CANUCKS ARMY GDT #76 – CANUCKS @ BLUES

9 years ago

One look at the standings today and its plain as day, the Canucks let a big lead get away from them. However, cheering for the Canucks as long as I have or you have will show that it’s always been done this way: difficult and agonizing.

The Canucks head to the land of BBQ ribs, brisket and basically any meal that begs for BBQ sauce: St. Louis; a road city most welcome. Vancouver’s road record is pretty good this year (22-12-3) and with the Canucks taking the last two games against the Blues, tonight should follow suit. After losing to the Stars in OT on Saturday, every point is crucial with LA and Calgary breathing down the Canucks neck. Their breath is stinky like no breakfast, 2 coffees, no brushing teeth breath. It’s bad. They need some distance.

BROADCAST INFO

Puck Drop: 5 PM 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

Taco Eddie will once again man the net for the Canucks, you jelly yet Miller? Zack Kassian and Brad Richardson are…you get the idea (day to day).

LW	C	RW
Olli Jokinen	David Backes	T.J. Oshie
Jaden Schwartz	Jori Lehtera	Vladimir Tarasenko
Dmitrij Jaskin	Paul Stastny	Patrik Berglund
Steve Ott	Marcel Goc	Ryan Reaves

Defensive Pairings
Carl Gunnarsson	Alex Pietrangelo
Jay Bouwmeester	Zbynek Michalek
Barret Jackman	Kevin Shattenkirk

Brian Elliott gets the nod for the Blues but I don’t care much. The Blues will make the playoffs and bail like they did last year, they’re pretenders. Alex Steen will not play, but TJ Oshie may suit up. Game time decisions for him. Hopefully Oshie decides he needs the night off, Canuck killer alert!

HEAD TO HEAD

REASONS TO WATCH THIS GAME

Yannick Weber may have helped turn the PP around, when they actually get a shot off. The Canucks man advantage is still uglier than Phil Kessel, so the turn around isn’t there yet.
Bo Horvat just keeps getting better. At 52.3% in the faceoff circle and the amount WD seems to trust Bo in key situations, the playoffs could be a real eye opener for the rest of the league.
It’s a 5 PM start time so most of us are just getting off work. Can you make it home without knowing what’s happened? Are you the PVR master of your domain?
Like I said before, St. Louis is home to some good BBQ; so treat yourself to a rack of ribs while watching the game, pretty good reason right there.
Chris Higgins has come on lately (2G and 1A in his last 5GP), maybe I was wrong about him? Seems to be building his game up again and just in time too! Playoffs are where he shines.
Scoreboard watching season is upon us. Looks like every night will now dictate if the Canucks are in the post season or not, always entertaining.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

MY TAKE

The last two games against the Blues were positive experiences for the Canucks. The last two games Vancouver has played, not so much. Willie D could really use Kass and Richy back in the lineup to give the lines some more depth. St. Louis won’t roll over and the Canucks have shown they can. A solid 60 minute effort and I think the Canucks can win, if not, more of the same I’m afraid.