CANUCKS ARMY GDT# 64 – CANUCKS @ KINGS
By Always90four
7 years ago
Photo Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin – USA TODAY Sports
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Tonight marks the second-last meeting between the Canucks and Kings both teams have something to prove. For the Canucks, it’s now about developing the talent rising through the ranks and getting the most out of aging stars Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Los Angeles, however, is trying to keep their playoff hopes alive and two points would help that cause.
The Canucks will debut Nikolay Goldobin against LA so it’s Saturday night fever for Canucks fans as the puck drops in Hollywood.
Not like a REAL fever from say, the mumps, but just the Saturd… you know what, I think you get it.
LINE COMBOS
There will be some changes in the lineup tonight as Goldobin debuts and Brendan Gaunce will probably fall to the fourth line. Joe Labate played for Utica last night so it’s entirely possible he doesn’t get to LA in time.
Hopefully, Jacob Markstrom starts to give Ryan Miller at least one game off. With 4 wins in his last 14 games played, Miller needs a break because he just can’t be what he was 10 years ago.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 Daniel Sedin |  Henrik Sedin |  Markus Granlund |
 Reid Boucher |  Bo Horvat |  Loui Eriksson |
 Joe Labate |  Brandon Sutter |  Jayson Megna |
 Borna Rendulic |  Brendan Gaunce |  Alexandre Grenier |
| Defensive Pairings | |
|---|---|
 Alexander Edler |  Troy Stecher |
 Luca Sbisa |  Philip Larsen |
 Ben Hutton |  Alex Biega |
Jarome Iginla is the newest King and he gets top billing for this one. LA can dish it out on any line and even though they’re sitting 8th in the West, all they need to do is get in and it’s entirely possible they do some serious damage this spring.
Jonathan Quick is getting back into form and will start this one.
Los Angeles Kings lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 Marian Gaborik |  Anze Kopitar |  Jarome Iginla |
 Tanner Pearson |  Jeff Carter |  Tyler Toffoli |
 Trevor Lewis |  Nick Shore |  Dustin Brown |
 Adrian Kempe |  Nic Dowd |  Kyle Clifford |
| Defensive Pairings | |
|---|---|
 Derek Forbort |  Drew Doughty |
 Jake Muzzin |  Paul Ladue |
 Brayden McNabb |  Alec Martinez |
GAME NOTES, STATS, AND OTHER INTERESTING INFO
- In his last six games against the Kings, Henrik Sedin is a point per game player. Four of those points have come on the power play and one was a GWG. Stats say he should do something productive tonight.
- Loui Eriksson needs to show the Canucks he still plays for them. He has four points in 2017 and they weren’t exactly recent. I think if he was healthy, Derek Dorsett would be playing better than Eriksson. That’s saying something.
- Bo Horvat is a bit off of his streak right now scoring once in his last five games. He had a run for a bit and he’s cooled off. He had a pretty good showing at the All-Star Game so maybe he will rekindle that flame. Bonus tidbit – no Sean Monahan to pass to.
- Brendan Gaunce still sporting an above average CF% with 52.5%. He may not be scoring but he’s making his time count. Being a defensive forward isn’t exactly sexy but its necessary.
- I could really use a Tryamkin smash
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Very original
MY TAKE
The Canucks have to be sick of losing these close ones, losing games where a bad period buries them or where it just isn’t going their way. Are they the best anymore, no they are not. What is promising, though, is that Willie Desjardins is willing to get the next generation in the lineup now, whereas he was a bit hesitant before.
As the great Jay-Z once said “Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t”. Willie, the numbers tell the story, time to change it up.
BIGGEST SPARK IN TONIGHT’S GAME
Everything points to Goldobin but I can see Markus Granlund being the hero for Vancouver. What a season he has had. His career year of 16G and 11A has bumped him up the roster, even though he’s spent time pretty much everywhere.
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