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CANUCKS ARMY GDT# 7 – CANUCKS VS. CAPITALS
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Always90four
Oct 22, 2015, 15:00 EDTUpdated:
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If we’re being honest with each other, the Canucks are making a mockery out of home ice advantage right now. Sure, they’re doing the right things, but they’ve also done nothing but lose. Does that mean anything? NO IDEA! PROBABLY NOTHING! BUT ITS WORTH YELLING ABOUT!
Anyway, our Vancouver Canucks return to Rogers Arena tonight to take on Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. It should be a fun game; let’s take a look at what’s ahead.

BROADCAST INFO

TV: SPORTSNET 360
RADIO: TSN 1040
PUCK DROP: 7:08 PM

LINEUPS

The regular season Canucks will finally come back to the formula that works: Vrbata with the Sedins. This in an 82 game sample size works well. The kid line remains intact, yet ranked lower than the obvious third line of Burrows/Sutter/Hansen. Cracknell is out, so it’s Jared “I’m ready for the NHL” McCann back in. Lastly, what honestly is Desjardins thinking by NOT icing Weber? Bartkowski isn’t the answer here. He’s not terrible, but he isn’t the obvious PP specialist. C’mon man.
Ryan Miller obviously starts. I bet if they allowed it Jacob Markstrom could just hang out on the bench, we don’t need Richy.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com
We will all assume Alex Ovechkin will not sleep in today and will be available to amaze us come puck drop. This Caps team is good and they are getting contributions from a very 2008-2010 Nicklas Backstrom. Justin Williams said see ya later to LA and is now on a team that could use his Cup winning thoughts and talent. Obviously everyone and their 10-year-old brother will be clamoring to see Ovie and every shift he takes. He’s good and, to be honest, seeing him live is practically life-changing.
Brayden Holtby gets the nod for the Caps.
Washington Capitals lines courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com

REASONS TO WATCH THIS GAME

  • It’s pretty clear Radim Vrbata stared down Willie and got his spot back with the Sedins, which restores a line that’s always worth watching. They just click; Vrbata and the Twins, that is, not his and Willie’s eyes.
  • Despite the losses at home, Ryan Miller continues to impress. He has given the guys in front of him the confidence needed to start taking some risks again. It’s a good ol’ fashion East coast rematch for Millsy with Ovechkin in town. The Great 8 just picked up his 900 and 901st points, and his Caps will be gunning again this evening.
  • Now that he’s in the lineup, it’s only fair this makes its GDT debut:
  • A home win against the Capitals would be a big boost for not only the team but the fans. You can’t exactly expect personalized goal songs to be enough to keep keep those in the stands entertained?
  • He ain’t a Canuck, but Alex Ovechkin is worth the price of admission. He creates space and does things the great ones all do. If you’re at the game you’ll see more than the cameras and you’ll see why he’s better at putting the puck in the net than almost, nope, every Canuck, every player in the NHL, arguably ever.
  • Finally, the kid line is turning some heads. Bo is winning the faceoffs, and Virtanen is so close to burying that puck. That line has some mojo to it, it’ll only be a matter of time until it starts to take control.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING


MY TAKE

Washington is on a roll. They’ve won three in a row, and they like to score a ton. The Canucks need to regain their first-week momentum, and a win against the Capitals this early in the season can be an exclamation point. Not having Weber on the back end does hurt, but Ben Hutton doesn’t look out of place and could start finding the back of the net regularly. With that said, the Caps probably win their 4th in a row, but it goes to 3 on 3. I hate picking losses.

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