04/21/2024 – CanucksBanter

Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet Media Availability Message “BE LOUD!”:

"From what I heard in the past, this building in the playoffs is one of the best rocking…For me [to the fans] the message is, be loud. Encourage the guys.”

🗣 Hear from Head Coach Rick Tocchet ahead of this year's first playoff game at Rogers Arena.@theprovince | #Canucks pic.twitter.com/WB3vHexAKw
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 21, 2024

It has been a while since Rogers Arena had a playoff game:

Only two fanbases have waited longer than #Canucks fans have to see a playoff game (2015), and one of them doesn’t exist anymore:

Buffalo Sabres (2011)
Arizona Coyotes (2012)
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) April 21, 2024

Canucks opt for optional skate today before Predators game:

#Canucks optional skate featuring 12 skaters and 3 goaltenders (DeSmith, Demko, Silovs) ahead of Game 1.

Mostly the club’s core, veteran players have taken the option this morning, although Miller and Hronek are getting in a skate. pic.twitter.com/y8iVqGNDjA
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) April 21, 2024

Canucks-Predators Matchups:

A look at how the Vancouver Canucks match up against the Nashville Predators! pic.twitter.com/GCTMqiSLoy
— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) April 21, 2024

Canucks Reminder To Fans, “BE LOUD!”-

Rick Tocchet’s message to #Canucks fans heading into tonight’s game? “Be loud.” pic.twitter.com/o0Sm5CpMj7
— Gemma Karstens-Smith (@gkarstenssmith) April 21, 2024

Surprise, Surprise, Thatcher Demko is Canucks starting goalie tonight:

No surprise, but Thatcher Demko is the first #Canucks goalie off of the ice at morning skate and is your projected starter for Vancouver’s first home playoff game in 9 years.
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) April 21, 2024

Emergency BackUp Goalie for tonight is Artūrs Šilovs:

General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that G Artūrs Šilovs has been recalled from Abbotsford (AHL) under emergency conditions. Silovs will serve as the EBUG for Game 1 vs Nashville.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 21, 2024

EBUG Goalie takes shots in optional skate:

J.T. Miller and Filip Hronek stayed out late to shoot on Silovs and work on skills from their respective primary spots on the power play (right flank, point) with Sergei Gonchar.

Nils Åman, Noah Juulsen, Mark Friedman and Vasili Podkolzin in a rinse group. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/Xu1GskOHDp
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) April 21, 2024

Thomas Drance explains the importance of the EBUG:

As I understand it, NHL clubs with AHL affiliates still competing in the playoffs are permitted to use an emergency recall to bring up an EBUG for the postseason.

This allows them to preserve their 3 playoff recall slots. #Canucks https://t.co/x3yOgrFvfI
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) April 21, 2024

Canucks lines at April 20th practice, based on opening drills:

#Canucks lines at Saturday practice, based on opening drills:

Suter-Miller-Boeser
Höglander-Pettersson-Laffery
Joshua-Lindholm-Garland
Di Giuseppe-Blueger-Mikheyev

Hughes-Hronek
Soucy-Myers
Cole-Zadorov

Extras: Podkolzin, Åman, Juulsen. pic.twitter.com/3LhkPCKhKI
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) April 20, 2024

Source: X (formerly Twitter)