Fateless Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Not sure who was responsible for creating the GDT today, but being the game starts in 6 hours I thought I'd put up a temporary one so we can start talking about the game. Game Preview: The Canucks will pay tribute to one of the best lines in team history tonight when they continue their home stand with a visit from Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres. Prior to puck drop tonight, the Canucks will hold a pre-game ceremony with members of the famed West Coast Express line – Naslund, Bertuzzi, and Morrison – that was once one of the most feared trios in all of the NHL. Opposing teams, at least lately, don't have as much reason to fear the current Canucks. Vancouver is mired in a season-high five-game winless skid and is coming off arguably their worst loss of the season – a 4-0 blanking at the hands of the Bruins in a game Coach Desjardins said his team simply didn't battle or push. The Canucks, especially given their current woes, can't expect any game to be a cakewalk even when facing a team that sits behind them in the overall league standings like the Sabres. Buffalo comes into tonight's game on a bit of a roll despite dropping a 4-2 decision last night in Edmonton. Prior to the loss to the Oilers, they were on a four-game regulation unbeaten streak (3-0-1) which was their longest such streak of the season. Derek Dorsett missed practice yesterday but is expected to be able to play tonight. Ryan Miller will get the call in net tonight against his old club, while blue-liner Alex Biega is expected to draw into the line-up as well likely in place of either Yannick Weber or Matt Bartkowski. The Sabres could go with back-up netminder Linus Ullmark tonight after Chad Johnson went the distance last night. Ullmark is winless in his last five starts but did beat the Canucks back on November 7. Puck drop at 7 pm PT – Live on Sportsnet Pacific, TSN 1040, or online at tsn1040.ca. Regular Season Record 9-11-811-13-3 2015.16 Season Series 0-1-01-0-0 All-Time Series 48-46-2148-48-19 Last 10 games 2-5-33-5-2 Last 10 head-to-head 4-4-26-4-0 Scouting Report The Sabres expected to have an improved offence coming into this season with the likes of O'Reilly, Eichel and Kane joining the line-up. It's taken a little while for their vision to come to fruition but they're finally seeing the potential come to life in recent outings. In their four games prior to yesterday's 4-2 loss in Edmonton, they scored a combined 17 goals and it was all their big names getting into the act including the aforementioned three along with the likes of McGinn and Reinhart. The Sabres certainly have potential to put lots of goals on the board just based on their line-up on paper but, even then, there have been a few surprise names none more so than Rasmus Ristolainen, the third-year Finnish blue-liner. Ristolainen had eight goals and 20 points in 78 games played last season, and is already up to four goals and 18 points in 27 games played this season. The Sabres will have an even more formidable offensive look from the back end once Cody Franson picks up his game. Where the Sabres have really impressed so far this season has been defensively. They've only given up more than three goals in seven of their 27 games played. They'd probably have a lot more wins this season had their offence been able to step up just a little more. Buffalo has been held to two-or-fewer goals on 15 occasions this season, picking up points in only four of those outings. They've also got one of the worst win percentages in the league in one-goal games at .357 (5-6-3), although it's not nearly as bad as Vancouver's .176 (3-6-8). Keys to the Game Battle. Win or lose, there have not been many games this season where you could accuse the Canucks of not competing but, against the Bruins on Saturday, even their coach went as far as to suggest that was the case. After being embarrassed two nights ago, the Canucks had better respond tonight. No free passes. For whatever reason, the Canucks have not made it hard this season for tired teams coming off a game the night before. They'll get another crack tonight facing a team playing the second half of a back-to-back and having to travel. They have to use the fatigue factor to their advantage. The right headlines for Kane. In Evander Kane's last visit to Vancouver, he had his clothes thrown in the shower by then-teammate Dustin Byfuglien, was scratched by the Jets, and would be traded less than a week later. He'll want to be in the spotlight again but only for his on-ice performance. Vancouver Canucks ✔@VanCanucks Coach said Virtanen is still a ways away because he hasn't been in a full #Canucks practice yet. 12:09 PM - 7 Dec 2015 Will update with lines once they're confirmed - or until the proper GDT goes up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mj vic Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Really not sure of what to expect tonight. I just hope the team puts in a full 60 min. of effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-SN- Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 This can be the official GDT, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toni Zamboni Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Wish these guys were playing for us tonight! 5-1 Nux win! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Ta-Tank-a (is Buffalo) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mj vic Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Really not sure of what to expect tonight. I just hope the team puts in a full 60 min. of effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucksnhl Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 6-2 Canucks Naslund x3 Bertuzzi x2 Morrison Go Canucks Go!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rush17 Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 nazzy has spoken. team will come out and get a massive win. 5-3 domination Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fateless Posted December 7, 2015 Author Share Posted December 7, 2015 Just now, mj vic said: Really not sure of what to expect tonight. I just hope the team puts in a full 60 min. of effort. I know Willie said last game was a "must game" - but I really think this game against Buffalo will be the telling one. Buffalo has been a bottom of the barrel team for years and if the Canucks can't get back on track against one of the worst teams in the league - we're in trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift-4 Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 It has gotten so bad I am even dreading this game GO CANUCKS GO!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWMc1 Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 22 minutes ago, TOMapleLaughs said: Ta-Tank-a (is Buffalo) Ta-Tank-a should be Vancouver. Even if we made the Playoffs, I don't see us going very far. 1st round exit; that's been our so-called winning environment. Let's go draft lottery. I still can't bring myself to predict a loss. Canucks win 5-3 Go Canucks Go!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canucks1527 Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 2-1 ot loss, buffalo ties it with the net empty, Hansen misses a wide open cage in the first minute of ot, then buffalo wins it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaBamba Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Please win to stop the crying around here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbdoubleu Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Let's honour Naslund, and choke. 3-0 Sabres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAY JAY Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 WCE night - oh no! Go Canucks Go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apricot Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 I'm so pissed I'll be missing this game . I'll probably be thinking about the ceremony while I'm writing my Calc exam.. I really hope we kick Buffalo's a** tonight. Gotta win for the WCE Canucks win 4-2, have 25+ shots on net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winter Soldier Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Even if the Canucks come out and stink I'm really looking forward to seeing the WCE ceremony in person. Gotta get me one of those special pucks and everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire_Spiky Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Really hoping we can turn a corner tonight. With Buffalo on the tail end of back to backs the Nucks need to come out fast, hard and really push the pace. If they can do that and get on the board early should make for an exciting game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire_Spiky Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 DP... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazzy Desjardins Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 I will always cheer my team to win. Aside from Toews and Kane (our version would be hank and dank) Chicago has stayed elite. If you scout well it doesn't matter where you draft imo. I know the twins are much older than those 2 players but we have had many draft picks not work out. It all goes down to drafting, no matter where you draft from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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