“We played hard. We threw a lot at them. We had opportunities. Their goalie played well. This time of year everyone is fighting for points and they got the best of us tonight. Tough one.” - Gudbranson
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Canucks Army Game Day 59 – Canucks @ Kings (I Choo-choo choose you edition)
Photo credit: Gary A. Vasquez - USA TODAY Sports
By Always90four
Feb 14, 2019, 13:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 14, 2019, 12:58 EST
THE INTRO
Not to make things any worse than they already are but the Los Angeles Kings haven’t played since Monday while the Canucks are coming off a “full effort” against the Ducks last night in a predictable defeat. Vancouver takes on LA tonight on Valentine’s Day of all days. These two teams don’t exactly think fondly of each other and the Canucks will be playing with a chip on their shoulder after failing to score even one single goal on what can be argued as the worst team in the NHL, the Ducks.
Jacob Markstrom will be called upon once more to backstop the Canucks but even he has to wonder why players like Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser can’t even score on the cellar dwellers of the NHL? Vancouver’s PP has been the absolute pits for quite some time and there is no signs of improvement.
While everyone is celebrating a day of love, there isn’t much to love about the Canucks lately.
Let’s Do This!™
*PLEASE NOTE: It is unlikely that there will be a post-game report for tonight’s game – Ryan Biech*
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SNP / SN 650 / 7:30 PM
LINEUPS
Chris Tanev will be evaluated today after leaving the game last night. If we know Tanev, he’s hurt and out for at least three games. Nikolay Goldobin has to get back into the lineup. Markus Granlund or Loui Eriksson would be a smart choice, heck, if Eriksson gets scratched there would be fodder for weeks.
Jacob Markstrom will probably start again this evening. Expect the expected.
Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL Rating: 72.8#69 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 76.3#46 C |  JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 72.1#76 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 73.74#30 FL1 |
 JOSH LEIVO Rating: 73.9#44 LW |  ELIAS PETTERSSON Rating: 79.1#27 C |  BROCK BOESER Rating: 82.3#5 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 78.42#1 FL2 |
 MARKUS GRANLUND Rating: 71.4#92 LW |  ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 71.7#127 C | FL3 Rating Rating: 71.50#24 FL3 | |
 LOUI ERIKSSON Rating: 71.0#104 LW |  JAY BEAGLE Rating: 67.5#194 C |  TYLER MOTTE Rating: 69.4#116 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 69.28#31 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 CHRIS TANEV Rating: 72.0#65 LD |  ERIK GUDBRANSON Rating: 69.1#102 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 70.56#31 DL1 |
 BEN HUTTON Rating: 72.0#72 LD |  TROY STECHER Rating: 73.2#46 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 72.56#22 DL2 |
 DERRICK POULIOT Rating: 70.8#100 LD |  ALEX BIEGA Rating: 70.9#88 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 70.84#25 DL3 |
Trevor Lewis is back in the lineup after being out for a significant amount of time with a foot injury. Jeff Carter may slot back in tonight after being out for a week with a lower-body injury. Former Canuck Brendan Leipsic is in the lineup tonight.
Jonathan Quick is the suggested starter.
Kings lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ALEX IAFALLO Rating: 71.9#124 LW |  ANZE KOPITAR Rating: 79.9#23 C |  DUSTIN BROWN Rating: 76.6#27 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 76.15#23 FL1 |
 BRENDAN LEIPSIC Rating: 71.1#102 LW |  MIKE AMADIO Rating: 70.6#157 C |  TYLER TOFFOLI Rating: 76.1#34 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 72.61#29 FL2 |
 CARL HAGELIN Rating: 72.2#80 LW |  ADRIAN KEMPE Rating: 72.2#117 C |  ILYA KOVALCHUK Rating: 74.3#46 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 72.90#11 FL3 |
 KYLE CLIFFORD Rating: 71.2#96 LW |  TREVOR LEWIS Rating: 71.2#141 C |  AUSTIN WAGNER Rating: 72.4#72 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 71.61#12 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 DEREK FORBORT Rating: 71.1#92 LD |  DREW DOUGHTY Rating: 78.6#15 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.86#18 DL1 |
 ALEC MARTINEZ Rating: 73.7#42 LD |  OSCAR FANTENBERG Rating: 71.6#79 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 72.62#21 DL2 |
 DION PHANEUF Rating: 70.9#98 LD |  SEAN WALKER Rating: 72.3#57 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 71.60#19 DL3 |
YOUR INFORMATIONAL NEEDS FOR TONIGHT’S GAME
- Vancouver is 4-5-1 in their last 10 games. They’ve put up some stinkers in that time and a few close ones. I’m not sure if anyone has dropped some important knowledge on the Canucks that making the playoffs means you have to win. Points come with said wins and they don’t have nearly enough of those points. Time is running out.
- The Kings took the last meeting against the Canucks in Vancouver with a 2-1 OT victory. Sam Gagner was a Canuck back then, good times. Markus Granlund got the Canucks to OT but it wasn’t enough. Vancouver took the previous meeting and some would call this the rubber match. Bouncing back would be nice to see.
- Zack MacEwen has been a breath of fresh air. He’s clearly as capable as Tim Schaller and even Granlund, and that isn’t saying a whole lot but it’s an improvement. Injuries came at the right time for Zack and he could ride out the season if things continue at this pace. He had flashes of brilliance and as he adds NHL games to his resume he’ll only get better. That can’t necessarily be said for the previously mentioned players.
- Loui Eriksson has two goals in his last 20 games. That’s actually over-producing for Loui but in all seriousness, this can’t continue. Please, for the love of Pettersson, scratch Eriksson. Nikolay Goldobin is an upgrade and it’s not close. Losing with Goldy is a lot more tolerable than forgetting Eriksson was even in the game.
- Jake Virtanen is now in the company of a few of his peers with one goal in his last 20 games as well. Virtanen started strong but has fizzled out in recent months, then again, most of the team has. Jake has made his presence known but the things that Bo Horvat has done at the net front could help Jake get on the score board again. He’s not able to make much happen on the outside so getting back to the dirty areas may help him buck the trend.
MY 94 CENTS
Jack Hughes is possible again.
THE TWITTER TAKE
Last night’s comment from Guddy. Not scoring a single goal against the Ducks was bad, if they do the same thing tonight it’s going to get ugly.
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