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VANCOUVER CANUCKS vs ARIZONA COYOTES
7:00 PM PST ROGERS ARENA, VANCOUVER, BC
TV: SPORTSNET PACIFIC. RADIO: SN650.
OPPOSITION BLOG: FIVE FOR HOWLING
It still looks and sounds weird, no matter how many times you say it: The Pacific Division leading Arizona Coyotes. And while it may be a surprise they are where they are, I think it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise, given how much time they’ve had to clean up the mess they found themselves in. They should have gotten better by now, the question remains: just how good are they?
And let’s face it, just like the Canucks this season, none of this matters if it’s not accompanied by playoff wins. Expectations are starting to grow in Arizona, as they have used years of awfulness to start compiling a base they can build a competitive team from. Hmm... sounds familiar.
For the Canucks, it’s another measuring stick game. You know, like the one they failed in Winnipeg on Tuesday night. Sure, they were the better team, and sometimes you just don’t get those bounces. Sooner or later they have to be able to beat the Jets. And tonight they have a chance to prove that their rise in the standings is no fluke.
LINEUPS:
Coyotes projected lineup
Taylor Hall — Christian Dvorak — Conor Garland
Clayton Keller — Carl Soderberg — Nick Schmaltz
Lawson Crouse — Derek Stepan — Phil Kessel
Michael Grabner — Michael Chaput — Vinnie Hinostroza
Oliver Ekman-Larsson — Jason Demers
Jakob Chychrun — Alex Goligoski
Jordan Oesterle — Niklas Hjalmarsson
Scratched: Ilya Lyubushkin, Christian Fischer,
Injured: Brad Richardson (lower body), Darcy Kuemper (lower body), Antti Raanta (lower body), Barrett Hayton (upper body)
Canucks projected lineup
J.T. Miller — Elias Pettersson — Jake Virtanen
Tanner Pearson — Bo Horvat — Loui Eriksson
Antoine Roussel — Adam Gaudette — Brock Boeser
Tyler Motte — Jay Beagle — Brandon Sutter
Quinn Hughes — Christopher Tanev
Oscar Fantenberg — Troy Stecher
Scratched: Zack MacEwen, Jordie Benn, Tim Schaller
Injured: Josh Leivo (kneecap), Micheal Ferland (upper body), Tyler Graovac (lower body)
The big news here is the return of Brandon Sutter, meaning Tim Schaller will set tonight, and not a moment too soon. Schaller (along with Jay Beagle) have been a giant sucking void of awfulness of late, so maybe the return of Sutter will help. Yeah, I am aware of what I wrote there. It is what it is. The Coyotes are rolling with their 3rd and 4th string goalies with Darcy Kuemper and Annti Raanta both out, as well as former Canuck Brad Richardson and WJC hero Barrett Hayton.
GAME DAY CHATTER:
"I'm happy to be back and feeling good again, hopefully I can come in and help the guys out. They've been playing so well, it's awesome." - Brandon Sutter pic.twitter.com/DsEH1wtPlb
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) January 16, 2020
"It's emotional seeing people reach out and knowing how many people are dealing with it." - Tyler Motte talks #HockeyTalks pic.twitter.com/NdlKiaxkIY
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) January 16, 2020
Sharing a story as personal as this is not an easy thing to do. @Tmotte_14 knows that.
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) January 15, 2020
He also knows that by opening up about his struggles, it will help others realize they're not alone. #HockeyTalks pic.twitter.com/IHUASCPYzZ
Really cool that Tyler Motte shared the details of his struggle with us, and we can’t say enough about how great a thing the entire #HockeyTalks movement has become. Out of the darkness that came from the loss of Rick Rypien, came something that has been so positive and helpful.
GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN:
Heading back to the archives for not just the finest band to come out of Vancouver, but arguably one of the top 5 metal acts this country has ever produced: Strapping Young Lad. From their live DVD ‘For Those Aboot To Rock’ (filmed at the Commodore), here’s “Oh My Fucking God”.