logo
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
CANUCKS ARMY GDT# 54 – CANUCKS @ BLUE JACKETS
alt
Always90four
Feb 9, 2017, 15:00 ESTUpdated:
Comments
The road less traveled would be a fitting poem to base this Canucks season on; winning on the road has not come easy, let alone at all. Coming into tonight’s game against the juggernaut Blue Jackets, Vancouver has a road record of 6-16-3 and the way they seem to be finishing games, the Canucks may not get to 10 road wins unless they can somehow manage to rework, well, everything.
Last game, John Tortorella scored his 500th win as a coach and the Jackets were on a bit of a streak if I remember correctly. This game is huge for the Canucks and once again, if the playoffs are still on the table then we’re going to have to see some big changes.
LINE COMBOS
Sven Baertschi is out with a concussion so Reid Boucher will come into the lineup. He’ll definitely get more than the 6:04 he played against Nashville in January. Markus Granlund looks like he will get a go with the Sedins.
Jannik Hansen gets to ride shotgun with Bo Horvat and Alex Burrows so that should be a line worth watching and the odds are in their favour that they draw a few penalties. Speed and such.
Ryan Miller has the weight of the world on his shoulders tonight as he gets the start.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
Defensive Pairings
 
Alexander Edler
 
Troy Stecher
 
Luca Sbisa
 
Chris Tanev
 
Nikita Tryamkin
 
Ben Hutton
Josh Anderson will be a game time decision after getting injured against Detroit on Tuesday. No other big changes to note.
Sergei Bobrovsky should be in the net this evening.
Columbus Blue Jackets lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
GAME NOTES, STATS AND OTHER INTERESTING INFO
  • Standings watch is back on and even though the Canucks are tied for 28th in the league standings, there’s no way they sink to dead last. Seven points will be tough to make up but it’s either Nolan Patrick or go for it – potentially disastrous either way.
  • Looks like Philip Larsen is out of the lineup with Ben Hutton back. Our fearless leader, J.D. Burke, had a great piece on Larsen this week and I do agree that more playing time will help shape what PL can be.
  • Loui Eriksson is struggling and it seems our cries for his presence on the Sedin line were in vain. Eriksson has 0 points in his last 9 games and since the Canucks played Columbus on December 18th, Loui has 4 goals and 3 assists. Big bucks for this guy and he was given the opportunity to make something happen. Is he snake bit? Possibly, but man, you have to show you can make SOMETHING happen out there.
  • Ben Hutton is having a decent season. He was the darling story last year and has slid back a bit from the spotlight. What he has done is put up 4 goals and 8 assists, with 7 of those points coming on the PP. We talk about guys being out of the lineup and what they mean to the Canucks, he’s a big part of this club.
  • Would you believe Sergei Bobrovsky has only played 5 games against the Canucks since October 2013? His record is 2-3 and has given up 19 goals in those games. He’s beatable and tonight might be that night. 
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
From waterboy to 4th line NHLer – dreams do come true!
MY TAKE
I can’t fathom the Canucks being the aggressor in this one but with Reid Boucher looking to make an impact and Jannik Hansen playing with Horvat, I suppose anything is possible. Ryan Miller is going to need to be almost perfect, which is possible.
Canucks make magic and win.
WHO WILL HAVE THE BETTER CAREER: NIKOLAI ZHERDEV OR JAYSON MEGNA
I actually had forgotten how good Zherdev was for a time. I can’t see Jayson Megna getting 151 goals. This one settled itself almost immediately, hopefully the game tonight doesn’t end the same way.

Breaking News