Vancouver Canucks Week #15 Outlook, Predictions: Last Big Trip

vs. Florida Panthers (25-12-4) Monday, January 11th

Leading scorer: Jaromir Jagr (14 goals, 30 points)

Keys to the game

1. Feast on Bobby Lou’s homecoming
2. Don’t let Jagr repeat
3. Let Emerson Etem have a say
4. PRAY BEFORE THE GAME

The Florida Panthers come into Vancouver having won a dozen in a row.

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

Twelve games. They have not lost since December 12th, 2015. Hence the key #4, just pray that you get something out of this game. Panthers lead their division with 54 points, and though they looked vulnerable at times during the last game against the Canucks (refer to the above highlights), they look unbeatable lately.

So here we go again, time to play streak breaker, right? Enter Emerson Etem, aided by Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi.

Etem will draw into the lineup after being acquired from the New York Rangers and will be motivated to turn his career around, starting Monday. Let Etem play some meaningful minutes with decent linemates, and the Canucks will reap offence from the 23-year-old winger.

But that will be tough against the Panthers, who enter the week as the league’s best defence, averaging just 2.12 goals against a game.

Also, as I said last week with Shane Doan — please don’t let Jagr do his thing every time he plays. Doan had two goals last week, as I forewarned.

But first and foremost, it is Bobby Lou time. He comes into Vancouver well-rested and on a nine-game winning streak. That being said, the Canucks did well against the hot Eddie Lack coming to town last week. Feast on the emotion, feast on Lou and feast on the points that might fall on you at the mercies of the hockey gods.

Markstrom starts, according to Willie Desjardins on Sunday.

Our Predictions

I will actually pray before the game and watch in horror, should Bo, Sven, Markstrom, and Etem not show up for the game. I will take a hopeful win on this one, more of a “wish” than a prediction.

As for Janik Beichler:

Next: at Washington