Canucks Army Preseason Game 6 – Canucks Vs. Senators
By Always90four
4 years agoTHE INTRO
Welcome to another edition to the “Imagine what the Canucks game looks like” game preview. The Canucks will host the Ottawa Senators in Abbotsford this evening while the rest of us that don’t have an NHL.com account will just have to listen to it on the ol’ radio dial; kinda like when the games weren’t on TV back in the day. You’ll adjust.
The Canucks were pushed aside by the Kings on Saturday but there were some positives to take out of that game that could lead to some tough decisions for the coaching staff and management after the final game on Thursday.
Brock Boeser should play in his second game since inking his bridge deal and Elias Pettersson will be happy to build some more chemistry with the King of Flow.
Vancouver had their way with the Senators last season but it doesn’t mean a whole lot until October.
Let’s Do This!™
TELEVISION / RADIO / FACE-OFF
(NHL.COM STREAMING ONLY) / SN650 / 7:00 PM
LINEUPS
The Canucks have sent Ashton Sautner, Zane McIntyre, and Reid Boucher to Utica via the Waiver Express. The only guarantee going forward until opening night is that Jacob Markstrom and Thatcher Demko will own the net from here on in. There are still a few cuts remaining and the fate of Brandon Sutter, Loui Eriksson, Alex Biega, Tim Schaller, and possibly Zack MacEwen hang in the balance.
Stay tuned for the posted roster via the Canucks Twitter account.
As for Ottawa, they practice this morning and will hopefully not get lost on their way to Abbotsford. That Sumas border exit can be tricky.
Might Anders Nilsson get the start tonight against his former club?
GAME NOTES AND A STAT OR TWO
- Word on the street is that Bo Horvat will center the second PP unit which could mean the top unit may see 3F/2D, a different look than we’ve been used to in the last season. The Canucks don’t have to overload the top group and could have two healthy units producing. As far as faceoffs go, Pettersson and Horvat can win them all so scoring chances should increase too!
- Tyler Motte has been quite visible in the preseason but will his energy and determination be enough to crack the lineup? As a fourth-line player, he’s a perfect fit. The problem with that is there are a handful of players that might edge him out. Loui Eriksson will most likely start with the Canucks, Zack MacEwen could stick, and what happens to Josh Leivo? Salary cap maneuvering may fix the answer to this, maybe not for the better.
- Elias Pettersson seems to be back to his old tricks. His dekes are already in mid-season form. The shimmy-shake through the middle against LA was a thing of beauty
- Alex Biega, Tyler Motte, Adam Gaudette, and Zack MacEwen lead the Canucks in the preseason in offensive zone starts with six, and five respectively (Biega the only player with six). The first three players have made a living thus far by getting the most out of their opportunities. Will it continue against the Sens?
- It should also be noted that this game features the two worst teams in the league in CF% this evening. Vancouver is dead last with 35.25% and Ottawa is barely in front of them with 35.33%. Maybe it’s a good thing this isn’t televised.
#CANUCKSTWITTER
MY 94 CENTS
Adam Gaudette has another impressive game and cements his status as a winger on the third line. Quinn Hughes will get more PP time and the Canucks start to put the finishing touches on their potentially league-leading power play this year.
Jake Virtanen scores a goal as well.
AND THEN THERE’S THIS…
How pissed do these guys look to be here? It looks like it was a struggle on the plane ride. Possibly some minor turbulence? Is that the jet Eugene Melnyk was trying to get back?
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