CANUCKS ARMY GDT 66 – CANUCKS VS. ISLANDERS
By Always90four
6 years agoA couple of days off and the Vancouver Canucks are right back at it this evening as they take on the visiting New York Islanders.
The games are ticking away but jobs are still on the line for the Canucks and with the most recent injury to Sven Baertschi, there might be a chance for someone still to shine. An early lead would sure be nice to take the sting off of things lately. Brock, that’s your cue.
Let’s Do This!™
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: SNET-P
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 7:00 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
As has been said already, Sven Baertschi is out for the season with a separated shoulder, ouch! He joins the rest of the infirmary that has accumulated in the last few months. Jussi Jokinen looks like he’ll get his first game as a Canuck tonight with the Sedins on either side. Nic Dowd draws back in on the Sam Gagner/Jake Virtanen line and Nikolay Goldobin looks like he’ll be healthy scratched.
Jacob Markstrom is the #1* goaltender so he’ll probably start.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 BRENDAN LEIPSIC |  BO HORVAT |  BROCK BOESER |
 DANIEL SEDIN |  HENRIK SEDIN |  NIKOLAY GOLDOBIN |
 SVEN BAERTSCHI |  SAM GAGNER |  JAKE VIRTANEN |
 DARREN ARCHIBALD |  BRANDON SUTTER |  TYLER MOTTE |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 ALEXANDER EDLER |  ERIK GUDBRANSON |
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO |  TROY STECHER |
 BEN HUTTON |  DERRICK POULIOT |
Not like it needs to be said again but Mathew Barzal will make his Rogers Arena pro debut this evening. He leads the Islanders in scoring and the Calder race. Nikolai Kulemin skated with the team on Sunday and while he’s not in the lineup it is a good sign his rehab is going well.
Jaroslav Halak should get the start.
New York Islanders lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 ANDERS LEE |  JOHN TAVARES |  TANNER FRITZ |
 ANTHONY BEAUVILLIER |  MATHEW BARZAL |  JORDAN EBERLE |
 ANDREW LADD |  BROCK NELSON |  JOSH BAILEY |
 CHRIS WAGNER |  CASEY CIZIKAS |  CAL CLUTTERBUCK |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- It’s taken some time but the ghost of Luca Sbisa has almost vanished from the Canucks skill set. Since February 1, the Canucks lead the league with the fewest giveaways in the NHL with 87. Of course, many remember the Henrik Sedin giveaway the other night that led to a goal but we don’t need to dig too deep into that one.
- The Islanders are currently on a four-game win streak against the Canucks which dates back to March 2016. New York doesn’t play the Canucks more than twice a season but a streak is a streak and it needs to be broken.
- Henrik and Daniel Sedin are the models of consistency. Both players are likely to eclipse the 50-point plateau this season and for Henrik, he has relied heavily on his distribution skills to get him there. With only two goals this season, he has tallied 41 assists and will most likely get to 50 the same route. All of Henrik’s 50-point seasons have come after 2013.
- Daniel Sedin is on quite the tear lately. He currently is on a five-game point streak (nine points) and has 14 points in his last 10 games. It doesn’t look like the Sedins are quite ready to retire yet.
- Sam Gagner is sitting at career point #149 and career PPG #49. A double-whammy of sorts if he were to light the lamp on the man-advantage. Small victories.
THE TWITTER TAKE
Good thing he’s debuting THIS season. I doubt a rookie contract would pay for a ton of seats in Rogers Arena’s good years.
MY 94 CENTS
Win or lose, I just want to see Boeser score a few goals. Everything else after that is a bonus. The Canucks aren’t making the playoffs and it feels like if they’re not smothered in bubble wrap, someone is bound to be hurt for the year. The NHL will no doubt be watching this one as two of its brightest stars face-off against each other. Oh, and John Tavares is here, too! Just enjoy the talent on the ice.
OVER / UNDER
Mathew Barzal points (+/- 1.5) Sadly, this man is very good at hockey and probably has the Calder rapped up. Take the over.
Jussi Jokinen shoot-out winner (+/- 0.5) A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away Jussi was good at the shoot-out. A complete hunch on this one and a stretch to say the Canucks go past OT, I think Jokinen makes some magic. Take the over here as well.
The Pint is your home for all things game day. Come down for game day specials like $5 mugs of bud and bud light and get 20% off food if you’re a season ticket holders
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