CANUCKS ARMY GDT# 69 – CANUCKS VS. BRUINS
By Always90four
7 years agoLosing can only last for so long before a team is finally rewarded. Tonight, the Canucks take on their arch-rival, the Boston Bruins in a game that should set rating records all across the Lower Mainland and parts of rural British Columbia. Ryan Miller is coming off of a spectacular outing against the Penguins and if tonight’s matchup is anything like Saturday, keep the energy drinks in the fridge because you won’t need them.
There’s enough intensity to go around.
LINE COMBOS
Whether it be the flu, mumps, or food poisoning, the Canucks are getting to see most of their expanded roster by default. Joe Labate is back in the fold, Jayson Megna is riding shotgun with Bo Horvat. Alexandre Grenier is still here… so far. There may be some good news later in the day that could see a player or two return this evening.
Ryan Miller will once again be Vancouver’s champion and start against the Bruins.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 Daniel Sedin |  Henrik Sedin |  Markus Granlund |
 Sven Baertschi |  Bo Horvat |  Jayson Megna |
 Joe Labate |  Brandon Sutter |  Reid Boucher |
 Joseph Cramarossa |  Michael Chaput |  Alexandre Grenier |
| Defensive Pairings | |
|---|---|
 Alexander Edler |  Troy Stecher |
 Luca Sbisa |  Chris Tanev |
 Ben Hutton |  Nikita Tryamkin |
Ryan Spooner is still out with a concussion and will not play. The top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Backes will definitely have the Canucks on edge which will allow the next two lines to wreak havoc. The Bruins came into Vancouver at the right time.
Tuukka Rask should get the start.
Boston Bruins lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 Brad Marchand |  Patrice Bergeron |  David Backes |
 Drew Stafford |  David Krejci |  David Pastrnak |
 Frank Vatrano |  Austin Czarnik |  Jimmy Hayes |
 Matt Beleskey |  Dominic Moore |  Riley Nash |
| Defensive Pairings | |
|---|---|
 Zdeno Chara |  Brandon Carlo |
 Torey Krug |  Adam McQuaid |
 Colin Miller |  Kevan Miller |
GAME NOTES, STATS, AND OTHER INTERESTING INFO
- Goal droughts have hit the Canucks hard and it’s up to Horvat and oddly enough Michael Chaput to get them out of it. Hate to say it, Chaput has been impressive enough that I’m rooting for him. Look what this team has done to us.
- Ryan Miller has faced 175 shots in his last five games, that’s an average of 35/game. He has one win in that span and has allowed 14 goals. The scary thing is: what happens if he burns out? Jacob Markstrom isn’t quite ready so Richard Bachman will have to be ready at a moments notice. This could be a blessing in disguise, potentially.
- Vancouver signed forward Drew Shore to a contract for the remainder of the season. Jim Benning has hit some homers lately so maybe he’s another one?
- Going into tonight’s game, Bergeron, Marchand and, Colin Miller are in the top-6 Corsi% in the league with 60.29, 60.20 and, 59.05 respectively. Clearly a team headed in the right direction.
- I think we can call it: with a 10-point deficit, the Canucks are eliminated from the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. I wanted to be the first to tell you all. Better luck next year.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
If anything, it keeps everyone interested a bit longer. Tonight’s game would be fun to see him and Chara hit each other like big horn sheep.
MY TAKE
I believe in the Canucks, I really do, but a streaking Bruins club and countless games where the Canucks allow 35-40+ shots per night are adding up and it can’t continue or every game here on out will be a loss.
COULD ANYTHING ELSE GO WRONG THIS SEASON FOR THE CANUCKS?
Well, I think the only thing that could get any worse would be the Draft Lottery deciding the Canucks fall further to once again pick around the 5th spot. That’s about it. OK, giving the captaincy to Jayson Megna would maybe be worse.
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