By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter

November 17, 2024

The Vancouver Canucks (9-4-3, t-3rd Pacific Division) and Nashville Predators (5-10-3, t-7th Central Division) are facing off tonight at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.

This is the first of three meetings between these teams this season, and their first encounter since their first-round series in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where the Canucks eliminated the Predators.

Game Background

• The Canucks are coming off a 4-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks last night. They are looking to build a winning streak.
• The Predators are currently on a 3-game losing streak and are looking to bounce back after being shut out 2-0 by the Calgary Flames on Friday. This is their third game in a five-game road trip.

Tonight’s Matchup

• Quinn Hughes leads the Canucks in points with 17 (3 goals, 14 assists). J.T. Miller has 16 points (6 goals, 10 assists) and Conor Garland has 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists). Elias Pettersson has 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) with 10 points; Jake DeBrusk has 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists).
• Filip Forsberg leads the team with 13 points (8 goals, 5 assists). Roman Josi has 12 points (1 goal, 11 assists), and Ryan O’Reilly has 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists).
• Kevin Lankinen is expected to start for the Canucks. He has an 8-2-2 record with a .907 save percentage.
• Juuse Saros is the likely starter for the Predators. He has a 4-8-2 record with a .915 save percentage.

Team Stats

Keys to the Game:

• Canucks:
  • Vancouver needs to maintain the momentum from their win against Chicago and capitalize on their home-ice advantage.
  • Canucks need to be disciplined and avoid taking penalties and play better defensively, limiting Predators odd man rushes and interfere with their transition game.
• Predators:
  • Nashville needs to find a way to generate more offense and break out of their scoring slump. In the last 10 games, they are 2-8-0 with 20 GF and 30 GA.
  • They also need to tighten up defensively and limit the Canucks’ scoring chances.

Prediction

This game could be a close one.

The Canucks have the home-ice advantage and are coming off a win, but the Predators are a desperate team looking to snap their losing streak.

It will likely come down to which team can execute their game plan more effectively.

No disrespect to the Predators, the Canucks should win this game with a full team effort.

Vancouver started slow last night and were able to bide time until they got in stride. That can’t happen against the Predators.

If it does, Nashville has enough talent, if they show up, to make Vancouver pay for an inconsistent game and a lackluster effort.

If the team isn’t prepared for this game and the players fail to provide the necessary effort and execution to win, nothing has changed and “inconsistency ” will be ingrained in the Canucks game until management finds making the playoffs threatened.

Source: nhl.com, statmuse.com