GAME DAY PREVIEW- GAME 67: LEAFS @ CANUCKS

Vancouver Canucks (27-30-9) vs Toronto Maple Leafs (41-21-4)

Where: ROG, Vancouver, BC

When: 6:00 pm PST

Where to Watch: Sportsnet Pacific, CBC, Anywhere in the Universe (That’s Important)

SB Nation Opposition Blog: Pension Plan Puppets

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: This is the MOST Important game of the year. Against the MOST important team in the universe. This most important game is especially important in the Center of the Universe. The most important universe in the multi-verse.

Because of its most importance, the start time is moved forward to be better appreciated in the more important parts of the country...er...universe.

All the important eyes will be watching this game. A game that most here at NM aren’t important enough to get a seat in the nosebleed section of the internet.

If you were looking forward to this most important game, you may have been looking from early February when the Canucks had a full roster to deploy and lose against the most important Tanker Team of 2016 and most important UFA signing of 2018.

Expect the game will be more important to the Canucks than their disposable game that was left in a dumpster to burn in Vegas.

As the March of Doom continues, the Faeries are keeping the beat. Out tonight playing fantasy hockey in the infirmary are Hutton and Spooner. It’s ok, because we have massive depth in the D-corp. Which means Pouliot will be back in ‘action’. Brisebois has been recalled too.

From the Province, here’s what we can expect lineup-wise

CANUCKS’ LINES

Forwards

Tanner Pearson — Bo Horvat — Nikolay Goldobin

Josh Leivo — Elias Pettersson — Brock Boeser

Antoine Roussel — Adam Gaudette — Markus Granlund

Loui Eriksson — Jay Beagle — Tyler Motte

Defence

Alex Edler — Troy Stecher

Derrick Pouliot — Alex Biega

Ashton Sautner — Luke Schenn

Goalies: Jacob Markstrom, Thatcher Demko

MOST IMPORTANT LEAFS’ LINES

Forwards

Zach Hyman — John Tavares — Mitch Marner

Andreas Johnsson — Auston Matthews — Kasperi Kapanen

Patrick Marleau — William Nylander — Connor Brown

Tyler Ennis — Nic Petan — Trevor Moore

Defence

Morgan Reilly — Ron Hainsey

Jake Muzzin — Nikita Zaitsev

Martin Marincin — Igor Ozhiganov

Goalies: Frederik Andersen, Garret Sparks

SICK FAERIES BAY

Canucks: Ryan Spooner (groin, day-to-day), Ben Hutton (shot block, day-to-day), Chris Tanev, (ankle, IR), Brandon Sutter (sports hernia, surgery), Jake Virtanen (rib fracture, IR)

Leafs: Nazem Kadri (concussion, day-to-day), Jake Gardiner (back, day-to-day), Travis Dermott (shoulder, day-to-day)

SPECIAL TEAM

POWER PLAY

Canucks: 29th (15%)

Leafs: 7th (22.7%)

PENALTY KILL

Canucks: 16th (80.2%)

Leafs: 20th (79.9%)

There it is. Very evenly matched. The MOST important roster versus the almost as important Faery Fodder.

Is this game really as important as the hype portrays it? Who can say, but the really important pundits. We do know that this will not be the most important loss of the Nucks season, so that’s some cold comfort to take to the ice box.

Josh is looking forward to the game, even if he’s trying to keep his identity hooded.

Enjoy the important parts of the game!

(NOTE: No pre-game devil’s music because, we’re depressed enough.)