Vancouver Canucks vs Anaheim Ducks: Preview, Lineups
The Vancouver Canucks will try to keep this minor hot streak alive when they host the surging Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night at Rogers Arena
While countless scientists try to solve the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, Bigfoot’s possible existence and what UFOs really are, nobody has been able to figure out what type of Vancouver Canucks team we’re seeing.
A team that could barely score all season put up five against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night in a 5-4 victory. In case you didn’t know, Minnesota allows the least amount of goals per game.
The Canucks looked destined for another finish near the bottom of the standings, but a turnaround over the past two weeks and a fairly weak Western Conference has given them new hope.
Now, they’ll welcome old friends Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa again when they host the Ducks.
AnaheimDucks
VancouverCanucks
Anaheim Ducks
OVERVIEW:
2016-17 Record: 11-8-4
Away Record: 4-4-3
2015-16 Record vs. Canucks: 2-1-2
Goals For: 59
Goals Against: 55
Power Play: 22.4% (Sixth)
Penalty Kill: 82.7% (16th)
Leading Scorers: Ryan Kesler (23 GP – 8 G -10 A -18 PTS), Corey Perry (23 GP - 4 G -14 A – 18 PTS), Ryan Getzlaf (23 GP – 2 G -16 A -18 PTS).
Injuries: Joseph Cramarossa (lower body, day-to-day,) Clayton Stoner (lower body, day-to-day,) Nate Thompson (achilles, indefinitely,) Simon Despres (concussion, indefinitely,) Nicolas Kerdiles (concussion, day-to-day.)
WHO’S ON OFFENCE:
Ryan Kesler: The former Canuck is enjoying a bounceback season, leading the team in goals while shutting down the opposition’s top line as well.
Corey Perry: The notorious Canucks killer hasn’t scored a ton of goals, turning more into a playmaker this season. Perhaps he’s saving his goals for tonight.
WHO’S ON DEFENCE:
Sami Vatanen: Fresh off a big extension, Vatanen is a slick puck mover but also a force in his own end.
WHO’S IN NET:
John Gibson: He’s had no problem taking the full-time starter’s role in Anaheim. Gibson is 7-7-3 with a 2.52 goals against average and .912 save percentage.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Rickard Rackell — Ryan Getzlaf — Corey Perry
Andrew Cogliano — Ryan Kesler — Jakob Silfverberg
Nick Ritchie — Antoine Vermette — Ondrej Kase
Logan Shaw — Ryan Garbutt — Jared Boll
Cam Fowler — Sami Vatanen
Hampus Lindholm — Josh Manson
Korbinian Holzer — Kevin Bieksa
More from The Canuck Way
John Gibson
Jonathan Bernier
Vancouver Canucks
OVERVIEW:
2016-17 Record: 10-11-2
Home Record: 7-4-1
2015-16 Record vs. Ducks: 3-2-0
Goals For: 54
Goals Against: 70
Power Play: 14.9% (23rd)
Penalty Kill: 85.7% (fifth)
Leading Scorers: Bo Horvat (23 GP – 8 G -8 A -16 PTS), Daniel Sedin (23 GP – 6 G -8 A – 14 PTS), Henrik Sedin (23 GP – 5 G – 9 A – 14 PTS)
Injuries: Alexander Edler (broken finger, four-to-six weeks), Derek Dorsett (shoulder, day to day), Chris Tanev (foot, indefinitely), Jannik Hansen (fractured rib, four-to-six weeks).
WHO’S ON OFFENCE:
Bo Horvat: He’s becoming the leader everyone was hoping for. At least, the leader in team scoring.
Loui Eriksson: He’s starting to come around now. Eriksson has made the front of the net his home office.
WHO’S ON DEFENCE:
Troy Stecher: Another impressive outing on Tuesday. Stecher seems to get that much better every game.
WHO’S IN NET:
Jacob Markstrom: He’s outplayed Ryan Miller for most of the season. It’s a surprise he’s not the undisputed starter.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Daniel Sedin — Henrik Sedin — Brandon Sutter
Markus Granlund — Michael Chaput — Loui Eriksson
Alexandre Burrows — Bo Horvat — Jayson Megna
Jack Skille — Brendan Gaunce — Joseph LaBate
Luca Sbisa — Troy Stecher
Ben Hutton — Erik Gudbranson
Nikita Tryamkin — Philip Larsen
Ryan Miller
Jacob Markstrom
This article originally appeared on 
