CANUCKS ARMY GDT 55 – CANUCKS @ HURRICANES
By Always90four
6 years agoRight back at it tonight, as the Canucks travel through the night and arrive in Carolina to face the Hurricanes this evening. Last night’s game against the Lightning was a forgettable one but it’s one game, and the Canucks will look to salvage something on this road trip. The losses have been stacking up lately for Vancouver, but a win now and then keeps the mob away. They could use some good news.
Let’s Do This!™
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: SNET-P
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 4:30 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
Where to begin? Brendan Gaunce returned to Vancouver with a fractured foot, sounds like a few weeks, not good. Sam Gagner also went back to Vancouver with an ankle injury, again, not good. Markus Granlund also had his ankle mangled against Tampa, and he too will not be in the lineup. Florida isn’t exactly a place to vacation by the looks of things, very aggressive locals.
But fear not, Darren Archibald is in the lineup tonight, Reid Boucher should once again draw in as will Nic Dowd. The amount of grit in tonight’s Canucks lineup is simply stunning. Doesn’t mean it’s good.
Brock Boeser is still in the lineup, so there’s that.
Jacob Markstrom will start after Anders Nilsson received his spot-start in Tampa.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 SVEN BAERTSCHI |  BO HORVAT |  BROCK BOESER |
 DANIEL SEDIN |  HENRIK SEDIN |  JAKE VIRTANEN |
 MARKUS GRANLUND |  BRANDON SUTTER |  LOUI ERIKSSON |
 REID BOUCHER |  NIC DOWD |  THOMAS VANEK |
The Hurricanes haven’t played since Tuesday but will be looking to snap their own three-game winless streak. What is shown below should be the lineup that takes the ice this evening.
Scott Darling is getting the start.
Carolina Hurricanes lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 SEBASTIAN AHO |  JORDAN STAAL |  TEUVO TERAVAINEN |
 BROCK MCGINN |  VICTOR RASK |  JUSTIN WILLIAMS |
 JEFF SKINNER |  ELIAS LINDHOLM |  PHIL DI GIUSEPPE |
 JOAKIM NORDSTROM |  DEREK RYAN |  LEE STEMPNIAK |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- Vancouver beat Carolina back in December for Jacob Markstrom’s first career shutout, time’s have definitely changed. Tonight an energized Canucks lineup could resemble the same team that took it too the Hurricanes on that cold December night. A bit of team defence will go a long way.
- Brock Boeser tallied another laser in Tampa and is now six points back of Mathew Barzal for the rookie scoring lead. He needs to go on a heater and destroy a goalie or two. Scott Darling has a .892 SA% and a 3.06 GAA through 30 GP. Feels like an Arby’s night. Wait, wrong catchphrase. Feels like a Boeser Bonanza, there, BOOM!
- Hold off on the Henrik hate. Despite Henrik Sedin’s dismal PPG totals (1) in the past few seasons, his assists with the man-advantage are quite impressive. Henrik has 27 assists on the power-play which leads all Canucks from 2016/17 – this season. He’s not finished yet, folks.
- Thomas Vanek needs to get traded, and his value to a team with the man-advantage or even at evens is noteworthy. He likes to shoot; after Boeser, Vanek is next on the Canucks with 27 shots on the PP. His 14 points via PP aren’t earth-shattering, but on a good team, he could be a lot better.
- Hurricane’s forward Jeff Skinner is once again on the trade block. Keep an eye on his status today. Maybe we’ll all get a big trade to talk about prior to puck drop. Both fan bases could use something to discuss; it hasn’t been fun lately.
Well, it can’t get any worse really. Injuries are once again rearing their ugly heads with the Canucks, so it’s time to find out who can survive. Even though Scott Darling is in net this evening, will that even matter? Can the Canucks actually score more than two goals… and win? The reality is starting to set in that the Canucks are a legit contender for Rasmus Dahlin and that is just fine with me.
OVER / UNDER
Darren Archibald memorable moments (+/- 1.5) It’s been awhile since a bottom-six player has had this much fanfare. Archibald brings toughness to the Canucks lineup, and that alone is a moment in itself. Take the over.
Brock Boeser Goals from “The Spot” (+/- 0.5) Vancouver will have a power play, and Brock will donate pucks to the net, from his spot. Take the over.
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