Canucks Army GDT #6: Canucks @ Blues

Despite an ass-kicking at the hands of the Dallas Stars, there are no lineup changes to note for the Canucks. Dan Hamhuis will play with Kevin Bieksa, loading up Vancouver’s top-4 D and re-uniting the Sbisa-Weber nightmare pairing, but other than that, the same 18 skaters that suited up on Tuesday will take the ice tonight.

Vancouver is looking to avoid falling to 3-3 on the year after starting 3-0 against the Alberta teams, but they’ll be in tough to do it tonight. Through their first handful of games, the Blues have been one of the best puck possession teams in the NHL, but have shot at just 2.9% in score close situations. Still, they’re 2-2-1 on the year thanks largely to a powerplay operating at 30% and the play of young Jaden Schwartz. Schwartz leads the Blues in goals (4 in 5 games) and points (7), with linemate Vladimir Tarasenko second on the team in scoring as well.

St. Louis will likely be without Alex Steen, who’s battling the flu, and will definitely be without prized offseason signing Paul Stastny, who’s nursing a shoulder injury. Stastny’s absence has necessitated Steve Ott being moved to the first line, while it remains to be seen who draws in for Steen, should he be unable to play.

The biggest storyline tonight is the return of Ryan Miller to St. Louis. The Blues paid a premium for the rent-a-goalie’s services last season in hopes that he would solidify their goaltending. Instead, he went 10-8-1 with a 0.903 save percentage with the Blues, before bombing out of the playoffs with an 0.897 save percentage. Needless to say, the Blues were not happy with his performance, and opted not to re-sign Miller, deciding to run with Jake Allen and Brian Elliott instead.

Miller, along with the rest of the Canucks, will be looking to bounce back against a deep and talented Blues team tonight, but it may be the toughest test they face on this road trip. Vancouver will have to be very, very good tonight – or very, very lucky – to come away with the W.