Vancouver Canucks (27-28-8 – 64 Pts) @ Colorado Avalanche (27-24-12 – 66 Pts)
Tonight at 6:30 PST two clubs desperate for a regulation win square off in Denver when the Vancouver Canucks face the Colorado Avalanche. Going into this game both clubs find themselves on the outside looking in at the Playoffs, as currently the Dallas Stars (67 Pts) hold the final Wildcard position.
This is the third and final meeting between the clubs this season, and the Canucks have an opportunity to sweep the season series. Arguably, two of the most exciting games of the year for Canucks fans have come at the expense of the Avalanche, winning a wild 7-6 OT game on November 2, in the Elias Pettersson coming out party, where the clear cut Calder Trophy favorite tied the game late and received an assist and a 5th point on Derrick Pouliots game winner in overtime. Their last meeting came three months later, when a healthy Canucks team coming off of the All Star break received quick first period road goals from ‘Shotgun’ Jake Virtanen and Brock Boeser to a relatively comfortable 5-1 victory.
What Canuck fans may want to forget is that immediately following both of these victories came 10 game stretches where Vancouver was only able to skate away with one and two wins respectively. Those two stretches of three wins in 20 games are exactly why the Canucks find themselves on the outside looking in, with 6 points needed to catch the last playoff spot and 19 games remaining.
In the two games vs. Colorado the Canucks fired 26 shots at Phillip Grubauer and 37 shots at Semyon Varlamov, for a 2 game total of 63, while scoring 12 goals. Elias Petterson is the leading point getter in the season series (2-4-6) and the power play is 3 for 6. The Avalanche have managed to shoot 35 and 29 shots at Jacob Markstrom, for a 2 game total of 64, while scoring 7 goals. Nathan MacKinnon (2-1-3) and Mikko Rantanen (0-3-3) are the co-leaders in the season series.
Injuries – Vancouver – Sven Baertschi, Brandon Sutter, Chris Tanev and Jake Virtanen are all still out. Alex Edler has traveled with the team but will not play tonight. Adam Gaudette is ill and will not play tonight. Colorado – Ian Cole, Vladislav Kemenev, Matt Nieto, Connor Timmins and Colin Wilson are all on the injured list and unable to play.
Expected Canuck Lines
Spooner – Horvat – Leivo
Pearson – Pettersson – Boeser
Roussel – Granlund – Goldobin
Eriksson – Beagle – Motte
Hutton – Stecher // Pouliot – Biega // Sautner – Schenn
Markstrom vs Varlamov in goal (Projected)
Thoughts on this game? The postseason turtle derby in the West? Reach out in the comments or on Twitter
@RayRay3322
