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VANCOUVER CANUCKS (28-23-6) vs TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (15-34-7)
ROGERS ARENA, VANCOUVER, BC
7:30PM PST
TV: SPORTSNET PACIFIC, TSN2, TNT. RADIO: SPORTSNET 650
OPPOSING BLOG: HABS EYES ON THE PRIZE
The Canucks are back from what was easily their most successful road trip of the season, winning three of four, including impressive victories over the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs, sweeping the season series between those teams in both instances. They now have the next seven at home, and the song remains the same for the fate of their season.
The Canucks have gone 19-8-4 since the termination of Travis Green and Jim Benning, and they have to continue at this pace just to be able to erase their dismal first two months of the season, let alone make the playoffs. It’s an interesting mix of teams coming through, with a handful of teams that they lost to earlier this year that all sit beneath them in the standings, three playoff teams, and tonight’s opponent, the Montreal Canadiens.
The Habs have had a similar arc to their season story line, though far more pronounced in the highs and lows (especially the lows). They also staggered the firing of their front office and coaching, but the response to the coaching change has been very similar. Winners of seven of their last ten, Montreal’s pulled off some big upsets since Martin St Louis grabbed the coaching reigns, but much like we saw after that initial tear the Canucks went on with Bruce Boudreau, the Habs are due for a relapse, and their poor record combined with continued injury struggles could play right into the Canucks hands tonight.
LINEUPS
Courtesy of nhl.com, tonight’s disasterpiece should somewhat resemble this. Maybe.
Canadiens projected lineup
Cole Caufield — Nick Suzuki — Josh Anderson
Mike Hoffman — Laurent Dauphin — Brendan Gallagher
Paul Byron - Jake Evans — Rem Pitlick
Joel Armia — Ryan Poehling — Artturi Lehkonen
Alexander Romanov — Ben Chiarot
Scratched: Cedric Paquette, Corey Schueneman, Michael Pezzetta, Mathieu Perreault
Injured: Jake Allen (lower body), Christian Dvorak (upper body), David Savard (ankle), Jonathan Drouin (wrist), Joel Edmundson (back), Carey Price (knee), Andrew Hammond (lower body)
Canucks projected lineup
Tanner Pearson — J.T. Miller — Conor Garland
Vasily Podkolzin — Bo Horvat — Brock Boeser
Nils Hoglander — Elias Pettersson — Alex Chiasson
Tyler Motte — Juho Lammikko — Matthew Highmore
Oliver Ekman-Larsson — Tyler Myers
Scratched: Madison Bowey, Sheldon Rempal
Injured: Jason Dickinson (lower body), Kyle Burroughs (upper body), Tucker Poolman (headaches)
Yeeesh, that Montreal injury list is something, eh? As for the Canucks, no changes from the past couple games, it would seem. Sheldon Rempal was called up earlier this week, but barring something catastrophic, he’s unlikely to get into the lineup.
GAME DAY CHATTER
"We are proud we brought ourselves back into a position to fight for a playoff spot. These are the games you play for."
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) March 9, 2022
Bo Horvat speaks with media, ahead of facing Montreal tonight#Canucks | @theprovince pic.twitter.com/oBobz9VEOK
“It’s important we stay patient here. To have complete trust in our game. And we have to have belief…Going to try and take care of business here to start the homestand.”
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) March 9, 2022
J.T. Miller#Canucks | @theprovince pic.twitter.com/A2qDQ7HAdi
“We just have to win. There’s no sugar-coating…Winning the week will be great, but now we got to be a bit better than that.”
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) March 9, 2022
Coach Bruce Boudreau#Canucks | @theprovince pic.twitter.com/CV1eW65jVc
The Canucks for Kids Fund announced today that proceeds for Wednesday’s $1 million 50/50 super jackpot will support the Ukraine humanitarian crisis appeal through the Red Cross of Canada.
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) March 8, 2022
DETAILS | https://t.co/lbhef4o6cR pic.twitter.com/hUgifrwHzG
GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN
Stumbled across this awesome cover of an underrated PRONG song from the ‘Prove You Wrong’ album by Texas thrash kings POWER TRIP. Love that they covered this, especially with the BAD BRAINS vibe of the original ringing true here. Metal lost a true gem in Riley Gale.
Enjoy the game, folks. Go Canucks Go! Slava Ukraini!
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