Steve Jobs once said that patience is a virtue. He probably wasn’t the first to say it, and I can’t really confirm he said it at all, but you have to believe that he said it at some point. After all, it’s a very good quote.
In this fifth game of the preseason, the Canucks take on the Glendale/Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes. Sometimes those games are fun, sometimes they’re excruciatingly boring and sometimes we joke about Mike Smith. I am not sure how tonight’s game will go, but I bet it’s one of those three. Utica is on a bus to France (oui, oui!) and the lucky ones are still fighting to stick with the Vancouver Canucks. Let’s play this thing!

BROADCAST INFO

TV: Sportsnet ONE
Radio: TSN 1040
Puck Drop: 7pm Pacific

LINEUPS

Daniel Sedin – Henrik Sedin – Jake Virtanen
Sven Baertschi – Linden Vey – Radim Vrbata
Jared McCann – Brandon Sutter – Alex Burrows
Ronalds Kenins – Adam Cracknell – Alex Grenier
Luca Sbisa – Yannick Weber
Dan Hamhuis – Frank Corrado
Ben Hutton – Andrey Fedun
Jacob Markstrom will start the game the game, and is expected to go the distance. If he can’t, however, Richard Bachman will be there to take his place.
This evening is another chance for Jared McCann to impress the bosses, and Alex Grenier will get that chance too. .Maybe Jake Virtanen doesn’t make it…hmmmm. Both Linden Vey and Ronalds Kenins will get another chance to hang on to a roster spot. I don’t think Vey is good enough to outplay the other guys.
Arizona’s lines aren’t available just yet.

REASONS TO WATCH THIS PRESEASON GAME

  • I’ve FedEx’d about 100 JV Squad tees and letterman jackets to a guy in downtown Van. Virtanen is so getting that nickname. Maybe said gear make it on TV? (I didn’t actually do this, but it’s a great nickname)
  • When I see Bo Horvat and the things he does like scoring that sweet little doozy of a goal on Saturday, I get excited for the team’s future. Tonight should be no different. Tonight we deserve to be excited and I think someone will follow suit.
  • The Canucks didn’t draft Nick Merkley and that angers me still. He won’t be in the lineup because our good friends the Kings sent him home with a collarbone injury. But OEL and Max Domi play for the Coyotes still and aside from a night off, they should be fun to watch.
  • References to the Utica trip to France by John and John should be amusing and by that I’m sure Mr. Garrett will make a comment about poutine, french fries or something edible. Oh, sorry, that’s not a reason to watch. How bout “The Clapper” ?
  • None of the Canucks are being investigated for criminal things so let’s cheer on a law abiding team!
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Sadly, this clip never gets old and as long as we play these clowns. Enjoy!
MY TAKE
From the looks of last game, there is hope in Vancouver. Sure, we don’t have Steven Stamkos, Sidney Crosby, or even Cody Franson, but we have Bo Horvat, Jake Virtanen, Brendan Gaunce and Jared McCann and if that’s our future, I’m ok with that. Things are starting to take shape and maybe we are in for a surprise this year. We beat those Yotes and we beat em good. 6-1 Canucks.