Did the Canucks deserve to win Thursday night? Yup. Did it make a difference for their playoff pipe dream? Nope. Decision time is drawing close, and each game on this road trip can have a massive effect on the future of the Canucks.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
10:00 AM PT - TD Garden- Boston MA
TV: SNP - Radio: TSN 1040
There was a lot to like in that game against Columbus, for sure. The Sedins, especially Daniel got things in gear, and we had a Loui Eriksson sighting. The Jayson Megna goal was a beauty. Yet there were some things happening there that just leave you shaking your head. Like Willie Desjardins benching his 4th line, especially after the 3-0 goal. For all his talk about not knowing what he can get from a guy like Reid Boucher (who was pretty damn good in the first period), you'd think this would be a perfect time for him to see, right? No, instead he kept playing his top players, when getting a little bit less ice time would, I don't know, make sense? Anyway, Ryan Miller was good, the Canucks scored 3 and won (which has been difficult to say the least) and now a tough back to back with Boston and Buffalo. And your honour, let the record show that 10 am Pacific time games are stupid.
Canucks
CATEGORY
Bruins
24-24-6
SEASON RECORD
27-23-6
54
Points
60
6th
Division Position
4th
Won 1
Streak
Won 1
2.28 (28)
Goals For Per 60 (GF60)
3.29 (5)
2.87 (20)
Goals Against Per 60 (GA60)
2.46 (5)
14.7 (28)
Power Play %
24.0 (1)
78.7 (24)
Penalty Kill %
81.8 (14)
52.1 (5)
Faceoff Win %
47.5 (29)
8.1 (26)
Shooting %
7.6 (28)
48.7 (22)
Corsi For %
55.7 (1)
99.1 (20)
PDO
97.4 (29)
Stats from NHL.com and www.hockey-reference.com
THE OPPOSITION
The Bruins responded to the firing of longtime coach and King Of The Hill's Bill Dauterive cosplay enthusiast Claude Julien with a 6-3 win over a very good San Jose Sharks squad. It helped move Boston into a Wild Card slot on the East, but with the Philadelphia Flyers just one point back, the Bruins will need to keep rolling if they want to salvage this season.
Anton Khudobin will get the start in goal for Boston today.
THE CANUCKS
No changes for the Canucks, and that includes in goal, as they will go with Ryan Miller coming off that shutout in Columbus Thursday night. It will be interesting to see if the Bruins try to get nasty against the Canucks today, with the Canucks being one of the teams with the least fighting majors in the league. It goes without saying that you need to keep an eye on Brad Marchand today, as he loves to revert to his douchebaggy ways in games against Vancouver.
GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN
The best damn thrash band that neck of the woods has to offer: LICH KING with Combat Mosh
Brad Marchand–Patrice Bergeron–David Backes Peter Cehlarik–David Krejci–David Pastrnak Frank Vatrano–Ryan Spooner–Matt Beleskey Tim Schaller–Dominic Moore–Riley Nash Zdeno Chara–Brandon Carlo Torey Krug–Adam McQuaid Kevan Miller–Colin Miller
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2017/02/berkshire-bank-hockey-night-in-new-england-projected-bruins-canucks-lineups/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Brad Marchand–Patrice Bergeron–David Backes Peter Cehlarik–David Krejci–David Pastrnak Frank Vatrano–Ryan Spooner–Matt Beleskey Tim Schaller–Dominic Moore–Riley Nash Zdeno Chara–Brandon Carlo Torey Krug–Adam McQuaid Kevan Miller–Colin Miller
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2017/02/berkshire-bank-hockey-night-in-new-england-projected-bruins-canucks-lineups/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Brad Marchand–Patrice Bergeron–David Backes Peter Cehlarik–David Krejci–David Pastrnak Frank Vatrano–Ryan Spooner–Matt Beleskey Tim Schaller–Dominic Moore–Riley Nash Zdeno Chara–Brandon Carlo Torey Krug–Adam McQuaid Kevan Miller–Colin Miller
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2017/02/berkshire-bank-hockey-night-in-new-england-projected-bruins-canucks-lineups/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Brad Marchand–Patrice Bergeron–David Backes Peter Cehlarik–David Krejci–David Pastrnak Frank Vatrano–Ryan Spooner–Matt Beleskey Tim Schaller–Dominic Moore–Riley Nash Zdeno Chara–Brandon Carlo Torey Krug–Adam McQuaid Kevan Miller–Colin Miller
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2017/02/berkshire-bank-hockey-night-in-new-england-projected-bruins-canucks-lineups/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter