake Virtanen is out. Alexander Edler is also out with injury, and Derrick Pouliot is making his Canucks debut.
Jacob Markstrom should get the start.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LEFT WING | CENTER | RIGHT WING |
|---|---|---|
 DANIEL SEDIN |  HENRIK SEDIN |  THOMAS VANEK |
 SVEN BAERTSCHI |  BO HORVAT |  BROCK BOESER |
 LOUI ERIKSSON |  MARKUS GRANLUND |  JAKE VIRTANEN |
 SAM GAGNER |  BRANDON SUTTER |  DEREK DORSETT |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 ALEXANDER EDLER |  CHRIS TANEV |
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO |  ERIK GUDBRANSON |
 BEN HUTTON |  TROY STECHER |
There is a decent chance the Flames will play better than they did last night against the Senators after getting waxed 6-0.
Calgary Flames lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LEFT WING | CENTER | RIGHT WING |
|---|---|---|
 JOHNNY GAUDREAU |  SEAN MONAHAN |  CURTIS LAZAR |
 MATTHEW TKACHUK |  MIKAEL BACKLUND |  MICHAEL FROLIK |
 KRIS VERSTEEG |  SAM BENNETT |  JAROMIR JAGR |
 MICHEAL FERLAND |  MATT STAJAN |  TROY BROUWER |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 MARK GIORDANO |  DOUGIE HAMILTON |
 T.J. BRODIE |  TRAVIS HAMONIC |
 MATT BARTKOWSKI |  MICHAEL STONE |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- Brock Boeser can’t be retaken out of the lineup, can he? His presence has been pretty evident and now that Canucks nation has seen their hero and he’s delivered, how can Travis Green pull him? He’ll be tested again, and the Flames will have high flyers as well that will match up. Time to see what Brock can do.
- Analyzing goals and assists three games into the season isn’t going to tell you much, but Loui Eriksson is being judged on these statistics. He’s being judged on pretty much everything and nothing at the same time. He’s been invisible so far including the preseason so anything less than being a plus on the ice when the Canucks score will induce extreme judgment. This is turning into one expensive mistake. Brandon Sutter is looking like a deal… Brandon Sutter.
- Early on, points are coming from unlikely sources. Chris Tanev is currently 2nd on the Canucks with a P/60 of 2.56 at 5v5. Henrik Sedin leads Tanev by 1.30 which is impressive in itself, but after all the talk of #TradeTanev and the TTC, maybe a new hashtag should be started to find out if any team can #TameTanev?
- Sam Gagner had a lot to offer on the PP last game, and with a little less traffic in front, his shots may start finding the back of the net. He’s getting the looks, and the puck continues to find him, so Gagner needs to find ways to get off a clean shot or work on an approach through traffic. Already so much better than Jayson Megna.
- Jaromir Jagr is a Calgary Flame. If he’s in the lineup, he’ll find a way to have a three-point night. Typical things that happen in Vancouver.
THE TWITTER TAKE
MY 94 CENTS
Jacob Markstrom is the rightful man between the pipes for the Canucks; he’s earned it. What he needs to improve is taking a knee. No nothing related to the anthem protests, the drop down when any shooter gets in close. It was predictable against the Senators and the Jets, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Flames first goal if there is one, goes passed an ACL challenged Markstrom.
OVER/UNDER
Eddie Lack taco mentions (+/- 2) This is Hockey Night in Canada, but I could see this one getting a push. Lack has taken the taco brand nationally.
Sedin’s avg ice time (+/- 14:59) Take the over on this. Puck possession might take over, and if the Canucks get a lead, Henrik and Daniel will be in shutdown mode.
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