Gameday preview: Canucks vs Stars (March 26)

It is the third stop of a four-game road trip for the Vancouver Canucks as they head to Big-D to take on the Dallas Stars.

It is another big game for the Canucks playoff odds as they sit four points back of the Stars, who hold the final wild card spot. After an impressive win over the Colorado Avalanche and a deserved point against the Minnesota WIld, Vancouver will look to get two more valuable points.

The Canucks and Stars last met on November 7, 2021 in Vancouver. The Canucks ended up winning 6-3. Vancouver’s last visit to Dallas was on November 19, 2019 as the Stars crushed the Canucks 6-1.

This season, the Stars have been very good at home.

Here is how the Canucks lined up for morning skate in Dallas. Will Lockwood joins the team after being called up from Abbotsford on Friday.

Matthew Highmore is out day-to-day with an upper body injury and to no one’s surprise, Thatcher Demko gets the start.

“It’s going to be a battle,” said Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau on Saturday’s game. “Today’s game is going to be like a playoff game.”

“Just bringing the physicality aspect to the game, keeping it simple,” said Lockwood on what he brings to the lineup.

The Stars will go with Jake Oettinger in net. Dallas has lost both of it’s regular goalies due to injury. Anton Khudobin is out for at least six months following hip surgery and Braden Holtby has been out since early March with a lower body injury.

Miro Heiskanen did take part in morning skate but remains out with mononucleosis.

Players to watch

Dallas Stars-Jason Robertson: Robertson has 12 points including back-to-back hat tricks in his last 10 games. He leads the Stars with 31 goals and is second behind Joe Pavelski in points with 60.

Vancouver Canucks- Bo Horvat: Vancouver’s captain has three goals in his last three games and has 12 points in his last 10 games.

It is an early start time as the puck drops at 4:00 PM. You can watch the game on Sportsnet Pacific or listen to it on Sportsnet 650.