The Vancouver Canucks (18-12-8) open a five-game road trip when they face the Montreal Canadiens (18-18-3) at Bell Centre tonight. After missing four games with an undisclosed injury, captain Quinn Hughes is a game time decision.
The Canucks held an optional skate this morning, so they didn’t roll out line combinations or defensive duos. It will likely be warm-up before we know exactly how the Canucks will structure their line-up for tonight’s game.
If Hughes plays, Montreal native Guillaume Brisebois likely comes out on the defence. With this morning’s announcement that Dakota Joshua has been placed on injury reserve, Jonathan Lekkerimäki is expected to slide into his spot in the line-up. The 20-year-old Swede has one goal in five NHL games this season. He has not suited up with the big league team since November 19th.
Elias Pettersson practiced with the club on Sunday and was among the players that took to the ice this morning. However, he remains on IR for the time being and an additional roster move would be required to activate him ahead of tonight’s game.
The Canucks need to turn things around in a hurry. They have won one of four games (1-2-1) since Christmas and have four victories in their last 13 (4-5-4). They remain above the playoff bar holding on to the second wild card slot in the West, however they are just a single point in front of Calgary, two up on St. Louis and three ahead of Utah.
On Friday, the Canucks fell 3-0 at home to Nashville. It was a 1-0 game until the Preds scored a pair of late empty netters. Kevin Lankinen made 16 saves as the Canucks surrendered a season-low 19 shots on goal. It was the second time this season the Canucks have been blanked along with a 6-0 loss to New Jersey on October 30th.
Lankinen gets the nod in goal again tonight. The 29-year-old Finn has been a terrific story for the Canucks this season, however he has just one win in his last six starts. It should be noted, though, that he also delivered a victory in relief of an injured Thatcher Demko last Thursday in Seattle. Demko will not back up tonight as he stays away with back spasms. It is worth mentioning that Demko was on the ice this morning in Montreal, but it will be Arturs Silovs backing up Lankinen against the Habs.