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CANUCKS ARMY GDT# 25 – CANUCKS @ DUCKS
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Always90four
Nov 30, 2015, 14:45 ESTUpdated:
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Remember when the Ducks were good? Remember when they added Kesler and Bieksa and many thought OH, these Ducks are going to be really good now? Ya, me neither. There aren’t too many things that make me happier but seeing Kesler and Bieksa stink in Orange County is a great feeling. Tonight, the Nucks take a few hours away from Fantasyland and the Tower of Terror to take on the Ducks. The promising thing here is that the Canucks seem to be getting over their hump, whereas the Ducks…not so much. Shame.
I will say one thing about the Honda Center, though, killer condiment bar (cheese, bacon bits, green onions I think, sour cream, salsa, etc). As a fan, that’s good stuff.

BROADCAST INFO

TV: SNET-PAC
RADIO: TSN 1040
PUCK DROP: 7 PM

LINE COMBOS

We can keep saying it and it will continue to be amazingly true: the Sedins are still absolutely, ridiculously awesome and they’re 35! Tough to argue that. Hansen is still reaping the rewards and that shouldn’t end anytime soon. 
Bo Horvat is so, soo close to getting that breakout and without Brandon Sutter he has been great, even without the scoreboard agreeing. Jared McCann however, is becoming a whole lot of the future in the very much present. As this team grows together, there will be things we will have waited to see for a long time that will just start happening. It’s fun when you don’t have to expect a Cup every year.
Hutton is close to returning but probably won’t be available until the end of the week most likely. As for the Virtanen/Baertschi musical chairs. We’ll update as we find out who starts.
The bigger game Willie deems is tomorrow so Markstrom should start then. Ryan Miller is tonights contestant.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
Defensive Pairings
 
Alexander Edler
 
Chris Tanev
 
Dan Hamhuis
 
Yannick Weber
 
Luca Sbisa
 
Matt Bartkowski
Ryan Kesler has 2G and 1A in his last 5 games but on the season, he’s been putrid. Same can be said for aging Dman Kevin Bieksa. But let’s not make this about them, they’re stuck between a few Zambonis. The two mainstays Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry are still rocking in the OC Frederik Anderson is still out as is Nate Thompson and the Ducks have recalled Shea Theodore (Seattle Thunderbirds alum). This Ducks team is still dreadful, but it’s the Canucks so we know to trust no one.
John Gibson gets the privilege of facing the Canucks this evening.
Anaheim Ducks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:

REASONS TO WATCH THIS GAME

  • The chances of the Canucks playing 5 on 5 for 60 minutes are pretty slim. That being said, it might be time for not only the powerplay to stop giving up goals and scoring chances and to start putting the puck in the net. Same can be said for the PK. You have to start somewhere. 24th on the PK and a surprising 11th on the PP; these numbers can be better.
  • Jannik Hansen has a non-advanced stats SH% of 14.6 only behind Captain Henrik Sedin. His CF% 45.7 at 5v5 and against ANA this season (1 game) he has a CF% of 56.5 and his PDO is off the charts….which for one game I’m saying is great at 112.5. Expect Hansen to do OK this evening. 
  • We saw OT and the shootout in Dallas and unless you enjoy watching trainwrecks and heart attacks, you want the Canucks to finish this one in OT. It’s possible and they know it. However, coaching is starting to come into question and I wonder if Willie Desjardins needs to start making a difference before his days are numbered? A little soon maybe but he has to start showing us he has better ideas that just the Sedins.
  • This game is a perfect example of how easy it will be to make the playoffs in the Pacific division this year: just win enough games should be everyone’s motto. Don’t win too many and don’t do it in regulation. The Pacific is dreadful and it won’t change anytime soon. Thinking back on a few of Vancouver’s blown losses, we could be heralding them right now. Not so much lately.
  • Let’s say business gets nasty and the Canucks find themselves in overtime again, should Willie not have maybe a better plan? Do they practice 3 on 3 for half of their mornings? If it’s me and we know that’s a bad idea anyways, I keep the Sedins out of OT for at least 3-4 shifts. That should keep them out until at least the first screwup or two either way and by then, they can capitalize on tired bodies. But what do I know, I’ve been right what twice? 

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING


MY TAKE

Anaheim is an enigma for the Canucks: sometimes they play well, sometimes they are so bad that my dog cries. This one feels different and after Ryan Kesler was denied a fight with Jonathan Toews the other night, he might be kinda testy and there has to be someone he wasn’t a teammate with to fight. Canucks win in OT. There, now you can sleep tonight.

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