Canucks Week 21 Preview: Jim Benning is Falling Behind in Trade Deadline
By Jeff Godley
Tuesday, Feb. 28: Canucks vs. Detroit Red Wings
Due to an outbreak of the mumps, Vancouver played their last game with a skeleton crew.
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The defense corps was especially hard hit. Chris Tanev, Troy Stecher and Nikita Tryamkin were each sidelined, and were replaced by Philip Larsen, Alex Biega and Evan McEneny (who made his NHL debut). Markus Granlund also was “mumped” out of the lineup, and replaced with Alexandre Grenier.
It’s hard to say what sort of lineup the Canucks will ice on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. That lineup might include Tanev and/or Stecher; but now it might not include Ben Hutton.
Regardless, Vancouver will face a Red Wings team that is tied with them in points. The Wings earn 26th place by virtue of one game in hand. But other than that, the two organizations are very much in a similar place, both in their records and in their rosters.
In their previous meeting this season, Vancouver had finally snapped their nine-game losing skid against the New York Rangers, only to lose to the Wings the very next game:
Predictions
Alex Hoegler:
1. 72. Final. 3. 104
Detroit usually has Vancouver’s number, but Detroit has never been so porous since Rogers Arena opened. Vancouver takes care of an inferior team.
Jeff Godley:
3. 104. 2. 72. Final
Vancouver wins a game. Parades are planned and talk of “playoffs” is renewed. Benning proceeds to trade away young players and draft picks for players that can help them win now.
Just kidding — I hope…