Vancouver Canucks vs. Dallas Stars: Preview, Lineups

The Vancouver Canucks return home after posting a 1-5 record on their road trip. They face a tough test in the Dallas Stars.

The Vancouver Canucks only managed to win one game on their six-game road trip.

The win did come against a strong New York Rangers team, however.

Vancouver will try to change their fortunes at home over the next four games. Thanks to the four-game winning streak which began their season, the Canucks still have a winning home record.

Their opponent on Sunday will be a Dallas Stars team which is struggling with consistency. They managed to win two games in a row for just the first time this season, with wins versus the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers.

The Stars will look for the Western Canadian sweep. But they will do so with a heavily depleted lineup. They have a total of six forwards out with injury.

Vancouver Canucks

OVERVIEW:

2016-17 Record: 5-9-1

Home Record: 4-3-0

2015-16 Record vs. Stars: 0-2-1

Goals For: 28

Goals Against: 44

Power Play: 8.7% (30th in NHL)

Penalty Kill: 86.4% (6th in NHL)

Leading Scorers: Henrik Sedin (15 GP – –5 G – 4 A – 9– PTS), Daniel Sedin (15 GP – 5– G –- 3 A –- 8 PTS), Bo Horvat (15 GP – 4– G – 3– A – 7– PTS)

Injuries: Jannik Hansen (fractured rib, early/mid-December), Chris Tanev (foot, indefinite), Jayson Megna (shoulder, mid-November), Anton Rodin (knee, indefinite)

WHO’’S ON OFFENCE:

Loui Eriksson: The $6 Million man finally broke through with a goal versus the Rangers. With Hansen out, can he re-establish himself on the top line?

Bo Horvat: The Sedins cannot carry this team by themselves. Vancouver needs secondary scoring, and that starts with Horvat.

WHO’’S ON DEFENCE:

Troy Stecher: The rookie has two assists in six games, and led the Canucks with six shots versus the Detroit Red Wings. It seems only a matter of time before he breaks through with his first goal.

WHO’’S IN NET:

Ryan Miller: The 36-year-old made a spectacular diving save on Thursday in Detroit, but also allowed one or two soft goals. He will need a stronger performance against a powerful Stars offense.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

Daniel Sedin —– Henrik Sedin — — Loui Eriksson
Markus Granlund —– Brandon Sutter — — Derek Dorsett
Sven Baertschi —– Bo Horvat — — Alexandre Burrows
Michael Chaput —– Brendan Gaunce — — Jack Skille

Alexander Edler –— Troy Stecher
Ben Hutton –— Erik Gudbranson
Luca Sbisa –— Nikita Tryamkin

More from The Canuck Way

• Which team won the Bo Horvat trade?
• What to expect from newcomers Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Räty
• Back to the future: How the skate uniforms became a regular Canucks’ feature night
• Canucks kick off 2023 with disappointing 6-2 loss to Islanders
• 2nd period penalty trouble sinks Canucks in 4-2 loss against Winnipeg

Ryan Miller
Jacob Markstrom

Dallas Stars

OVERVIEW:

2016-17 Record: 6-6-3

Away Record: 3-4-2

2015-16 Record vs. Canucks: 3-0-0

Goals For: 40

Goals Against: 50

Power Play: 18.0% (17th in NHL)

Penalty Kill: 77.2% (27th in NHL)

Leading Scorers: Tyler Seguin (15 GP – 7 G –- 10 A – 17– PTS), Jamie Benn (15 GP – 4 G – –9 A – 13– PTS), Patrick Eaves (14 GP – 4– G – 6– A – 10– PTS)

Injuries: Jason Spezza (lower body, day-to-day), Jiri Hudler (illness, day-to-day), Cody Eakin (knee, indefinite), Ales Hemsky (hip, indefinite), Patrick Sharp (concussion, day-to-day), Mattias Janmark (knee, March), Jason Dickinson (hip, day-to-day)

WHO’’S ON OFFENCE:

Tyler Seguin: The centerman leads the Stars with 17 points, better than a point-per-game.

Jamie Benn: The Stars captain has four points in his last two games. He is currently paired with Radek Faska on the top line, while Seguin has dropped to line two in the wake of the injury to Jason Spezza.

WHO’’S ON DEFENCE:

Dan Hamhuis: The longtime Canuck defenseman joined Dallas as a free agent over the summer. This will be his first visit to Vancouver with his new team.

WHO’’S IN NET:

Kari Lehtonen: The Finnish goaltender has had a rough start to the season, but may have turned a corner. He made 40 saves in the Stars most recent win against the Oilers.

Next: Nolan Patrick Isn't the Only Reason to Tank

PROJECTED LINEUP:

Jamie Benn —– Radek Faska —– Lauri Korpikoski
Antoine Roussel —– Tyler Seguin  — Patrick Eaves
Curtis McKenzie —– Devin Shore— — Brett Ritchie
Gemel Smith —– Justin Dowling— — Adam Cracknell

Dan Hamhuis –— John Klingber
Johnny Oduya –— Steven Johns
Jamie Oleksiak –— Jordie Benn

Kari Lehtonen
Antti Niemi