Canucks Game Day update: J.T. Miller will play against the Florida Panthers

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Florida Panthers vs. Vancouver Canucks

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When: Thursday, 7 p.m. PT, Rogers Enviornment

TV: Sportsnet. Radio: Sportsnet 650

The excitement: J.T. Miller is again.

The Vancouver Canucks’ star final performed Nov. 17 vs. Nashville however then took private go away, for causes that haven’t been totally divulged however which have implied to be mental-health associated.

Chatting with reporters Thursday morning after collaborating within the staff’s morning skate forward of the house recreation vs. the Florida Panthers, Miller stated he didn’t wish to get into the explanation why he took a go away, however that he was able to return and able to make the identical impression on the lineup he all the time has.

“Excited to play. I wish to play, and you understand, clearly it’s enjoyable recreation to play in opposition to the defending champions. So simply completely happy to be across the guys and looking out ahead to tonight,” he stated.

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It was robust to be away from his teammates, he acknowledged.

“It sucks, it doesn’t matter what it’s for. , that is the ‘household away from household’ right here, and also you miss the blokes and simply excited to be round them and get again and compete,” he stated.

He claimed to not know that followers had been chanting for him in current dwelling video games, in addition to throughout final week’s WWE Survivor Collection occasion at Rogers Enviornment.

“No matter it was, I recognize it,” he stated.

He’s clearly able to play, however is aware of it might not go precisely that easily.

“I’m certain rust is anticipated. I believe this weekend’s 4 weeks, so I imply, it’s gonna be: attempt to preserve it simple on myself, play my recreation,” he stated. “Simply actually attempt to make it simple on myself. Attempt to preserve it easy, play bodily, you understand, issues that I can management.”

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• Rick Tocchet stated that Miller would have Brock Boeser, enjoying his five hundredth recreation, again with him. And he’s enjoying Nils Höglander on left wing.

Having Miller will get the lineup again to its correct steadiness, too, he stated.

“We’ve been combating velocity by means of the center. I believe (JT) coming again goes to assist slot everyone,” he stated.

• Derek Forbort was additionally set to return to the lineup, skating on the third pairing with Mark Friedman, who performed Tuesday rather than Erik Brännström. Brännström’s defensive play has slipped a little bit, Tocchet stated, however felt the Swede would get again within the lineup quickly. He’s had some good practices not too long ago he believes.

With eight wholesome defencemen — Vincent Desharnais it coping with a chilly however is in any other case high quality — Tocchet stated he’s prone to begin simply utilizing his depth defencemen in a rotation.

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• Regardless of Thatcher Demko’s robust recreation on Tuesday, Kevin Lankinen will get the beginning.

The historical past: Miller scored the extra time winner in opposition to Florida when the 2 groups met within the Sunshine State in October. That was the Canucks’ first win of the season and kicked off a run of eight-straight street wins for the Canucks.

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The hope: The Canucks want higher begins, and so they want extra general power. Thursday’s the evening, they’ll say.

The worry: The Panthers, the Stanley Cup champions, are vastly improved from the staff that stumbled to open the season and misplaced to the Canucks. They’ve gained three straight — and 6 of their final seven video games — and are flying excessive basically. Can the Canucks sustain?

The highest weapons: Jake Debrusk has six targets in 5 video games. Elias Pettersson has eight factors.

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The wounded: Canucks: Derek Forbort (leg, day after day), J.T. Miller (private go away, day after day), Filip Hronek (shoulder, eight weeks). Panthers: none.

The quote: “Each good staff within the league is constructed down the center, you understand, one-two punch, and we’re lucky to have that. We’re lacking a kind of guys.” — Conor Garland on his pal J.T. Miller.

The newest: Derek Forbort is again wholesome. Will he lastly draw again into the lineup? Rick Tocchet stated he was a “robust chance” to play in opposition to the Panthers. He practised Wednesday alongside Mark Friedman, who performed Tuesday vs. St. Louis.

The lineup: 

DeBrusk-Pettersson-Sherwood

Höglander-Miller-Boeser

Joshua-Suter-Garland

Heinen-Blueger-Sasson

Hughes-Myers

Soucy-Juulsen

Forbort-Friedman

Lankinen

The prediction: The Canucks nonetheless aren’t firing on all cylinders. However they’ve received their No. 1 goalie again, with the Canucks enjoying stout defensive hockey in entrance of him. Plus Florida bleeds targets in opposition to. The setup is there. Watch Vancouver take at 4-2 win.

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