Canucks Army THE GAME DAY – Canucks Vs. Canadiens
By Always90four
4 years agoTHE INTRO
The Canucks are in a tailspin. No, not the kind with Baloo the Bear that absolutely owned childhoods for so many currently in their 30’s, the kind that has us all talking about the L-word: Lottery. First, it was a 1-0 flash in the pan, then an unfortunate outcome against the Sharks, and finally a royal ass-kicking against the Golden Knights.
The common theme in all of this is that the Canucks aren’t very good right now and there were numerous times in the past week where we silenced ourselves to rid ourselves of shame. The Canucks are indeed mediocre and it’s going to take a lot to reverse that title. Tonight, they take on the Montreal Canadiens, a team that has its own share of problems but as you’ll see below, Montreal does enjoy playing the Canucks and their record proves it.
It’s time to settle into the part of the season that could end up being the least enjoyable: the reality that this team isn’t ready to challenge.
Regardless,
Let’s Do This!™
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
The odds for tonight’s game are: (VAN -125/ MTL +105) courtesy of OddsShark.com
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SNP / SN 650 / 7:00 PM
LINEUPS
Jalen Chatfield has been recalled while Guillaume Brisebois has been sent down. Loui Eriksson and Tim Schaller probably slot back in because why not? This team is in a funk of all funks and it’s not “burn it to the ground” yet but it’s also not “Party in the USA”.
CANUCKS… figure it out!
Jacob Markstrom needs a rest. He’s great when he has time to get back to normal and the Canucks put him through the wash this past weekend. Michael DiPietro deserves a chance to fight for some ice time and the Canucks aren’t getting any better right now so throw him a frickin bone.
Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 TANNER PEARSON Rating: 73.7#41 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 75.2#44 C |  JOSH LEIVO Rating: 72.8#65 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 73.88#25 FL1 |
 J.T. MILLER Rating: 75.0#31 LW |  ELIAS PETTERSSON Rating: 78.1#16 C |  BROCK BOESER Rating: 75.8#17 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 76.29#4 FL2 |
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL Rating: 72.1#76 LW |  ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 71.1#142 C |  JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 72.5#74 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 71.87#16 FL3 |
 TIM SCHALLER Rating: 68.8#131 LW |  JAY BEAGLE Rating: 67.9#192 C |  BRANDON SUTTER Rating: 71.5#130 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 69.38#30 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 QUINN HUGHES Rating: 75.1#20 LD |  TYLER MYERS Rating: 73.1#48 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.14#17 DL1 |
 OSCAR FANTENBERG Rating: 72.5#76 LD |  CHRIS TANEV Rating: 71.9#85 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 72.19#26 DL2 |
 JORDIE BENN Rating: 71.8#87 LD |  TROY STECHER Rating: 72.0#79 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 71.89#23 DL3 |
Paul Byron’s knee (should be a band name) will keep him out of the Western Canada road trip so he’s out, Jonathan Drouin had wrist surgery… he’s out. Victor Mete has an ankle issue but is traveling to Vancouver, he’ll be a game-time decision. And finally, Jesper Kotkaniemi was suffering from concussion symptoms but he too may be in the lineup tonight.
Carey Price has faired well against the Canucks since arriving in the league. Since 2007, his 12-2-2 record is beyond impressive and considering he only plays Vancouver at most twice a season, he gets up for these games. He has a .936 SV%, a 2.17 GAA and three shutouts to his name against the Canucks in that time. Carey Price loves him some Vancouver hockey.
Canadiens lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 TOMAS TATAR Rating: 76.7#14 LW |  PHILLIP DANAULT Rating: 75.5#34 C |  BRENDAN GALLAGHER Rating: 78.7#5 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 76.96#7 FL1 |
 ARTTURI LEHKONEN Rating: 72.1#74 LW |  MAX DOMI Rating: 75.1#45 C |  JOEL ARMIA Rating: 74.2#38 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 73.78#20 FL2 |
 NICK COUSINS Rating: 71.3#85 LW |  NICK SUZUKI |  JORDAN WEAL Rating: 70.1#118 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 70.69#31 FL3 |
 RYAN POEHLING Rating: 75.2#25 LW |  NATE THOMPSON Rating: 70.7#153 C |  RILEY BARBER Rating: 73.5#50 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 73.13#1 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 BEN CHIAROT Rating: 74.4#29 LD |  SHEA WEBER Rating: 78.8#4 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 76.62#7 DL1 |
 BRETT KULAK Rating: 73.0#64 LD |  JEFF PETRY Rating: 76.0#12 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 74.48#8 DL2 |
 OTTO LESKINEN Rating: 73.1#57 LD |  CALE FLEURY Rating: 71.7#89 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.39#16 DL3 |
GAME NOTES AND A STAT OR TWO
- That Taylor Hall trade was something, hey? New Jersey retained half of his salary, picked up a 1st round pick and a conditional 3rd along with former first-rounder Nick Merkley, Kevin Bahl, and Nate Schnarr who I’m sure may not actually exist. Hall is an elite talent but if NJD doesn’t retain half of his contract, does that deal get made? Probably not. Jim Benning needs to see that the market is non-existent for players making massive bucks unless there are sweeteners. Loui Eriksson’s deal will need to cut in half, at the very least, along with a pick or prospect. He made the mess, he needs to fix it.
- Sven Baertschi had a good run this last time, which was the last time. Travis Green failed to put Baertschi on a line that could succeed and piddled away any success that may have existed there. Sure, Green isn’t working with miracles but he knows there has been chemistry with Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi and it never was given the light of day. The Canucks are struggling to score right now and they need every deal they can get.
- Elias Pettersson has goals in two of his last three games and six goals in his last 12. Whether he’s sneaky or dekey, Pettersson has been having an incredible season. Adding to that, Brock Boeser’s 3G/8A in that same time has fed the beast that is Pettersson.
- Ilya Kovalchuk was waived by the Kings. He had three goals and six assists in 17 GP. He was WAIVED! There are players on this team (Canucks) who have done less and are getting more face time than they deserve.
- Vancouver and Montreal are tied for the fifth-worst ROW in the league at 13. The Canucks are still scoring goals but they’re starting to allow a bunch too! They did it to us again. Back to Earth. They fooled us into believing and by January the Vancouver Canucks could be talking about the Lottery Wheel.
- Gotta stick with it though, Tim Schaller will score. #SchallerNothing
#CANUCKSTWITTER
MY 94 CENTS
As you know, I’m optimistic. This team doesn’t have me feeling the feels this week and I think Carey Price shuts out the Canucks again. Plain and simple. It doesn’t look like there is a complete buy-in including the coach and GM. Travis Green needs to utilize the best possible lineup and it doesn’t look like he’s doing that right now. Case in point: sit Tyler Myers for a game and let him know it’s not acceptable to unplug your controller and go to the fridge for a Sunny D.
Jim Benning needs to start getting creative. He has mismanaged Sven Baertschi, he’s sat on his hands with the Loui Eriksson deal, and he hasn’t bothered to incur more draft picks, he’s actually given them away.
There is a lot of anger in this 36-year-old. I want blood.
AND ANOTHER THING…
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