Vancouver Canucks at Anaheim Ducks: Preview, Lineups, Insights
The Vancouver Canucks are now 4-0-1 — what a terrible start into the season. Time to win against the Anaheim Ducks!
We all had hope the Vancouver Canucks would go 82-0-0 and win the Stanley Cup after going unbeaten in the playoffs. Well, that won’t happen anymore, as Vancouver fell 4-3 in the shootout to the Los Angeles Kings. Which means we have to settle for 81-0-1.
Seriously, though, the Canucks had a terrific start and have yet to lose in regulation. We all expected the team to start the season with a streak, but who would have thought it would be this kind of streak?
Tonight, the Anaheim Ducks will get a chance to beat the Canucks in regulation for the first time this season.
Anaheim Ducks
OVERVIEW:
2016-17 Record: 1-3-1
Home Record: 0-0-0
2015-16 Record vs. Canucks: 2-3-0
Goals For: 10
Goals Against: 14
Power Play: 11.1% (25th)
Penalty Kill: 84.0% (16th)
Leading Scorers: Ryan Getzlaf (5 GP – 1 G – 4 A – 5 PTS), Cam Fowler (5 GP – 2 G – 2 A – 4 PTS), Corey Perry (5 GP – 2 G – 1 A – 3 PTS).
Injuries: Simon Despres (upper body, day-to-day)
WHO’S ON OFFENCE:
Ryan Getzlaf: The Ducks’ captain has been one of the team’s top scorers for a long time, and he still is. His line with Corey Perry and Nick Ritchie is always dangerous, although the latter currently sits at just one point.
Ryan Kesler: You know what this means. Kesler is back, and he’ll do anything he can to be the most hated player in Vancouver of all time. (Yes, even more than Brad Marchand.)
Emerson Etem: He wasn’t good enough to beat Jack Skille to a roster spot in Vancouver, so Etem made his way back to Anaheim. So far, he has gone scoreless through two games.
WHO’S ON DEFENCE:
Hampus Lindholm: Perhaps this should read “who’s not on defence” because Lindholm is still unsigned. The restricted free agent is without a contract and the Ducks neither seem to have the cap space for him nor are they in any kind of rush to get things done.
Kevin Bieksa: Along with Kesler, Bieksa is back to show the world how much opposing fans can love you when you play for a different team. Look at that, Kesler. That’s how you do it.
WHO’S IN NET:
John Gibson: Gibson is one of the league’s youngest starters at age 23. After four games this season, he has a 2.81 goals-against average along with an .890 save percentage. Backup Jonathan Bernier has better stats, but he has only appeared in one game so far.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Nick Ritchie — Ryan Getzlaf — Corey Perry
Andrew Cogliano — Ryan Kesler — Jakob Silfverberg
Ryan Garbutt — Antoine Vermette — Chris Wagner
Emerson Etem — Michael Sgarbossa — Jared Boll
Cam Fowler — Josh Manson
Clayton Stoner — Sami Vatanen
Shea Theodore — Kevin Bieksa
John Gibson
Jonathan Bernier
Vancouver Canucks
OVERVIEW:
2016-17 Record: 4-0-1
Away Record: 0-0-1
2015-16 Record vs. Ducks: 3-2-0
Goals For: 13
Goals Against: 10
Power Play: 14.3% (19th)
Penalty Kill: 86.7% (13th)
Leading Scorers: Brandon Sutter (5 GP – 1 G – 4 A – 5 PTS), Daniel Sedin (5 GP – 2 G – 2 A – 4 PTS), Henrik Sedin (5 GP – 2 G – 2 A – 4 PTS)
Injuries: Anton Rodin (knee, day-to-day)
WHO’S ON OFFENCE:
More from Canucks News
- Canucks are in “wash, rinse, repeat” mode after Monday’s 5-1 loss
- Canucks send Jack Rathbone and Vasily Podkolzin down to Abbotsford
- Canucks acquire Ethan Bear, Lane Pederson from Carolina
- Brock Boeser, Curtis Lazar placed on injury reserve
- Canucks officially unveil Reverse Retro jersey in latest aesthetic change
Brandon Sutter: Sutter couldn’t get the game winner against Los Angeles, but he recorded another assist. Through five games, Sutter now has a goal and four assists for five points. Who said he wasn’t second-line calibre?
Henrik&Daniel Sedin: Yes, the Sedins always count as one. Which is justifiable, because they also seem to think as one when they play hockey. Not surprisingly, they each have two goals and two assists, combining for eight points in five games.
WHO’S ON DEFENCE:
Philip Larsen: Larsen had two power-play assists against the Kings, but wasn’t great defensively. He probably could have stopped at least one of LA’s goals with better positioning. Unless he starts scoring two points per game now, he’s making a strong case to call Troy Stecher up from Utica — or even play Alex Biega.
WHO’S IN NET:
Ryan Miller: Miller is back after a minor groin injury. He backed up Markstrom in the past two games and is happy to get back into game action.
Next: Larsen Records First 2 Assists vs. LA
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Daniel Sedin — Henrik Sedin — Sven Baertschi
Markus Granlund — Brandon Sutter — Jannik Hansen
Loui Eriksson — Bo Horvat — Jake Virtanen
Alex Burrows — Brendan Gaunce — Derek Dorsett
Alex Edler — Chris Tanev
Ben Hutton — Erik Gudbranson
Luca Sbisa — Philip Larsen
Ryan Miller
Jacob Markstrom