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Gametime: 7 pm.
Enemy blog: Jewels from the Crown
Have you heard the Vancouver Canucks are 4-0? Have you heard you shouldn't take that record seriously quite yet? I mean, of course you shouldn't. Is any hockey fan that silly? Much more than the record, I'm encouraged by the Vancouver Canucks' structure and commitment to defensive coverage to start this season. It's the best I've seen it in years. If they can keep that up, they might be in good shape even if they don't go 82-0. But 5-0 for the first time in franchise history would be cool.
Jeff Zatkoff, Kings' starter in the wake of Jonathan Quick's three-month injury, was injured himself in practice today. That means Peter Budaj will start for the Kings, with one-time Dallas Stars goalie of the future Jack Campbell his back-up. It also means Jonah Imoo will start for Los Angeles' AHL affiliate in Ontario, Calif. and be backed up by his father and goalie coach Dusty. If the name sounds familiar, it's because they are @CanuckClay's cousins.
A real story, and a good one. Jonah Imoo will be backed up by his dad Dusty tonight for @ontarioreign https://t.co/QlKnPaRT14
— Lindsay Czarnecki (@ReignInsider) October 22, 2016
Coach Desjardins has put the lines into the LineGenerator 3000 tonight. However, the Canucks best line will stay intact tonight. On D, Nikita Tryamkin took the pregame skate, but np idea yet if he draws in tonight.
Some game notes from Joey Kenward, who has the radio call tonight for Jon Abbott, whose wife just gave birth to the couple's first child. Congratulations, Abbotts!
Some extra notes/tidbits before @Canucks @LAKings: #Canucks have lowest hits total in @NHL so far (53). Kings-6th (113). Anaheim-2nd (127).
— Joey Kenward (@kenwardskorner) October 23, 2016
Last yr @Canucks saw @LAKings G Jonathan Quick in all 5 GP. Peter Budaj is 5-5-2 lifetime vs #Canucks & hasn’t won a start vs VAN since '09.
— Joey Kenward (@kenwardskorner) October 23, 2016
Finally, @Canucks are 19-19-7 in all-time road openers. They've won their 1st road game the last two straight seasons, both times @ Calgary.
— Joey Kenward (@kenwardskorner) October 23, 2016
Tonight's Canucks lines:
. @SvenBaertschi with the Sedins & welcome back @Jake_Virtanen. pic.twitter.com/nzegeo8lSX
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 23, 2016
Jake Virtanen draws in for Jack Skille and Sven Baertschi and Loui Eriksson swap places.
Coconuts Go!