Gamethread: Vancouver @ Edmonton — Willie or Won’t He Edition

When: 6 pm

Where: Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB

Where to Watch: Sportsnet, NHL.com, Comcast Sportsnet Northwest (Washington and Oregon viewers)

Where to Listen: TSN 1040 (for one final time)

SB Nation Game Hub

Opposition Blog: The Copper and Blue

Money Line: VAN +255 to +270

Rarely has the game on the ice seemed like such an afterthought. Vancouver Canucks fans are already consumed with thoughts about what comes next. Is Willie Desjardins done behind the bench? Who replaces him? Will there be management changes? Was last night Ryan Miller’s last as a Canuck? Will Edmonton win and Anaheim lose, giving us a Battle of Alberta in the first round? Will the Canucks lose tonight and guarantee themselves a top five draft pick? Even a single point tonight drastically reduces Vancouver’s lottery odds.

New Jersey lost 4-1 in Detroit, so the draftists will be pulling hard for a Canucks regulation loss tonight.

Griffin Molino won’t play tonight after getting hurt last night. Yan-Pavel Laplante will therefore become the 14th rookie to play his first game of the season for Vancouver tonight. He played last night for the Alaska Aces in their franchise’s final game. They wore super sharp Vancouver Canuck themed jerseys for the occasion.

Richard Bachman gets the start for Vancouver. Laurent Brossoit goes for Edmonton.

I’m putting this here for Westy:

It’s been a long, difficult season. Here’s hoping this is rock bottom. And here’s hoping that the infusion of youth into the Canucks system this year accelerates their development.

Enjoy the game, everyone. Coconuts Go!