THE INTRO
It’s a series now.
St. Louis outlasted the Canucks and found their opening to get back in this one. Brayden Schenn was the OT hero last night but it will be the Canucks who need to play hero if they want to put a stranglehold on the series.
Penalties were far and few between but they seemed to be timely when they were called. Being undisciplined could cost either team tonight but the Canucks power play is the one to watch as they’ve been almost flawless.
Game 4, who ya got?
Let’s Do This!
TV / RADIO / PUCK DROP
SN / SN 650 / 7:30 PM
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
The odds for tonight’s game are: VAN +128/ STL -130 courtesy of OddsShark.com
LINEUPS
Jordie Benn slotted into the lineup for an injured Tyler Myers. There isn’t likely to be any other changes for tonight’s game.
Jacob Markstrom was phenomenal in a losing cause in Game 3. His teammates owe him after that one.
CANUCKS lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 J.T. MILLER |
 ELIAS PETTERSSON |
 BROCK BOESER |
|
 TANNER PEARSON |
 BO HORVAT |
 LOUI ERIKSSON |
|
 ANTOINE ROUSSEL |
 BRANDON SUTTER |
 JAKE VIRTANEN |
|
 TYLER MOTTE |
 JAY BEAGLE |
 ZACK MACEWEN |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 ALEXANDER EDLER |
 TROY STECHER |
|
 QUINN HUGHES |
 CHRIS TANEV |
|
 OSCAR FANTENBERG |
 JORDIE BENN |
|
Vladimir Tarasenko and Alex Steen were both out of the lineup last night but we’ll have to find out just before puck drop if they’re back in.
After a stellar performance by Jake Allen, it’s a safe bet that the Blues go back to him in Game 4.
BLUES lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff.com:
| LW | C | RW | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
 JADEN SCHWARTZ |
 RYAN O’REILLY |
 DAVID PERRON |
|
 OSKAR SUNDQVIST |
 BRAYDEN SCHENN |
 TYLER BOZAK |
|
 ZACH SANFORD |
 ROBERT THOMAS |
 SAMMY BLAIS |
|
 MACKENZIE MACEACHERN |
 JACOB DE LA ROSE |
 JORDAN KYROU |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | Defense | |
|---|---|---|
 CARL GUNNARSSON |
 ALEX PIETRANGELO |
|
 MARCO SCANDELLA |
 COLTON PARAYKO |
|
 VINCE DUNN |
 JUSTIN FAULK |
|
GAME NOTES, STATS, AND OTHER PLAYOFF RELATED THINGS
- David Perron can be the heel, he can be the star, and he can be the guy that gives the Canucks fits. He’s found the score sheet multiple times and he’s living rent-free in Vancouver’s head. He must be stopped.
- Quinn Hughes has yet another point, another record, and multiple plays where he looks like the most confident guy on the ice. Thankfully, Jordie Benn looked right at home in his first game back so maybe Game 3 was a blip on the radar and Hughes can get back to taking over games?
- Brock Boeser has once again hit a wall. Sure, he’s racking up the assists but his shot is nowhere to be found. It is worrying but not alarming quite yet. Elias Pettersson has been pretty good but he’ll need to work with Brock to get him off the schneid.
- Troy Stecher looked rattled in Game 3. Travis Green has to make sure his most important players are calm. He didn’t look calm, and again, Perron took note.
- Does Adam Gaudette make his debut in the series?
THE TWITTER TAKE
So I'd be racking myself up a really juicy $25k fine right now if I'm Green.
What was the reffing tonight?
— Sean Warren (@SeanyeWest234) August 17, 2020
MY 94 CENTS
St. Louis is showing they can come back in this series. The Canucks aren’t physical enough and they’re relying on past achievements to get them over the hump. The Blues do not care. The whistles in the series have been limited and it will have to be a clear* infraction to see a call. Safe to say Jake Virtanen isn’t going to be seeing minutes late in the game if it’s close again.
Jacob Markstrom has had himself a series and eventually luck will go the other way and the puck won’t stay out. The Canucks need to figure out how to get under the Blues skin again, their season depends on it.
AND ONE OTHER THING…
Is Tyler Motte on the cusp off a monster game? It sure looks like it. He’s been everything for Travis Green and I hope he’s rewarded.
