CANUCKS ARMY GDT 7 – CANUCKS @ SABRES
By Always90four
6 years agoSo yesterday was a bit of a drag, hey?
On to the next one as the Canucks go north to face the Sabres in Buffalo. It’s actually more west than north but still north. The battle of the 1970 expansion cousins will come to a head but will it be the Canucks that emerge victoriously? Discipline will be crucial if Vancouver hopes to get back in the win column. Discipline and goals. They need goals.
Let’s do this!
WATCH / LISTEN / PUCK-DROP
TV: SN360
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 4:00 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
Bo Horvat found his way back to the power play last night, but it was the Sedins and Thomas Vanek that made the difference. Erik Gudbranson won’t be suiting up, so Alex Biega is the man to draw in. Of course, the league could not suspend Gudbranson. Just kidding, it’s the Canucks. Suppose there’s a chance Michael Chaput draws in. I don’t want to live in that world.
Jacob Markstrom will start.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 DANIEL SEDIN |  HENRIK SEDIN |  MARKUS GRANLUND |
 SVEN BAERTSCHI |  ALEX BURMISTROV |  BROCK BOESER |
 SAM GAGNER |  BO HORVAT |  THOMAS VANEK |
 DEREK DORSETT |  BRANDON SUTTER |  JAKE VIRTANEN |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO |  CHRIS TANEV |
 BEN HUTTON |  ERIK GUDBRANSON |
 DERRICK POULIOT |  TROY STECHER |
Currently missing in action, Josh Gorges, Jacob Josefson, Zemgus Girgensons, Justin Falk and Zach Bogosian were all away from practice, and it will be game-time decisions for a few of them.
Nothing else on the radar.
If Robin Lehner is still sick, Chad Johnson will get the start.
Buffalo Sabres lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 EVANDER KANE |  JACK EICHEL |  JASON POMINVILLE |
 SAM REINHART |  RYAN O’REILLY |  KYLE OKPOSO |
 BENOIT POULIOT |  JOHAN LARSSON |  JUSTIN BAILEY |
 JORDAN NOLAN |  ZEMGUS GIRGENSONS |  MATT MOULSON |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 MARCO SCANDELLA |  RASMUS RISTOLAINEN |
 NATHAN BEAULIEU |  MATT TENNYSON |
 JOSH GORGES |  JAKE MCCABE |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- Vanek and Horvat are your leading goal scorers through six games. That might continue tonight but did anyone have those two guys at the top? Horvat is getting in there, but Vanek has been as advertised and even though he’s taking up a spot for say, Nikolay Goldobin, he hasn’t disappointed. Silver linings, silver linings.
- Sticking with goals, Derek Dorsett has two this season which is already one more than his total from a year ago. Nice to see what he can do when he’s healthy. The bull in a china shop is making up for lost time, watch out Buffalo!
- Goaltending can be controversial in Vancouver and just when things were getting to that point; the Bruins put everyone back in their seats. Jacob Markstrom will get another chance to regain his net, and anything more than a win is good news for the time being.
- The spotlight is off Sam Gagner, and it would be fitting to see him get back into the fold with a power-play goal. His shot has been tracked by defenders in every situation, but something feels like he’ll do some damage… or get damaged. Not sure which one yet.
- The first shot to not go in on the Canucks.
THE TWITTER TAKE
Bang on!
MY 94 CENTS
Scoring three goals apparently, doesn’t equal a win but taking solace in the fact the Canucks can actually score three goals is a positive. Staying out of the penalty box will give the Canucks a better chance of winning, but even then the defence needs to step it up. The Sedins and Vanek were alright against the Bruins, but it will take more than that.
OVER / UNDER
Canucks total goals (+/- 1) The over is the play tonight. Feel like two is the lucky number. Doesn’t mean they’ll win.
Evander Kane goals (+/- 2) Pushing this one. Guess that means OT or a shootout at the very least.
Recent articles from Always90four
