Listen. I love the Sedins and all their contributions. But I am not the least bit emotionally attached to them. I'll admire and respect their careers, but I'm glad to see them go go go goodbye: youtu.be/qqCcpZ_LzXM #Canucks
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CANUCKS ARMY GDT 80 – CANUCKS VS. GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Photo credit: Kirby Lee - USA TODAY Sprts
By Always90four
Apr 3, 2018, 13:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 3, 2018, 11:48 EDT
For the final time this season the Canucks will take on the expansion Golden Knights. There will be a bit more emotion in the air due to “the announcement” yesterday but there is still a game to be played. Lots of roster tidbits to get through and somehow the Canucks have already equaled their nice season from a year ago (69 points).
Hopefully, Vancouver doesn’t cough up the lead early again. Things are going well right now.
Let’s Do This!™
WATCH / LISTEN / FACE-OFF
TV: SNET-P / RADIO: SN650 / PUCK DROP: 7:00 PM
LINE COMBINATIONS
Here’s the rundown: Thatcher Demko was sent back to Utica as Jacob Markstrom is healthy-ish and Anders Nilsson isn’t sick. Reid Boucher broke his hand last game so he’s done for the season, Ashton Sautner, by the time this is released, may get sent back as well with Ben Hutton practicing and potentially being cleared to play. Maybe drag that out, Travis?
Brandon Leipsic should be back tonight as well but who sits?
Not much else.
Jacob Markstrom should start.
Vancouver Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 NIKOLAY GOLDOBIN Rating: 68.7#103 LW |  BO HORVAT Rating: 73.8#78 C |  JUSSI JOKINEN Rating: 71.9#73 RW |
 DANIEL SEDIN Rating: 72.9#48 LW |  HENRIK SEDIN Rating: 70.9#162 C |  SAM GAGNER Rating: 72.1#118 RW |
 DARREN ARCHIBALD Rating: 70.5#102 LW |  BRANDON SUTTER Rating: 71.9#125 C |  TYLER MOTTE Rating: 68.0#225 RW |
 BRENDAN GAUNCE Rating: 69.8#194 LW |  JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 70.7#75 RW |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 ALEXANDER EDLER Rating: 73.5#80 LD |  TROY STECHER Rating: 71.8#149 RD |
 MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO Rating: 72.1#132 LD |  DERRICK POULIOT Rating: 70.7#208 RD |
 ASHTON SAUTNER Rating: 72.4#121 LD |  ALEX BIEGA Rating: 69.3#237 RD |
Brandon Pirri has been recalled from Chicago Wolves (AHL). No other big changes for the Golden Knights. This team is ready for the dance.
Marc-Andre Fleury should be the starter.
Vegas Golden Knights lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT Rating: 82.1#8 LW |  WILLIAM KARLSSON Rating: 79.3#20 C |  ALEX TUCH Rating: 73.7#38 RW |
 TOMAS TATAR Rating: 73.1#47 LW |  ERIK HAULA Rating: 75.4#31 C |  JAMES NEAL Rating: 75.0#32 RW |
 OSCAR LINDBERG Rating: 69.5#196 LW |  CODY EAKIN Rating: 70.0#187 C |  RYAN REAVES Rating: 67.7#113 RW |
 TOMAS NOSEK Rating: 69.1#207 LW |  PIERRE-ÉDOUARD BELLEMARE Rating: 69.3#95 C |  RYAN CARPENTER Rating: 70.9#165 RW |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 BRAYDEN MCNABB Rating: 72.5#118 LD |  NATE SCHMIDT Rating: 75.4#47 RD |
 DERYK ENGELLAND Rating: 72.1#129 LD |  SHEA THEODORE Rating: 75.7#44 RD |
 COLIN MILLER Rating: 75.7#45 LD |  JON MERRILL Rating: 69.3#238 RD |
CANUCKS, EXPANSION TEAMS, THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS, AND LEIPSIC
- Including this season, the Canucks have a winning record against expansion teams in five of the eight seasons a new team was introduced (new Jets are relocation). Only the Thrashers, Predators, and this year’s Golden Knights have bested the Canucks in their first season.
- Vancouver’s best showing was in the 1991/92 season when the Sharks entered the league. The Canucks had an outstanding 6-1 record, scoring 23 goals in the process. They haven’t played that many games against an expansion franchise since then but it holds up.
- The Canucks enjoyed the most success on the score sheet when the Ducks came into the league. Vancouver put up an impressive 21 goals while only allowing 7. This was their best goal differential as well, beating out the Lightning’s first year when the Canucks scored 16 times and allowed only 5 goals.
- Vegas is closing its inaugural season in epic style. They’ve clinched the Pacific division, they’ve won games with five different goaltenders (somehow possible), and their misfit cast has a chance to make a run for the Stanley Cup, something no other NHL expansion team has ever done. What a special story considering the tragic event in October, this team might just do the unthinkable.
- Brandon Leipsic was sent away from Vegas, a team that picked him up from a team that left him exposed. Leipsic’s story might just be beginning with the Canucks and tonight would be awesome to see him show what his next step will be. He’s already made an impact on the Canucks and has a bit of feistiness that some of the players just don’t offer. The circus will undoubtedly be around the Sedins to close out the year but the stories inside the game are what we’ll all be watching getting ready for next season. Players are still dropping like flies on the Canucks so Leipsic needs to be smart.
A SLIGHTLY BOLD STANCE ON TWITTER
Not sure if it was just a reason to post this youtube clip but if you cheer for this team I find it impossible to not be emotionally attached to the Sedins’ departure. It was the same feeling for Roberto Luongo; I was devastated even though I knew it was over. Same for Pavel Bure and Trevor Linden. If this is “your” team, any significant player of that level has to affect you emotionally otherwise they’re just turnstile players occupying space.
MY 94 CENTS
The news that dropped yesterday was pretty heavy. Thankfully, this isn’t the last one so most of us can still focus on the game at hand. The Golden Knights have been unbelievable this season and could very well be a contender for the Cup this season. The Canucks are trending in a different direction but winning out at home would be a nice send off for a couple of Swedish fellas on the team.
3 THINGS YOU’LL KNOW AFTER THIS GAME
- The Sedins will never play the Golden Knights again.
- Cheering for the Canucks to win games like these don’t make you a bad person but remember every win means a smaller chance of being rewarded with Rasmus Dahlin.
- With a win, the Canucks will tie their record for the worst season against an expansion team, equalling their awful series against the Predators in 1998 (1-3). See, things aren’t so bad. Oh wait, that’s the season they got the Sedins. OK, things are pretty bad.
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