GDT #76: 3/30/15 | 7:00PM CST | v Canucks | FSMW/KMOX

[dmiles2186]

CANUCKS (43-27-5) at BLUES (46-22-7)

TV: SNP, FS-MW

Season series: The Vancouver Canucks have defeated the St. Louis Blues in their two previous games, including a 6-5 shootout victory on March 1. The Canucks scored on all three shootout attempts. Yannick Weber had a goal and an assist and Radim Vrbata and Ronalds Kenins each had two assists for the Canucks. David Backes had a goal and an assist, and T.J. Oshie had three assists for St. Louis.

Canucks team scope: Vancouver begins a four-game road trip Monday following a 4-3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars on Saturday. The Canucks left home three points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings for second place in the Pacific Division and four ahead of the Calgary Flames, who are in third. "When we go on the road, that's the big challenge that we've got coming ahead with Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis [and Winnipeg]," coach Willie Desjardins told the Canucks website. "You can play good hockey in their buildings and not win, but we've got to play well and hopefully we'll get something." Desjardins was unsure if right wing Brad Richardson (ankle) would accompany the Canucks on the trip.

Blues team scope: Forwards Alexander Steen and Oshie may return Monday. Oshie missed the Blues’ 4-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday with flu-like symptoms and Steen left midway through the first period with a lower-body injury following a knee-on-knee collision with Columbus' Cody Goloubef. Neither skated on Sunday but coach Ken Hitchcock said they're questionable. "We'll see tomorrow, see if [Steen's] ready to go tomorrow," Hitchcock said. "He'll be questionable to go for tomorrow, day-to-day. Better today, we'll see how he is tomorrow. We'll have to see on [Oshie] too. I would say both are questionable. Both were here today. ... If both skate tomorrow, they'll play." The Blues (99 points) trail the Nashville Predators by three points for first place in the Central Division with a game in hand. Goalie Brian Elliott will start.

[gaijin]

Just. Freaking. Win.

2 points, please.

[STLADOGG]

Well, with Nashville losing yesterday we control our destiny. Lets get a big win against these jabronis.

[glen a richter]

Whatever happens from game #76-82 happens. What matters is if the next big win streak starts from game #83.

[drwoland]

Everybody JUST BE COOL.

Blues 4
Canucks 1

[cprice12]

Be cool honey bunny.

[rorschach]

Oh great, another team the blues cannot defeat, hopefully we don't run into the (Franking) canucks in the playoffs.

[STLADOGG]

Be cool honey bunny.

Haha nice. Now that's one bad mother fucker.

[WaukeeBlues]

Puck hasn't dropped yet!!

Blues 4
Canucks 1

Oshie with 2 goals in his return.

LETS GO BLUES

[Portland Blues]

Just checked the score and see we're still going with the "spot the other team the first goal to make it a challenge" strategy...

[Krigloch the Furious]

Cool. They look like shit.

[Krigloch the Furious]

No really, these guys suck.

[Nyghtewynd]

Still waiting around for Hitch/Army to build a Cup contender? How's that working out for everybody?

[gaijin]

Any word on Tarasenko? I never saw him return to the bench.

[Portland Blues]

Good freakin' lord...

[ComradeT]

[youtube][/youtube]

[Nyghtewynd]

And Oshie just threw Hitch under the bus in the postgame. But go get those playoff tickets now!

[ComradeT]

Yeah, that's bullshit. They were fine all season, plenty of decisiveness and creativity. Better turn to the mirror and admit to themselves that they are (Franking) scared to flop again, and their nerves got them holding their sticks too tight and thinking too much. The past few games had similar themes - everyone is in a rush, they try to cram through the middle instead of opening up the ice and bad decisions are made all over trying to do complicated things when simpler options are right there for the taking. Can't blame the coach for the players' inability to calm down and get back to the basics.

[JesusNEVERexisted]

Everybody JUST BE COOL.

Blues 4
Canucks 1

Exactly right! But you just got the teams reversed.

[STLADOGG]

Maybe Home Ice isn't that important 3 straight home losses in a row.