CANUCKSARMY GDT 17 – CANUCKS @ SHARKS
By Always90four
6 years agoAfter a game worth forgetting in Anaheim, the Canucks move on to San Jose to face the Sharks in the second game of the doubleheader on Hockey Night in Canada.
Last season, the Canucks did not win a single game against the Sharks… not one. This year, Vancouver has a group that can take more chances and a few wildcards in their lineup.
Hockey Night brings out the best in some players so hopefully the Canucks got the message.
Let’s do this!
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: CBC (HNIC)
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 7:00 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
Chris Tanev has gone back to Vancouver and is out for a few weeks with a thumb injury. Alex Edler has returned to the Canucks lineup and from the looks of things so is Loui Eriksson thank goodness! Anders Nilsson is finally a dad, so he’s backing up Jacob Markstrom. Brendan Gaunce and Jake Virtanen looked like the odd men out.
Jacob Markstrom should be the man in charge yet again.
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 |
 BRENDAN GAUNCE |  BRANDON SUTTER |  DEREK DORSETT |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 BEN HUTTON |  ALEXANDER EDLER |
 DERRICK POULIOT |  ERIK GUDBRANSON |
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO |  ALEX BIEGA |
Jannik Hansen faces his former team so there may be some feelings. These things tend to get overplayed so the Canucks would be wise to focus on Joe Thornton or say half of the Sharks team.
Martin Jones will be the Sharks starter.
San Jose Sharks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 JOONAS DONSKOI |  JOE THORNTON |  JOE PAVELSKI |
 TOMAS HERTL |  LOGAN COUTURE |  MELKER KARLSSON |
 JANNIK HANSEN |  CHRIS TIERNEY |  MIKKEL BOEDKER |
 TIMO MEIER |  RYAN CARPENTER |  JOEL WARD |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 JOAKIM RYAN |  BRENT BURNS |
 MARC-EDOUARD VLASIC |  JUSTIN BRAUN |
 BRENDEN DILLON |  TIM HEED |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- Goals for starters. The Canucks ran into a solid Ducks team on Thursday and barely squeaked out a goal. They had been averaging just under four goals per game in their three prior games but were shutout by the Devils right before their run. What kind of team is this? It’s tough to say, but scoring goals hasn’t been impossible for the Canucks so it would be smart to get back on track.
- Sven Baertschi got his first goal in a few games, and with two more he’ll have 50 for his career. Now that Baertschi has climbed to the top line, his goal totals should start to rise a bit more steadily with linemates Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat. He has been a great fit on that line and looking back, the second-round pick it cost to acquire him has paid itself back in spades.
- Jacob Markstrom is in line for a win with his recent pattern of starts. Markstrom has alternated wins and losses in his last five games, but with inconsistent defensive pairings in front of him, he’s had to stand out a bit more than he should. Regardless, he’s been one of the bright spots on this team so far.
- Forget about the Canucks power play; their penalty-kill is quickly becoming an eyesore. Vancouver is in danger of falling to bottom-three status in the league on the PK. Again, having random defensive pairings night in and night out doesn’t help the cause. Taking fewer penalties would be a novel concept, but it looks like frustration has started to sneak into the Canucks’ game. It’s beatable, but it takes time. Don’t swing for the fences in the first two months.
- What Sharks team will the Canucks get? San Jose has allowed the least goals in the league thus far, but at the same time, they’ve scored the second-fewest in the league. It feels like this game is being chalked up as a dud. Sure hope not.
THE TWITTER TAKE
What does this mean? IS THIS CODE? Feels like a story is brewing.
MY 94 CENTS
Thursday was awful. Those are the kinds of games everyone wants to forget. San Jose has never been an easy team for the Canucks to play so tonight should be no different. The Hansen angle will be a talking point, but it’s unlikely he’ll burn the Canucks. I think Thomas Vanek could be the Canucks focal player this evening and Loui Eriksson will be a snoozer.
As for the PP, it would be nice if the Canucks could hold the line long enough to set up either unit to try and score. More of the same from last year? Let’s hope not.
OVER / UNDER
Jannik Hansen breakaways (+/- 1) This friends, is a push. A push all day long.
Alex Edler broken sticks (+/- 0) Like old times, Edler will have at least one broken stick.
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