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VANCOUVER CANUCKS vs VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
6:45 PM PDT THE BUBBLE @ ROGERS PLACE, EDMONTON, AB
TV: SPORTSNET, CBC,NBCSN. RADIO: SN650.
OPPOSITION BLOG: KNIGHTS ON ICE
Before all this started, I said that I was happy no matter what happened, because getting to see the Canucks play some meaningful hockey games after 5 years of missing the playoffs was an unexpected surprise. And yes, they won their way in over the Minnesota Wild, then took out the defending Champion St Louis Blues. They did this with a defence and bottom 6 that is terrible. You can win a series, maybe 2 with poor defence. But against a team like Vegas, healthy and getting all the bounces going their way? It could very well be the end of the line for Vancouver tonight.
And that’s okay. I’m not gonna lose my mind over them being out, and you shouldn’t either. This whole experience will serve the young core of this team well in the future, and hopefully it has highlighted, in giant flashing lights with loud sirens, that GM Jim Benning has to change the bottom 6 and a good chunk of the defence if this team wants to do this again next season.
The Canucks played better, but a 3rd period collapse have them in a must win situation the rest of the way. Are they going to lose tonight? Oh, probably. Coming back from being down 3-1 is rare, and it’ll be a minor miracle if we’re getting ready for Game 6 Thursday. They’re going to literally have to play the best game of their season tonight. No biggie.
LINEUPS:
Courtesy nhl.com here’s what we’ll probably see tonight.
Canucks projected lineup
Tanner Pearson — Elias Pettersson — Tyler Toffoli
J.T. Miller — Bo Horvat — Jake Virtanen
Antoine Roussel — Adam Gaudette — Brock Boeser
Tyler Motte — Jay Beagle — Brandon Sutter
Alexander Edler — Troy Stecher
Quinn Hughes — Christopher Tanev
Oscar Fantenberg — Tyler Myers
Jacob Markstrom
Thatcher Demko
Scratched: Olli Juolevi, Justin Bailey, Jalen Chatfield, Louis Domingue, Tyler Graovac, Brogan Rafferty, Loui Eriksson, Jordie Benn
Unfit to play: Micheal Ferland, Josh Leivo
Golden Knights projected lineup
Max Pacioretty — William Karlsson — Mark Stone
Jonathan Marchessault — Paul Stastny — Reilly Smith
Nick Cousins — Nicolas Roy — Alex Tuch
William Carrier — Chandler Stephenson — Ryan Reaves
Alec Martinez — Shea Theodore
Brayden McNabb — Nate Schmidt
Jon Merrill — Zach Whitecloud
Robin Lehner
Marc-Andre Fleury
Scratched: Dylan Coghlan, Oscar Dansk, Reid Duke, Deryk Engelland, Nicolas Hague, Keegan Kolesar, Peyton Krebs, Nick Holden, Gage Quinney, Patrick Brown
Unfit to play: Tomas Nosek
And contrary to what this says...
Demko starts. Period. #canucks
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) September 1, 2020
Let me be crystal clear: This is not Chapter 327 of the #CanucksGoaltendingControversy. Either something’s wrong with Jacob Markstrom, or Travis Green is looking to shake up the 3⁄4 of his lineup who haven’t scored in this series. Maybe a bit of both. Either way, it’s Thatcher’s moment to come up big like he did so often in Utica.
PREGAME CHATTER:
Want to hear from Coach Green, followed by Brandon Sutter & Jay Beagle? They're talking all things Game 5️⃣ ahead of tonight's battle with Vegas. https://t.co/rOYdoOITka
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) September 1, 2020
A boost for the boys! 200 Season Ticket Members came to Rogers Arena to hand-paint the 2020 #StanleyCup Playoffs' largest warm-up sign. #GoCanucksGo pic.twitter.com/mTixjxoJsq
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) September 1, 2020
GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN:
More old school Testament for ya. Crank This. If they’re gonna go out, make sure it’s with a bang, not a whisper. Go Canucks Go!
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