Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks: Preview, Lineups

The Vancouver Canucks will try to put a winning streak together when an old arch-rival comes to town tonight, the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Vancouver Canucks, or the Vancouver Cardiac Kids we should call them, are suddenly rolling again with three wins in their last four. They have a tough test tonight when the Western Conference-leading Chicago Blackhawks visit Rogers Arena.

Their Thursday night win over the Arizona Coyotes was the latest stellar comeback. Trailing 2-0 in the second period, they erased the deficit and wound up winning in overtime, thanks to Ben Hutton‘s penalty shot overtime goal.

But let’s be honest, there’s a difference between the last-place Coyotes and the conference-leading Blackhawks.

Vancouver Canucks

OVERVIEW:

2016-17 Record: 7-10-1

Home Record: 6-4

2015-16 Record vs. (Blackhawks): 1-2-0

Goals For: 38

Goals Against: 57

Power Play: 10.9 (26th)

Penalty Kill: 82.3 (16th)

Leading Scorers: Daniel Sedin (18 GP –- 6 G – 6 A – –12 PTS),Henrik Sedin(18 GP – – 5 G -– 6 A -– 11 PTS), Brandon Sutter (18 GP -– 4 G -– 6 A – – 10 PTS)

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

WHO’’S ON OFFENCE:

Daniel Sedin: Death, taxes and a Sedin twin leading the Canucks in scoring. Daniel isn’t exactly lighting it up, he’s just the best player on a team that’s struggling to score. But his sniping and playmaking talents haven’t left him.

Brandon Sutter: He’s quietly been the Canucks’ best player in a handful of games. Sutter’s not scoring a lot, but his defensive play mirrors that of the Ryan Kesler that led this team to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.

WHO’’S ON DEFENCE:

Alex Edler: He remains the Canucks’ top defenceman — in his own zone and on offence.

WHO’’S IN NET:

Jacob Markstrom: He hasn’t had a lot of help in front of his own net, but Markstrom finds ways to keep the team in games. He’s posted a 5-3-1 record so far.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

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

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

Jacob Markstrom
Ryan Miller

Chicago Blackhawks

OVERVIEW:

2016-17 Record: 12-4-2

Away Record: 4-3-0

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

Goals For: 57

Goals Against: 45

Power Play: 19.4 (12th)

Penalty Kill: 70.2 (30th)

Leading Scorers: Patrick Kane (18GP -– 6 G -– 13 A -– 19 PTS), Artem Anisimov (17 GP – – 8 G – 10 A – 18 PTS), Artemi Panarin (18 GP – 6 G – 11 A – 17 PTS)

Injuries: Vinnie Hinostroza (upper body, day-to-day), Tyler Motte (lower body, day-to-day), Trevor van Riemsdyk (upper body, early December)