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Erik Gudbranson, Derrick Pouliot return; Vancouver Canucks host Blackhawks |
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Thursday February 1 - Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks - 7 p.m. - Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet 650
Vancouver Canucks: 50 GP, 20-24-6, 46 pts, seventh in Pacific Division
Chicago Blackhawks: 50 GP, 24-19-7, 55 pts, eighth in Central Division
As the fifth month of the 2017-18 NHL season kicks off, the Vancouver Canucks will be looking to improve their home record at Rogers Arena. With an even split of 25 home and road games played so far this year, the Canucks are a respectable 11-11-3 on the road but just 9-13-3 on home ice. Vancouver is one of just five teams in the NHL that's below .500 at home.
One of the team's more rousing home wins, however, was their 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks back on December 28, when the Canucks broke open a tight game with three third-period goals. Since that night, Vancouver has gone 4-7-1 while the Blackhawks have been 7-5-2. Chicago remains on the outside of the Western Conference playoff picture, four points out of a wild-card spot with four teams to pass.
That being said, the Blackhawks are currently in the midst of a four-game road trip, and have already picked up wins in Nashville and Detroit. Anton Forsberg, who the Canucks torched back in December, has been great on this trip, giving up just one goal in both of those games.
That's important for them, because Corey Crawford's timeline to get back into action is still uncertain.
Artem Anisimov suffered a lower-body injury against the Canucks back in December, and missed 10 games. The Hawks are 2-1-1 since his return last week.
Since we saw them last, the Blackhawks acquired Anthony Duclair and Adam Clendening in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes, sending Richard Panik the other way. Duclair had a three-point night against Detroit one week ago, playing on a new-look line with Jonathan Toews and rookie Alex DeBrincat. Clendening has joined the man he was once traded for, Gustav Forsling, in the AHL.
As for the Canucks, all eyes will be on Erik Gudbranson as he returns to the lineup at the center of discussions about whether he'll re-up with Vancouver next season or be dealt at the trade deadline.
Gudbranson has missed the last five games with back spasms.
I was a little surprised that the idea of keeping Guddy around got as much support as it did in Wednesday's poll. As the results stand right now, only 41 percent of you said that he *must* be traded.
Obviously, it only makes sense to keep him around if the money and term are right. And I acknowledge that there's a flaw in the logic that the Canucks' best plan for next season is to keep together the same defense that is currently tied for sixth-most goals against in the league.
Edler, Tanev, Del Zotto and Hutton are all signed for next season, while Stecher and Pouliot are restricted free agents with arbitration rights. Like Gudbranson, Alex Biega is scheduled to become a UFA.
In their defense, however (pun intended), Vancouver is currently in the middle of the pack in shots against this year, in a five-way tie with Arizona, New Jersey, Tampa Bay and Detroit at 31.9 shots per game. That's actually consistent with where they ended up last year (31.8 shots per game), although that number was sixth-worst in the league last season.
Here's a little more clarity on why we haven't seen Derrick Pouliot for the last three games—and maybe why he has played just twice in the last eight.
Pouliot draws back in tonight on the left side. Over the last three games, Hutton played the least of any defenseman, averaging 14:15 per game. He had no points, four shots on goal, no hits, one block, one giveaway and was a plus-one.
As expected, the Sedins and Alex Edler will all play after skipping practice on Wednesday. Brendan Gaunce stays in as Nic Dowd is scratched for a second straight game.
Today's telethon day down at Rogers Arena:
And to close today, a note from Utica:
All Star Reid Boucher re-joined the Comets on January 7 after spending three weeks with the Canucks. In just 11 games, he led all AHL players with nine goals and six assists for 15 points. He's currently tied for the AHL scoring lead with 22 goals, in just 36 games.
Enjoy the game!
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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