Quadrelli Report: Vancouver Canucks split wins with Flames in preseason action

A late push at a comeback and Miller and Horvat find chemistry

Imagine for a second that Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, and Brock Boeser were on the ice with Bo Horvat and JT Miller late in the game with the goalie pulled, as opposed to the likes of Josh Teves, Brogan Rafferty, Nikolay Goldobin, and Josh Leivo.

Nothing against any of those players, but seeing Horvat and Miller will their way into what was almost a valiant comeback made me imagine how a slight change in personnel could have been the difference in a successful comeback.

Calgary entered panic mode when the Canucks began what seemed to be an insurmountable comeback after being down by three goals late in the third period. Teves scored to bring the Canucks within two, then, with the goalie pulled, Miller threaded the needle perfectly to find Horvat in the slot, and Bo made no mistake, finding the top shelf with a wicked wrister.

It’s an early sign of chemistry that Canucks management and fans alike are hoping that the newly acquired Miller and Horvat can create with one another. Watch for these two to build off of what they seemed to have started last night.

Who will play in tonight’s game?

Having back-to-back games, coach Green understands that as tempting as it may be to ice more of the team’s star players, he’s got to keep his players’ health as his main priority, especially this early on. Among the Canucks who were scratched last night were Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes and Tyler Myers. This almost guarantees that these three will be in the lineup tonight at Rogers Arena.

Fans in Victoria may have been disappointed to not see the same lineup that they will when they tune into opening night on October 2nd, but it is still a preseason game, after all. When the roster is as big as it is for the first few games of the preseason, it’s guaranteed that there will be a long list of healthy scratches, that will surely include some main roster players.

Two players I’m personally hoping to get a look at tonight are Olli Juolevi and Miceal Ferland. Juolevi is coming off an injury-riddled season last year and is out to prove something. Ferland, on the other hand, will likely be put on Pettersson’s line if the two are indeed in the lineup tonight.

Last night’s tilts were fun to watch, and most of all, it’s a great feeling to be watching Canucks hockey once again. The Canucks will take on the Edmonton Oilers tonight at home from Rogers Arena.