Vancouver Canucks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets: Preview, Lineups
The Vancouver Canucks will try to make it two-straight when former head coach John Tortorella returns to Rogers Arena
After a convincing 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night, the Vancouver Canucks will try to snap the Columbus Blue Jackets’ eight-game win streak when John Tortorella returns on Sunday.
VancouverCanucks
ColumbusBlue Jackets
Vancouver Canucks
OVERVIEW:
2016-17 Record: 13-16-2
Home Record: 9-6-1
2015-16 Record vs. Blue Jackets: 1-0-1
Goals For: 77
Goals Against: 96
Power Play: 14.3 (27th)
Penalty Kill: 82.1% (15th)
Leading Scorers: Daniel Sedin (31 GP -– 9 G – 11– A -20 PTS), Henrik Sedin (31 GP – 7– G – 12– A – 19 PTS) Bo Horvat (31 GP – –9 G – 10– A -19 PTS)
Injuries: Troy Stecher (undisclosed, day-to-day), Erik Gudbranson (wrist, day-to-day), Philip Larsen (upper body, day-to-day), Alexander Edler (broken finger, late December/early January), Derek Dorsett (neck, out for season).
WHO’’S ON OFFENCE:
More from The Canuck Way
Bo Horvat: His promotion to the first line is well overdue. Seems like he has no choice but to keep on scoring until the team takes notice.
Daniel Sedin: Death, taxes, and a Sedin twin leading the team in scoring. What else is new?
WHO’’S ON DEFENCE:
Chris Tanev: The return of the team’s best defenceman has come at an opportune time with the rest of the core banged up.
WHO’’S IN NET:
Ryan Miller: He’s been hot-and-cold all season. The Canucks’ playoff hopes rest on the shoulders of a Miller renaissance at this point.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Daniel Sedin — Henrik Sedin — Jannik Hansen
Markus Granlund — Brandon Sutter — Loui Eriksson
Sven Baertschi— Bo Horvat— — Alex Burrows
Brendan Gaunce — Michael Chaput — Jayson Megna
Ben Hutton — Chris Tanev
Luca Sbisa — Troy Stecher
Alex Biega — Nikita Tryamkin
Ryan Miller
Jacob Markstrom
Columbus Blue Jackets
OVERVIEW:
2016-17 Record: 19-5-4
Away Record: 9-2-3
2015-16 Record vs. Canucks: 1-1-0
Goals For: 94
Goals Against: 58
Power Play: 25.9% (1st)
Penalty Kill: 82.3% (14th)
Leading Scorers: Cam Atkinson (28 GP – 11– G – 18– A – – 29 PTS), Alexander Wennberg (28 GP – 6– G – – 19 A -25– PTS), Brandon Saad (28 GP – 9 G – 14 A – 23 PTS).
Injuries: David Clarkson (back, indefinitely.)
WHO’’S ON OFFENCE:
Cam Atkinson: He’s slowly emerging as the face of the franchise. Atkinson has it all: speed, hands and skill.
Brandon Saad: He hurt the Canucks a lot when he was with the Chicago Blackhawks. Let’s see if he can do it again.
WHO’’S ON DEFENCE:
Seth Jones: He’s not ready to be a Norris Trophy candidate, but he’s going to be a lot to handle for a banged-up Canucks team.
WHO’’S IN NET:
Sergei Bobrovsky: He’s certainly making his case to win the Vezina with an 18-5-2 record.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Brandon Saad — Alexander Wennberg — Nick Foligno
Boone Jenner —– Brandon Dubinsky — — Cam Atkinson
Matt Calvert —– William Karlsson — — Josh Anderson
Scott Hartnell —– Lukas Sedlak — — Sam Gagner
Zach Werenski — Seth Jones
Jack Johnson –— David Savard
Markus Nutivaara — Ryan Murray
Sergei Bobrovsky
Curtis McElhinney