Canucks Gameday Preview #59: Wrapping Up A Back-To-Back Against The Ducks

The Vancouver Canucks (27-20-11) wrap up their California back-to-back on Thursday with a matchup against the Anaheim Ducks (25-25-7). This will be the second meeting between these two Pacific Division rivals, with the Canucks taking the first matchup 5-1 earlier this year. With a victory, Vancouver would stay above the playoff bar for another night while also putting additional space between themselves and the Ducks.

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It will be intriguing to see how Rick Tocchet organizes his lineup on Thursday. Against the L.A. Kings on Wednesday, the Canucks elected to use 11 forwards and seven defensemen in order to insulate Hughes during his return. With potentially no Tyler Myers after he took a puck to the neck Wednesday, Vancouver could roll out a similar formation against Anaheim. 

Players to Watch:

Artūrs Šilovs:

After Kevin Lankinen picked up the win on Wednesday, Artūrs Šilovs is the projected starter for Thursday's game. The Latvian goaltender will be looking to build off his strong performance against the Utah Hockey Club on Sunday when he stopped 30 of the 32 shots he faced. If Šilovs can hold down the fort on Thursday, it will go a long way in showing he can be a reliable backup at the NHL level. 

Mason McTavish:

One of the many young stars on this Ducks team is Mason McTavish. Now in his third full season, he is developing into a good shutdown center who can also contribute to the power play. An annoying player to play against, McTavish should see plenty of ice time against the Canucks top six. 

Vancouver Canucks (27-20-11):
Last 10: 6-3-1

Quinn Hughes: 14-46-60
Conor Garland: 16-20-36
Jake DeBrusk: 21-14-35
Brock Boeser: 18-17-35
Elias Pettersson: 11-24-35

Anaheim Ducks (25-25-7):
Last 10: 7-2-1

Troy Terry: 16-26-42
Frank Vatrano: 17-15-32
Ryan Strome: 8-23-31
Mason McTavish: 14-15-29
Jackson LaCombe: 9-9-28

Game Information:

Start Time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Honda Center
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650

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