[sandorski]

woo hansen for the tie

[Hyack]

Hansen ties the score 2-2 at 5:31 into the 3rd.

[sandorski]

[Hyack]

Vancouver vs Boston

28

The Canucks welcome an old rival to Rogers Arena tonight when they play host to the Boston Bruins on Hockey Night in Canada.

Heading into tonight's game, the Canucks have two reasons to be hot under the collar. First off, a visit from the Bruins always seems to guarantee some bad blood to go with it. Secondly, Vancouver can't be too happy about the fact they've now squandered back-to-back strong performances from their netminders. In Thursday's case, they came away totally empty-handed in a 4-2 loss to the Stars in a game they were out-shot 34-16 but still found themselves tied until late in the third period. The Canucks, looking to avoid dropping a fifth straight game for the first time all season long, will face a "must win" scenario tonight according to Coach Desjardins taking on a Bruins team that comes into the game having earned points in seven straight (5-0-2) but are coming off back-to-back losses including falling 5-4 in overtime last night in Calgary.

The Canucks will get a bit of a shot in the arm tonight with the expected returns of Ben Hutton and Chris Higgins to the line-up although they continue to be without the likes of Luca Sbisa and Jake Virtanen, both of whom would have been ideally suited for a more physical match-up as is usually the case against Boston. Brandon Prust and Dan Hamhuis were among the players who sat out yesterday's practice and, although Coach Desjardins noted it was a maintenance day for both, he also suggested that they could be considered day-to-day putting in doubt their potential participation in tonight's contest.

Puck drop at 7 pm PT – Live on CBC & Sportsnet

[Hyack]

WooHoo, the guys have made it through 2 power plays without giving up a short handed goal.....

[sandorski]

I can hear the chopping block being rolled out and the axe being sharpened.

[sandorski]

Hyack Hyack:

WooHoo, the guys have made it through 2 power plays without giving up a short handed goal.....

[Hyack]

No comment........

Next game is Monday when the Canucks host the Buffalo Sabres.

[2Cdo]

Hyack Hyack:

WooHoo, the guys have made it through 2 power plays without giving up a short handed goal.....

And I thought Boston was going to be horrible this season.
It's going to be a long year for Canucks fans.

[Strutz]

2Cdo 2Cdo:

Hyack Hyack:

WooHoo, the guys have made it through 2 power plays without giving up a short handed goal.....

And I thought Boston was going to be horrible this season.
It's going to be a long year for Canucks fans.

It seems to me that games between Vancouver and Boston used to be more spirited. I guess player changes on both teams have changed that. I didn't bother watching the third period as Boston pretty much determined the outcome in the first.

[Hyack]

Vancouver vs Buffalo

29

The Canucks will pay tribute to one of the best lines in team history tonight when they continue their home stand with a visit from Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres.

Prior to puck drop tonight, the Canucks will hold a pre-game ceremony with members of the famed West Coast Express line – Naslund, Bertuzzi, and Morrison – that was once one of the most feared trios in all of the NHL. Opposing teams, at least lately, don't have as much reason to fear the current Canucks. Vancouver is mired in a season-high five-game winless skid and is coming off arguably their worst loss of the season – a 4-0 blanking at the hands of the Bruins in a game Coach Desjardins said his team simply didn't battle or push.

The Canucks, especially given their current woes, can't expect any game to be a cakewalk even when facing a team that sits behind them in the overall league standings like the Sabres. Buffalo comes into tonight's game on a bit of a roll despite dropping a 4-2 decision last night in Edmonton. Prior to the loss to the Oilers, they were on a four-game regulation unbeaten streak (3-0-1) which was their longest such streak of the season. Derek Dorsett missed practice yesterday but is expected to be able to play tonight. Ryan Miller will get the call in net tonight against his old club, while blue-liner Alex Biega is expected to draw into the line-up as well likely in place of either Yannick Weber or Matt Bartkowski. The Sabres could go with back-up netminder Linus Ullmark tonight after Chad Johnson went the distance last night. Ullmark is winless in his last five starts but did beat the Canucks back on November 7.

Puck drop at 7 pm PT – Live on Sportsnet Pacific

[sandorski]

Pay tribute by Winning, please.

[sandorski]

woo vrbata for the tie

[sandorski]

woot vrbata for the lead

[sandorski]

woohoo prust