Nation Sites
The Nation Network
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Canucks Army Game Day 29 – Canucks Vs. Stars (Early Edition)
Photo credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin - USA TODAY Sports
By Always90four
Dec 1, 2018, 12:27 EST
THE INTRO
If you’re reading this you know the Canucks play a matinee game today and their recent shortcomings haven’t deterred you enough to do something else. Today, Vancouver takes on the Dallas Stars who are flirting with .500 and are also just as banged up as the Canucks. The “Elias Pettersson Welcomes You” tour will once again be in town and if there is any kind of encore after last game against Vegas, everyone is in for a treat.
Vancouver needs to keep things close if they want to win, they’ve done that for the most part but giving up a late goal, on the power play no less doesn’t help things. Expect the unexpected.
Let’s Do This!™
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SNP / SN 650 / 1:00 PM
LINEUPS
Alex Edler is fine to play today after taking a nasty hit from behind from Ryan Reaves on Thursday. A few stitches seem to be the worst of it. Erik Gudbranson will be a game-time decision as is Antoine Roussel. Sven Baertschi is making progress but is still out with his concussion. Jay Beagle will potentially suit up on Tuesday which is good news for the Canucks PK and their checking line.
#stillinjuredthough
Tough to say who starts today as Jacob Markstrom hasn’t been great but he hasn’t been awful either. Anders Nilsson is due for another start. If there aren’t more goals it won’t matter anyway.
Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 BRENDAN LEIPSIC Rating: 70.6#102 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 75.8#44 C |  JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 71.3#87 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 72.53#31 FL1 |
 NIKOLAY GOLDOBIN Rating: 71.6#80 LW |  ELIAS PETTERSSON Rating: 76.1#42 C |  BROCK BOESER Rating: 80.9#6 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 76.21#6 FL2 |
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL Rating: 70.5#103 LW |  MARKUS GRANLUND Rating: 70.8#155 C |  LOUI ERIKSSON Rating: 71.2#89 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 70.84#27 FL3 |
 TYLER MOTTE Rating: 69.0#125 LW |  ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 71.4#136 C |  SAM GAGNER Rating: 71.5#135 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.64#18 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 ALEXANDER EDLER Rating: 74.3#34 LD |  ALEX BIEGA Rating: 71.3#73 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 72.80#24 DL1 |
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO Rating: 72.0#73 LD |  CHRIS TANEV Rating: 70.8#84 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 71.39#27 DL2 |
 BEN HUTTON Rating: 70.1#117 LD |  TROY STECHER Rating: 71.9#62 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 70.99#21 DL3 |
Martin Hanzal is still out following back surgery in the spring. His rehab should have him back possibly around Christmas time. John Klingburg is out until the new year after hand surgery. Connor Carrick is on IR with a foot injury. Marc Methot is also out with a lower-body injury. Maybe the Canucks don’t have it so bad after all?
Ben Bishop is the confirmed starter today.
Stars lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 JAMIE BENN Rating: 78.1#18 LW |  TYLER SEGUIN Rating: 80.3#17 C |  ALEXANDER RADULOV Rating: 79.4#10 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 79.27#9 FL1 |
 ROOPE HINTZ Rating: 73.1#58 LW |  JASON SPEZZA Rating: 71.6#133 C |  DEVIN SHORE Rating: 72.4#108 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 72.37#29 FL2 |
 VALERI NICHUSHKIN Rating: 72.2#79 LW |  RADEK FAKSA Rating: 70.9#151 C |  TYLER PITLICK Rating: 70.1#100 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 71.05#25 FL3 |
 MATTIAS JANMARK Rating: 70.6#157 LW |  JASON DICKINSON Rating: 71.1#144 C |  BLAKE COMEAU Rating: 70.2#105 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 70.61#19 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 ESA LINDELL Rating: 74.1#36 LD |  MIRO HEISKANEN Rating: 73.1#3 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 73.60#21 DL1 |
 ROMAN POLAK Rating: 69.3#95 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 69.31#31 DL2 | |
 JOEL HANLEY Rating: 71.8#78 LD |  TAYLOR FEDUN Rating: 72.8#43 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 72.30#9 DL3 |
INFORMATION YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW
- It’s been written here a few times lately the Canucks and their opponents don’t score many goals and that has almost been proven correct when they face each other. The Stars are a few bullet points below the Canucks in the GF/GP category which probably means one of these teams is due for a blowout, you heard it here first.
- Can the Canucks turn their power play around before Christmas? They currently have an 18.9% success rate and are among the league’s best in opportunities but they just can’t convert. Add to that, they’re also right near the top for most shorthanded goals allowed. It’s a double-whammy of epic proportions. Today, a healthy, motivated Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson have an opportunity to turn the team’s fortunes around on special teams. The chances will be there.
- Travis Green has his hands full in a lot of different areas: goaltending, defense, injuries, and special teams to name a few. Urgency will eventually top the list if it hasn’t already, specifically in the area of scoring first. If the Canucks give up the first goal again today and lose, it will be the 12th time in 29 games. Vancouver has found numerous ways to bypass the first goal but in the end, if they’re the ones scoring first their success rate jumps 40%. That can’t be ignored.
- Brock Boeser is back, he’s so back! Lost in all the excitement of Pettersson’s insane assist to Boeser was the fact that Brock looks like he’s 100% or as close to it as possible. It’s weird to be so excited about someone’s groin being back to normal but Boeser has a rocket of a shot and all that torque comes right from his mid-section. He looks like he is about to start a severe point streak and the two goals he scored against Vegas were no fluke. He was at the right place at the right time and if it wasn’t for a little bit of puck luck he may have scored another.
- Boeser made his splash last November through December scoring almost every game save a few in the middle and the shot he tore goalies apart with back then looks eerily similar to what he employs since his return. Elias Pettersson may very well win the Calder this season but Brock Boeser will help him get there. Maybe we’ll finally get the Bure/Mogilny duo we were initially promised.
- Antoine Roussel will most likely sit out today’s game which is a shame because facing the only team he’s ever known until this season could have been interesting. The agitation would have been worth it.
MY 94 CENTS
The excitement seems to continue on a nightly basis, the losses are mounting, and Elias Pettersson continually draws us in for his latest “piece de resistance”. Today’s game will probably follow this storyline and I can’t imagine the Canucks blow the lid off of anything but hey, anything is possible. Dallas is yet another team ahead of Vancouver with games in hand, the Canucks need to start turning it around or the Draft Lottery may be their fate yet agai… you know what, that’s alright.
THE FINAL WORD
Editor Note – The Post-Game report may be a little delayed today, but will get done! Thanks for the understanding!
Breaking News
- Scenes from practice: Maintenance days once again for Canucks veterans Hronek, Boeser & Kane; all expected to play vs. LA
- Blackfish: Cootes matches career high while Patterson sets new ones, plus a CHL/NCAA postseason primer
- WWYDW: What is your three-item wish-list for the 2026 Canucks offseason?
- Which NHL teams are most likely to be interested in an Elias Pettersson trade this summer?
- The Stanchies: Canucks keep things interesting in 5-3 loss to Ducks