THE INTRO
Just when the Canucks were about to blow it all up (OK, not really) they go off on an epic power-play bender. The Washington Capitals host the Canucks this morning, probably before you even realize the day has begun. Washington isn’t Nashville when it comes to special teams so the Canucks will have to step up their “5 on 5” game. That might be a tall task, taller than Tyler Myers and his mediocre play.
All the advanced stats say the Canucks are doing well but the reality is, they’re a bubble team. Beating the Capitals today would be a big win in more ways than one. Keeping Washington’s stars off the sheet will be a tough task but the Canucks are strange that way; it’s possible.
Let’s Do This!™
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
The odds for today’s game are: (VAN +160/ WAS -180) courtesy of OddsShark.com
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SNP / SN 650 / 9:30 AM
LINEUPS
Can’t imagine the lines are altered today. Expect to see the same lineup from last game in Nashville.
Jacob Markstrom should start again. He was otherworldly last game and had time to rest.
Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
LWCRWForwards

TANNER PEARSON
Rating: 73.2#66 LW

ELIAS PETTERSSON
Rating: 78.5#14 C

BROCK BOESER
Rating: 76.5#12 RW
FL1 Rating
Rating: 76.05#17 FL1

J.T. MILLER
Rating: 74.9#35 LW

BO HORVAT
Rating: 75.2#40 C

ZACK MACEWEN
FL2 Rating
Rating: 75.02#7 FL2

JOSH LEIVO
Rating: 72.0#92 LW

ADAM GAUDETTE
Rating: 71.4#128 C

JAKE VIRTANEN
Rating: 71.3#89 RW
FL3 Rating
Rating: 71.57#23 FL3

TIM SCHALLER
Rating: 69.8#142 LW

JAY BEAGLE
Rating: 68.6#184 C

TYLER GRAOVAC
Rating: 72.7#64 RW
FL4 Rating
Rating: 70.36#27 FL4
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGSDefense

QUINN HUGHES
Rating: 74.9#26 LD

CHRIS TANEV
Rating: 72.6#68 RD
DL1 Rating
Rating: 73.73#22 DL1

ALEXANDER EDLER
Rating: 76.6#7 LD

TROY STECHER
Rating: 73.0#55 RD
DL2 Rating
Rating: 74.83#11 DL2

JORDIE BENN
Rating: 72.6#76 LD

TYLER MYERS
Rating: 72.6#69 RD
DL3 Rating
Rating: 72.59#14 DL3
Nicklas Backstrom will be out yet again with a UBI, Nic Dowd cut his hand and is day-to-day. No Garnet Hathaway. He disrespected Erik Gudbranson via a loogy to the face. Hathaway is out for a few more games.
Braden Holtby will be your starter. For the Capitals. He’ll be the starter for the Capitals.
Capitals lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
LWCRWForwards

ALEX OVECHKIN
Rating: 80.4#4 LW

EVGENY KUZNETSOV
Rating: 77.2#24 C

TOM WILSON
Rating: 74.9#27 RW
FL1 Rating
Rating: 77.50#4 FL1

JAKUB VRANA
Rating: 75.1#43 LW

LARS ELLER
Rating: 72.5#94 C

T.J. OSHIE
Rating: 75.6#19 RW
FL2 Rating
Rating: 74.39#11 FL2

RICHARD PANIK
Rating: 72.7#79 LW

MICHAEL SGARBOSSA
Rating: 73.7#63 C

TRAVIS BOYD
Rating: 71.5#125 RW
FL3 Rating
Rating: 72.64#10 FL3

BECK MALENSTYN
Rating: 73.7#47 LW

CHANDLER STEPHENSON
Rating: 69.4#175 C

BRENDAN LEIPSIC
Rating: 71.6#81 RW
FL4 Rating
Rating: 71.59#12 FL4
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGSDefense

MICHAL KEMPNY
Rating: 74.1#40 LD

JOHN CARLSON
Rating: 80.2#1 RD
DL1 Rating
Rating: 77.16#4 DL1

DMITRI ORLOV
Rating: 73.8#47 LD

RADKO GUDAS
Rating: 71.9#83 RD
DL2 Rating
Rating: 72.83#21 DL2

JONAS SIEGENTHALER
Rating: 71.8#96 LD

NICK JENSEN
Rating: 71.4#92 RD
DL3 Rating
Rating: 71.60#24 DL3
GAME NOTES AND A STAT OR TWO
  • It took one game but Jacob Markstrom might be back to his old tricks. When Markstrom and Demko were getting their wins early, they were stealing the Canucks wins (or keeping the lead) with perfectly timed five-alarm saves. Jacob Markstrom did just that on Thursday in Nashville and goalies don’t forget how to do that. Expect Markstrom to make a handful of top-notch stops today and put his name back in front of the so-called goalie controversy.
  • Brock Boeser is a point-per-game player. He doesn’t look the same as he did the last two seasons but he’s easily outperforming his early work. Brock’s overall game is more well-rounded now and his shot is just as dangerous. Adding a physical element to his game would just be greedy. Boeser is becoming a star again.
  • Somehow, the Canucks jumped a few percentage points on the PP and now sit at 27.1%, good enough for fourth in the NHL. Thankfully, Washington doesn’t score a lot on the man-advantage at home, so Ovechkin and Co. won’t be a huge threat there. However, the Canucks have had the most power plays of any team this season on the road and have made teams pay for it as well. Who knew this would be Vancouver’s identity so far this season?
  • Quinn Hughes is T-9 in points for all defensemen in the NHL with 17. Not just rookies, everyone. He has more points than Erik Karlsson, Drew Doughty, Aaron Ekblad, Mark Giordano, and Josh Morrissey. This is real, Canucks fans. He’s a legit #1 in the making.
  • It’s been an amazing start for the Canucks Lotto Line. J.T. Miller leads the entire NHL in CF% at 62.00%, almost 4% higher than the next closest player. Elias Pettersson is ranked ninth at 58.21, and Brock Boeser is inside the top-20 at 57.60. Real stats, advanced stats, who cares? The Canucks have a top line and Travis Green needs to do everything in his power to keep it that way.
  • Tim Schaller scored two against the Capitals last time. He got close against Nashville. Calling it.
#CANUCKSTWITTER
MY 94 CENTS
The power play won’t score 5 goals every game,
The power play won’t score 5 goals every game,
The power play won’t score 5 goals every game,
The power play won’t score 5 goals every game,
The power play won’t score 5 goals every game
It’s early, I need coffee.
AND ANOTHER THING…
This college thing is really working for the Canucks, hey?