Vancouver Canucks game preview: Boeser hits the Jackpot

James Neal and local rookie Dylan Ferguson lead the charge against the Vancouver Canucks. The Golden Knights arrive to play their first regular season game at Rogers Arena. Here are the lineups, predictions and more.

Last week put a scare in Vancouver Canucks fans. Terrible losses to the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks left us wondering if the team would be swept by all three California teams. In Tuesday’s game, the Canucks were down 2-0 early and it did not look pretty.

However, the Canucks fought back (literally in the case of Derek Dorsett), grinding out a 3-2 comeback win. Henrik Sedin scored and both revamped power play units cashed unit. Anders Nilsson returned to form after the two-goal deficit and the Canucks snatched a win they desperately needed.

Now, the Canucks need to shift focus as they prepare to face the Vegas Golden Knights at home. Today’s contest will be the Golden Knight’s first official visit to Rogers Arena after the Canucks lost 9-4 in a preseason contest to Vegas.

I had this whole storyline of two former Canucks making their return to Rogers Arena, but sadly, things have changed. Luca Sbisa is currently sidelined with an undisclosed injury and Jason Garrison has been waived by the Golden Knights.

Fortunately, this leaves the feel-good story of Dylan Ferguson in the spotlight. The 19-year-old native of Lantzville, B.C. (that’s on the Island for those that don’t know) is the fifth goaltender deployed this season by the Golden Knights. Maxime Lagace was pulled late in an 8-2 stomping by the Oilers and Ferguson had to fill in.

Later, we learned that Lagace was hurt. While Malcolm Subban is close to returning, it looks like Ferguson will once again get the start against the team he grew up watching.

Again? Ferguson was in goal for the that preseason game mentioned earlier. However, this time, the Canucks will have all their starters against the Kamloops Blazers netminder. It will certainly be an exciting moment for him, especially considering what Irfaan Gafaar had learned: