NEXT GAME
Tuesday
Vancouver Canucks (33-22-6) vs. Montreal Canadiens (29-27-8)
4 p.m., Bell Centre, TV: Sportsnet Pacific; Radio: Sportsnet 650 AM
THE BIG MATCHUP
Thatcher Demko vs. Carey Price
All of a sudden it’s netminder Thatcher Demko’s crease. Starting goalie Jacob Markstrom is out with a knee injury for a few weeks. The rookie has put in some big performances this season, but he’s a step down overall from the Canucks’ MVP. He’s going to play the bulk of the games over the next month. The good news is that over that window, if he plays as he has, the likely difference in goals-against compared with what you would get from Markstrom will be only a handful of goals. Most metrics rate one win as being equivalent to roughly 5.5 goals-against in the long run. So maybe the Canucks lose one more game with Demko in net than they would with Markstrom?
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Scoring in bunches
You’re not going to score nine goals per night, but the swagger shown by the Canucks on Saturday against the Bruins is exactly who they want to be. We know they can score their way out of many of their problems. It would make life a whole lot easier on Demko if they can keep it up.
2. Road bumps
The road hasn’t been an especially kind place for the Canucks this season. They’re just 13-15-2 away from Rogers Arena. Thankfully, they have games in hand on their Pacific Division rivals, but they can’t afford to play sub-.500 hockey over the next few weeks if they want to avoid a really tough first-round playoff matchup.
3. Montreal’s mettle
Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin recognized reality with his team. They’re six points out of a playoff spot. There’s not enough time left to make up the gap between them and the Maple Leafs. So can the Habs players salvage their pride and fight to the finish? Or will they maybe head to the corner a little more cautiously, hoping to get through the last six weeks of the season without injury?
4. Return to the scene of the crime
A year ago, Elias Pettersson was felled by an absurd hit by fellow rookie Jesperi Kotkaniemi in Montreal. The Finn is now in the minors while Pettersson is among the league’s burgeoning stars. He’ll be keen to put on a show.
5. The day after
A few Canucks will surely feel a little lighter in their steps, now that the trade deadline has passed. They can focus in on the playoff race, and just play hockey.
CANUCKS’ PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
J.T. Miller — Elias Pettersson — Tyler Toffoli
Tanner Pearson — Bo Horvat — Loui Eriksson
Antoine Roussel — Adam Gaudette — Jake Virtanen
Tyler Motte — Jay Beagle — Brandon Sutter
Defence pairings
Quinn Hughes — Chris Tanev
Alex Edler — Troy Stecher
Jordie Benn — Tyler Myers
Goalies : Thatcher Demko, Louis Domingue
CANADIENS’ PROJECTED LINEUP
Tomas Tatar — Phillip Danault — Brendan Gallagher
Jonathan Drouin — Nick Suzuki — Joel Armia
Paul Byron — Max Domi — Jordan Weal
Artturi Lehkonen — Jake Evans — Dale Weise
Defence pairings
Ben Chiarot — Shea Weber
Brett Kulak — Jeff Petry
Karl Alzner — Christian Folin
Goalies : Carey Price, Charlie Lindgren
SICK BAY
Canucks: Micheal Ferland (post-concussion symptoms), Josh Leivo (fractured kneecap), Brock Boeser (bruised rib cartilage), Jacob Markstrom (knee)
Canadiens: Noah Juulsen (head), Victor Mete (lower-body), Joel Armia (hand)
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY
Canucks: 23.6 per cent (fifth)
Canadiens: 19.3 per cent (20th)
PENALTY KILL
Canucks: 80.1 per cent (17th)
Canadiens: 79.5 per cent (19th)
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