CANUCKSARMY GDT 56 – CANUCKS @ STARS
By Always90four
6 years agoThe ice-cold Vancouver Canucks are in Dallas to take on the red-hot Stars in a matinee affair. Everything is falling apart for the Canucks lately while everything is coming up Milhouse for the Stars who have won five straight games. Vancouver’s last game against the Hurricanes was less than memorable but was summarized in what could be the most memorable quote of the season courtesy of Jacob Markstrom. It’s time for the Canucks to take a step back, focus on the basics and get back to the fun, losing hockey they were playing.
Let’s Do This!™
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: SNET-P
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 1:00 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
Nikolay Goldobin has been recalled from Utica. Brendan Gaunce, Markus Granlund, Sam Gagner, Chris Tanev, and maybe Brock Boeser are all out today. The line blender could be busy but Travis Green has been pretty good to keep lines mid-game the same.
Anders Nilsson has earned another start if only for the reason that Jacob Markstrom is mentally damaged right now and just needs a breather.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 DANIEL SEDIN |  HENRIK SEDIN |  JAKE VIRTANEN |
 SVEN BAERTSCHI |  BO HORVAT |  THOMAS VANEK |
 REID BOUCHER |  BRANDON SUTTER |  LOUI ERIKSSON |
 DARREN ARCHIBALD |  NIC DOWD |  DERRICK POULIOT |
Don’t expect anything different than what you see below. The Stars are taking the NHL by storm right now and coaches don’t change those kinds of lineups.
Ben Bishop is rumoured to be starting today.
Dallas Stars lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 JAMIE BENN |  TYLER SEGUIN |  ALEXANDER RADULOV |
 DEVIN SHORE |  MATTIAS JANMARK |  JASON SPEZZA |
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL |  RADEK FAKSA |  TYLER PITLICK |
 REMI ELIE |  JASON DICKINSON |  BRETT RITCHIE |
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- Vancouver has lost four straight games and is 3-7 in their last ten games. Plain and simple, watch for those numbers to slide. It’s a bad scene with the Canucks right now but if we’re lucky, Darren Archibald could get a Gordie Howe Hat-trick today and that would be worth talking about. Radek Faksa is his opponent if this happens.
- Alex Edler has started 2018 on the right note. His 11 points are good for 12th amongst defensemen in that same time. Edler hasn’t looked like a shining star but the stats don’t lie, he’s been one of few for the Canucks and anything that is positive should be celebrated right now.
- Tyler Seguin owns the Canucks and not just as a Boston Bruin. Since the beginning of the 2015/16 season, Seguin has 3G/5A and 3 PPG and 1 GWG. If his name shows up on the scoresheet today, don’t be shocked.
- On the flip side, Daniel Sedin is one point back of Seguin in those games. Daniel has a goal and six assists and four power-play points. With all the injuries mounting, both Sedins will be asked to shoulder the responsibility yet again.
- Jake Virtanen is two goals back of Loui Eriksson’s eight tallies. One of these players is in the last year of his ELC making just under $900k and the other has torpedoed the Canucks salary cap with a $6 million hit until 2022. Jake still needs time to get his overall game where the coaches would like it but there is no way Loui should be getting the love he has. The trade deadline would be a great place to offload the big contract but no one in their right mind would see any benefit in doing so.
THE TWITTER TAKE
This is “the” low point in the Canucks season and there have been some low points to talk about.
MY 94 CENTS
There isn’t anything to suggest the Canucks have a big win in them today. Dallas is charging up the standings while the Canucks are freefalling to the bottom and yet another fifth-overall pick (let’s be serious, they won’t get first). Injuries galore and a team that does not look like it’s having any fun whatsoever. Sure, losing isn’t fun but you can play a winning game and still lose.
The Canucks need to go on a spiritual journey or something like Homer Simpson did because they need to find themselves.
I’m trying to say they’re going to lose.
OVER / UNDER
Canucks lose by a number of goals (+/- 2) Take the over. No reason, but it won’t be close.
Canucks Store “Flow” shirt references (+/- 0.5) Again, take the over. This is a crime.
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