Don't look now, but the Vancouver Canucks (15-9-5) have lost four of their last six games, allowing four or more goals in three of those losses, and now have to face the Colorado Avalanche (18-14-0) at 7:30 p.m. at Rogers Arena on Monday night in a crucial Western Conference clash. This will be the first of three meetings between these two powerhouses this season, with the Canucks hosting the next fixture on Feb. 4.
The Canucks have a lot to prove after dropping three of the last four games they have played, including a 5-1 spanking at the hands of the Boston Bruins on Saturday night. A 5-1 loss to an underperforming team is not going to sit well at any time in the season, and as a result, the Canucks themselves are starting to become that underperforming team.
Canucks Game Lineup
Jake DeBrusk - Elias Pettersson - Max Sasson
Conor Garland - J.T. Miller - Brock Boeser
Danton Heinen - Pius Suter - Kiefer Sherwood
Dakota Joshua - Teddy Blueger - Nils Hoglander
Quinn Hughes - Noah Juulsen
Carson Soucy - Tyler Myers
Derek Forbort - Mark Friedman
Thatcher Demko is confirmed to be the Canucks starting goalie once again, facing the Avalanche in his third start of the season on Monday night. Kevin Lankinen is still ill, so Arturs Silovs will serve as Demko's understudy against Colorado.
Avalanche Game Lineup
Artturi Lehkonen - Nathan MacKinnon - Mikko Rantanen
Ross Colton - Casey Mittelstadt - Valeri Nichushkin
Joel Kiviranta - Parker Kelly - Logan O'Connor
Tye Felhaber - Ivan Ivan - Chris Wagner
Devon Toews - Cale Makar
Sam Girard - Sam Malinski
Keaton Middleton - Calvin de Haan
Mackenzie Blackwood, recently acquired from the San Jose Sharks, will make his second start of the season for the Avalanche against the Canucks on Monday night. Blackwood stopped 37 of 39 (.949%) shots for the Avalanche in a 5-2 win against the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
How to watch the Canucks game
Monday night's Canucks game will be streamed on Sportsnet Pacific and Altitude Sports Network. For fans unable to watch the Canucks game, Sportsnet 650 will be the radio broadcast available for your listening.