★[GDT] Vancouver Canucks vs Minnesota Wild • Dec 16, 2023 • Too early edition

[Jaimito]

Looks like today's game is unclaimed.  

 

Just win baby. Keep the pt streak going.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/setting-the-table-for-canucks-weekend-of-back-to-back-brunch-matches

 

 

Set the Table for Canucks’ Weekend of Back-to-Back Brunch Matches

Miller vs Wild 2

By

Chris Faber

December 15, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

The Vancouver Canucks travel east today for arguably the strangest weekend of games that we will see all season.

 

On Saturday, at 11:00 am PT, the Canucks will play the Minnesota Wild and then they will follow it up at 12:00 pm PT on Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

 

Don’t forget that the game times are whacky this weekend. We’ve got some brunch games this weekend and it makes for a great excuse to take full advantage of your time off on the weekend.

 

Or I guess you could finish up/begin your holiday shopping.

 

The Canucks and Wild played last week and the Canucks came out on top with a 2-0 shutout win. It was Casey DeSmith in net for his first shutout as a Canuck while Nils Höglander opened the scoring in the first period and Teddy Blueger gave some insurance with his goal in the third period.

 

Since their 2-0 loss to the Canucks, the Wild have gone 2-1-0 and their young forward Matt Boldy has been a big reason why they’ve been able to pick up a pair of wins over their last three. Boldy has three goals over that three-game span and has been on the ice for four goals scored and only one against.

 

Quick Hits on the Competition (Wild):

 

Wild captain Jared Spurgeon missed Thursday night’s game against the Calgary Flames and is now listed as day-to-day ahead of Saturday’s game.

The leading minute-muncher, Jonas Brodin played in the game against the Canucks last week but has since been injured and will be out of the Wild’s lineup for a significant amount of time.

With the injuries to the backend, you can expect to see Brock Faber eat up a lot of minutes. The 21-year-old Faber player 30:08 in the Wild’s last game.

Joel Eriksson Ek (14) and Marco Rossi (10) are the two Wild players with double-digits for goals this season.

The Wild are 11-12-4 on the season but are 6-2-0 since making a coaching change and bringing in John Hynes as their bench boss.

Filip Gustavsson has started 17 games this season while Marc-Andre Fleury has started 10. Both goalies have had their struggles this season but Gustavsson has had a handful of strong performances, including two shutouts on the year.

 

The Canucks wrapped up their five-game homestand on a four-game winning streak.

 

We saw Brock Boeser lead the way with five goals and eight points over the homestand. Boeser sits second in the league with 22 goals on the season. He only trails Auston Matthews and his 23 goals.

 

Andrei Kuzmenko is starting to find his scoring touch once again. Kuzmenko had 13 individual scoring chances over the homestand and has opened the scoring in each of the last two games.

 

It’s more than likely that we get a look at both Casey DeSmith and Thatcher Demko over the weekend. The duo has allowed a total of four goals over the last four games and now has combined for four shutouts on the season.

 

Demko’s save percentage is up to .923% and he now leads the league with 15 wins on the season.

 

Quinn Hughes still maintains the league lead in points and goals from a defenceman.

 

And a quick little stat for the numbers crowd out there; Conor Garland is in the top-30 of the league for control of expected goals (xGF%). He leads the Canucks with a 59.29% xGF%. To simplify, when Garland is on the ice, he and his linemates are controlling a ton of the scoring chances that are taking place and we saw those advanced stats come to fruition on Thursday night against the Panthers as Garland was on the ice for three Canucks goals at even strength and zero goals against.

 

This preview will wrap up with another reminder about those game times on the weekend.

 

Saturday against Brock Faber and the Wild is an 11:00 am PT start time.

 

Sunday against Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks is a 12:00 pm (noon) PT start time.

 

The games can be watched on Sportsnet and Brendan Batchelor will have the radio call for you on Sportsnet 650.

 

One last time... 11:00 am on Saturday and noon on Sunday!

Edited December 16, 2023 by Jaimito

[Captkirk888]

Thanks. I was wondering when a thread would appear.

 

oh, and first!

[Veskit]

let's go!

[John.Tallhouse]

[Googlie]

Two perspectives

 

https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/game-preview-wild-vs-canucks-121623

 

https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/game-notes-canucks-at-wild-121623

 

 

 

Edited December 16, 2023 by Googlie

[Karma-Kazi44]

I’m just hoping we done come out and stink the place up with an awful mid day performance. Sometimes these games throw everyone off and it’s an embarrassment. I just want to see good hockey and a strong effort. 
 

