The Canucks have put the goose egg behind them and face the Calgary Flames once again but THIS TIME with J.T. Miller. He’s out of COVID protocol and booked a PJ (Private jet. I just learned the term less than a year ago) and will join The Lotto Line to retake his rightful place in history.

It’s highly unlikely the Canucks will get shutout by the same team two games in a row so expect the boys in blue to tally at least one. You read about a prediction last time that had Brock Boeser scoring two goals. I’d like to ask you to forget that from a few nights prior and think of it as a totally new idea today.

The All-Canadian division is starting out to be a dud but with a full lineup it has a chance to totally redeem itself. (That was a Dumb and Dumber reference).

Let’s Do This!™

WHERE CAN I CATCH THE GAME?

TV: SNP / RADIO: SN 650 / PUCK DROP: 6PM

LINEUPS

J.T. Miller is back! He isn’t Jake Virtanen, he’s a first liner. With the return of Miller, Virtanen probably drops to line three with Adam Gaudette and Zack MacEwen likely sits this one out. On defense, um… it’s going to be the same.

Braden Holtby didn’t fare so well last game so maybe Travis Green will opt for the Thatcher Demko approach this time around.

CANUCKS LINES COURTESY OF DAILYFACEOFF.COM:

LW	C	RW	Forwards
BROCK BOESER Rating: 74.1#41 LW	ELIAS PETTERSSON Rating: 77.7#14 C	JAKE VIRTANEN Rating: 72.0#78 RW	FL1 Rating Rating: 74.63#22 FL1
TANNER PEARSON Rating: 73.7#38 LW	BO HORVAT Rating: 74.8#34 C	NILS HOGLANDER	FL2 Rating Rating: 74.25#11 FL2
ANTOINE ROUSSEL Rating: 71.0#97 LW	ADAM GAUDETTE Rating: 70.2#130 C	ZACK MACEWEN	FL3 Rating Rating: 70.60#24 FL3
TYLER MOTTE Rating: 68.8#144 LW	JAY BEAGLE Rating: 68.4#163 C	BRANDON SUTTER Rating: 70.1#131 RW	FL4 Rating Rating: 69.09#30 FL4

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS	Defense
ALEXANDER EDLER Rating: 74.3#26 LD	NATE SCHMIDT Rating: 75.5#18 RD	DL1 Rating Rating: 74.89#16 DL1
QUINN HUGHES Rating: 75.2#15 LD	TRAVIS HAMONIC Rating: 72.8#45 RD	DL2 Rating Rating: 73.99#7 DL2
OLLI JUOLEVI	TYLER MYERS Rating: 72.6#50 RD	DL3 Rating Rating: 72.56#11 DL3

There shouldn’t be any changes to the lineup for Calgary. One player that could change is Andrew Mangiapane. His name is brutal to spell. Wait… I DID IT!!!

Jacob Markstrom will likely start once more. Oh, joy!

FLAMES LINES COURTESY OF DAILYFACEOFF.COM:

LW	C	RW	Forwards
MATTHEW TKACHUK Rating: 78.0#9 LW	ELIAS LINDHOLM Rating: 76.5#19 C	DILLON DUBE Rating: 70.3#108 RW	FL1 Rating Rating: 74.95#19 FL1
JOHNNY GAUDREAU Rating: 76.0#19 LW	SEAN MONAHAN Rating: 74.4#42 C	JOSH LEIVO Rating: 71.7#85 RW	FL2 Rating Rating: 74.02#13 FL2
ANDREW MANGIAPANE Rating: 74.2#36 LW	MIKAEL BACKLUND Rating: 75.5#30 C	SAM BENNETT Rating: 69.6#127 RW	FL3 Rating Rating: 73.11#5 FL3
MILAN LUCIC Rating: 70.7#103 LW	DEREK RYAN Rating: 72.0#83 C	DOMINIK SIMON Rating: 70.1#132 RW	FL4 Rating Rating: 70.91#14 FL4

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS	Defense
MARK GIORDANO Rating: 77.9#6 LD	RASMUS ANDERSSON Rating: 73.5#36 RD	DL1 Rating Rating: 75.67#9 DL1
NOAH HANIFIN Rating: 73.3#49 LD	CHRIS TANEV Rating: 71.0#90 RD	DL2 Rating Rating: 72.16#25 DL2
JUUSO VALIMAKI Rating: 72.6#6 LD	NIKITA NESTEROV	DL3 Rating Rating: 72.42#12 DL3

GAME NOTES, INTERESTING STATS, AND THINGS THAT MIGHT MATTER TONIGHT

The Canucks had not been shutout in the regular season since February 2020 when the Bruins took them 4-0, almost a full calendar year! Do you know how hard that is to do? VERY HARD. The Flames also shut the Canucks out 3-0 in their first meeting last season and Vancouver followed it up in their next meeting with a convincing 5-2 victory. Maybe we shouldn’t read too much into a little ol’ loss to the Flames.
It wasn’t exactly a Murderer’s Row of goal scorers against the Flames last season but Tanner Pearson and Tyler Myers each had (3) and (2) goals, respectively. Elias Pettersson didn’t manage a single point nor did Miller. That feels like it will change tonight.
Apparently, everyone saw the old Jacob Markstrom Audi commercials on HNIC this past weekend. Two things should be discussed: 1) how does Audi not have this updated with the obvious Quinn Hughes addition and B) why did I not see a single one? Serious answers only, please.
The Flames owned the shot share last game and the Canucks would be wise to isolate and irritate Dillon Dube and Matthew Tkachuk who finished with a 76.47 and 75.00 CF%, according to NaturalStatTrick.com. Keeping Mangiapane away from the offensive zone would also be a good idea. He was all over the place and had an eventful night.
With the return of J.T. Miller, Loui Eriksson will not suit up tonight.

TWITTER TOLD YOU

Batting 1.000%, Canucks Twitter just getting it right one again:

clarissa!

@quinnsedgework

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this is travis green trying to fit virtanen on every line

Watch on X

9:43 PM · Jan 17, 2021

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MY 94 CENTS

Miller is back and the power play goes Hög wild tonight! I believe in this power play. The chances are there and I’m obligated to like it because of a podcast. The Canucks bounce back and even things up with the Flames. As we so often have heard the phrase, “Nature is healing”.

THE FINAL WORD

It cannot be understated how much Miller means to the Canucks. His mere presence changes the structure of every line and allows Travis Green to deploy his ideal lineup which in turn should win a fair amount of games. Tyler Motte will stay out of the penalty box because he won’t need to play as many minutes.