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CANUCKS ARMY GDT 36 – CANUCKS VS. SHARKS
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Always90four
Dec 21, 2017, 13:19 EST
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Edging towards the Christmas break, the Canucks have a few things left to deal with before the big man comes to town with gifts.
Tonight, they head to San Jose to face the Sharks who are looking for wins as well. For the Canucks, Brock Boeser has continued to lead the way while the Sharks seem to be giving Jannik Hansen a chance to be a star by putting him on a line with Joe Thornton. Could we see a redux of last week’s impressive Canucks or the unfortunate return of what happened against the Canadiens?
Let’s Do This!
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: SNET-P
RADIO: SN650
PUCK DROP: 7:30 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
Brock Boeser is most definitely back and he doesn’t look like he skipped a beat. He’ll be on a line with Sam Gagner and Loui Eriksson. Thomas Vanek went H.A.M the other night and the Sedins could benefit from a bit of Tommy Gun fever. Might Jake Virtanen and Nikolay Goldobin step up this evening and show the Sharks they mean business?
Jacob Markstrom will probably get the start but it doesn’t seem to matter lately.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
Jannik Hansen has hit the big time in San Jose, that or they have no idea what to do with him. Logan Couture is still out with a concussion from Alex Burmistrov (hey, he’s a Canuck) so Logan is still day-to-day.
Martin Jones will be the goalie of record this evening. But again, goalies haven’t been my strong suit lately.
San Jose Sharks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
  • The Last Edler – Asking the Canucks defence to score has been a tall task and for Alex Edler, it might as well be Mount Everest. Edler has one tally this season and that was against the Leafs, well before The Last Jedi came to theatres. He has been quite the Phantom Menace to opponents this year and it’s tough to say if he can muster a new hope from his coach. Hopefully, the Force Awak… OK enough. You get the point, right?
  • Brendan Gaunce needs to, how to say this nicely, be a difference maker. Clearly, the Canucks aren’t employing him for his offensive prowess and he has been, has been, a defensive asset but lately, you have to wonder if Brendan Gaunce is on “the block”. Nic Dowd has already shown himself to be visible albeit in the penalty box but he’s doing something. Gaunce just feels like he’s going through the motions. Time to step up, Brendan.
  • What happened to the goaltending? First, the city was outraged because Anders Nilsson wasn’t getting enough starts and then Jacob Markstrom deserved to keep the ball and now a pylon on a kids train track going in circles could do a better job than these two guys. The scoring has almost dried up and the goaltending looks like it went with it. Someone has to stand up and go on a run because the Canucks don’t have enough firepower to score five goals a game… at least more than once every month.
  • Is Brock Boeser sustainable? The numbers are ridiculous, his shot is ferocious, and he just keeps getting better. He’s two goals off of Bo Horvat’s team-leading 20 goals from last season and 10 goals away from Daniel Sedin’s 28 goals from 2015/16. A 30 goal scorer on the Canucks that isn’t making $6 million is a big deal. Loui Eriksson may want to take notice.
  • Jannik Hansen on a breakaway that results in a goal. The media will have a field day in Vancouver if this happens tonight.
THE TWITTER TAKE
It’s awkward and old looking but anytime you can find all these songs on a cassette tape, you support it.
MY 94 CENTS
I’d be lying if I had any idea how this game will play out. The Canucks are quite the enigma lately and just when we’re about to write them off they have a game for the ages. I don’t expect a barn-burner but I expect an impressive showing from The Flow. I really want to see Jake Virtanen make his mark and take his game to the next level. It has to be soon, right?
OVER / UNDER
Brock Boeser PPG (+/- 1)     Is there anything he can’t do? Scoring goals are Boeser’s specialty so if Vancouver gets to the man-advantage take the push, Brock puts one home.
Chris Tanev goals (+/- 0)     I’ve had an OK season with the guessing and Tanev is kinda due for a goal; go over this evening.
The Pint is your home for all things game day. Come down for game day specials like $5 mugs of bud and bud light and get 20% off food if you’re a season ticket holders

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