CANUCKS ARMY PRESEASON GAME 3 – CANUCKS VS. KINGS
By Always90four
5 years agoTV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SNP / SN 650 / 7:00PM
THE INTRO
Tonight is the final home preseason game at Rogers Arena before they play a “home” game in some little town in the Okanagan that a few people may have googled once or twice. The Canucks take on the visiting Los Angeles Kings in Vancouver’s third game in three nights, yes you read that correctly.
Travis Green teased Canucks fans in the first game against the Oilers with the debut of Elias Pettersson, he threw together a mishmash lineup against the Flames so it goes without saying that tonight’s roster has to include the world premiere of Brock Boeser and Pettersson in the same game and hopefully on the same line. It might be the most anticipated duet since Jay Z and Linkin Park unleashed “Collision Course” in 2004.
Thankfully, the Kings have dropped their first two preseason games as well, both of which were against split squads of the Arizona Coyotes.
Someone has to win tonight, who will it be?
LINEUPS
The Canucks will go with these guys and hopefully get their first W:
The Kings feel this is their best lineup:
SOME STATS, SOME NEW INFORMATION, AND SOME OTHER STUFF
- Travis Green stated Michael DiPietro will be sent back to Windsor of the OHL as their season is about to start. Jacob Markstrom hasn’t had a start yet so there doesn’t need to be four goalies hanging around when DiPietro can already be getting quality starts.
- Olli Juolevi was about as effective as Loui Eriksson in his sole game played although Eriksson had way more opportunities to shine. Juolevi should get a few more chances to prove himself but after one game he hasn’t exactly challenged for a spot even on this anemic defense. He’ll have to make a splash somehow. He needs Chris Tanev.
- He can’t be held back any longer, Brock Boeser needs to hit the hilite reel this evening. His run in Da Beauty League was the thing of legends. His wrist looks fully healed, he’s bulkier and his 34 points in 9 games in DBL led all players. Scoring comes easy for Boeser but how easy will it be if he gets a chance to rock and roll with Pettersson?
- Brendan Leipsic doesn’t need to play another game this preseason, well at least until maybe Saturday. He’s been a gamer. The sequence and move that led to his goal yesterday are what everyone is looking for. It’s the hope fans cling to when they see the defense they’ll be stuck with for the next 82 games. Tyler Motte has also impressed and as everyone knows, the losses will mount but the guys that keep it close will be the ones that get this team out of the Rebuild.
- Oh ya, Ilya Kovalchuk is back and wears a Kings jersey. That could be bad.
MY 94 CENTS
Beating the Kings has been a chore for some time now and it appears the Canucks are still very much the team they were last season. It’s not fair to judge the entire team yet as there hasn’t been a complete roster to critique but you can count on one hand how many players have looked good. The “meh” factor is already eclipsing the “Injured Boeser Era”.
Limiting odd-man rushes and my goodness scoring on the powerplay are things the Canucks can definitely get better at going into tonight’s game.
I guess the tweets will be good at least.
THE FINAL WORD
Sign me up.
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