Photo by Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Canucks Gameday Preview #24: Vancouver Takes On Vegas In Battle Of Pacific Division Leaders
The Vancouver Canucks (15-7-1) wrap up their November schedule tonight as they take on the defending Stanley Cup Champion, The Vegas Golden Knights (14-5-4). This divisional matchup will pin the two top teams in the Pacific against each other, with the winner holding down the top spot as we enter December. Losers of three straight expect a strong effort from Vegas as they try to get back on track against a Vancouver team they have owned since coming into the league.
One question heading into tonight will be can the Canucks continue to dominate on home ice. So far this season, they are a league-best 8-1-1 and have outscored their opponents 42-18. Facing a Vegas team they have struggled to beat at Rogers Arena; they will need a strong effort from the entire lineup if they want to pick up win number nine at home this season.
Vancouver will get a little bit of a break tonight, as Vegas will be without defencemen Shea Theodore and Alec Martinez. Theodore suffered an upper-body injury on November 22 that required surgery, while Martinez sustained a lower-body injury on November 19 and did not join the team on the road. With the injuries, expect big minutes from Alex Pietrangelo, who played 28:20 in the Golden Knights' most recent overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
Players to Watch
Jonathan Marchessault
It is safe to say that Jonathan Marchessault loves playing the Canucks. In 18 career regular-season games, he has 20 career points and has at least one point in three of the last four games he has played against Vancouver. While last year's Conn Smythe winner is off to a slow start this season, he has started to find his groove with six points in his last five games and would love once again to find the back of the net against Vancouver.
The Canucks will need another big game from J.T. Miller if they want to walk away with the victory. Not only will he need to be strong defensively as he looks to shut down the Golden Knights' top players, but he also will be looked upon to provide a spark offensively on the power play. As a leader for Vancouver, expect him to surpass the 20-minute mark once again, as he has in the last two games.
Potential Lines
Mikheyev-Pettersson-Kuzmenko
Di Giuseppe-Miller-Boeser
Joshua-Blueger-Garland
Höglander-Åman-Lafferty.
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Game Information
Start Time: 7:00 pm PT
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
