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Vancouver Canucks (35-35-10) vs Nashville Predators (45-29-6)
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
When: 5:00 pm PST
Where to Watch: SNP
SB Nation Opposition Blog: On The Forecheck
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: It’s been another year of frustration for the Vancouver Canucks. Should they be able to close out these 2 remaining games with wins, that will see them improve on their point total over last season by 11 points. Just letting you know this now, because you’re very likely going to see this touted as a sign of improvement. It’s marginal at best, and when you consider how low the bar is to make the playoffs in the West, it certainly takes the luster off of it.
Over the next 4 months we’ll dissect it all, from what should and could be changed, who can and should be drafted and how it can all come together to continue forward progress for this team. Trying to stay positive is a challenge when you increasingly have to convince yourself things might not be as bleak as they appear.
So while we try and figure which team it would suck the least to see win the Cup, we can just relax and enjoy a couple games. Maybe they’ll win tonight. Maybe Elias Pettersson will snap his goalless drought. Maybe we’ll see Quinn Hughes notch his first goal.
In spite of all of this, there’s still a spoiler’s role to play here, and that’s better than nothing, I suppose. Nashville are locked in a vicious 3 way battle with Winnipeg and St Louis for the Central Division crown, and they will be desperate for a victory tonight. She may not be there, but the Canucks should always want to make Carrie Underwood cry.
The Canucks have held their own against the Preds this season, getting 3 of 4 points in the two previous contests. What got them there was their best players being their best. Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson all have tallies against the Preds this season, and they’ll need them against a Nashville team that’s unshockingly one of the better defensive teams in the NHL.
The Preds have been playing well, just 3 losses in their last 10 and are eager to shore up as much of a home ice advantage for their playoff run as they can. Via The Province, here’s what we should see from these teams tonight:
CANUCKS’ LINES
Forwards
Tanner Pearson — Bo Horvat — Loui Eriksson
Sven Baertschi — Elias Pettersson — Brock Boeser
Ryan Spooner — Adam Gaudette — Josh Leivo
Tim Schaller — Jay Beagle — Markus Granlund
Defence
Alex Edler — Alex Biega
Ben Hutton — Troy Stecher
Quinn Hughes — Luke Schenn
Goalies: Jacob Markstrom, Thatcher Demko
PREDATORS’ LINES
Forwards
Filip Forsberg — Ryan Johansen — Viktor Arvidsson
Mikael Granlund — Kyle Turris — Craig Smith
Colton Sissons — Nick Bonino — Austin Watson
Brian Boyle — Calle Jarnkrok — Wayne Simmonds
Defence
Roman Josi — Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm — P.K. Subban
Dan Hamhuis — Dante Fabbro
Goalies: Pekka Rinne, Juuse Saros
SICK BAY
Canucks: Jake Virtanen (lower body, day-to-day), Tyler Motte (upper body), Antoine Roussel (knee surgery), Chris Tanev (ankle), Brandon Sutter (hernia surgery, IR), Guillaume Brisebois (hip, day-to-day).
Predators: Miikka Salomaki (upper body, IR), Rocco Grimaldi (upper body, day-to-day).
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY
Canucks: 27th (15.8%)
Predators: 30th (12.8%)
PENALTY KILL
Canucks: 10th (81.1%)
Predators: 5th (82.6 %)
GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN: 24 years ago today, the world was introduced to the mad genius of heavy metal, Devin Townsend. After a brief period as singer for Steve Vai’s solo project, Dev’s STRAPPING YOUNG LAD was unleashed upon the world. It remains one of the Vancouver metal scene’s finest moments, incorporating a myriad of influences and fueled by his struggles with mental health issues, SYL left their mark on the scene as one of the most unique, and unashamedly Canadian acts ever. The debut ‘Heavy As A Really Heavy Thing’ started with a whimper, with a mere handful of sales until reviewers around the globe began turning people on to this album. SYL will always be an acquired taste, but to me, this band is such a strong representation of what Canadian metal is all about. Devin’s solo work and other bands since then are all worth exploring, but SYL will always hold a dear place in my cold, black heart.