Vancouver Canucks: Week 8 Preview, Predictions

Tuesday, Nov. 29: Canucks vs. Minnesota Wild

Which goalie leads the league in shutouts, and is top-three in both save-percentage and goals-against average?

If you said “Devan Dubnyk“, you are correct!

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

The enigmatic goaltender is making up for lost time. He played five seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, sometimes putting up solid numbers, and other times not-so-solid. After brief stops in Nashville and Arizona, he has made a comfortable home for himself with the Minnesota Wild.

He was a finalist for the Vezina trophy in his first season there. And it looks like he could repeat that feat again this year. Dubnyk has four shutouts, a paltry 1.66 goals-against, and a sparkling .946 save-percentage.

The Wild are known for not giving up many goals against, and that has continued under new head coach Bruce Boudreau. Minnesota leads the lead, having surrendered only 42.

When they visit Vancouver, brothers Mikael Granlund and Markus Granlund will face each. Mikael, the elder of the two, has been a mainstay in the Wild’s top-six for years. Markus, on the other hand, is getting his first crack at being a second-line winger. Both brothers have five goals on the season.

Predictions

Gerald Morton:

Minnesota starts to make America great again by beating up on the poor Canucks. (Note: game will overturned in a decade when it is learned illegal Russian referees infiltrated game).

Janik Beichler:

Sometimes the Canucks play solid hockey and this will be one of those nights.

Alex Hoegler:

Minnesota doesn’t give up goals and the Canucks barely score goals

Jeff Godley:

Devan Dubnyk is too good. The Canucks will get one past him, but no more. The Wild offense is middling, but it will get the job done against Vancouver.