The Canucks head into the CoTU For The Most Important Game In the Universe.
7 p.m. ET; SN and all across the universe.
This is the biggest test yet on the biggest stage in the hockey-verse. Leafs gotta be feeling the pressure.
During the constant CoTU coverage on the Sportynet, heard a statement from the post-post game CoTU/Cowtown tilt - which Leafs barely won. The statement will shock even the most circumspect of NM. The most important hockey commenter said, "Leafs will have to bring it up even another notch if they want to hang with Vancouver".
Confirmed. Nucks are the hottest team in Canada. This could get ugly. Between periods on HNIC. The Most Important Hockey Broadcast in the Universe and sponsor/co-owner of the most important team in hockey.
Nucks are rolling through Ontario with a 5 game win streak. Which they must extend to 7 games to match the Bruce Bounce way back when a 7 game Nucks win streak was the stuff of gripping hockey fiction.
Tough Taco has kept the Nucks confident, but humble and accountable during this fastest, winningest start to a season in Nucks history. It almost seems the Nucks players are keeping themselves accountable as well. Hard to tell, since we haven't seen personal accountability on the Nucks roster since... ummm... since... let's call the NM personnel accountant.
Canucks projected lineup
Andrei Kuzmenko -- Elias Pettersson -- Ilya Mikheyev
Phillip Di Giuseppe -- J.T. Miller -- Brock Boeser
Dakota Joshua -- Pius Suter -- Conor Garland
Anthony Beauvillier -- Sam Lafferty -- Nils Hoglander
Quinn Hughes -- Filip Hronek
Ian Cole -- Mark Friedman
Carson Soucy -- Tyler Myers
Casey DeSmith
Thatcher Demko
Scratched: Noah Juulsen, Jack Studnicka
Injured: Teddy Blueger (foot), Guillaume Brisebois (concussion)
Maple Leafs projected lineup
Matthew Knies -- Auston Matthews -- Mitchell Marner
Tyler Bertuzzi -- John Tavares -- William Nylander
Nicholas Robertson -- Max Domi -- Calle Jarnkrok
Noah Gregor -- David Kampf -- Bobby McMann
Morgan Rielly -- TJ Brodie
Mark Giordano -- Jake McCabe
William Lagesson -- John Klingberg
Ilya Samsonov
Joseph Woll
Scratched: Simon Benoit, Ryan Reaves
Injured: Conor Timmins (lower body), Timothy Liljegren (lower body)
Leafs have allowed 4 or more goals at home to start the season. We're fine with that trend. We're also just fine with the Tough Taco Nucks blowing out the CoTU - for one night on a Saturday afternoon.
The Canucks top players are playing in peak form. All the players, actually. Haven't seen a passenger game from any of them - at least this month. Sure, they have had some fluffed plays, but their puck-hounding recovery - best forecheck in the league - soon makes amends.
The Nucks will need their Tough Taco discipline to face an imperious rival. HNIC coverage. We only have the mute button and rum.
Game Day Battle Hymn
Chase The Bear is a Vancouver Indie band no one has heard in the CoTU. Never heard of the Canucks either. Until this season.
Go Coconuts Go!
