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Vancouver Canucks Outlook and Predictions Week #24: Rising

By David Joun

Mar 9, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Radim Vrbata (17) celebrates with defenseman Yannick Weber (6) after scoring a goal against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Louis Domingue (not pictured) during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Radim Vrbata (17) celebrates with defenseman Yannick Weber (6) after scoring a goal against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Louis Domingue (not pictured) during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 9, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Radim Vrbata (17) celebrates with defenseman Yannick Weber (6) after scoring a goal against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Louis Domingue (not pictured) during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /

The Vancouver Canucks are doing their share of making hockey exciting again in this city.

The Vancouver Canucks have hushed all “draftists” with Saturday’s a stellar win over the Nashville Predators Saturday evening. Now they will try to keep the mathematical playoff odds alive by putting together a winning week. Week #24 presents four games to the Canucks and hopes of a winning week.

Newest Canuck Nikita Tryamkin has been practising with the team and so has centreman Brandon Sutter. Alex Edler seems done for the season with a fractured fibula while captain Henrik Sedin returned to action Saturday against Nashville. With Henrik back, rookie Brendan Gaunce was the odd man out.

With that, here are your three storylines for the week. It sure is going to get interesting…

  • Brendan Gaunce out, Alex Grenier in?

The honeymoon for the 21-year-old rookie seems to be over. After four games as an emergency call-up for the Vancouver Canucks, Gaunce is heading back to Utica. This is good news to me, as a Grenier-advocate since the start of the season. Ever since he got his one game stint in that game against the Winnipeg Jets, he has been on the back of my mind as a leading candidate to fill Brandon Prust‘s absence.

  • Is it Nikita Tryamkin time yet?

After arriving from Russia this past week, Nikita Tryamkin was even taking the pre-game skate on Saturday. He has practised with Dan Hamhuis quite a bit. I cannot wait for Tryamkin to hit the ice. He won’t be an instant wizard in the NHL, I get that. I do want to see Connor McDavid get stood up by a 228-pound Tryamkin, though.

  • Standings Tracker

The Canucks were on the verge of dropping down to the bottom-five. Now they find themselves 23rd in terms of points percentage after a stellar win over the Nashville Predators. Bad news for draftists, good news for “fans”. The club needed a solid win like that. With Edmonton and Winnipeg on the schedule this week, the Canucks could pad some more points this week.

Without further ado, here it is, the Week #24 Outlook and Predictions!

Next: Home vs. Winnipeg

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