BLUE JACKETS (11-11-3) at CANUCKS (13-7-4)

10 p.m. ET; SNP, FDSNOH

The storyline tonight is DEMKO.....DEMKO....DEMKO!!!!

And yet, Demko will be on the bench.....not scoring goals.

The bigger story for me is Rutherford coming out his cave to tell reporters to back the fuck off. I think this front office still has some issues with communication, but they seem to circle the wagons to protect players. The last line of the NHL.COM update below says JT Miller will be back practicing soon. I think Rutherford's words should end any of the trade talk.

I will say this about Canucks media relations, they do like to spin a yarn.

Hockey is a game of speed and skill, but it’s also a game of sacrifice, and Noah Juulsen lays it on the line for the #Canucks.

Juulsen has carved out a niche as one of the league’s most fearless shot blockers.

FEATURE READ | https://t.co/RPnY5cKn03 pic.twitter.com/Nv8se8UFhY

— Canucks Insider (@CanucksInsider) December 6, 2024

I want to point out that Juulsen wouldn't have to block so many shots if the puck could stay out of the Canucks end.

The Canucks face a Blue Jackets team that will be on an emotional roller coaster ride all year. They are an average team that have below average special teams and can't win on the road.

Sounds like a game where the Canucks forget to show up.

Hopefully Petey can get Brock going and maybe tell Jake to score a goal at home for once.

LINEUPS

Blue Jackets projected lineup

Dmitri Voronkov -- Sean Monahan -- Kirill Marchenko

Cole Sillinger -- Adam Fantilli -- Kent Johnson

James Van Riemsdyk -- Sean Kuraly -- Kevin Lablanc

Zach Werenski -- Dante Fabbro

Ivan Provorov -- Damon Severson

Jake Christiansen -- Jordan Harris

Elvis Merzlikins

Daniil Tarasov

Scratched: Jack Johnson, Mikael Pyyhtia

Injured: Yegor Chinakhov (upper body)

Canucks projected lineup

Jake DeBrusk -- Elias Pettersson -- Brock Boeser

Dakota Joshua -- Pius Suter -- Conor Garland

Nils Hoglander -- Teddy Blueger -- Kiefer Sherwood

Max Sasson -- Aatu Raty -- Danton Heinen

Quinn Hughes -- Tyler Myers

Carson Soucy -- Noah Juulsen

Erik Brannstrom -- Vincent Desharnais

Kevin Lankinen

Thatcher Demko

Scratched: Arturs Silovs, Mark Friedman

Injured: Filip Hronek (upper body), Derek Forbort (lower body)

Status report

Columbus did not have a full morning skate, but Merzlikins is expected to start after Tarasov made 31 saves in a 6-3 loss at the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. … Pyyhtia, a forward, was in the lineup in Edmonton in place of Van Riemsdyk but it appears they will swap places against the Canucks. … Demko is backing up for the first time this season, the first time he's dressed for a game since sustaining a knee injury in in the Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 21. … Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said top-line forward J.T. Miller, who has missed seven games since taking a leave of absence for personal reasons on Nov. 19, has been skating on his own and will rejoin the team at practice "in the near future."

GAME DAY CHATTER

"[Demko's] a leader on this team....contagious to me the hard work he does. The young guys see how dedicated he is. That really helps our locker room.”

🗣 Coach Tocchet speaks on Demko returning to backup today, what to expect against Columbus and more.#Canucks | @theprovince pic.twitter.com/bNCZ4HRGMH

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 6, 2024

“It’s really hard to make a team like that and be able to do it with my brother, it’s going to be special.”

🗣 Quinn Hughes speaks on making USA's 4 Nations team, how he feels about his own game this year, and more.#Canucks | @theprovince pic.twitter.com/FP63ZEnIAM

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 6, 2024

GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN

I leave this here to appease the masses of old metal heads....bang thy heads

Go Canucks Go!