CANUCKSARMY GDT 15 – CANUCKS @ FLAMES
By Always90four
6 years agoOne night ago, the Canucks lost to the Red Wings with just over a minute left in the 3rd period. They’ll put that behind them tonight as they fly to Calgary to take on the rested Flames.
Calgary won 5-4 in a shootout on Sunday night versus the Devils and are playing a lot of extra hockey to start their season. The Flames are a perfect 4-0 beyond regulation so the Canucks would be smart to try and end it before 60 minutes is up.
Calgary took the first matchup between the two teams back in October, winning 5-2. The Canucks are considerably better than they were a month ago but there are lingering issues that haven’t been completely addressed yet so it could end up being more of the same.
Regardless, anything is possible with this team, it seems.
Let’s do this!
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: SNET-P
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 6:00 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
Brendan Gaunce is back! Alex Burmistrov feels like the odd man out. He just hasn’t been good and Brandon Sutter coming out of the lineup isn’t in the cards yet. It doesn’t affect the rest of the lineup, so Burmistrov seems like the logical choice.
Might we see Jacob Markstrom again this evening? I think we might.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 SVEN BAERTSCHI |  BO HORVAT |  BROCK BOESER |
 DANIEL SEDIN |  HENRIK SEDIN |  JAKE VIRTANEN |
 THOMAS VANEK |  ALEX BURMISTROV |  SAM GAGNER |
 MARKUS GRANLUND |  BRANDON SUTTER |  DEREK DORSETT |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 BEN HUTTON |  CHRIS TANEV |
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO |  ERIK GUDBRANSON |
 DERRICK POULIOT |  ALEX BIEGA |
No real news on the Flames front. Jaromir Jagr (lower-body) may suit up tonight after missing the last five games for Calgary.
Mike Smith should start, although, it is Taco Tuesday, so anything is possible.
Calgary Flames lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 JOHNNY GAUDREAU |  SEAN MONAHAN |  MICHEAL FERLAND |
 MATTHEW TKACHUK |  MIKAEL BACKLUND |  MICHAEL FROLIK |
 SAM BENNETT |  MARK JANKOWSKI |  CURTIS LAZAR |
 KRIS VERSTEEG |  MATT STAJAN |  TROY BROUWER |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 MARK GIORDANO |  DOUGIE HAMILTON |
 T.J. BRODIE |  MICHAEL STONE |
 BRETT KULAK |  MATT BARTKOWSKI |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- The Canucks power play went 0/2 last night, and that’s because it started both times with the Sedins as the top unit. This has to change. Brock Boeser didn’t even factor in at all on the Sedin unit until the crossover. Vancouver is finally drawing penalties, but they won’t be a threat until their man-advantage deployment changes.
- Michael Del Zotto finally scored his first as a Canuck yesterday, but it will take more than one goal from the back end to make a difference. Only Chris Tanev (2G) and Del Zotto (1G) have scored for the Canucks defenders through 14 games, and that can’t be good enough. Sure, Troy Stecher and Alex Edler are still out but there has to be more focus to drive pucks to the net from further distances. Brock Boeser may be able to run a mini-clinic to get things going.
- Through 14 games, the Canucks are perfect when holding the lead after one period. Getting on the board early can set the tone to continue this trend. On the flip side, they only have one win when trailing after the first. The writing is on the wall.
- Calgary has enjoyed the extra frame as well as the shootout so far this season with two shootout wins, and two overtime wins. The Canucks have played either well enough not to need extra time or not well enough where it’s over by the final buzzer. Keeping tonight’s game in regulation will go a long way down the road if the Canucks actually think they can make the playoffs. Fewer games now mean rested games in the spring… even if it’s only seven.
- Jake Virtanen needs to be out there more. He had a good little run with the Twins, but he needs to go with speedy linemates if he’s going to have success. Burying him in the back doesn’t help anyone. Watch for Virtanen to step his game up tonight; he might even fit in a tilt.
THE TWITTER TAKE
MY 94 CENTS
The Canucks are drawing penalties, and that’s great. The problem is, Travis Green is still approaching the start of power plays the same way Willie Desjardins did a season ago – with the Sedins headlining. He’s already bumped them to 4th line minutes at best and yet when there is a man-advantage, all of a sudden they are the go-to choice? Doesn’t really make much sense.
This team is trending in the right direction, but something has to be done to remedy an area where the games can turn in their favour. Green seems like a smart man so I’ll give him time. He’s put together an efficient lineup, and it would be a shame to see it waste away in the most valuable portion of the game.
OVER / UNDER
Brandon Sutter (+/- 3) Take the under… or is it the over? He’ll wind up with a +1 most likely.
Sedin PP1 starts (+/- 2) Go under again. It didn’t work very well last night, and both Henrik and Daniel were once again predictable. That will change.
GDT BROUGHT TO YOU BY PANAGO
Let Panago Pizza’s new #RoadToTheCup Hockey Combo fuel the game. Order one tonight.
Recent articles from Always90four
