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CANUCKS ARMY GDT# 18 – CANUCKS @ LEAFS (HNIC)
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Always90four
Nov 14, 2015, 12:42 ESTUpdated:
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This game needs no introduction. It’s the Canucks facing the Leafs at the ACC. All of Canada comes together for 2.5 hours to hate each other (and if you are excited for the 7PM game, there will definitely be a shootout). The Leafs are back home after a week long roadie and the Canucks are looking for answers on their current trek. The only thing that will top this GDT is some boneheaded comment Cherry will make in the first intermission. Let’s do this.

BROADCAST INFO

TV: CBC (Hockey Night in Canada’s early game….yes Vancouver start your predictable complaints)
RADIO: TSN 1040
PUCK DROP: 4 PM

LINEUPS

Brandon Sutter is fighting an injury but both Brandon Prust and Luca Sbisa are expected to slot in before the road trip is over. Probably not tonight. Hansen is still with the Sedins, which I support and Virtanen is at centre? OK? The Horvat line needs to get something going aside from Sven Baertschi and its only a matter of time before Vrbata starts banging home goals.
Ryan Miller is the highest paid goalie and its Toronto, he’s starting.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
Defensive Pairings
 
Alexander Edler
 
Chris Tanev
 
Dan Hamhuis
 
Yannick Weber
 
Ben Hutton
 
Matt Bartkowski
A touchy subject in Vancouver, Frankie Corrado STILL has not played a game for the Leafs. If the Leafs aren’t starting this guy, maybe Benning knew something we don’t. Had to. Toronto is coming off of two straight victories so obviously Leaf Nation has the parade planned and will be obnoxious until they are down 3-0 in the first. Thankfully the suits won’t know until eight minutes left in the period. I’m looking up and down their roster to give you something noteworthy, I can’t.
Optimus Reim is in net this evening; AUTOBOTS! Prepare to disengage!
Toronto Maple Leafs lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
Defensive Pairings
 
Jake Gardiner
 
Dion Phaneuf
 
Matt Hunwick
 
Morgan Rielly
 
Scott Harrington
 
Roman Polak

REASONS TO WATCH THIS GAME AND BASH THE LEAFS

  • As a fan, you might have a busy life: Kids, work, home improvements and the like; but you always have a handful of games circled on the calendar and THIS…this is the big one. Nothing’s bigger, well unless the Nucks won a Cup or something
  • Our boss Jeff Veillette, as you may have seen, is a Toronto native. Hey, we all have our faults. With the Canucks facing off against his home, his allegiance should, in theory, be torn. Thankfully, there is more going on in Vancouver that doesn’t exclusively involved the coach and an overrated defenseman. Safe to say he’s cheering for the Canucks and that should be enough reason right there to watch this game….and bash the Leafs.
  • Some of you might miss yelling at Bieksa for all the reasons we did, but fear not Canucks fans, Dion Phaneuf is that man for the Leafs and all the reasons you yelled at Juice, you’ll praise Phaneuf. This Leafs team is still figuring things out and the Canucks should be able to take advantage of that. By the way, how IS Bieksa doing these days?
  • My guess is the Horvat clan will be out in droves to see their boy Bo take on the local hockey franchise in their area. The lights are the brightest in Toronto and Bo Horvat could really use a big game. He has seen a bit of a statistical slump with only 6 points this season but its not for lack of trying. Bo is a gamer and gamers game. I was never good at cliches.
  • Sometimes you learn a lot from kids, my oldest daughter who is almost 5 is bright. When I taught her all I know about hockey, and by the looks of it sometimes it’s not a lot; she asked why we don’t like the Leafs so I told her and now anytime someone talks about them she says this: We don’t like the Leafs because we have better things to do, right dad?” Warms my heart. She’s going places.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING


MY TAKE

I sure have been wrong in my predictions lately, but it won’t stop me from going full Canuck mode tonight. Vancouver will not lose this game. I’m predicting a shootout which doesn’t say much but quite frankly, you just don’t lose to Toronto. That being said, Bo Horvat and Alex Burrows have a good night.

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