New Era Nucks lingering around the big apple to prove again - they're big enough to play - win or lose.

7 p.m. ET; MSGSN, NHLN, SN

CANUCKS (13-17-3) at ISLANDERS (19-12-3)

So here we are. Canucks with a TWO game win streak and a Top 3 pick on the line. Maybe.

Even if this team of intrigue manages to remain non-competitive and extend their stay in the basement into April, unlikely the Gary and Bill show would allow them to win the lotto. Not saying the NHL draft is rigged - the predictable spin of the draw over the years speaks for itself.

With the dim possibility of drafting 1st overall getting dimmer all the time, thank Demmers, we can just enjoy winning or losing for the fun of it.

Not much of a reunion this game, as our old Bo is injured. Petey is still malingering. It's another goalie duel in New York. Fine. It's still all about New York. Last season's #1 pick is already a 1st pair phenom. Yay for picking 1st, I guess.

Whatever. We don't care. At least we're out of the Quinnsota media noise storm. We're just another unimportant Canadian NHL team serving the non-monopolistic needs of this league of billionaire playthings.

GAME DAY CHATTER

Horvat out. Barzal game time decision. Too bad Petey isn't playing. Playoff odds are up to 11.5%. Odds of finishing last down to 8.9%. First full game watching Schaefer. He is gonna get his Sherwood initiation. Demko Sorokin. Best goalie wins this one. #Canucks

— DJTaxman77 (@taxman77.bsky.social) December 19, 2025 at 10:18 AM

Interesting stat... couple new Canucks on the same trajectory... separated only by years and years.

#Canucks — milestone post 👇

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— Hockey Game Bot (@hockeygamebot.com) December 19, 2025 at 7:00 AM

GAME DAY LINEUPS

Canucks projected lineup

Conor Garland -- Marco Rossi -- Brock Boeser

Nils Hoglander -- David Kampf -- Jake DeBrusk

Evander Kane -- Max Sasson -- Kiefer Sherwood

Liam Ohgren -- Drew O'Connor -- Linus Karlsson

Marcus Pettersson -- Filip Hronek

Zeev Buium -- Tyler Myers

Elias Pettersson -- Tom Willander

Thatcher Demko

Kevin Lankinen

Scratched: P.O Joseph, Aatu Raty

Injured: Elias Pettersson (upper body), Filip Chytil (concussion protocol), Teddy Blueger (lower body), Derek Forbort (undisclosed)

Islanders projected lineup

Emil Heineman -- Mathew Barzal -- Jonathan Drouin

Anders Lee -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Simon Holmstrom

Anthony Duclair -- Calum Ritchie -- Maxim Shabanov

Kyle MacLean -- Casey Cizikas -- Marc Gatcomb

Matthew Schaefer -- Ryan Pulock

Adam Pelech -- Tony DeAngelo

Adam Boqvist -- Scott Mayfield

Ilya Sorokin

David Rittich

Scratched: Maxim Tsyplakov, Marshall Warren

Injured: Bo Horvat (lower body), Kyle Palmieri (ACL), Alexander Romanov (upper body), Semyon Varlamov (knee), Ethan Bear (upper body)

Status report

Elias Pettersson, a forward, is unlikely to play. … Arshdeep Bains cleared waivers on Thursday and the forward was loaned to Abbotsford of the American Hockey League. … Warren was recalled from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League on Tuesday but the defenseman is not expected to play. … Barzal missed the morning skate because of maintenance, but will take warmups. … Horvat skated Friday morning but the forward will not play. He was injured during a 5-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 11.

GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN

With lotto odds whirling around our faux controversies, we spin the YT dial, get back to basics to find out if one talented player alone, can deliver.

Fuck the fascists and broligarchs! Go Canucks Go!