Tuesday March 27 - Vancouver Canucks vs. Anaheim Ducks - 7 p.m. - Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet 650
Vancouver Canucks: 76 GP, 27-40-9, 63 pts, 29th overall Anaheim Ducks: 76 GP, 39-24-13, 81 pts, third in Pacific Division
The Vancouver Canucks return to Rogers Arena after the Juno Awards to face a motivated opponent in the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.
The Ducks currently hold down third place in the Pacific Division, but that's only by virtue of a game-in-hand over the Los Angeles Kings. The two SoCal teams are tied with 91 points—and L.A. holds the tiebreaker with five more regulation/overtime wins. Right behind, Colorado's in the second wild card with 90 points and St. Louis is pressing with 89. And don't ignore Minnesota, sitting third in the Central with 93.
One of those teams will be on the outside at the end of next week. Literally every point counts, which is why Randy Carlyle successfully deployed a 3-on-3 strategy against the Oilers on Sunday that has infuriated many hockey purists.
If the season trends continue, Carlyle shouldn't need to put too much thought into what it might take to leave Rogers Arena with two points. Anaheim is 3-0-0 against Vancouver so far this year and has outscored the Canucks 12-1 overall, with Ryan Miller and John Gibson each recording a shutout in the teams' two most recent meetings.
The only player to earn a point against Anaheim this year? Sven Baertschi, on an unassisted goal at the Honda Center back in November.
Considering all the injury issues they've dealt with this season, the Ducks are getting healthy at the right time. Other than Patrick Eaves, who has been out all year with an illness, the only other Anaheim player currently on the injured list is Kevin Bieksa, who has had surgery to get some scar tissue cleared out of his hand. Presumably, the surgery has been timed to ensure that he'll be ready for the playoffs. I guess those Superman Punches leave some residual damage?
Around Vancouver, all the talk has been about Adam Gaudette since he signed his first NHL contract on Monday. The Ducks have harvested a college free agent of their own—2017 NCAA champ and 2018 U.S. Olympian Troy Terry. After three seasons at the University of Denver, the 20-year-old center inked his entry-level deal on Monday. Nothing's official yet, but there is a chance he might make his NHL debut tonight.
As for Gaudette, if this video is any indication (after a long day and a long flight, no less), he won't be at a loss for words very often!
An emotional whirlwind. Two flights and 10 hours later, @Hockey_Gaud arrives in Vancouver to begin his @NHL career. pic.twitter.com/ZV905ijSuI
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 27, 2018
I wonder if he slept at all through the excitement? He was on the ice this morning for the game-day skate.
8ï¸âƒ£8ï¸âƒ£ in the house! pic.twitter.com/titNKujHd5
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 27, 2018
Also skating this morning, injured forwards Brendan Gaunce and Brandon Leipsic, although they're not expected to play.
Gaudette, Leipsic & Gaunce all staying out on ice after group. So looks like same forward group for #Canucks tonight
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) March 27, 2018
We won't get to see Gaudette tonight, but Ashton Sautner should be making his Rogers Arena debut on the blue line.
Source - “No surprise, I’m hearing Tanev won’t play again this season. Shutting him down.… #Canucks
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) March 27, 2018
Sounds like Ben Hutton is getting closer, but still not ready to return to action:
Ben Hutton is skating by himself at Rogers Arena ahead of the Canucks morning skate
— Satiar Shah (@SatiarShah) March 27, 2018
It was reassuring to see Hutton and Brock Boeser sitting together in the stands at Rogers Arena for the Junos on Sunday. Good to know that Brock is up and about.
Exactly one year after making his debut in a Canucks uniform, Boeser got some love from Junos host Michael Buble in the show's intro segment:
BUBLE WAS LOOKING AT HIMSELF THROUGH THE MIRROR AND THE PERSON STARING BACK WAS BOESER 😂😂😂ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘👠#JUNOS pic.twitter.com/lPSDc0O4Ih
— ameena87 (@Canuckgirl20) March 26, 2018
A very Canadian moment for the kid from Minnesota!
A couple of other Canucks notes to wrap:
Congratulations Derek Dorsett on being nominated for the Bill Masterton Trophy, given to those who demonstrate perseverance and commitment to the game of hockey. 👊 pic.twitter.com/Uc7QFXElrU
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 27, 2018
Dorsett's career may be over now, but he earned this commendation by coming back to play this season after serious neck surgery—and by giving his all every time he stepped onto the ice. It seems like so long ago now, but Dorsett was an inspiring story during that first month this year.
And finally, I see this as a 'just-in-case.' As far as I can remember, the Canucks have never had a bobblehead night, but they are bestowing the honour on the twins:
Reminder: IT'S HENRIK SEDIN BOBBLEHEAD NIGHT!
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 27, 2018
Limited edition collectible presented to the first 8,000 fans into @RogersArena; doors open at 5:30 pm. pic.twitter.com/RrBkk3ccAs
Daniel's night will be April 3, when the Canucks face the playoff-bound Vegas Golden Knights.
Enjoy the game!