AVALANCHE (18-14-0) at CANUCKS (15-9-5)

10:30 p.m. ET; SNP, ALT

I wonder if Thatcher Demko is thinking about going back on the IR? The team that has played in front of him has been below average. (You can't hold completely responsible for his 4.47 GAA and .830 save %)

The Canucks were absolutely brutal last game and tonight's opponent won't be easy either. The Avs are 5-2 in December and continue to put up a lot of goals, as they have 3 out of the the top 15 scorers in the league. The good thing for the Canucks is that the Avs still let in a lot of goals. Hopefully, the Canucks have better luck than last year, where they lost all three games.

I would like to that Elliotte Friedman for stirring up the shit on the internet by getting the "Trade Petey" portion of the schedule going. His trade idea is bad on so many levels...Petey for Byram and Cousins. Byram has past concussions and Cousins won't replace Petey's 2-way play, Oh...and it adds more money to the cap. The Canucks do need to make a trade for a defenseman as there backend was ripped apart last game. Hogs won't bring much in return, so trading one of Petey, Miller or Brock seems to be the easy way to get views on the net.

Tonight is the 13th Hockey Talks for the Canucks..(no communication company attached to it) And we always need a reminder that it's ok to admit that we all struggle. The family has had a tough 3 months and writing for NM and chatting with you always brings a smile to my face. Thanks everyone.

LINEUPS

Avalanche projected lineup

Artturi Lehkonen -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen

Ross Colton -- Casey Mittelstadt -- Valeri Nichushkin

Joel Kiviranta -- Parker Kelly -- Logan O’Connor

Tye Felhaber -- Ivan Ivan -- Chris Wagner

Devon Toews -- Cale Makar

Samuel Girard -- Sam Malinski

Keaton Middleton -- Calvin de Haan

Mackenzie Blackwood

Scott Wedgewood

Scratched: John Ludvig, Givani Smith

Injured: Josh Manson (upper body), Jonathan Drouin (upper body), Oliver Kylington (undisclosed), Gabriel Landeskog (knee), Tucker Poolman (head), Miles Wood (upper body)

Canucks projected lineup

Conor Garland -- J.T. Miller -- Brock Boeser

Jake DeBrusk -- Elias Pettersson -- Max Sasson

Danton Heinen -- Pius Suter -- Kiefer Sherwood

Dakota Joshua -- Teddy Blueger -- Nils Hoglander

Quinn Hughes -- Noah Juulsen

Carson Soucy -- Tyler Myers

Erik Brannstrom -- Vincent Desharnais

Thatcher Demko

Arturs Silovs

Scratched: Mark Friedman

Injured: Kevin Lankinen (illness), Derek Forbort (illness), Filip Hronek (upper body)

Status report

Felhaber will make his NHL debut after signing a two-year contract with the Avalanche on Sunday. … Manson, a defenseman who has missed eight games, skated with teammates Monday for the first time since he was injured Nov. 29 and could return during Colorado’s three-game road trip. … Forbort, a defenseman, and Lankinen, a goalie, will miss a second straight game. … The Canucks changed all four forward lines after a 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday. They also swapped Myers and Juulsen on defense, and Desharnais will replace Friedman, a defenseman, after being scratched for two games.

GAME DAY CHATTER

“[When] you play great players, you got to make sure you pay attention to the details.”

🗣 Hear from Head Coach Rick Tocchet ahead of Monday night's game against Colorado.#Canucks | @theprovince pic.twitter.com/gBjLjtXlNa

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 16, 2024

"Focus on the things that make us successful."

🗣 Quinn Hughes speaks on the team staying focused on what they can control ahead of tonight's game against the Avalanche.#Canucks | @theprovince pic.twitter.com/JxKmRJee4B

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 16, 2024

GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN

My wife and I play a game in the car called, "Name that band." She is far better with some of the electronic/ synthesiser era, but this 90s "grunge" group always stumps her as they only had this song. Temple of the Dog had two of the main voices of the 90s in one song....and my wife never remembers their name.

Go Canucks Go!