Where to watch: Sportsnet Pacific
Where to Listen: Sportsnet 650
Tonight, its #HockeyFightsCancer night and the Vancouver Canucks (4-6-1) host the Dallas Stars (4-4-2) at Rogers Arena at 7pm (PST). This will be the first of 3 meetings between these two teams this season.
Head to head
The Dallas Stars are now the only team in the NHL without a regulation win after the Coyotes defeated the Kraken 5-4 last night.
The Vancouver Canucks are currently
1-4 on their 7 game home-stand, looking to come back from their grueling 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Friday Night.
The Dallas Stars are coming off a 4-3 road win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday Night.
Braden Holtby will be in a Dallas jersey tonight as he returns to Vancouver for the first time since being traded, but it appears Anton Khudobin will get his second consecutive start for the first time this season.
Khudobin is currently 2-1-1 with a 2.71 GAA and a .897 SV% in 4 starts with Dallas.
Demko is currently 4-4-1 with a 2.55 GAA and a .920 SV% in 9 starts with Vancouver.
The Dallas Stars are currently 24% on the power-play this season, the 8th best in the NHL.
Dallas, however, is 78.8% on the penalty kill, ranking 23rd in the NHL. This is a great opportunity for the Canucks to figure out their power-play struggles.
Injury Report
It appears that Luke schenn is suffering a Knee issue which could possibly keep him out of the line up for up to 3 weeks. This is a massive blow for the Vancouver Canucks who relied heavily on Schenn's grittiness.
Also, Justin Dowling will be making his return to the Canucks lineup tonight, playing in his first home game of the season. Dowling was placed on the Canucks injury reserve on Oct. 26 with an undisclosed injury.
Nic Petan has now been reassigned to the Abbotsford Canucks.
Brad Hunt is slotting back into the line up and Kyle Burroughs is a healthy scratch tonight.
No word on Brandon Sutter yet, and Tyler Motte continues to eye his return to the Canucks line up.
Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars starting Goaltender will be out until at least Nov. 10 with a knee injury.
Lineups
It appears that Vasily Podkolzin will be centering the second unit power play tonight after the Canucks continue to struggle scoring on the man advantage.
The Lotto line will be reunited once again tonight, this time as the second line. Here is the Canucks projected lineup for tonight.
There appears to be a lack of consistency in Vancouver’s roster. The lines are constantly getting changed up nearly every single game.
This will be a very tough game for the Canucks, expect Dallas to come out and play hard tonight. Lets hope we can get our special teams going tonight, which have already cost us multiple games in this home stand.
Odds
Vancouver appears to be the slight favorites against Dallas tonight.
With an over/under of 5.5, My pick would be Over as both teams are currently struggling to score goals and this could be a break out night offensively for both teams.
My Prediction
6-2 Canucks
Pettersson, Miller and Hughes with 3 points each
