Canucks Gameday Preview #71: A Familiar Face Returns As Vancouver Hosts The Calgary Flames

Adam Kierszenblat

Mar 23, 2024, 08:00

Adam Kierszenblat

Mar 23, 2024, 08:00

Andrei Kuzmenko and Elias Lindholm will face off for the first time since being traded for each other.

For the third time this season, the Vancouver Canucks (44-18-8) are set to battle their Pacific Division foes, the Calgary Flames (33-30-5). With a win, Vancouver would hit the 45-win mark for the ninth time in franchise history, while a regulation win would make it impossible for the Flames to catch them in the standings. A victory would also be the Canucks 24th at home this season, which would be the most since 2014-15, when they last hosted a playoff game at Rogers Arena.

While Vancouver does have a substantial lead in the standings, this will not be an easy game for the Canucks. Calgary is fighting for their playoff lives and has come in rested, having not played since Monday. Expect plenty of emotion as these two division rivals go head to head on Hockey Night in Canada.

Players to Watch

Elias Lindholm

Elias Lindholm should be fired up to make a statement against his former team. Despite playing better as of late, he is still riding a 15-game goalless streak and only has four in 21 games with Vancouver. If he can continue to generate chances like he did against the Montréal Canadiens, he should significantly impact the game at both ends of the ice.

Andrei Kuzmenko

This will also be Andrei Kuzmenko's first opportunity to face off against the Canucks. The Flames winger has five goals and eight points in 15 games since the trade but has struggled to find a consistent spot in the lineup. Vancouver knows all too well what he is capable of and must be careful whenever he has the puck in the offensive zone.

Projected Lineup

Höglander- Pettersson- Garland

Suter- Miller- Boeser

Mikheyev- Lindholm- Lafferty

Podkolzin Blueger- Åman

Hughes- Hronek

Soucy- Myers

Zadorov- Juulsen

DeSmith

Šilovs

Odd Courtesy of BetMGM

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