GOLDEN KNIGHTS (35-26-16) at CANUCKS (22-46-8)

10 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNP, SCRIPPS

If this was a 'normal' Nucks season and having been beaten by Vegas a week ago on the strip, the Nucks would be seeking some payback. Maybe they will tonight. Play the spoiler to keep the Knighties out of the playoffs. Or maybe they just want to collect their pay cheques and forget a most forgettable season.

Such a clusternuck of a season, we're looking forward to a clean sweep of management and coaching.... and yet... maybe Franny having heard about the joys of owning a cap floor team, doesn't want to pay for a coach to not coach. Although, he already did that this season.

While it will be good to see the young Nucks get more ice in the remaining games, we're looking forward to May 5th. When the Nucks, having locked up last place for the first time in franchise history, discover it's really lotto day in Florida.

We'll have a few months to ponder how the Canucks will screw up the hard-earned 3rd overall pick.

Oh well... soon enough this miserable season will be over and we can look forward to the misery of next season's battle of the basement. Exciting!

Game Day Chatter

Keep Footey? B-b-but haven't we lost enough?

Coaching hires don't always work out. Happens in every sport. Sometimes, it's best to move on, especially when the organization has a coach in the minors who is ready to be promoted. In the #Canucks case, keeping Foote means most likely losing Malhotra.

— Adam Kierszenblat (@adamkblat.bsky.social) April 7, 2026 at 1:03 PM

I swear to god if this happens after fucking around letting Tank Commander Foote drive off the cliff I will do something drastic #Canucks

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— firstname lastname (@jc-roper.bsky.social) April 7, 2026 at 12:47 PM

Our goal now is to get Vegas out of a playoff spot. #ATeamLikeThat #Canucks #IHoldGrudges 💙💚🏒🤓

— 🇨🇦Cathy Canucks(🇬🇱🇺🇦) (@cathyrd.bsky.social) April 7, 2026 at 12:20 PM

The Canucks are guaranteed last place unless Gary bettman decides to change the rules again, ala Roberto Luongo. In the meantime we await the nhl draft lottery on May 5th. #Canucks #Luongo

— 🇨🇦 🍁🇨🇦 Genes Is Grateful 🇨🇦 🍁🇨🇦 (@creativewaves.bsky.social) April 7, 2026 at 1:12 PM

Footey has broken Lanky and now it's time for Tolo to shine.

Game Day Lineups

Golden Knights projected lineup

Brett Howden -- Jack Eichel -- Pavel Dorofeyev

Ivan Barbashev -- Mitch Marner -- Mark Stone

Brandon Saad -- Tomas Hertl -- Colton Sissons

Cole Smith -- Nic Dowd -- Keegan Kolesar

Brayden McNabb -- Shea Theodore

Noah Hanifin -- Rasmus Andersson

Jeremy Lauzon -- Ben Hutton

Carter Hart

Adin Hill

Scratched: Akira Schmid, Kaedan Korczak, Reilly Smith

Injured: Alexander Holtz (upper body), William Karlsson (lower body)

Canucks projected lineup

Drew O’Connor -- Elias Pettersson -- Jake DeBrusk

Liam Ohgren -- Marco Rossi -- Brock Boeser

Max Sasson -- Teddy Blueger -- Linus Karlsson

Curtis Douglas -- Aatu Raty -- Nils Hoglander

Zeev Buium -- Filip Hronek

Marcus Pettersson -- Tom Willander

Elias Nils Pettersson -- Victor Mancini

Nikita Tolopilo

Jiri Patera

Scratched: Ty Mueller, P.O. Joseph

Injured: Kevin Lankinen (upper body), Evander Kane (undisclosed), Filip Chytil (facial fracture), Thatcher Demko (hip surgery), Derek Forbort (undisclosed)

Status report

The Golden Knights held an optional morning skate but based on participation, it appears Reilly Smith, a forward, and Korczak, a defenseman, will come out for Hutton, who has been scratched 17 of the past 19 games, and Saad, who has been scratched for 13 games. ... Hart will make his third straight start since returning Apr. 2 from a lower-body injury that kept him out almost three months. … Lankinen is day to day after the goalie was a late scratch for a 7-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Saturday. … Kane is day to day; the forward played Saturday after missing the previous two games with an injury coach Adam Foote said he has been battling through for a couple of weeks; Hoglander will replace him in the lineup. ... Chytil, who has been out since being hit in the face by a shot during a Feb. 18 practice, could rejoin practice before the season ends, but Foote indicated the forward won’t play any games.

Game Day Battle Hymn

As this dreadful season winds down with sounds of our whines wavering in exhaustion... let's get symphonic!

F*uck the war mongering fascists and enjoy the game. As best you can.