Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings: Preview, Lineups
The Vancouver Canucks will try to deliver fans (and themselves) a late Christmas present with a victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
Well, the 2016-17 season hasn’t gone according to plan for the Vancouver Canucks. That being said, 2017 begins in a few days, and they have the chance to end a sour year on a sweet note against a division rival.
Vancouver Canucks
OVERVIEW:
2016-17 Record: 14-18-3
Home Record: 10-6-2
2015-16 Record vs. Kings: 2-2-1
Goals For: 86
Goals Against: 109
Power Play: 13.5% (29th)
Penalty Kill: 79.8% (21st)
Leading Scorers: Daniel Sedin (35 GP – 10 G – 12 A — 22 PTS), Henrik Sedin (35 GP – 7 G – 15 A – 22 PTS) Bo Horvat (35 GP – 10 G – 11 A – 21 PTS)
Injuries: Erik Gudbranson (wrist, day-to-day), Philip Larsen (upper body, day-to-day), Alexander Edler (broken finger, late December/early January), Derek Dorsett (neck, out for season), Jannik Hansen (knee, four-six weeks)
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WHO’S ON OFFENCE:
Daniel Sedin: The Kings have a knack for neutralizing him. Can Daniel dethrone the Kings’ D for once?
Bo Horvat: The up-and-coming star gets a chance to use his talents against one of the NHL’s biggest teams.
WHO’S ON DEFENCE:
Chris Tanev: The Canucks’ defence is that much better with Tanev on the ice. Can his return help the rest of the core when it comes to consistency?
WHO’S IN NET:
Ryan Miller: He’s not known for being a Kings killer. Maybe tonight’s different.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Daniel Sedin — Henrik Sedin — Loui Eriksson
Markus Granlund — Brandon Sutter — Anton Rodin
Sven Baertschi— Bo Horvat — Alex Burrows
Brendan Gaunce — Michael Chaput — Jack Skille
Ben Hutton — Chris Tanev
Luca Sbisa — Troy Stecher
Nikita Tryamkin — Alex Biega
Ryan Miller
Jacob Markstrom
Los Angeles
OVERVIEW:
2016-17 Record: 17-13-4
Away Record: 7-9-3
2015-16 Record vs. Canucks: 3-2-0
Goals For: 87
Goals Against: 84
Power Play: 16% (21st)
Penalty Kill: 84.7% (7th)
Leading Scorers: Jeff Carter (34 GP -19 G – 10 A – 29 PTS), Tyler Toffoli (32 GP - 8 G – 12 A – 20 PTS), Alec Martinez (34 GP – 6 G – 13 A – 29 PTS)
Injuries: Jonathan Quick (groin, out until March), Tyler Toffoli (lower body, day-to-day), Brayden McNabb (arm, day-to-day)
WHO’S ON OFFENCE:
Jeff Carter: He’s the only guy who can score consistently on the Kings. Carter is saving their season and is on pace to hit 40-plus goals.
Anze Kopitar: He’s not putting up his usual numbers, but Kopitar is lethal at both ends of the ice.
WHO’S ON DEFENCE:
Drew Doughty: Arguably the NHL’s best defenceman so far this season, Doughty usually succeeds in shutting down the Canucks’ top line.
WHO’S IN NET:
Peter Budaj: From the minors to the Kings crease, Budaj has found new life as a starter.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Marian Gaborik — Anze Kopitar — Dustin Brown
Tanner Pearson – Jeff Carter — Devin Setoguchi
Dwight King – Nic Dowd — Trevor Lewis
Kyle Clifford – Andy Andreoff — Nick Shore
Derek Forbort – Drew Doughty
Jake Muzzin – Alec Martinez
Kevin Gravel – Matt Greene
Peter Budaj
Jeff Zatkoff
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