THE INTRO

Following the Canucks can be painful. There is no predictability with this team. Losing streak, winning streak, blowouts, and full-team efforts; the Canucks really have their fans held captive. Today, Vancouver heads to Minnesota to take on the Wild, a team that has been dynamite at home this season posting an 11-4-4 record.

Brock Boeser is back home in front of friends and family including Duke, his dad. Brock has put together a pretty impressive week with two goals yesterday and one on Thursday. The assists have been there and it might be the time we’ve waited for to see Brock shine.

Let’s Do This!

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

The odds for today’s game are: (VAN +122/ MIN -152) courtesy of OddsShark.com

TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP

SNP / SN 650 / 1:00 PM

LINEUPS

No changes from yesterday from the sound of things because after you lose two embarrassingly bad games and follow it up with a convincing win, you ease off.

Zack MacEwen has been recalled.

Thatcher Demko should get another shot today even though the team in front of him the other night wasn’t that helpful. Jacob Markstrom can’t play every game.

Canucks lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:

 

For the most part, the Wild are healthy. Greg Pateryn was placed on the IR back in December. His return is unknown.

Alex Stalock should be the starter for Minnesota today.

Wild lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:

 

GAME NOTES AND A STAT OR TWO

• Elias Pettersson is three points away from 50. He finished his rookie campaign with 66 and it’s safe to say he’ll hit that number within a few weeks the way he’s performing. Three seasons ago, Bo Horvat and Henrik Sedin were the only Canucks to eclipse 50 points. It’s been rough for the Canucks but the stars are becoming exactly that.
• It’s been a day since the news but Quinn Hughes will also be going to the All-Star Game along with Elias Pettersson and Jacob Markstrom. When was the last time the Canucks had THREE players at the event?
• Looking over the defenseman atop the standings in the league and aside from San Jose, each player is the team’s number one defenseman. Quinn Hughes has 31 points already and he’s ahead of an impressive group of players. He’s become the Canucks’ top defender (yes, I’m not exactly the first to report this) and he continues to create more options every time he’s on the ice.
• Ironically, Loui Eriksson’s goal yesterday of the empty net variety was only his second this season, despite popular belief. Tanner Pearson leads the Canucks with three. Sebastian Aho has five but it’s still early. Is this a stat we need to keep an eye on? Switching gears, Pearson has six empty-net points which are also one behind, you guessed it, Aho.
• Jake Virtanen and Elias Pettersson each have three dinged crossbars this year. Jake is aiming now and that 20-goal mark may not be too far away. My prediction: February 12 against the Blackhawks is Jake’s 20th.

#CANUCKSTWITTER

This can’t be the best name, right?

Watching the Battle of Alberta and waiting for the day the Canucks and Seattle have a “Battle of the Border” that’s what we’re calling it, right?

— David Quadrelli (@QuadreIli) January 12, 2020

Loui Eriksson now has double the amount of goals that “future Hockey Hall Of Famer” Joe Thornton has this season

— CanuckSkate (@CanuckSkate) January 11, 2020

 

MY 94 CENTS

This one’s in Minny. Brock Boeser has the crew at the game and he’s playing like a man possessed. There’s no way Vancouver loses today. Brock scores again and Quinn adds two points.

Short and sweet.

AND ANOTHER THING…

Jake Virtanen ties his career high in points of 25 set last season in 25 fewer games

— 𝗜𝗮𝗻𝘄 WJC (@ianwcanucks) January 11, 2020