THE INTRO
Nice. The Canucks get yet another game against the Vegas Golden Knights who are well on their way to the Stanley Cup Playoffs this spring for the second time in their brief existence. Vegas has won five-straight while the Canucks have struggled to string together three periods. Tonight will be another big test for the Canucks, one that many hope will end in better Draft Lottery results.
Let’s Do This!™
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
CBC / SN 650 / 7:00 PM
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
The odds for tonight’s game are: (VAN +150 /VGK -175 ) courtesy of OddsShark
LINEUPS
Ben Hutton looks like he’s still out after blocking a shot against Vegas just under a week ago. Guillaume Brisebois was recalled and has taken his spot in the meantime. Jake Virtanen has been rumored to be cleared for contact so we could see him slot back in the lineup tonight which would be a big boost for morale! #moralevictory #newhashtag
Not sure who we’ll see in net for the Canucks tonight but putting Thatcher Demko back in would be a good idea to get him reps. Markstrom has been great and everyone knows where he stands but letting Demko sit too long isn’t good for his development. Give him the Schneider treatment and run with it.
Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL Rating: 72.4#84 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 76.3#41 C |  TANNER PEARSON Rating: 72.5#72 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 73.73#29 FL1 |
 JOSH LEIVO Rating: 73.8#50 LW |  ELIAS PETTERSSON Rating: 78.1#31 C |  BROCK BOESER Rating: 80.7#10 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 77.50#6 FL2 |
 MARKUS GRANLUND Rating: 71.3#128 LW |  ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 71.5#117 C |  NIKOLAY GOLDOBIN Rating: 70.9#97 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 71.22#25 FL3 |
 LOUI ERIKSSON Rating: 71.1#108 LW |  JAY BEAGLE Rating: 67.1#187 C |  TYLER MOTTE Rating: 69.2#121 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 69.13#31 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 ALEXANDER EDLER Rating: 76.0#20 LD |  TROY STECHER Rating: 72.9#52 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 74.46#18 DL1 |
 DERRICK POULIOT Rating: 71.2#95 LD |  ALEX BIEGA Rating: 72.2#61 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 71.68#27 DL2 |
 ASHTON SAUTNER Rating: 73.1#59 LD |  LUKE SCHENN Rating: 68.6#101 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 70.81#22 DL3 |
Erik Haula is still month-to-month with an LBI. That being said, the Golden Knights won’t need much to beat this Canucks squad.
Marc-Andre Fleury will once again try and destroy the Canucks’ spirits as he is the likely starter, but their Twitter preview has Malcolm Subban as the feature… hmmm.
Golden Knights lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT Rating: 79.2#12 LW |  WILLIAM KARLSSON Rating: 78.6#26 C |  REILLY SMITH Rating: 77.5#22 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 78.43#14 FL1 |
 MAX PACIORETTY Rating: 78.6#14 LW |  PAUL STASTNY Rating: 77.6#34 C |  MARK STONE Rating: 80.2#11 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 78.80#2 FL2 |
 BRANDON PIRRI Rating: 73.9#48 LW |  CODY EAKIN Rating: 71.8#108 C |  ALEX TUCH Rating: 75.9#35 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 73.87#8 FL3 |
 RYAN CARPENTER Rating: 72.4#82 LW |  PIERRE-ÉDOUARD BELLEMARE Rating: 72.2#96 C |  RYAN REAVES Rating: 71.6#85 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 72.03#6 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 NATE SCHMIDT Rating: 78.2#8 LD |  DERYK ENGELLAND Rating: 71.9#73 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 75.06#15 DL1 |
 BRAYDEN MCNABB Rating: 73.5#51 LD |  SHEA THEODORE Rating: 79.2#7 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 76.36#5 DL2 |
 JON MERRILL Rating: 73.2#57 LD |  COLIN MILLER Rating: 77.7#19 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 75.41#1 DL3 |
YOUR INFORMATIONAL NEEDS FOR TONIGHT’S GAME
- Scoring goals have challenged the Canucks this season, more recently since the beginning of January. Vancouver (57 GF) ranks two goals behind Anaheim for fewest in the NHL since January which isn’t exactly surprising. Vegas hasn’t lit the world on fire either but their 14 goals ahead of the Canucks. Tonight would be a great time to see another one of those early season 8-7 matchups.
- Jake Virtanen has a shot to play tonight and his drive the net style would be a breath of fresh air. The #ShotgunJake movement needs a resurgence and a game with Adam Gaudette and Nikolay Goldobin would be fun to watch. Jake has 12 goals on the season but he would need a miracle to crack 20. One game at a time.
- Speaking to the Canucks scoring woes, they’ve been one of the stingiest teams for allowing them since the turn of the calendar. Vancouver has allowed the eighth-fewest goals since Jan 1 which reveals volumes about how amazing Jacob Markstrom has been. It didn’t seem possible he could mould into a number one netminder but he clearly has.
- The Canucks say they haven’t given up on the playoffs and there is small chance they could make a bit of a run but if they’re going to do that they have to win tonight, they’ll have to beat both the Rangers and Devils (possible), the Senators are around the corner and there is a Dallas game mixed in. Six points are realistically available but its anyone’s guess of where they sit after those.
- Vancouver look to get out of the shootout/shutout category tonight as two of the three games in the season series have resulted in one of those outcomes. The Canucks have the bonus point game while Marc-Andre Fleury blanked Vancouver in their last meeting. An outright win would make this game a lot more enjoyable as there hasn’t been much to be excited about lately.
- Quinn Hughes is one game away from suiting up for the Canucks.
MY 94 CENTS
It’s safe to say the Canucks aren’t going to figure out their power-play this season so I think I need to stop ragging on it. No sense in kicking a dead horse. You shouldn’t kick horses regardless of the situation but in this case, the issue is dead. Vegas can’t climb the standings at all this evening, but they’re neck and neck with the Predators for the fourth spot in the West. Oh, what a series that would be again!
Oh right, Canucks. Vancouver hasn’t shown any tangible consistency that would suggest this is a winnable game but leave it to this consistently inconsistent club to surprise everyone.
It would be nice if they did. Very nice.
THE TWITTER TAKE
About time. Everyone in BC has been stone-cold sober for too long. https://t.co/0l9TEAmbyt
— Daniel Wagner – Pass it to Bulis (@passittobulis) March 9, 2019
And I just bought beer too!
