Canucks Army THE GAME DAY – Canucks @ Islanders
By Always90four
4 years agoTHE INTRO
I’m back from Vegas and I’m ready to go!
Thanks to Chris Faber and David Quadrelli for taking over in my absence. I think those might have been the first two games I’ve missed since 2012; my Ironman streak is over.
Today, the Canucks play an early one, really early, against the New York Islanders. Vancouver is once again vying for another five-game win streak which is becoming a thing now, apparently. The Islanders are looking to win their second-straight game and get over the .500 mark in their last 10.
I only saw highlights in Vegas and it looks like the Canucks handled themselves quite well against the St. Louis Blues and the San Jose Sharks. New York is not a pushover team so the Canucks will need to bring their best effort today. What if the Canucks are actually good?
Then what?
Let’s Do This!™
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
The odds for today’s game are: (VAN +120/ NYI -140) courtesy of OddsShark.com
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SNP / SN 650 / 10:00 AM
LINEUPS
With Tyler Motte out indefinitely as well as some other bumps and bruises, the Canucks called up Zack MacEwen and Justin Bailey. It’s unlikely either play with Tim Schaller most likely slotting back in but both players were in full practice yesterday so all it takes is a New York Minute… Oooooo, and anything can change.
Jacob Markstrom should be in net for the Canucks today. It doesn’t seem to matter who’s in the net these days as the Canucks are getting stellar goaltending from both Thatcher Demko and Markstrom as we all predicted.
Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 TANNER PEARSON Rating: 75.1#28 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 77.6#18 C |  LOUI ERIKSSON Rating: 71.0#93 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 74.52#22 FL1 |
 J.T. MILLER Rating: 77.6#17 LW |  ELIAS PETTERSSON Rating: 78.6#14 C |  JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 73.7#45 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 76.66#3 FL2 |
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL Rating: 70.7#101 LW |  ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 70.4#145 C |  BROCK BOESER Rating: 74.9#28 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 72.01#10 FL3 |
 TYLER MOTTE Rating: 68.8#132 LW |  JAY BEAGLE Rating: 67.8#179 C |  BRANDON SUTTER Rating: 70.5#143 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 69.02#30 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 ALEXANDER EDLER Rating: 75.5#12 LD |  TROY STECHER Rating: 72.3#63 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 73.88#17 DL1 |
 QUINN HUGHES Rating: 75.4#15 LD |  CHRIS TANEV Rating: 71.8#76 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 73.61#15 DL2 |
 OSCAR FANTENBERG Rating: 70.9#96 LD |  TYLER MYERS Rating: 73.6#30 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.26#16 DL3 |
Cal Clutterbuck had wrist surgery in December and will absolutely not be in the lineup this morning. Adam Pelech tore his Achilles so he too will not be in the game today. Overall, a pretty healthy lineup facing the Canucks today led by Mathew Barzal, the fastest skater in the league.
Sebastian Aho has been recalled from Bridgeport. He doesn’t play for Carolina, nor is he Finnish. This is confusing to me as well.
Expect to see Thomas Greiss between the pipes today after their bye week has ended.
Islanders lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ANDERS LEE Rating: 75.6#22 LW |  MATHEW BARZAL Rating: 76.7#25 C |  JORDAN EBERLE Rating: 74.6#31 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 75.64#15 FL1 |
 ANTHONY BEAUVILLIER Rating: 74.0#41 LW |  BROCK NELSON Rating: 75.1#38 C |  JOSH BAILEY Rating: 71.7#85 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 73.62#20 FL2 |
 MICHAEL DAL COLLE Rating: 68.5#133 LW |  DERICK BRASSARD Rating: 71.3#119 C |  TOM KUHNHACKL Rating: 69.0#123 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 69.62#30 FL3 |
 MATT MARTIN Rating: 68.9#129 LW |  CASEY CIZIKAS Rating: 72.3#92 C |  LEO KOMAROV Rating: 70.1#109 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.44#17 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 NOAH DOBSON Rating: 73.1#42 LD |  RYAN PULOCK Rating: 75.0#21 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.06#14 DL1 |
 DEVON TOEWS Rating: 74.7#3 LD |  SCOTT MAYFIELD Rating: 73.5#32 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 74.08#7 DL2 |
 NICK LEDDY Rating: 72.9#51 LD |  JOHNNY BOYCHUK Rating: 71.9#73 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.44#15 DL3 |
GAME NOTES AND A STAT OR TWO
- Jacob Markstrom has been lights-out all season but he holds a .917 SV%. Thomas Greiss isn’t a slouch either. He currently has a .925 rating so it’s safe to assume goals will be at a premium today.
- Jake Virtanen is having career years in almost every statistical category that matters. He’s one goal away from eclipsing last year’s total of 15 which would also put him only four goals back of the elusive “Shotgun Jake” total. He’s on a four-game point streak with 2G/4A in that time. Patience has paid off in spades for Jake and it feels like it’s only going to get better. Expect Jake to put on a show today and outshine Barzal.
- Despite the flashy goal stat that has hampered Brock Boeser this season, he’s having a great year. Sitting on the third line isn’t doing wonders for him but he’s still producing results. Brock will eventually be moved up with Bo or Pettersson again but a bit of puck luck can turn everything around and the man from Minnesota will once again be sniping goals from the sweet spots.
- Adding to Virtanen’s day, he’s the current leader in goals against the Islanders since 2016 with… two. Of course, Bo Horvat leads all Canucks with five points against the Islanders in that same span. With two points, Loui Eriksson can leapfrog to second on the team.
- Vancouver’s power play has slid for some time now. It hasn’t changed really at all. Today, the Canucks need to change it up and put pucks to the net, speed up passes, move around and get back to what made them famous earlier this year. If they make the playoffs they’ll need the PP to carry them and a solid performance with the man-advantage against the Islanders is a good start.
#CANUCKSTWITTER
As you were:
This was from last game but it needs to be shown again. He shotguns ACTUAL FREAKING TUNA!!!
MY 94 CENTS
Vancouver and New York are becoming a great mini-rivalry. There have been some great matchups since Brock Boeser and Mathew Barzal faced off for the Calder and it’s built from there. I think the Canucks are in a good place right now and I see them taking charge early. The Islanders are a great team but I think the Canucks have a bit more going for them right now.
Take the Canucks for the W today. I’m usually right.
AND ANOTHER THING…
You’re here for this, I’m here for this. People need this shirt:
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