logo
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Canucks Army THE PLAYOFF GAME DAY: Canucks Vs. Blues G3
alt
Photo credit: © Perry Nelson
Always90four
Aug 16, 2020, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 16, 2020, 05:04 EDT
Comments
THE INTRO
The series travels back to “Vancouver” for Games 3 and 4. Tonight, the Canucks get last change and in a series where it hasn’t mattered at all for Vancouver, one more bonus doesn’t hurt.
The Canucks have looked dangerous in the first two games of the series and their special teams have played a big part in that. It’s no secret the Blues are trying to find a way to get under the Canucks’ skin but so far it’s water off a duck’s back. It could take something illegal for this series to turn — but if not — the clock is ticking for the defending Champs.
Let’s Do This!™
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SN / SN 650 / 7:30 PM
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
The odds for tonight’s game are: VAN +115/ STL -135 courtesy of OddsShark.com
LINEUPS
There is no update on Tyler Myers and his availability for Game 3. Is Jordie Benn ready to slot in or do we see Brogan Rafferty, heck even Olli Juolevi? We crap on Myers and his penalty woes but he’s a minute muncher and the Canucks aren’t 100% without him.
Thatcher Demko has a new mask that hasn’t seen a playoff game.
Jacob Markstrom is the reason for this and Markstrom will again start.
CANUCKS lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
LWCRWForwards

J.T. MILLER
Rating: 78.5#7 LW

ELIAS PETTERSSON
Rating: 77.7#14 C

BROCK BOESER
Rating: 74.1#41 RW
FL1 Rating
Rating: 76.78#12 FL1

TANNER PEARSON
Rating: 73.7#38 LW

BO HORVAT
Rating: 74.8#34 C

LOUI ERIKSSON
Rating: 69.7#123 RW
FL2 Rating
Rating: 72.73#23 FL2

ANTOINE ROUSSEL
Rating: 71.0#97 LW

BRANDON SUTTER
Rating: 70.1#131 C

JAKE VIRTANEN
Rating: 72.0#78 RW
FL3 Rating
Rating: 71.07#19 FL3

TYLER MOTTE
Rating: 68.8#144 LW

JAY BEAGLE
Rating: 68.4#163 C

ZACK MACEWEN
FL4 Rating
Rating: 68.57#30 FL4
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGSDefense

ALEXANDER EDLER
Rating: 74.3#26 LD

TROY STECHER
Rating: 71.9#63 RD
DL1 Rating
Rating: 73.11#23 DL1

QUINN HUGHES
Rating: 75.2#15 LD

CHRIS TANEV
Rating: 71.0#90 RD
DL2 Rating
Rating: 73.12#16 DL2

OSCAR FANTENBERG
Rating: 70.9#100 LD

TYLER MYERS
Rating: 72.6#50 RD
DL3 Rating
Rating: 71.74#16 DL3
After the birth of his child and having to quarantine, Ivan Barbashev is unlikely to play before Game 5. Your trusty GDT writer does not remember how good/important Barbashev is/was but I’m told the Blues need him.
The refs have helped a lot, not sure they need him.
After a change of equipment prior to Game 2, Jordan Binnington is clearly rattled. Will we see Jake Allen tonight or does Binnington get one final shot?
BLUES lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
LWCRWForwards

JADEN SCHWARTZ
Rating: 77.0#12 LW

BRAYDEN SCHENN
Rating: 76.6#22 C

VLADIMIR TARASENKO
Rating: 80.4#3 RW
FL1 Rating
Rating: 78.03#5 FL1

ZACH SANFORD
Rating: 73.3#43 LW

RYAN O’REILLY
Rating: 75.8#28 C

DAVID PERRON
Rating: 75.3#27 RW
FL2 Rating
Rating: 74.79#5 FL2

OSKAR SUNDQVIST
Rating: 72.2#76 LW

ROBERT THOMAS
Rating: 72.7#66 C

TYLER BOZAK
Rating: 73.0#59 RW
FL3 Rating
Rating: 72.65#8 FL3

MACKENZIE MACEACHERN
Rating: 69.5#129 LW

JACOB DE LA ROSE
Rating: 68.2#148 C

TROY BROUWER
Rating: 69.6#122 RW
FL4 Rating
Rating: 69.11#28 FL4
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGSDefense

CARL GUNNARSSON
Rating: 72.6#60 LD

ALEX PIETRANGELO
Rating: 78.5#4 RD
DL1 Rating
Rating: 75.55#9 DL1

MARCO SCANDELLA
Rating: 72.3#66 LD

COLTON PARAYKO
Rating: 76.9#11 RD
DL2 Rating
Rating: 74.63#5 DL2

VINCE DUNN
Rating: 76.0#10 LD

JUSTIN FAULK
Rating: 74.1#30 RD
DL3 Rating
Rating: 75.07#1 DL3
GAME NOTES THAT WILL INTRIGUE YOU, STATS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
  • Let’s start with Jordan Binnington: he changed up his blocker and trapper for Game 2. He wasn’t feeling it after the first game and either felt that something was off and needed to adjust or he is overthinking his game ala Tin Cup. Goaltenders are pretty superstitious as it is, maybe just a little stitious during the regular season so this seems like a big deal when it’s all on the line.
  • Bo Horvat has elevated his game to another level. He leads the playoffs in goals, he’s two points back of the point lead and he’s taking down a Blues team clearly has no answer for his play. Bo isn’t a stranger to playoff success. He was a rock star for London in 2013 and scored a very similar goal to his OT winner, check it out at the 0:48 mark:
  • Is Tanner Pearson the most underrated player for the Canucks during the playoffs right now? He’s riding shotgun with Bo and burying almost every chance. He’ll want that open-net miss back but you can’t get them all. Pearson has three goals so far and six points. He’s well on his way to outperforming his Cup run in 2014 when he tallied 12 points (4G/8A). Loving Tanner’s game so far.
  • Jacob Markstrom’s name deserves a bit more credit than it’s received so far. Markstrom has really only had one truly bad game and the Canucks still won. He leads all goaltenders in the playoffs (if we’re including the play-ins) with a .917 HDSV%, having only given up one goal-against in extreme danger moments.  He is in elite company in regular SV%, sitting fourth in the league with a .962 rating. Take a bow, Jacob.
  • To some serious stuff now: Jacob Markstrom needs to figure out which side of the ice has fewer players on it when he clears the puck off the boards. When Alex Edler was high-sticked and gave up the chance that led to the Sammy Blais goal, Markstrom isn’t out of the bad books on that one. If he’s going to play the puck, he’s just as responsible as the giveaway itself.
THE TWITTER TAKE
Still not sure what a penalty is in 2020.
MY 94 CENTS
Call me picky but I’m still not happy with the power play for the Canucks. They NEED to utilize their players down low for the shooters to click on every chance they get. Vancouver has an unreal setup and it has the chance to be something truly special but they need to keep that puck moving and they need everyone to touch it… well, except the Blues.
Tying down Bo Horvat has been a task so far and if the Blues manage to keep him contained they’ll have to figure out the Pettersson line at that point.
Once again, Antoine Roussel is having himself a series.
AND ONE MORE THING…

Uncategorized

Breaking News