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CANUCKS ARMY GDT# 2 – CANUCKS VS. FLAMES (HNIC)
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Always90four
Oct 10, 2015, 17:53 EDTUpdated:
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Game one was a success and the Canucks are on pace for the elusive 82 win season! With careful tweaks here and there, a confident goaltending tandem and the cosmic talents of one…er…two Sedins, this season for the Canucks will end up being a phenomenal leap forward. Of course, you and I both know we’ll lose somewhere in there and the train will go off the rails and well it, it will get ugly. 
So we focus just on Calgary for tonight. Home opener and pre-game ceremonies to celebrate Rogers Arena/GM Place surviving 20 years. Road teams hate the ceremonies so this should play in the Canucks’ favour. The Flames were dominated on Wednesday and unless Calgary added Messier call blocker Connor McDavid, it should be more of the same.
Let’s play some hockey!

BROADCAST INFO

TV: CBC (Hockey Night in Canada folks!)
RADIO: TSN 1040
PUCK DROP: 7PM (pre-game ceremonies might delay that a tad)

LINEUPS

Ryan Miller wasn’t tested a whole lot in his first game, but he looked pretty good. He’ll be in net tonight. The Baertschi/Horvat/Vrbata line I thought looked great last game and you can see them building good chemistry out there. Henrik and Daniel once again made another linemate feel like he had played with them for years in Brandon Sutter.
They snuck in Hansen later on and that felt better for everyone I’m sure. The Hutton/Sbisa pairing wasn’t the worst and that bodes well going forward. Alex Edler got off 3 official shots but his presence on the back end looked like vintage Edler. No more broken sticks for him means more time attacking.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Daily Faceoff (subject to change)
Calgary Flames lines courtesy of Daily Faceoff (subject to change)
Hiller will be manning the net for Calgary this evening. Ramo gave up a five spot the other night, so it’s next man up. The Canucks neutralized Michael Ferland for the most part, but I’m sure he’ll try something silly again tonight. HNIC games between these two end up being pretty spirited and we usually see the unexpected. Calgary’s top line of Gaudreau/Monahan/Hudler will need to get up for tonight and Hudler has typically been the guy against Vancouver. Mason Raymond is expected to play. Watch out for those blue lines, MayRay!

REASONS TO WATCH THIS GAME

  • It’s the home opener for your Canucks. Jersey off the back night, free first drink for everyone in attendance and the first official game at home for Jared McCann and Ben Hutton. I have a feeling the fans will be happy about that.
  • Henrik and Daniel alone are worth the price of admission and if you are looking elsewhere to get your entertainment, you’ve missed out. Will they show off their baseball moves again or maybe some kind of slam dunk/touchdown/origami type play? You never know with the Sedins and that’s what makes them so tough to play against.
  • At some point Luca Sbisa will have to justify his hollywood type contract and what better time than tonight? He’s the least likely player to have a statement game so that makes him all the more intriguing. If he lets Hutton do the zone exit work he can focus on being an offensive force. However, Hutton does that too….hmmmm. Let’s hope he plays well.
  • Some of you might be having turkey this evening and the Canucks game conveniently is after you eat. You will most likely be in a food coma and your couch will be the most comforting. Let the Canucks entertain you while you eat your pumpkin pie and polish off that seasonal pumpkin beer. I’ll be enjoying Jumpin Jack IPA by Tree Brewing in Kelowna!
  • Is the good Jannik Hansen back? His top shelf rocket last game was a welcome sight and he executed perfectly. For a guy many thought was expendable, he might still have something more to give the Canucks. A few more of those wouldn’t hurt.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING


I’ll give them credit for trying but this is just not pro level. Flames Nation is the place to go for everything Flames related minus the photoshops. For THOSE head on over to twitter this evening and check out @TronArmy for their SNL themed photoshop competition. Gonna be impressive!

MY TAKE

The Canucks aren’t playing the Kings this year in the home opener so already there is a good chance of a win. Vancouver outplayed the Flames on Wednesday and I believe they’re going to that again tonight. I predict that Bo Horvat has a monster game and Alex Edler scores 2. The Flames may have taken a step forward last year but as far as I’m concerned, they’re still the same and it’s time for the Canucks to take back what’s theirs. Canucks take it 6-2. 

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