Canucks game day: Podkolzin and Pearson slot back into the lineup in Nashville, Demko starts, but who’s coming out?
2 years ago
The Vancouver Canucks are back in action for the second leg of one last back-to-back and one last game before the All-Star break.
The Canucks are in Nashville to do battle with the Predators and look to head into the break on a high note before gearing up for the final stretch of the season.
Lineup notes
- Tanner Pearson is back tonight after testing positive for COVID-19 on January 25th. He is the last player on the Canucks’ roster to test positive.
- After Jaroslav Halak held down the fort Monday night in Chicago, Thatcher Demko slots back in for his last start before heading to Vegas for All-Star weekend.
- It didn’t take long for Vasily Podkolzin to find his way back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch last night in Chicago. He’s back in the lineup tonight.
- No word on who’s coming out, but keep an eye on Nils Höglander and Justin Dowling — as those two were the low-minute men on Monday night. It’s hard to imagine head coach Bruce Boudreau would elect to take Alex Chiasson out of the lineup after scoring the game’s opening goal at 5-on-5 yesterday.
What was said
“I know there’s a lot of character on this team, I think they’re playing the right way,” said Boudreau. “Everybody’s contributing, whether you score a goal or contribute defensively. We’ve played some of the best teams in the league and haven’t gotten blown out, which is encouraging for the last half, especially with the amount of home games we have.”
I think if we can get through this one game tonight, and sneak one out here, I think we’ll be in pretty good position for after the break,” said Boudreau. “I’ve learned that these guys want to win. And when you want to win, you do things the right way and you pay the price and we’ve certainly paid the price on numerous occasions.”
Luke Schenn has been playing well above his pay grade lately and is proving to be tremendously valuable to the Canucks this season.
He scored a 160-foot empty netter yesterday to ice the game in Chicago when the Hawks were pouring on the pressure late. The goal was just a small indication of how well Schenn has played this season.
“I probably couldn’t do it in practice if I tried,” joked Schenn when asked about the goal yesterday. It was a fortunate play. I mean, you’re desperate obviously with the goalie pulled. I was able to get a block and just kind of looked up and saw a little opportunity there where there’s no one in the lane. It’s one of those ones where if you ice the puck, then you’re probably in the doghouse and you’re trying to make it up and do whatever it takes to close out the final 20 seconds. Typically, I myself personally, I wouldn’t shoot it normally.”
Puck drop is at 5 PM Pacific tonight from Bridgestone Arena.
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