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CANUCKS ARMY GDT# 44 – CANUCKS @ FLYERS
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Always90four
Jan 12, 2017, 11:00 ESTUpdated:
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Photo Credit: Eric Hartline – USA TODAY Sports
Holiday Cheers! Holiday Savings!
The Canucks have touched down in Philadelphia for a date with the Flyers. Both teams split the season series last year with each team winning at home. The Flyers are just above the playoff bar in 7th, while the Canucks are looking to get back in the hunt with a win. A meaningful Canucks/Flyers game is in the cards tonight and you can expect both teams to bring everything they have.
This means 12 forwards and 6 defensemen (you know who you are).
LINE COMBOS
Unless Willie Desjardins has a change of heart, don’t expect to see Reid Boucher or Anton Rodin tonight. Jayson Megna is still in the lineup for some reason so any kind of potential offence will not exist on the right side of the third line.
The PP1 still needs a different look/setup/plan so that continues to be an issue.
Ryan Miller should be the goalie of record tonight, but who knows how Willie will deploy the masked men.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
Travis Konecny is on the top line with Michael Raffl and Claude Giroux. “Dutch Gretzky” Dale Weise is popular once again as his linemate, Wayne Simmonds, is an All-star. It’s meaningful, trust me.
Steve Mason is the expected starter this evening.
Philadelphia Flyers lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
  • Just found this out yesterday: Bo Horvat and Travis Konecny are cousins. You may have known this but I did not. Two young bucks, Konecny, 5th in team scoring and Horvat is 1st. Both of these teams are lucky to have them. 
  • Brotherly love – Since October 1999, Henrik and Daniel Sedin have faired well in Philly. Henrik is operating at a 1.6 points/game pace and Daniel is at an even 1.00 clip. Henrik might get a chance to get closer to that 1000 point mark with those kinds of numbers.
  • Meg(n)a Disappointment – Hate to rag on this guy but since Dec 1, Megna’s 3 points don’t hold court very well on the Canucks. Jannik Hansen has the same amount of points in that time and he’s been gone for awhile. It’s time to explore the options on this team or the Canucks can fall back into obscurity.
  • Goaltending against the Flyers in Philadelphia for Vancouver’s current netminders hasn’t been amazing. Since October 2006, Miller and Markstrom have a combined 6 wins and 7 losses (Miller has all the wins). If I’m Willie, Ryan Miller is probably the safe bet here if there even is one.
  • The Canucks have 3 wins in their last 5 games against the Flyers and all 3 wins had Vancouver scoring 4 goals. Might we see a 4 goal performance? Unlikely, but I also thought Jannik Hansen would never score on a breakaway and I’m pretty sure he’s done that.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Raffi Torres is the benchmark point for the leader of this year’s team GF60. Not good.
MY TAKE
For a time, the Canucks would feast on the Eastern Conference and now Vancouver’s team is treading water. If the Canucks can survive 60 minutes they can win. Don’t expect a powerplay goal, don’t even expect a powerplay shot. The Canucks need to reevaluate their structure and only then will the rest start to fall in place.
WHY ARE THE CANUCKS TOLERATING JAYSON MEGNA STILL?
December 8th was the last time Megna put the puck in the net and he has 1 assist since then. He should be nowhere near the Sedins, Bo Horvat or even Jack Skille to be honest. Jayson Megna is the easiest choice to pull out of the line up to see what Anton Rodin and Reid Boucher can do. If I’M saying this and it makes sense, we could be in trouble.

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