Canucks vs Devils Game Day Report: Markstrom starts in net
The Vancouver Canucks play the second of back-to-back home ice games tonight against the plucky New Jersey Devils.
The Canucks defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 6-3 on Saturday in a game in which the Canucks blew another 3rd period lead, but were bailed out by a vintage Sedin twin performance.
Game Time: 7:00 pm
TV: Sportsnet Pacific
The Devils are not a team that conjures up excitement in many. What they lack in panache is made up for in effectiveness.
The Devils have surprised coming out of the gates with a solid 10-8-1 start and currently sit 5th in the Metropolitan Division. That being said, Western Canada has not been friendly to the Devils the last few years. Since 2011-12, the Devils have amassed a horrid 2-12-3 record in Western Canadian cities (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg).
Translation: Time for the Canucks to beat a team that they should beat on home ice.
Storylines
1. Daniel Sedin
Daniel to Henrik for career point #900! pic.twitter.com/cvgfN23JuG
— NHL (@NHL) November 22, 2015
Daniel Sedin, along with his brother Henrik, have to be the most underrated superstars in NHL history. In Vancouver, they are adored, but also taken for granted.
Daniel hit the 900 point milestone on Saturday night when Henrik cashed in on a beauty of a pass. The Sedins lead the team in points this season, once again, and are, once again, proving the skeptics wrong. This is just another reminder for Canucks fans to take some time and enjoy the amazing play of Daniel and Henrik Sedin while you can.
Daniel wasn’t content to sit on the 900 point plateau for long either. After assisting on Henrik’s goal, Daniel scored 3 more of his own to finish the night with 4 points. Unbelievable!
Elliotte Friedman on the Sedins: "they're both going to the Hall of Fame" #Canucks
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) November 22, 2015
2. Canucks back on the schneid
BACK ON TRACK.#Canucks defeat reigning Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks 6-3. Sedins with all the points. pic.twitter.com/b1w57ZyzbN
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 22, 2015
The Canucks needed a win badly after a disastrous East Coast road swing and they got it on home ice on Saturday night against the Stanley Cup Champions. Most who watched the Canucks horrid road trip would admit that the Canucks may not have played well, but they also received zero breaks. The Canucks were unlucky to not bank a few more points on the road and perhaps were due for a few things to go right.
In a surprisingly weak Pacific Division, the Canucks currently sit in a playoff position despite periods of lacklustre play combined with a penchant for blowing 3rd period leads. If the Canucks can get their act together, they are very much a legitimate playoff team again this season.
3. Taylor Fedun recalled from Utica
With Ben Hutton injured, #Canucks recall Taylor Fedun https://t.co/DfHuVyLBbm pic.twitter.com/Q9pmMvduPY
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) November 22, 2015
A nice story has developed with Taylor Fedun being recalled by the Canucks from the Utica Comets. For those unfamiliar with Fedun’s story, the 27-year-old defenceman is one of the main reasons that hybrid icing exists in the NHL today.
In the 2011-12 season, Fedun was tripped by Minnesota’s Eric Nystrom on a race to get an icing call which resulted in Fedun suffering a broken femur. Since that devastating injury, Fedun has never been able to stick on an NHL roster. He has played in 11 NHL games since recovering from the injury and will look to try to make an impact on the Canuck defence if given a chance.
I, for one, would love to see Fedun succeed at the NHL level. Give him a chance Willie!
Lineup
Look for the Canucks to use the same lineup as they did on Saturday night, with the exception of Jacob Markstrom getting the start in net.
*Update: Markstrom starts, Vrbata is a game time decision.
Coach Desjardins confirms Markstrom starts against Devils. Is also hopeful Vrbata will be good to return to the lineup tonight.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 22, 2015
| D. Sedin | H. Sedin | Hansen | |||
| Burrows | Horvat | Virtanen | |||
| Baertschi | McCann | Higgins | |||
| Prust | Cracknell | Dorsett | |||
| Edler | Tanev | ||||
| Hamhuis | Weber | ||||
| Sbisa | Bartkowski | ||||
| Markstrom | |||||
Prediction
Expect Brandon Prust to dance with Bobby Farnham tonight.
https://twitter.com/BrandonPrust8/status/663503153669640192
As for the rest of the game, I expect the Canucks will play a excellent in front of Jacob Markstrom and Markstrom will reciprocate with a flawless performance. The Canucks win 3-0 and the whispers that Markstrom gives the Canucks the best chance to win will begin.
Follow Channels and Categories