The struggling Vancouver Canucks come into Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets on Black Friday.
The Canucks are coming off a 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh and currently have a 6-12-2 record.
The team held practice on Thursday and here is how they lined up. It seems likely this is how the Canucks will line up against the Blue Jackets.
#Canucks lineup based on initial drills at practice Thursday in Columbus:
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) November 25, 2021
Pearson-Horvat-Garland
Höglander-Miller-Boeser
Podkolzin-Pettersson-Dowling
Motte-Dickinson-Chiasson
OEL-Myers
Hughes-Schenn
Burroughs-Poolman
Lammikko-Hunt pic.twitter.com/qTUocKtYAz
There are seemed to be confusion with a 2-on-0 drill at Thursday’s practice and what J.T. Miller yelled out caused quite the stir online.
Some confusion setting up a drill at #Canucks practice, as Travis Green discussed it at length with Boeser.
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) November 25, 2021
Appears to be a straightforward 2-on-0 drill, but the wrong mix of players was in various ends.
J.T. Miller could be heard yelling, “We don’t know what we’re doing!”
This came the day after Miller was asked if everyone on the team was buying in. Miller gave a long pause and responded with “I don’t know.”
Reporter: "Is everyone buying in right now?"
— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) November 25, 2021
JT Miller: "I don't know."
What do you think #Canucks fans? pic.twitter.com/qU3okgs2PD
It was previously reported that factions were developing in the Canucks front office and rumours are saying that is happening with the players too.
According to Matt Sekeres of the Sekeres and Price show, there is divisions among the players. Tanner Pearson has apparently sided with Bo Horvat while everybody else sided with Miller. Some were at a crossroads and some sided with no one.
"I was told yesterday that really Tanner Pearson is the only one still with Bo Horvat. Everybody else is either caught in the middle, or with JT Miller, or with nobody."
— Sekeres and Price (@sekeresandprice) November 26, 2021
- @mattsekeres on the divide inside the #Canucks' dressing room.
S&P ➡️ https://t.co/6sWmZ3HMoL pic.twitter.com/J5RGFY0Ipf
However, Travis Green dismissed the rumours in the pre-game media availability on Friday.
“We’ve got some things coming out about our room that are flat out fabricated,” says Travis Green.
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) November 26, 2021
Name checks reports on a “rift” about Miller and Horvat as something that’s untrue. #Canucks
Tyler Myers also shot down the rumours.
Tyler Myers calls the reports of the room being divided “complete nonsense” #Canucks
— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) November 26, 2021
Every passing day, the pressure continues to grow for Green and general manager Jim Benning. However, all the outside rumblings need to be forgotten once the puck drops. The focus will be on stopping the Nationwide Arena cannon from going off.
The Blue Jackets won their last game 3-0 over the Winnipeg Jets. Elvis Merzlinkis made 36 saves in the shutout and he will be starting against the Canucks.
#CBJ G Elvis Merzlikins gets the start tonight vs. #Canucks.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) November 26, 2021
Per Green, Thatcher Demko will once again be between the pipes for the Canucks.
Players to watch
Blue Jackets- Elvis Merzlikins: The Blue Jackets’ netminder has had a good first quarter of the season with an 8-3-0 record and a 2.44 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage.
Canucks- J.T. Miller-: Miller has 19 points on the season which leads the Canucks. After what transpired at practice, he’s going to be fired up.
Puck drop is at 4:00 PM. You can watch the game on Sportsnet Pacific and listen to it on Sportsnet 650.