Our man with the pre-game plan Always90Four is sick. I’m sick and tired of this season. I’m sure you are too. With that in mind, let’s keep this pregame short, shall we?
Broadcast Info:
TV: Sportsnet Pacific // Radio: TSN 1040 // Start Time: 7:00 PM
Line Combos
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Daily Faceoff
| Defensive Pairings | |
|---|---|
It doesn’t sound like there’s a ton of change coming in the lineup. Sven Baertschi’s lower body injury will be looked at today; if it’s bad, the Canucks will play seven defencemen, with one possibly going up to forward. It wouldn’t be the first time it happened; Andrey Pedan’s first game this year was played on the wing.
Ryan Miller is expected to start in goal.
Anaheim Ducks lines courtesy of Daily Faceoff
| Defensive Pairings | |
|---|---|
The Ducks are living proof that, if given enough time, puck luck will usually prevail. The team that everyone was shocked to see near the bottom of the standings is now a legitimate threat to win the Pacific. How do the Californian teams end up 1-2-3 in that division while Canada can’t ice a single playoff caliber club? It’s crazy. No wonder the Jets are moving back to Atlanta and the league is implementing a wildcard lottery.
John Gibson is expected to start in goal.
Reasons to Watch This Game
- Your TV is broken and won’t change channels
- You’ve somehow been locked *into* your house
- You want to drink away your sorrows but the only bar you can get into is the Boston Pizza in the Stadium District
- You really, really miss Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa
- You’re really sick of your hair, but you can’t decide between the Ryan Getzlaf cut and the Thomas Drance cut
What They’re Saying
Huge if true.
My Take
I’m actually in town for the next two weeks. This is the third year in a row that I’ve spent time here and I appreciate it more and more. I especially appreciate it now; how can a city this beautiful have a team this ugly?
Expect the Ducks to continue reversing that bottom-tier shooting percentage with another win. As in, “Run Miller out of the net” level win. Hey, at least it would be a boost to the lottery odds, no?
