CanucksArmy Presents: The Game Day feat. Canucks @ Flames
By Always90four
3 years agoOPENING FACE/OFF
Oh, you better believe this game has a lot riding on it.
It’s a real shame there aren’t fans in the arena for this one because it would have been electric. It’s more media-driven for tonight’s game but there have to be a bit of nerves on the Calgary side for newly minted Jacob Markstrom, Josh Leivo, and Chris Tanev. They went in another direction and deservedly so but on the ice, it’s the old team that wants to prove they won the day.
Elias Pettersson has feasted off the Flames as has Alex Edler so we’ll see if that continues. It’s the first Hockey Night in Canada of the season and the nightcap is the one we’ll all be nice and cozy for when the puck drops. These are the games we get up for.
Let’s Do This!™
WHERE CAN I WATCH THIS GAME?
TV: CBC / RADIO: SN 650 / PUCK DROP: 7:00PM
LINEUPS
Does Jake Virtanen get another shot on the top line? Hopefully. It will take some time to build some proper chemistry until J.T. Miller returns and as long as Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson are going, being the third wheel isn’t the worst thing to happen to Virtanen. No other lineup notes to speak of but in the time of COVID-19, always hit that refresh button!
Braden Holtby probably gets the start. There will be a push to have him as the unofficial starter until Thatcher Demko can take over. My take anyway.
CANUCKS LINES COURTESY OF DAILYFACEOFF.COM:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 BROCK BOESER Rating: 74.1#41 LW |  ELIAS PETTERSSON Rating: 77.7#14 C |  JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 72.0#78 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 74.63#22 FL1 |
 TANNER PEARSON Rating: 73.7#38 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 74.8#34 C |  NILS HOGLANDER | FL2 Rating Rating: 74.25#12 FL2 |
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL Rating: 71.0#97 LW |  ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 70.2#130 C |  ZACK MACEWEN | FL3 Rating Rating: 70.60#23 FL3 |
 TYLER MOTTE Rating: 68.8#144 LW |  JAY BEAGLE Rating: 68.4#163 C |  BRANDON SUTTER Rating: 70.1#131 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 69.09#30 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 ALEXANDER EDLER Rating: 74.3#26 LD |  NATE SCHMIDT Rating: 75.5#18 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.89#15 DL1 |
 QUINN HUGHES Rating: 75.2#15 LD |  TRAVIS HAMONIC Rating: 72.8#45 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 73.99#8 DL2 |
 OLLI JUOLEVI |  TYLER MYERS Rating: 72.6#50 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.56#11 DL3 |
It didn’t take long but Dillon Dube is on the top line for the Flames. Any Kelowna Rockets fan will know it was inevitable. He’s a talented, passionate player that is beyond skilled. It will be a big reunion for Chris Tanev, Josh Leivo, and Jacob Markstrom this evening but thankfully Tanev won’t factor on the score sheet but it’s possible Leivo gets a few chances.
Jacob Markstrom will get the start. He’s waited for this day since free agency started… maybe longer.
FLAMES LINES COURTESY OF DAILYFACEOFF.COM:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 MATTHEW TKACHUK Rating: 78.0#9 LW |  ELIAS LINDHOLM Rating: 76.5#19 C |  DILLON DUBE Rating: 70.3#108 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 74.95#19 FL1 |
 JOHNNY GAUDREAU Rating: 76.0#19 LW |  SEAN MONAHAN Rating: 74.4#42 C |  JOSH LEIVO Rating: 71.7#85 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 74.02#16 FL2 |
 ANDREW MANGIAPANE Rating: 74.2#36 LW |  MIKAEL BACKLUND Rating: 75.5#30 C |  DEREK RYAN Rating: 72.0#83 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 73.91#2 FL3 |
 MILAN LUCIC Rating: 70.7#103 LW |  SAM BENNETT Rating: 69.6#127 C |  JOAKIM NORDSTROM Rating: 67.9#150 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 69.38#29 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 MARK GIORDANO Rating: 77.9#6 LD |  RASMUS ANDERSSON Rating: 73.5#36 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 75.67#9 DL1 |
 NOAH HANIFIN Rating: 73.3#49 LD |  CHRIS TANEV Rating: 71.0#90 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 72.16#24 DL2 |
 JUUSO VALIMAKI Rating: 72.6#6 LD |  NIKITA NESTEROV | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.42#12 DL3 |
GAME NOTES, STATS, AND INTERESTING INFORMATION
- Since 2016, 37 Canucks have a point against the Calgary Flames. There are prestigious names on this list that feature Alexander Burmistrov (1), Michael Chaput (1), Nikita Tryamkin (2), Michael Del Zotto (3), and the seventh-highest scorer with (5) points, Loui Eriksson. This is where we’re at.
- Vancouver’s power play needs their first goal and the man that’s gonna do it is Brock Boeser. He has three career PPG against the Flames through 12 games and his shot is already in midseason form. Have a day, Brock!
- Braden Holtby is 6-2-0-1 in 10 starts versus the Flames. His personal stats aren’t flattering with a paltry .894 SV% and a GAA of 3.05. He was on some very good Capitals teams but the West has been wild. Sadly, he had some decent defensemen in front of him so maybe he’ll boost his play for Vancouver.
- Micaela Gaudette is all about Candy Crush life. I am too. There is something ridiculously fulfilling about seeing a hard level pulverized. Adam has to get his energy from those wrapped candies as he explodes those shots. I may be reading way too much into this. Please I need help…
- It’s been one whole game since rookie sensation Nils Höglander scored in his NHL debut. He has looked all kinds of amazing on the Bo Horvat line and the Flames are the kind of team he should excel against. Grit, determination, engineering: he is a fan of this…. wait that’s the Audi commercial. Bottom line: Nils gets back on the score sheet and you remember his name forever.
TWITTER TOLD YOU
Keeks is spot on. Maybe we’re so done with Loui that we’re obsessing over him?
MY 94 CENTS
Thankfully, the Canucks and a handful of their former players will get this game out of the way early. The Calgary Canucks will want to prove they made the right call and the Vancouver Canucks will want to show they’ve moved on. I’m interested to see if Brock and Petey can bear down on Markstrom. Who gets the upper hand in the first of 10 games?
I think Vancouver bounces back after the whooping the Oilers gave them.
THE FINAL WORD
Brock Boeser – 2 goal night.
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