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VANCOUVER CANUCKS vs COLORADO AVALANCHE
7:00PM PST ROGERS ARENA, VANCOUVER, BC
TV: SPORTSNET, CBC. RADIO: SN650.
OPPOSITION BLOG: MILE HIGH HOCKEY
With just 6 of a possible 16 points this month, it’s pretty safe to say the Canucks have fallen back to earth. They face another one of those statement games tonight as they host the Colorado Avalanche. If they want to head into a grueling 6 game road trip with a little momentum, then a big win at home tonight against a Western Conference foe will be just what they need.
Tonight is the first night the team brings the beloved skate jerseys back, and when I say beloved, I mean beloved, dammit!
.@troystecher is so pumped to wear the #Canucks skate jersey Saturday, he got custom shoes made for the occasion. S̶o̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶ ̶T̶h̶a̶t̶c̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶D̶e̶m̶k̶o̶ pic.twitter.com/W7KDXZFWaE
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) November 15, 2019
And if they were looking for a team that they could get a much needed win for, you probably wouldn’t suspect the Avalanche would be on that list, but it’s been a pretty bad couple weeks for the Avs. Injuries are piling up, and then there’s those Stadium Series jerseys.
The Avs could have taken the easy (lazy) course of action and defaulted to another Rockies Throwback. But unlike the rest of the NHL, the Avalanche are actually trying something different with their new alternate jerseys https://t.co/Ichvijlqqx
— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) November 13, 2019
Yeesh.
LINEUPS:
Saturday morning #Canucks line rushes:
— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) November 16, 2019
Pearson-Horvat-Virtanen
Baertschi-Gaudette-Leivo
Miller-Pettersson-Boeser
Schaller-Graovac-Eriksson
Edler-Myers
Hughes-Tanev
Benn-Stecher
Some interesting shuffles there. The top line is back together, and that’s a good thing, as I think they really are better off this way. Jake Virtanen’s played his way onto the 2nd line with Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson, and the line of Adam Gaudette, Sven Baertschi and Josh Leivo looked like they were connecting last game. No changes on D, and Thatcher Demko gets the start tonight.
Game #️⃣1️⃣9️⃣#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/gNDdkBUz5j
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) November 15, 2019
This is what the Avs rolled with Thursday night in Edmonton. And while this is still a decent team on paper, when they’re missing two thirds of their top line with Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog out, not to mention they’re using their 3rd and 4th string goalies, a team with the offensive firepower the Canucks have could do well.
One thing that has to get better for the Canucks is their defensive play. After a solid performance in October, they have settled back into performances more like the last couple seasons, letting their opponents get far too many shots, and the results bear this out.
GAME DAY CHATTER:
Coach Green provides injury updates and talks #Canucks and Avalanche as Vancouver gets set to conclude the homestand. pic.twitter.com/KKQrj3WOPZ
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) November 16, 2019
And finally, we are devastated to hear that Ian Cooper lost his battle with colon cancer last night. On behalf of everyone at Nucks Misconduct, our deepest condolences to the Cooper family and everyone fortunate enough to call him a friend.
GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN:
Local metal today for you, as Vancouver thrashers pay tribute to the almighty RAZOR on their ‘No Luck For Canucks’ EP, with a seriously good version of ‘In Protest’. Here’s hoping that there’s actually some luck for our Canucks tonight.