3-2 Canucks in OT is my prediction. 
 

GO CANUCKS GO!!!!!

[Jaimito]

DeSmith has a good record vs Wild.

Would be surprised if he doesn't start tonight.  Give Demko a longer rest for tomorrow. See what coach says in hr. 

[-dlc-]

I hope they can win without me! (Of course they can)

 

Half thought about going to Minny.....but, no.

 

WTH is this am game about? Whhhyyyy??! We know these games are tough to adjust to on the road. Schedule maker is getting coal this year.

 

 

 

[-dlc-]

12 minutes ago, Jaimito said:

DeSmith has a good record vs Wild.

Would be surprised if he doesn't start tonight.  Give Demko a longer rest for tomorrow. See what coach says in hr. 

"Tonight" = "today"

 

Don't want you to miss the game!

[Johngould21]

6 minutes ago, -dlc- said:

I hope they can win without me! (Of course they can)

 

Half thought about going to Minny.....but, no.

 

WTH is this am game about? Whhhyyyy??! We know these games are tough to adjust to on the road. Schedule maker is getting coal this year.

 

 

 

Home games spread out over a week, back to back day games on the road, including travel. Yup, a huge lump.

[Boudrias]

1 minute ago, -dlc- said:

"Tonight" = "today"

 

Don't want you to miss the game!

PVR is a marvelous invention.  

[Rocket-68]

33 minutes ago, -dlc- said:

I hope they can win without me! (Of course they can)

 

Half thought about going to Minny.....but, no.

 

WTH is this am game about? Whhhyyyy??! We know these games are tough to adjust to on the road. Schedule maker is getting coal this year.

 

 

 

 

Just rattle the cowbell extra hard this morning and the boys will be fine ... maybe just not quite hard enough to bounce it off your noggin this time. Millsy's play depends on the cowbell ... actually, on second thought ... rattle it like there was a winning lottery ticket stuck in there.

 

Edited December 16, 2023 by Rocket-68

[Rocket-68]

So I woke up this morning

 

 

Contemplated doing the GDT for the Wild game

 

While conducting the morning ritual, realized I am doing the one tomorrow

 

So decided to do this instead

 

GO CANUCKS GO!

 

Edited December 16, 2023 by Rocket-68

[Captkirk888]

39 minutes ago, Googlie said:

Two perspectives

 

https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/game-preview-wild-vs-canucks-121623

From Mindy’s site - Wild vs. Canucks All-Time Record:  48-38-15 (27-18-6 at Xcel Energy Center)

 

https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/game-notes-canucks-at-wild-121623

From Canucks site -  

• Vancouver is 48-37-5-11 all-time against Minnesota, including a 22-23-2-4 record on the road.

 

 

 

Some of these things don’t go together, some of these things don’t belong….

[Hairy Kneel]

DeSmith please

Let him get 2 in row vs Minny

[Hairy Kneel]

Minny barely at 500 hockey. Do they buy help or will they drift off to tank nation?

 

[Rip The Mesh]

                                                                These teams have always played it tough.

 

 

[Bure10Kuzmenko96]

48 minutes ago, Rocket-68 said:

 

Just rattle the cowbell extra hard this morning and the boys will be fine ... maybe just not quite hard enough to bounce it off your noggin this time. Millsy's play depends on the cowbell ... actually, on second thought ... rattle it like there was a winning lottery ticket stuck in there.

 

 

The beacons are lit!

[Silent Man]

Dear Santa!

Please, make Canucks go 5 and 0 before Christmas .

They can do it, just need a little help in the luck department 

[Mando27]

Afternoon game?

[Bure10Kuzmenko96]

Should be a good game

[Bure10Kuzmenko96]

Also, now I want mimosas for brunch and Belgian Waffles

[Junkyard Dog]

I won’t be able to see the game. 
 

Hopefully we win

[mbnuckfan]

Headed down from Winnipeg for this one. Four rows behind the Canucks bench, gonna be awesome. ****GO CANUCKS GO ****

Edited December 16, 2023 by mbnuckfan

[Rocket-68]

Morning game, CFF be like

 

 

Where are the true fans of this team, should be on page 34 by now!

 

Hopefully this isn't our bus today

 

Edited December 16, 2023 by Rocket-68