How great is 3-on-3 overtime? It’s the best, isn’t it? You play a hard fought 60 minutes and then as a bonus you get 5 minutes of “gong show hockey”. BRILLIANT! Thankfully this charade of fake bonus hockey will be over soon. Sadly for the Canucks, that just means the games they’ve been playing will be over after the final buzzer. We’ve all been patient, and we’re getting close to seeing a full roster in the preseason.

BROADCAST INFO

TV: Sportsnet Pacific
RADIO: TSN 1040
PUCK DROP: 7:00 PM PST (if you had plans before, its ok, we understand)

LINEUPS


So it looks like Alex Grenier gets to play with the Sedins tonight. Maybe Turtle, Drama and E will be at the game? Oh wait thats ADRIAN GRENIER. Grenier will probably not magically click on that line but who knows. Nucks will bolster a semi-veteran lineup and an actual game may break out.
Ryan Miller will do good, probably 8/10 good, maybe 7.
As for the Flames, more of the same from them. Boring Sean Monahan, 19 year old Sam Bennett and Das Ferland should suit up. 

REASONS TO WATCH THIS SPECIFIC PRESEASON GAME

  • You’re tired of the sad sack performances, I get it. You want a full-ish roster to see what’s up and who might stick. You have to believe that Jake Virtanen is going to make this team. He’s the one man JV Squad.
  • Just think we could get letterman jackets made up and go to college and.. ok, that’s stupid, but the nickname is awesome and you know it.
  • The Canucks have been dominated in every game so far, but you need a grain of salt with these games. Thankfully, Brendan Gaunce has been noticed, Virtanen is obviously turning heads, and Hunter Shinkaruk is still getting the looks.
  • Giving up on the team in preseason is a Leafs trait, anyway. 
  • It’s a different preseason. Willie isn’t behind the bench full-time, Chris Higgins is hurt, and while Ryan Miller has been okay, is okay good enough?
  • Henrik Sedin will celebrate his 35th birthday, but probably after the game because he’ll be busy for a few hours. He’s still as good as ever and even though its preseason, Hank plays for keeps. Little known fact: it is Daniel Sedin’s birthday as well.
  • You just spent 9 hours trying to beat that impossible Mario Creator level that was posted online the other day and you would rather see someone else frustrate you than yourself.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING


We can only assume he meant the Canucks flopped. He isn’t wrong.

MY TAKE

Ugh, just bury this preseason already. Give us a 90% accurate roster and see how we play against the Flames. I hate how preseason is such a joke overall. Whatever spots are available, audition the likely candidates and send the rest back. If its close with a bunch of guys, great! But if it’s not then stop goofing around. The Canucks do have a decent team but when you see forward lines that are awful or will never actually happen, what’s the point? 
Ryan Miller will be just fine and the Sedins do some Sedin things. Canucks edge the Flames in ACTUAL 3 on 3 OT. No score prediction.