10 p.m. ET; SNP, FDSNSO
The Canucks look to extend their 1 game home win streak to 2. Dare to dream!
While Westy was probably correct about not firing the coach this week, we're still on low alert to see if we need to fire any players.
Can they still do that? [Researches NHLPA] No, they can't. Despite the incredible power that our billionaire overlords exert in the world of hockey and beyond, we fans are powerless to crowdfund instant on-ice firings. Or we would have done that a week ago.
No morning skate for the #Canucks today on the second half of the back-to-back. Pre-game at 6, puck drop at 7 on @sportsnet650.bsky.social!
— Brendan Batchelor (@batchhockey.bsky.social) November 17, 2024 at 12:12 PM
Last night's game, especially, last night's home win was a big improvement over the Keystone Kops loss on Thursday. Tonight the Nucks play in uncharted territory. It's their 1st Back-To-Back game of the season.
Expect tonight's opponent to be a tougher out as the Preds probably feel they have some unfinished business. Not all the Preds... because Huggie won't have Sherwood hounding him. And for former-Pred, Lankinen, tonight's game could be one of those 'you shoulda' games. At least we hope it will be.
Tonight the Nucks can accomplish something amazing. Something they haven't been able to do all season... deliver a 2 game home win streak.
But, we're not there yet. Be good if the Nucks could start the game 15-20 minutes early, rather than in the 2nd period and drop the fresh turnover count into single digits. Technically, accomplishing both those things is a possibility. Not probable, but still.
LINEUPS
Predators projected lineup
Filip Forsberg -- Ryan O’Reilly -- Gustav Nyquist
Jonathan Marchesssault -- Tommy Novak -- Steven Stamkos
Luke Evangelista -- Colton Sissons -- Jusso Parssinen
Cole Smith -- Michael McCarron -- Zachary L’Heureux
Brady Skjei -- Roman Josi
Jeremy Lauzon -- Alexandre Carrier
Marc Del Gaizo -- Luke Schenn
Juuse Saros
Scott Wedgewood
Scratched: Mark Jankowski, Adam Wilsby, Philip Tomasino
Injured: None
Canucks projected lineup
Pius Suter -- J.T. Miller -- Jonathan Lekkerimaki
Jake DeBrusk -- Elias Pettersson -- Kiefer Sherwood
Dakota Joshua -- Teddy Blueger -- Conor Garland
Danton Heinen -- Aatu Raty -- Nils Hoglander
Quinn Hughes -- Filip Hronek
Carson Soucy -- Tyler Myers
Erik Brannstrom -- Noah Juulsen
Kevin Lankinen
Arturs Silovs
Scratched: None
Injured: Vincent Desharnais (undisclosed), Brock Boeser (upper body), Derek Forbort (lower body), Thatcher Demko (lower body)
Status report
Novak will return after missing six games with an upper-body injury. … Predators coach Andrew Brunette said he would make other changes to his forward lines but other than Nyquist moving up to the top line and Stamkos moving down, Brunette didn’t specify after the morning skate. ... The Canucks did not have a morning skate, but Lankinen is expected to start against his former team after Silovs made 28 saves in a 4-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.
GAME DAY CHATTER
We're lucky to get even some luke warm chatter. It's Grey Cup Day in Vancouver. I know, most every November day in Vancouver is grey and soggy. But, today it's grey across the country as the Grey Cup is being played for. Not by the BC Lions, because... reasons... football reasons that this hockey fan has no comprehension of.
Nashville Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks get refs Gord Dwyer (#19) and Brandon Schrader (#34) with Mitchell Hunt (#62) and Scott Cherrey (#50) on lines
Today’s NHL Referees and Linespersons – 11/17/24@PredsNHL @Canucks #Smashville #Canucks #NSHvsVAN
[image or embed]— Scouting the Refs (@scoutingtherefs.bsky.social) November 17, 2024 at 10:37 AM
Just listened to my dad rant about the nhl schedule with the Canucks playing a home game at the same time as the cfl grey cup is being played in Vancouver. As he said “can you imagine what downtown is going to be like”. All I could think of was the skytrain and bathroom lineups. Stay safe Vancouver
— Author: Paul Smith (@paulsmithbooks.bsky.social) November 17, 2024 at 8:37 AM
GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN
If we and the Nucks are serious about this game, then we need to go for Baroque. Nucks need to stick to their classical theme of hard-to-play against and tough along the bow.
Elinor and Shirley can inspire with a classic theme themselves.
Go Canucks Go!