7 p.m. ET; BSSUN, SNP
Soft....nice and soft.
The Canucks will likely continue to hear that theme from their coach after they play games like they did on Tuesday. 42 shots against and a powerplay that couldn't get settled. Eastern teams against the Canucks has been my pet peeve this offseason. I realize that only playing a team twice will leave a lot of unknowns when they do meet....and it's early in the season so it might be hard to summarize how Eastern teams play, but fuck....the Canucks have to have someone watching these teams ahead of time to give some sort of scouting report to have a better game plan.
The second period was a disaster all the way around. Shots 22-3. End of discussion.
Tonight the Canucks head into Tampa Bay to try and shut me up about their shitty eastern record. Good luck though, as the Lightning have beat the Canucks six in a row, going back to the 18-19 season. If there was some possible bright news, it would be the injury faeries like the city of Tampa and have decided to touch Stamkos and Vasilevsky and give the Canucks a fighting chance.
I think we are trying to figure out the team we have this year. I wish Garland would be gone as soon as possible so that the the top lines could be set and get some time together. I hope there is more defensive help coming back in return as a platoon style d-core might be better after watching Myers struggle again. Beau is also taking heat as he hasn't done much offensively.
Game day questions with the new guy and Taco.
Canucks projected lineup
Andrei Kuzmenko -- Elias Pettersson -- Conor Garland
Phillip Di Giuseppe -- J.T. Miller -- Brock Boeser
Dakota Joshua -- Pius Suter -- Anthony Beauvillier
Nils Hoglander -- Sam Lafferty -- Jack Studnicka
Quinn Hughes -- Filip Hronek
Ian Cole -- Tyler Myers why?
Carson Soucy -- Noah Juulsen
Thatcher Demko
Casey DeSmith
Scratched: Mark Friedman ?
Injured: Ilya Mikheyev (knee), Teddy Blueger (lower-body bruise), Guillaume Brisebois (undisclosed)
Lightning projected lineup
Alex Barre-Boulet -- Brayden Point -- Nikita Kucherov
Steven Stamkos -- Anthony Cirelli -- Brandon Hagel
Tanner Jeannot -- Nicholas Paul -- Waltteri Merela
Conor Sheary -- Luke Glendening -- Michael Eyssimont
Victor Hedman -- Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev -- Darren Raddysh
Calvin de Haan -- Nick Perbix
Jonas Johansson
Matt Tomkins
Scratched: Haydn Fleury, Austin Watson
Injured: Andrei Vasilevskiy (back surgery); Tyler Motte (hand)
Status report
Pettersson will play after missing practice Wednesday for body maintenance. ... Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said more lineup changes were possible. ... Demko will start after making 40 saves in a 2-0 loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. ... Vancouver recalled Friedman from Abbotsford of the American Hockey League on Wednesday and sent down defenseman Akito Hirose. ... Motte, a forward, could be out two more weeks, according to Lightning coach Jon Cooper. - NHL.COM
Game Day Battle Hymn
This part of the preview might be the one area that most of us won't agree with on this blog. Musical taste is something that ferments over many years and memories. I know Kent and I both love music....just not the same type. Having said that, I now share with you a non-Canadian act. Some of you may have heard of this guy. I chose the guy and the song because I want the Canucks to play with the same energy as the guy and the song.
Go Coconuts Go!