Gameday preview: Canucks vs Stars (April 18)

After a few days off, the Vancouver Canucks are back in action on this Easter Monday. It is another big game in terms of their playoff push as the Dallas Stars come to town. They also look to win their sixth straight game.

The Canucks playoff hopes are slim at only 7% according to a model from Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic. (Paywalled) With 84 points on the season, they are seven points behind the Stars and Nashville Predators who both hold down the wild card spots. The Canucks have played the same number of games as the Stars and have a game in hand on the Predators.

Vancouver is also six points behind the Los Angeles Kings for third in the division. The Kings have an easy schedule as their remaining games are against non-playoff teams but the Canucks have two games in hand. They are chasing the Vegas Golden Knights who are three points ahead of them and four points behind the Stars and Predators.

Here is how the Canucks lined up for morning skate. Brock Boeser and Matthew Highmore were skating as both missed some games with injuries. They are both expected to play against Dallas.

Here is how the power play units lined up.

Boeser joked about the injury he sustained against the Golden Knights are April 3. He was accidentally hit by Elias Pettersson who was trying to hit Ben Hutton.

“I think Petey was just a little jealous that Hutty and me were battling there, so he came flying in, and he didn’t hit Hutty, he hit me instead,” said Boeser per Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650.

“They’re really important additions to our team,” said head coach Bruce Boudreau on the return of Boeser and Highmore. “They’re excited to play too. They want to be part of this.”

It looks like Thatcher Demko will get the start between the pipes for the Canucks. Boudreau is unsure if Demko wil also start Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators.

The Stars won their last game by a score of 2-1 over the San Jose Sharks.  This will be third and final meeting between these two teams. The Canucks have won the first two. Vancouver won 6-3 over Dallas at home on November 7 and won 4-1 in Dallas on March 26.

Here is how the Stars lined up for morning skate.

Players to watch

Dallas Stars- Jason Robertson: Robertson leads the Stars with 36 goals and is second on the team in points with 70 which is four behind Joe Pavelski.

Vancouver Canucks- Vasily Podkolzin: The rookie has been playing great hockey lately. Podkolzin has six points in his last five games which includes three goals.

Note the start time as puck drops at 7:30 p.m. You can watch the game on Sportsnet Pacific or listen to it on Sportsnet 650.