logo
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
CANUCKS ARMY GDT# 62 – CANUCKS @ AVALANCHE
alt
Always90four
Feb 9, 2016, 15:00 ESTUpdated:
Comments
The Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche battle for the first of three meetings this season and both teams are looking for wins. Vancouver has failed to win since before the All-Star break and only have one win in their last 6. Folks, this is not good. Just when we thought the Canucks were out of the Auston-Matthews-Sweepstakes, they play themselves RIGHT BACK IN! Some are disappointed; others excited. Regardless, winning always feels good so maybe try that today.
BROADCAST INFO
TV: SNET-P
RADIO: TSN 1040
PUCK DROP 6:00 PM
LINE COMBOS
I am very happy to be the last person to tell you that the line of the future is back together! Bo Horvat, Sven Baertschi and Jake Virtanen will take regular shifts tonight as a line. Not really sure if the Alex Burrows, Linden Vey and Emerson Etem line is a demotion as Radim Vrbata, Derek Dorsett and Brandon Sutter will take a whirl together. This one has me saying hmmmm. Vrbata can’t be showcased with Derek Dorsett. He just can’t. Willie, you can do better than this.
Jacob Markstrom will start this evening as Ryan Miller gets the pipes tomorrow. Two different goalies on a back to back? What a concept!
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy Dailyfaceoff:
Defensive Pairings
 
Alexander Edler
 
Chris Tanev
 
Dan Hamhuis
 
Alex Biega
 
Ben Hutton
 
Luca Sbisa
Oh hey Jarome Iginla! We’re just gonna leave you be tonight so you don’t put up a three spot or anything. Gabriel Landeskog has also been a pain in the Canucks side since he arrived in the league, kind of a dirty player against them – so watch out for Gabe! Matt Duchene has 2G and 1A in his last 5 so he knows what struggles are like, expect a typical Canucks rebound game for him.
Semyon Varlamov should start tonight but considering the Avs have given up a ton of shots lately, if the Canucks happen to crack the wall, we might see Rito Berra too!
Colorado Avalanche lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
REASONS TO WATCH THIS GAME
  • The Avalanche have always been a thorn in the side of the Canucks and that relationship is renewed this evening. Iginla continues to stretch out his career and loves to play the Orca. That being said, the real debut of the Horvat/Baertschi/Virtanen line should overshadow all of this… for Canucks fans, anyways.
  • Jacob Markstrom is the tendy tonight and with his impressive 4-0-1 line in his last five, we should all be excited to see the guy before the guy get his reps in before he becomes the #1. (Obviously, Markstrom then Demko; keep up!)
  • The NHL Trade Deadline is getitng closer and closer and Radim Vrbata hasn’t blown up to the point he’ll warrant a solid 1st round pick or even solid rebuilding pieces. Thankfully, it only takes a good week to turn that around and half of the NHL GM’s are idiots anyways for the overpayments they make on rentals. Vrbata with Sutter and surprisingly Dorsett might actually produce results, we’d ask that you watch to find out if it does…hence the section title.
  • You wanna know who has monster 5v5 stats against the Avs? Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Since Oct 2010, the twins have a combined PDO of 108.1 (SERIOUS?), CF% of 56.8 and Daniel’s personal CF% is at 65.6. Sure it may only be a cup of coffee over 10 games or so but ya dang skippy that’s still impressive.
  • Speaking of the Twins, that line needs to get up and go again. Everyone is healthy and it’s time to get back to leading this team on the score sheet. Realistically, this would be the time when Alex Edler and Luca Sbisa randomly have their best game of the season when no one is paying attention to them. But its the stars that get the attention so start with the focus on them. 
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
MY TAKE
I hate being optimistic but seeing the lines change up gives me hope. Horvat and Baertschi are all kinds of great these days and if Virtanen even gets a sliver of that, Willie D could end up looking like a genius. Avalanche have the talent to beat the Canucks and I’m giving them the W tonight. Let the hate pour in. 
WHAT’D I MISS?

Breaking News