Tuesday January 10 - Vancouver Canucks at Nashville Predators - 5 p.m. - Sportsnet Pacific
Vancouver Canucks: 42 GP, 20-19-3, 43 pts, sixth in Pacific Division Nashville Predators: 40 GP, 17-16-7, 41 pts, sixth in Central Division
Chris Tanev will be back in the lineup as the Vancouver Canucks get back to work against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday in Music City.
Tanev was knocked out of last Friday's game against Calgary after being hit by a puck in his upper back, an injury that has been described as possibly affecting his ribs.
After missing Saturday's game at the Saddledome, Tanev took part in the optional morning skate on Monday in Vancouver and travelled to Nashville with the team.
Tanev will play vs. Predators. "He's a key guy for us and rounds out our defence core," said coach Desjardins.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 10, 2017
This is definitely good news. Vancouver's record is excellent this season when both Tanev and Alex Edler are in the lineup. The team was 4-2-1 with both players before Edler returned from his hand injury in late December, then rattled off their six straight wins to push that number to 10-2-1.
Tanev and Edler's earlier injuries also look like they play a part in Vancouver's abysmal road record this season. The Canucks are a grim 5-13-1 away from Rogers Arena so far this year, but both players appeared in just four of those 19 games—early-season losses to Anaheim and Montreal and an overtime loss in Los Angeles, and the impressive New Year's Eve win in Edmonton, in their current roles on different pairings.
The bad news—Ben Hutton has stayed behind, still dealing with an injury of his own after blocking a shot with his hand in last Friday's game against the Flames.
Hutton will be out for a bit, won't be making the trip, said coach Desjardins.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 9, 2017
Andrey Pedan has now been recalled from Utica and is with the team in Nashville. He took the morning skate today but it's expected that Alex Biega will once again draw into the third pairing with Nikita Tryamkin.
Up front, the lines look the same as Saturday night in Calgary.
VAN forward lines at morning skate in NSH: 22-33-21, 47-53-14, 60-20-46, 50-45-9
— Dave Tomlinson (@DTSN1040) January 10, 2017
The other big news from the forward ranks—21-year-old Bo Horvat will represent the Canucks as part of the Pacific Division team at this year's All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
Horvat will become youngest #Canucks player to appear in an All-Star Game since Trevor Linden in 1991.
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) January 10, 2017
Leading the Canucks in goals (13) and points (29), Horvat has taken a giant leap forward this season. Take a look at how nicely he's trending upward in his three NHL seasons:
2014-15: 68 GP, 13-12-25, minus-8 2015-16: 82 GP, 16-24-40, minus-30 2016-17: 42 GP, 13-16-29, plus-2
That nasty plus-minus from last season is now a thing of the past, and he's on pace to hit 25 goals and 56 points this season—definitely at the high end of most preseason projections.
It's easy to see in this video that the selection means a lot to Horvat—he's trying suppress a smile while he talks!
Hey now, Bo's an All-Star! pic.twitter.com/8R5Run2isQ
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 10, 2017
I guess Bo won't have any trouble springing for plane tickets for his family to join him at the festivities.
With their All-Star selections, the following 4 players have earned 'A' bonuses of $212,500:
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) January 10, 2017
Matthews TOR
Laine WPG
McDavid EDM
Horvat VAN
This isn't going to be the first time he costs the Canucks some money. If there's a downside to Horvat's success this season, it's the added pressure the Canucks will face when negotiating his new contract for next season. Seems like his asking price could be going up with every passing day!
The three-on-three All-Star Game was a blast to watch last year, and the Pacific Division is the reigning champion. The group from the Pacific will also have home-ice advantage at Staples Center this year.
Bo should have some fun skating with this group!
The Pacific Division #NHLAllStar roster.
— NHL (@NHL) January 10, 2017
Captain: @cmcdavid97
Complete details: https://t.co/JOaCNcuaJX pic.twitter.com/HQVQtR6Aka
It's not completely unprecedented for the Canucks to be sending a non-Sedin to the All-Star Game. Radim Vrbata was the team's selection back in 2015.
Back to tonight's game...
This will be the first time that the Canucks and Predators have met this season. After being projected as one of the Western Conference's top teams on many preseason lists, the Preds have been up-and-down so far this year and are currently one of the teams that Vancouver's battling with for one of those wild-card playoff spots.
After having spent about 18 hours inside the playoff cut line last weekend, Vancouver comes into tonight's game in ninth place—tied with Winnipeg at 43 points, one behind L.A. in the second wild-card spot. The Preds are two points further back, in 11th, but have two games in hand.
Nashville's currently riding a two-game losing streak and is without star defenseman P.K. Subban, who has been sidelined since mid-December with what's believed to be a herniated disc in his back.
The Preds will also be without several key forwards tonight. James Neal, who leads the team with 14 goals, will be sidelined for a fourth straight game, and the team is also expected to be without Viktor Arvidsson (10 goals) and Colin Wilson (six goals). Captain Mike Fisher also left Nashville's last game after blocking a shot, but is expected to play tonight.
Pekka Rinne will get the start in goal for Nashville, while Ryan Miller gets the nod for Vancouver.
It's been awhile since the Canucks have been this far away from home, so don't forget—puck drop's at 5:00 PT.
Enjoy the game!