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Canucks Army Game Day 7 – Canucks @ Jets (Blameless Edition)
Photo credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin - USA TODAY Sports
By Always90four
Oct 18, 2018, 13:07 EDT
THE INTRO
Finishing a six-game road trip with the chance to go 4-2 is a pretty special feeling if you’re the Canucks. The preseason was not kind to Vancouver, either that or they were given amnesia pills before opening night. The Canucks are a dramatically different team as of late and look nothing like the skeleton team they iced in late September.
Most of the early success was thanks to Elias Pettersson but in the game after his injury, it was the role players, defense and the original hero, Brock Boeser, that took charge and put the Canucks in the win column, yet again. The Jets have not lost in regulation at the MTS Centre so far this season but they’re giving up as many goals as they’re scoring.
This one could be another old-time hockey game.
Let’s Do This!™
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SN-VAN / SN 650 / 5:00 PM
LINEUPS
Will Michael Del Zotto get an opportunity to slot back in the lineup, probably not. The lines should stay the same and the only real change could be in net but who changes a goalie that’s won three-straight games?
Not this guy, that’s who! Anders Nilsson is the confirmed starter
Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 SVEN BAERTSCHI Rating: 74.4#41 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 74.8#53 C |  BROCK BOESER Rating: 78.9#13 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 76.05#24 FL1 |
 NIKOLAY GOLDOBIN Rating: 71.6#91 LW |  ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 73.2#86 C |  LOUI ERIKSSON Rating: 72.6#64 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 72.49#27 FL2 |
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL Rating: 70.9#105 LW |  BRANDON SUTTER Rating: 71.0#148 C |  JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 70.0#100 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 70.61#28 FL3 |
 TIM SCHALLER Rating: 69.2#136 LW |  MARKUS GRANLUND Rating: 71.4#135 C |  TYLER MOTTE Rating: 68.5#118 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 69.68#26 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 ALEXANDER EDLER Rating: 74.3#34 LD |  CHRIS TANEV Rating: 71.1#76 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 72.71#28 DL1 |
 BEN HUTTON Rating: 69.9#113 LD |  ERIK GUDBRANSON Rating: 68.8#97 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 69.36#30 DL2 |
 DERRICK POULIOT Rating: 70.3#106 LD |  TROY STECHER Rating: 70.6#84 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 70.49#25 DL3 |
If Patrik Laine was so good, why is he on the Jet’s second line? Maybe he should slow down on the Fortnite video game, psssh, Millenials. Dustin Byfuglien suits up tonight after just missing out against Edmonton the other night. Dmitry Kulikov sits
Connor Hellebuyck will most likely be the starter.
Jets lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 KYLE CONNOR Rating: 77.6#19 LW |  MARK SCHEIFELE Rating: 82.7#9 C |  BLAKE WHEELER Rating: 80.4#5 RW | FL1 Rating Rating: 80.23#6 FL1 |
 NIKOLAJ EHLERS Rating: 74.9#34 LW |  BRYAN LITTLE Rating: 73.2#83 C |  PATRIK LAINE Rating: 81.3#4 RW | FL2 Rating Rating: 76.50#6 FL2 |
 ANDREW COPP Rating: 70.9#103 LW |  ADAM LOWRY Rating: 73.1#88 C |  BRANDON TANEV Rating: 71.5#86 RW | FL3 Rating Rating: 71.86#18 FL3 |
 BRENDAN LEMIEUX Rating: 72.7#75 LW |  JACK ROSLOVIC Rating: 71.7#128 C |  MATHIEU PERREAULT Rating: 73.6#50 RW | FL4 Rating Rating: 72.63#5 FL4 |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 JOSH MORRISSEY Rating: 75.0#24 LD |  JACOB TROUBA Rating: 77.6#16 RD | DL1 Rating Rating: 76.28#13 DL1 |
 JOE MORROW Rating: 71.5#82 LD |  TYLER MYERS Rating: 75.1#31 RD | DL2 Rating Rating: 73.30#15 DL2 |
 DMITRY KULIKOV Rating: 70.0#109 LD |  BEN CHIAROT Rating: 70.6#85 RD | DL3 Rating Rating: 70.30#28 DL3 |
INFORMATION YOU NEED AND SOME YOU DON’T
- A little while ago the Canucks made headlines when they banned video games on the road in exchange for more team bonding via dinners and other events. Patrik Laine of the Winnipeg Jets had stated they needed to blame their bad play on something when they banned games and if the Jets played that poorly they would leave their own video games at home. Well, Patrik, your team doesn’t have a single player inside the Top-60 for points and you’re not even in the Top-120.
- Alex Edler has more blocked shots than Laine has actual shots, 35 to 24, respectively. Edler also has Laine beat in points leading him five to four. Maybe he should just focus on his team for a while and let the Canucks deal with their stuff on their own.
- Going into tonight’s game, the Canucks have scored an impressive 22 goals to start the season. At this point last year, they had 15. Vancouver also only had two wins at this point in 2017. With no Sedins, Thomas Vanek or, the red-hot Derek Dorsett start, the Canucks are getting it done in a variety of ways (most of which are named Elias).
- Goals, assists, and wins are trending in the Canucks favour but the Corsi battle has once again exposed the team as a sitting duck. Vancouver ranks 29th with a 41.24 CF%,
- There won’t be too many places on the Internet that have positive things to say about Loui Eriksson but this is one of them. Last season, Eriksson ranked 3rd on the Canucks with 25 iHDCF chances on the road, and 45 chances for overall. He hasn’t had many shots that have been memorable this season (literally almost none) but Loui did try and get in the dirty areas to score. The stats say so, they don’t lie.
- Patrik Laine had two goals in three games against the Canucks a season ago, so even though he’s got a big mouth, he did back it up last year. Maybe Erik Gudbranson could politely ask him to be quiet.
MY 94 CENTS
It’s always a fun matchup when the Canucks take on the Jets, their old Smythe division rivals, and with the recent Fortnite comments from Patrik Laine directed at how bad the Canucks were a season ago, there is enough bulletin board material to fuel a spirited game. The Canucks are coming off of three-straight wins and could finish their six-game road trip with a bang!
Brock Boeser is finding his stride, the bottom six forwards are embracing their roles, and for the immediate future, goaltending isn’t a glaring problem. Winnipeg is no pushover so the Canucks have their work cut out for them.
THE FINAL THOUGHT
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