CANUCKSARMY GDT 54 – CANUCKS @ LIGHTNING
By Always90four
6 years agoThe Florida road-trip continues as the Canucks make their way to Tampa Bay to face the Lightning in the final game of their home and home series.
Tampa blew the doors off early in Vancouver but allowed the Canucks to get back in it in their last game. An ill-timed high stick penalty led to a penalty shot and the game was over at that point.
Tonight, the Canucks can bounce back, play at bit tighter and potentially squeak out a victory over the league-leading Lightning.
Let’s Do This!™
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: SNET-P
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 4:30 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
Sam Gagner (ankle) was sent back to Vancouver and Utica Comet Darren Archibald was signed and recalled. He won’t play against the Lightning but should meet the team in Carolina tomorrow. Nic Dowd could then slot back in. Can’t imagine any drastic changes from the game in Florida.
Jacob Markstrom has not been the issue lately, so we should see him start. Anders Nilsson would probably then play tomorrow.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 SVEN BAERTSCHI |  BO HORVAT |  BROCK BOESER |
 DANIEL SEDIN |  HENRIK SEDIN |  LOUI ERIKSSON |
 MARKUS GRANLUND |  SAM GAGNER |  THOMAS VANEK |
 BRENDAN GAUNCE |  BRANDON SUTTER |  JAKE VIRTANEN |
Tampa is rested and the team that faced the Canucks last week should be the one that faces them again tonight.
Andrei Vasilveskiy should be the goalie on record.
Tampa Bay Lightning lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 CHRIS KUNITZ |  STEVEN STAMKOS |  NIKITA KUCHEROV |
 VLADISLAV NAMESTNIKOV |  BRAYDEN POINT |  TYLER JOHNSON |
 ALEX KILLORN |  MATTHEW PECA |  YANNI GOURDE |
 SLATER KOEKKOEK |  CORY CONACHER |  RYAN CALLAHAN |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 VICTOR HEDMAN |  JAKE DOTCHIN |
 MIKHAIL SERGACHEV |  ANTON STRALMAN |
 BRAYDON COBURN |  ANDREJ SUSTR |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- All-Star memories – Brock Boeser has been some kind of lucky at the Amalie Arena. An NCAA title with North Dakota in 2016, MVP of the NHL All-Star Game a few weeks ago and now a chance to continue his quest for the Calder trophy. Brock scored a goal and a helper versus Tampa last weekend so he’ll want to show it wasn’t a fluke.
- Gudbranson the Gunner – A season ago, Erik Gudbranson had a goal and an assist in Tampa as part of a 5-1 Canucks victory. This season has quite the different feel to it but after his efforts last game against the Panthers, Gudbranson will want to stay relevant and could try and be an offensive force yet again. This would be quite out of character but considering the Canucks season, anything is possible.
- Tampa Bo Horvat – OK, that wasn’t the smoothest title but you know who is smooth in Tampa? Bo Horvat. Since the beginning of the 2015 season, Bo leads all Canucks with four points versus the Lightning. His 2 G/2 A/2 PPP/1 GWG line is as impressive as his moves are. Since returning from injury Bo has two goals and two assists in seven games. He’ll need to show off a bit of the bull in a china shop mentality to help push the Canucks to victory.
- Vancouver is 9-7 all-time in Tampa and they have averaged 3.6 goals per game. This does include some epic Canucks teams but regardless, the Canucks should like their odds this evening. Averaging that many goals should give Canucks fans hope that this game could be exciting for their team.
- Seen Stamkos? The Canucks haven’t been an easy team for Steven Stamkos to solve in the last few seasons. He has zero goals against VAN since the start of the 2015/16 campaign. Prior to that, he accumulated eight goals. As the Canucks have learned from other stars in the league: Don’t wake the sleeping bear.
THE TWITTER TAKE
Cory is all-Archibald, all the time. I agree this guy could be a breath of fresh air. Is it the rebirth of Alex Burrows or even just a feel-good story that he earns his full-time contract? Maybe the Canucks are slowly figuring it out… maybe.
MY 94 CENTS
If it wasn’t for a high stick to force a penalty shot, the Canucks may have come back in the game last Saturday when these two teams last met. Vancouver can hang with the best of them from time to time and a more disciplined start could put the Canucks in a position to steal one tonight. Too many variables to be sure.
OVER / UNDER
Canucks power play goals (+/- 0.5) The Canucks PP has been pretty efficient these days and Tampa looked like they could be solved, take the over but just barely.
Nikita Kucherov points (+/- 1.5) He leads the NHL in points, expect him to continue that pace. Take the over.
The Pint is your home for all things game day. Come down for game day specials like $5 mugs of bud and bud light and get 20% off food if you’re a season ticket holders
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