Saturday September 29 - Arizona Coyotes vs Vancouver Canucks at Prospera Place in Kelowna - 7 p.m. - Sportsnet, Sportsnet 650

Hello from Kelowna!

It has been a busy travel morning, but I'm here now, ready to cover the Canucks' final preseason game tonight from Prospera Place.

I'll be writing the game story for The Canadian Press and hope to add some updates to my Twitter @pool88 and Instagram @carolschram as I go.

Looks like the game is a hot ticket in town:

Tomorrow's #Canucks preseason game in #Kelowna is sold out. Re-sale tickets on StubHub start at $88.32 USD ($114.21 CAD) for standing room. $129.60 USD ($167.60 CAD) is cheapest seat, which is well above the original $57.75 CAD starting price. pic.twitter.com/mQZsKUz4xM

— Tim James (@_TimJames) September 28, 2018

The team is holding its morning skate in Vancouver before flying up. They'll do a meet-and-greet with fans this afternoon.

In Kelowna for our final exhibition game vs @ArizonaCoyotes Greet the @Canucks 4:10-4:30 Party on the Plaza 430-630 Puck Drop at 7 PM #GoCanucksGo

— FIN (@CanucksFIN) September 29, 2018

With the Raptors moving into Rogers Arena for their annual preseason game tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Canucks took to the ice at UBC for their practice on Friday.

With the ill Sven Baertschi still absent, here's how the lines looked:

Lines for the #Canucks at practice:

Goldobin-Horvat-Boeser
Leipsic-Pettersson-Eriksson
Gagner-Sutter-Granlund
Schaller-Beagle-Virtanen
(Motte, Archibald)

Edler-Stecher
Hutton-Tanev
Pouliot-Gudbranson
Del Zotto-Biega

— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) September 28, 2018

The defense and goal positions are set. While Thatcher Demko is technically still on the roster because he is injured, word is that he's no longer with the team.

Hearing Demko will go to Utica today. #Canucks

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) September 28, 2018

If you missed it, Brendan Gaunce and the rest of the waiver group from Friday all cleared, so Gaunce will also soon be joining the Comets.

Here's today's list of names:

Waivers:
EVAN MCENENY
VAN
JUSTIN BAILEY
BUF
NICHOLAS BAPTISTE
BUF
MATT TENNYSON
BUF
MIKE LIAMBAS
MIN
ANDREW HAMMOND
MIN
MATT READ
MIN
KYLE RAU
MIN
MATTHEW BARTKOWSKI
MIN
MICHAEL MERSCH
DAL
ERIK CONDRA
DAL
RILEY BARBER
WSH
LIAM O'BRIEN
WSH
GREG MCKEGG
CAR
PATRICK BROWN
CAR

— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) September 29, 2018

Patrick Johnston of The Province reports that although Evan McEneny didn't get into any training camp or preseason action with the Canucks as he continued his rehab from knee surgery, he had been skating on his own and occasionally serving as a shooter on the goalies at practice. The waiver assignment means that he has now been medically cleared, so that's good news.

The Comets kicked off their preseason on Friday with a 4-2 loss to the Binghamton Devils. Reid Boucher (of course) and Jagger Dirk had the goals.

Check out the highlights from last night's preseason bout against the Binghamton Devils. pic.twitter.com/tSHVCqorVo

— Utica Comets (@UticaComets) September 29, 2018

A couple of former Canucks are on today's waiver wire: Matt Bartkowski and Anton Rodin. Bartkowski signed a one-year, two-way contract with Minnesota over the summer; Rodin signed a one-way deal with Anaheim but was in tough for a roster spot with a number of young forwards coming up. Rodin had one goal and was a minus-two in two games and has now been placed on unconditional waivers. Word is that he may be headed back to Switzerland. He had six points in eight games with HC Davos after leaving the Canucks organization last year.

I was curious to see if Rodin would have better luck in a different NHL situation but the end result, it seems, is the same.

As for the Coyotes, they arrived Friday after dropping a 3-2 decision in Edmonton on Thursday night.

This’ll do.

📌 Kelowna, BC pic.twitter.com/A1J7HcXRDk

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) September 28, 2018

The team skated at Prospera Place this morning. Friday's activities included a little outdoor team bonding.

A little preseason team bonding at Myra Canyon Adventure Park. 🌲 pic.twitter.com/L3drml17Fa

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) September 28, 2018

The Coyotes have a few significant injuries: Jakob Chychrun is on the shelf again, this time listed as day-to-day with a knee injury. New acquisition Alex Galchenyuk is said to be week-to-week with a lower-body injury and forward Christian Dvorak, who signed a six-year contract extension over the summer with a cap hit of $4.45 million, is also on the shelf with a lower-body injury. New arrivals include ex-Canuck Michael Grabner, who was signed over the summer as a free agent, along with Vinnie Hinistroza and Jordan Oesterle, who came over in the deal that saw Marian Hossa's contract move to the Coyotes.

Opening-night rosters will be submitted to the NHL on Tuesday, so tonight's game is the last opportunity for Vancouver's bubble forwards to make a case for themselves. Who will grab the brass ring?

Will someone not named Pettersson please make the #Canucks? Anyone? https://t.co/N0uTO2rYWx

— Iain MacIntyre (@imacSportsnet) September 28, 2018

The team has had three days to reflect since its shutout loss to Edmonton on Tuesday. Hopefully the time off will bring a refreshed group to the ice here in Kelowna tonight.

Enjoy the game!

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