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CanucksArmy THE PLAY-IN GAME DAY: Canucks Vs. Wild Game 1
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Photo credit: © Bob Frid | 2020
Always90four
Aug 2, 2020, 11:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 2, 2020, 01:07 EDT
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THE INTRO
Well Canucks fans, you’ve waited for this day for a long time. I’ll be honest, I didn’t think we’d get here to see the day but the postseason is officially upon us. If anyone had the NHL starting up again in August, well done. Well done.
Don’t blink in this one because this series could be over really quick and with five games, there is simply no room for error. Something to watch out for, penalty shots. The Canucks can utilize the speed they have and force Minnesota to keep up with hooking and holding. Last night we saw a handful of penalty shots so don’t think it can’t happen here.
The Canucks have a .613 all-time winning percentage when scoring first in the playoffs. When they trail first, sadly, it’s .280. You know the drill.
I’m not dropping any dad-jokes this time (I know, I’m not wild about this idea either) but don’t think I won’t have something saved up after a big win.
This is the first playoff game for a lot of Canucks players so expect to see some nerves in the first period. Troy Stecher might just puke.
COVID hasn’t stopped the Stanley Cup Playoffs from happening so let’s enjoy the greatest gift to sports.
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 -110 / MIN -110 courtesy of OddsShark.com.
LINEUPS
The Jake Virtanen saga continues, and based on the exhibition game on Wednesday, Jake won’t play today. That being said, we won’t know for sure until puck drop. There is a good chance we won’t see Zack MacEwen either. Depending on how this game shakes out, we may see one or both next game.
We’re one bad Oscar Fantenberg game away/injury from seeing Olli Juolevi in game action, as Jordie Benn still hasn’t returned from Dallas at the time of this writing.
Jacob Markstrom will start for the Canucks.
CANUCKS lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
LWCRWForwards

TANNER PEARSON
Rating: 73.7#38 LW

BO HORVAT
Rating: 74.8#34 C

BROCK BOESER
Rating: 74.1#41 RW
FL1 Rating
Rating: 74.20#26 FL1

J.T. MILLER
Rating: 78.5#7 LW

ELIAS PETTERSSON
Rating: 77.7#14 C

TYLER TOFFOLI
Rating: 75.9#25 RW
FL2 Rating
Rating: 77.38#1 FL2

ANTOINE ROUSSEL
Rating: 71.0#97 LW

ADAM GAUDETTE
Rating: 70.2#130 C

MICHEAL FERLAND
Rating: 71.7#83 RW
FL3 Rating
Rating: 70.96#23 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#28 FL4
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGSDefense

ALEXANDER EDLER
Rating: 74.3#26 LD

TYLER MYERS
Rating: 72.6#50 RD
DL1 Rating
Rating: 73.43#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

TROY STECHER
Rating: 71.9#63 RD
DL3 Rating
Rating: 71.42#20 DL3
This lineup isn’t exactly the greatest thing since the Discman or Micro Machines but they have a lot of veterans that know how to win. They are going to get line-matched hard which could really benefit the Canucks.
Minnesota will likely still find a way to make this boring.
It’s anyone’s guess who the Wild will put in net tonight. Alex Stalock? Sure.
WILD lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
LWCRWForwards

JORDAN GREENWAY
Rating: 71.2#94 LW

ERIC STAAL
Rating: 74.2#45 C

KEVIN FIALA
Rating: 78.3#8 RW
FL1 Rating
Rating: 74.58#24 FL1

ZACH PARISE
Rating: 76.3#17 LW

JOEL ERIKSSON EK
Rating: 71.6#100 C

LUKE KUNIN
Rating: 72.5#70 RW
FL2 Rating
Rating: 73.45#19 FL2

MARCUS FOLIGNO
Rating: 71.7#80 LW

ALEX GALCHENYUK
Rating: 70.8#115 C

MATS ZUCCARELLO
Rating: 71.8#84 RW
FL3 Rating
Rating: 71.44#16 FL3

RYAN DONATO
Rating: 72.1#73 LW

MIKKO KOIVU
Rating: 71.8#93 C

RYAN HARTMAN
Rating: 71.2#96 RW
FL4 Rating
Rating: 71.68#5 FL4
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGSDefense

RYAN SUTER
Rating: 76.3#7 LD

JARED SPURGEON
Rating: 76.1#16 RD
DL1 Rating
Rating: 76.21#5 DL1

JONAS BRODIN
Rating: 73.7#41 LD

MATHEW DUMBA
Rating: 74.5#27 RD
DL2 Rating
Rating: 74.07#7 DL2

CARSON SOUCY
Rating: 71.8#79 LD

BRAD HUNT
Rating: 72.1#71 RD
DL3 Rating
Rating: 71.97#14 DL3
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR TONIGHT’S GAME?
  • In three games vs. the Wild this season, J.T. Miller and Bo Horvat have (3) and (2) goals, respectively. Miller also added two assists in the season series so he will be one to watch tonight. Not like he hasn’t done enough already.
  • While we’re looking at who has had their way with the Wild, let’s have a look at the Calder nominee, Quinn Hughes. Quinn accumulated four assists and put up 1.33 points-per-game. Hughes was dangerous all season long and against a Wild team that will now have to throw everything they have at him to keep him at bay. That bodes well for the rest of the defence if Quinn is being focused on that much.
  • Jacob Markstrom didn’t have his best game against the Jets this past week but he had a pretty impressive training camp/scrimmage series. His 1-1-0-1 record against Minnesota this season wasn’t great and letting in eight goals in those games with a .910 isn’t the first thing that screams “brick wall”. Markstrom has fought through a lot this season and a five-month layoff will be his next big test. When he’s on, he’s on. But when things get shaky, the Canucks will need to outscore their problems. Tough to do in the playoffs.
  • It’s inevitable Brock Boeser will regain his insane scoring touch. He has battled a serious case of puck luck and with the new Auston Matthews stick/flex, Brock Boeser is the choice for player of the series. There are going to be heaps of attention given to the top line and Minnesota won’t be able to keep constant pressure on Vancouver’s top-six. This series could be a special one for Brock, it could be just the beginning as well.
  • What will we see from Micheal Ferland? Is he fully healthy? Is he ready to be a bull in a china shop? Ferland had one assist in seven games last season with the Hurricanes and piled up 18 PIM. Letting Ferland do his thing is fine, but if it comes at the cost of being shorthanded more times than not, Travis Green will need to keep him in check.
THE TWITTER TAKE
Of course, all of our summers are now ruined. Late-night dip in the pool? Nope. Hang around the fire with friends? Sorry, there’s OT.
MY 94 CENTS
The game against Winnipeg wasn’t all that fun when a Vezina-calibre goaltender shuts the door at every chance. The Minnesota Wild do not have that same luxury and if the Canucks press the way they did early on in that Jets game, they could set the tone in the series. I expect Brock Boeser to be a force in this one, in fact, all series long.
There is going to be too much attention paid to Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes and that means more opportunity for the Horvat line to shine.
ONE FINAL THING…
However you view this series, winning Game 1 is massive. With a five-game series, there is no room for error after Game 2 so getting the upper hand is key. There’s more wriggle room in the regular playoffs but you have to get there first.
I have been promised an entire t-shirt line from CanucksArmy if the Canucks win this series, so I’m really pulling for the guys.
No more talk, it’s for real tonight!

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