CANUCKS ARMY GDT# 43 – CANUCKS @ PREDATORS
By Always90four
7 years ago
Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel – USA TODAY Sports
Holiday Cheers! Holiday Savings!
No more streak to preserve so the Canucks can go back to winning games with zero pressure. Vancouver goes into Nashville a point back of the Kings for 8th and 2 points ahead of the Predators who also aren’t in the playoff picture. This isn’t going to be a game circled on the calendar by either team but who does that anymore, really?
LINE COMBOS
Chris Tanev skated on Monday and may play tonight. Ben Hutton (hand) is out for awhile so Alex Biega is in and it sounds like Andrey Pedan as well. A healthy Alex Burrows has emerged and wouldn’t you know it, Loui Eriksson is on the top line?
Ryan Miller has rested for long enough and it’s time to unleash the beast.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 Daniel Sedin |  Henrik Sedin |  Loui Eriksson |
 Markus Granlund |  Brandon Sutter |  Jayson Megna |
 Sven Baertschi |  Bo Horvat |  Alexandre Burrows |
 Brendan Gaunce |  Michael Chaput |  Jack Skille |
| Defensive Pairings | |
|---|---|
 Alexander Edler |  Troy Stecher |
 Luca Sbisa |  Nikita Tryamkin |
 Alex Biega | |
James Neal is on the IR until the end of this game and will be re-evaluated. Frederick Gaudreau has been up for a few games and will play tonight. Even though it’s Nashville, somehow I feel like there will be goals tonight… lots… of goals.
Pekka Rinne should be backstopping the Preds this evening.
Nashville Predators lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 Filip Forsberg |  Ryan Johansen |  Calle Jarnkrok |
 Austin Watson |  Mike Fisher |  Colton Sissons |
 Kevin Fiala |  Mike Ribeiro |  Craig Smith |
 Harry Zolnierczyk |  Vladislav Kamenev |  Frederick Gaudreau |
| Defensive Pairings | |
|---|---|
 Roman Josi |  Ryan Ellis |
 Mattias Ekholm |  Matt Irwin |
 Pontus Aberg |  Yannick Weber |
GAME NOTES, STATS AND OTHER INTERESTING INFO
- The Canucks have confirmed they will be playing with six defensemen tonight. As far as I’m concerned, anything is possible now.
- Bo Horvat is likely an All-Star! He’s the pretty obvious choice for a 3rd-year player that leads the Canucks in scoring at the halfway point and might even get the “C” on his jersey by next October. Things are changing in Vancouver and it feels good… even if we have NO idea what’s going on anymore.
- Great to see former Kelowna Rocket, Colton Sissons, doing well in Smashville. He had a hat-trick against the Lightning a few games back and it’s great to see yet another Rocket making an immediate impact in the NHL. You might have heard of a few others.
- It’s the 2nd of 3 games on the road for the Canucks and even though the last 10 games have resulted in a 7-3 record, the team’s road record of 5-13-1 frightens small children. Just an idea, but maybe serve better food on the plane.
- I know, I know, too much Horvat. It’s just he has 13 points in 13 games (2 scoreless games) and for all the naysayers, critics that said his ceiling was 2nd line centre: You’re wrong. Bo has arrived.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
It’s a story until it’s not.
MY TAKE
After Nashville was embarrassed by the Blackhawks a few days ago and the Canucks were embarrassed a few days ago (5D), it’s time to get back on the “making the playoffs” train and show the Predators exactly what the Canucks are about now.
I predict a win and zero power play goals for the Canucks.
WHERE’S SHEA WEBER?
I have been told he does not play here anymore and PK Subban is injured. Thankfully, Yannick Weber IS playing and quite frankly that’s good enough for me.
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