Canucks vs. Kraken Game Day: No Quinn Hughes, no Elias Pettersson

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Seattle Kraken vs. Vancouver Canucks

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When: Saturday, 1 p.m., Rogers Area

TV: Sportsnet. Radio: Sportsnet 650

The thrill: Simply because the Vancouver Canucks appeared set to show the web page on their dressing room state of affairs — they’re wanting a considerably disjointed dressing, and never due to participant disputes or something like that, simply easy harm issues. Elias Pettersson scored two targets on Monday, however left the sport early with an undisclosed harm. Quinn Hughes damage one thing Saturday and was a game-time determination Monday. Neither practised Friday and head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed Saturday each gained’t play Saturday towards the Seattle Kraken.

That leaves the Canucks extremely short-staffed offensively.

• How terrifying is life with out Hughes more likely to be? The case for Hughes as a Hart Trophy candidate is powerful: simply think about the splits of what’s happenning when he’s on the ice vs. off. When he’s on the ice, the Canucks have been taking 58 per cent of the entire shot makes an attempt, however when he’s on the bench, the Canucks take simply 42.4 per cent of the entire shot makes an attempt. That’s a staggering distinction.

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• Hughes performs upwards of 25 minutes per evening, almost half the sport. There’s simply no changing that. Look ahead to the Canucks to actually buckle down defensively.

• Erik Brännström was quarterbacking the ability play in apply on Friday.

“You’re not going to switch Quinn Hughes. And I don’t want him (Brännström) making an attempt to do issues that press the envelope. I feel he’s simply received to play a easy recreation. Be trustworthy. Return for a puck, for those who see a man give it to him. If there’s an opportunity to hitch the frenzy, be part of it. Stroll the blue line. Generally, , you overlook your photographs. A man like him, like I would like him to shoot the puck, he doesn’t should attempt to create an excessive amount of on the blue line,” Tocchet mentioned of what the expert, however nonetheless depth, defenceman can do with the chance in entrance of him.

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The historical past: Seattle gained two of the groups’ three conferences final season, and the Canucks had their stars accessible for these video games.

The hope: The primary recreation after Christmas is usually a crapshoot, however not less than each groups will get a apply in earlier than Saturday’s recreation. The Canucks don’t should journey, so they are going to be hoping that’s an added benefit in a matchup of two groups which were off the ice for 3 days. And with out their finest defenceman and their most dynamic ahead, they should grind, grind, grind.

The worry: The Canucks have struggled to generate offence with out Hughes on the ice, and now they may play a complete recreation with out him? Yikes.

The highest weapons: Quinn Hughes’ marketing campaign for the Hart is beginning to solidify. He has eight factors in 5 video games. Pettersson is coming off the aformentioned two-goal recreation on Monday, whereas Brock Boeser has three targets in his final two video games. It’s Kiefer Sherwood, although, who holds Vancouver’s hottest hand — he has 4 targets in 5 video games.

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The wounded: Canucks: Filip Hronek (shoulder, 5 weeks), Elias Pettersson (undisclosed, everyday), Quinn Hughes (undisclosed, everyday). Kraken: Jordan Eberle (pelvis, two months), Brandon Tanev (undisclosed, everyday)

The quote: “I feel we’ve 44 days earlier than the 4 Nations. That’s 21 video games. So it’s actually a … I hate to say a dash, however it is a focus stage for us.” — Rick Tocchet on what’s in entrance of his group, with or with out two key gamers.

The newest: The Kraken will likely be with out No. 1 goalie Joey Daccord and slumping scorer Andre Burakovsky, who have been each left behind in Seattle. Burakovsky is ailing, whereas Daccord is injured. Daccord has had a robust season, in order that’s a little bit of a break for the wounded Canucks.

The lineup: 

DeBrusk-Miller-Boeser

Höglander-Suter-Garland

Heinen-Blueger-Sherwood

Joshua-Sasson-PDG

Hughes-Myers

Soucy-Juulsen

Forbort-Desharnais

Demko

The prediction: Stoop-busting Seattle will seize a shocking 3-2 win over the undergunned Canucks.

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