CANUCKS ARMY GDT #74 – MILLIONAIRES VS. AVALANCHE

9 years ago

Cyclone Taylor aka Radim Vrbata coming off a 2 goal performance gets an opportunity to take on gritty forward Gabriel Landeskog tonight as the Millionaires take on the Avs at Rogers Arena. 100 years have passed but the memory of Vancouver’s only hockey championship still looms large.

Colorado is coming off a shaming by the Oilers after going down 3 – buzz only to come back and tie it, then lose in regulation to one of the worst collections of NHL, sure we’ll call them that, NHL players. The other positive is that it was just last night! That can’t feel good going into a building that is hungry for more wins. The Vancouver Millionaires are ready to avenge their last outing against the Sens last year. Very different meaning this year.

7 wins in their last 10, and riding a 3 game winning streak; Things are coming into place for the Canucks at just the right time.

BROADCAST INFO

Puck Drop: 7PM Pacific

TV: Sportsnet Pacific

Radio: TSN 1040

LINEUPS

LW	C	RW
Daniel Sedin	Henrik Sedin	Alexandre Burrows
Chris Higgins	Nick Bonino	Radim Vrbata
Shawn Matthias	Linden Vey	Derek Dorsett
Ronalds Kenins	Bo Horvat	Jannik Hansen

Defensive Pairings
Alexander Edler	Chris Tanev
Dan Hamhuis	Yannick Weber
Luca Sbisa	Kevin Bieksa

You get called on it ONE time, so Eddie Lack will don the V between his…I have to rephrase that. Eddie Lack will lead his team out in Millionaires maroon for the second time. Adam Clendening was sent down to get some games in, Ronalds Kenins is a sure thing and as it goes lately, Kassian will be a game time decision.

LW	C	RW
John Mitchell	Matt Duchene	Jarome Iginla
Gabriel Landeskog	Ryan O’Reilly	Alex Tanguay
Cody McLeod	Marc-Andre Cliche	Dennis Everberg
Jordan Caron	Freddie Hamilton	Danny Briere

Defensive Pairings
Nate Guenin	Tyson Barrie
Jan Hejda	Zach Redmond
Brad Stuart	Nick Holden

No real storylines here, the Avs lost last night to the Oilers. Semyon Varlamov should start again.

HEAD TO HEAD

REASONS TO WATCH THIS GAME

Donning spiffy (spiffy?) duds tonight, the Millionaires make their return to Rogers Arena. 100 years later and they still look good. Its a shame Eddie Lack doesn’t have better goalie fashion sense; his taste in equipment design truly lacks, pun intended.
Radim Vrbata is playing some great hockey right now. 4G and 3A in his last 5 games, even with the empties, he’s looking like early season Vrby. With the playoffs right around the corner, that’s more than welcome.
A year ago, Eddie Lack was given the net at the Heritage Classic wearing a Millionaires jersey. The choice wasn’t exactly the one anyone thought made sense. Today, he’s by far the best option and aside from his equipment – I’m sorry it’s just not good – he will lead the Canucks to victory.
I needn’t remind you, the Avs are the opponent and they beat us pretty bad back in 2004, 9-2. They never paid f….OK I have to stop, too edgy; These Avs need to be reminded the Rog is a tough place to play again.
Does Alex Burrows have another 6 second goal in him ala Detroit 2013? Probably not but the likes of Alex, Kenins and Horvat can excite. These guys have been big and tonight should be no different.
Bo Horvat has arrived and gives the Canucks the young stud they’ve waited for as the other teams around the league got theirs through terrible season after terrible season. Time to measure him up to the Landeskogs of the league.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

MY TAKE

Even though the Avs are coming off a loss on the first half of the back to back, they will still play the Canucks tough. But that’s fine, because the Millionaires are playing and Patrick Roy has never played them. This team is different, its impactful and relevant. One awful season in the past, this Canucks team is making believers out of many. Horvat and Kenins have big games, the Sedin line is magic and Burrows scores on a breakaway. 5-2 Millionaires. Playoffs are close people, GET JACKED!!!