Canucks Recreation Day: Quinn Hughes versus Cale Makar is appointment viewing

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Vancouver Canucks (13-5-1) at Colorado Avalanche (11-6-0)

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When/the place: Wednesday, 7 p.m., Ball Area

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TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650

The excitement: It’s not “The Struggle of the Century” that featured legendary heavyweights Muhammad Ali in opposition to Joe Frazier, however you get the concept. A marquee matchup between Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar — two gifted defencemen who can ship physique blows with chic skating, pin-point passing and artistic pictures — will likely be appointment viewing.

Not solely did Hughes transfer into the NHL scoring lead Monday with two factors, together with matching his profession excessive of eight targets, his 30 factors in 19 video games screams early Norris Trophy and even Calder Trophy consideration. However he is aware of what awaits Wednesday after a 3-1 triumph Monday over San Jose.

“It was win going into Colorado as a result of I noticed they misplaced (4-3 in Nashville) they usually’re going to be able to go,” stated Hughes. “It’s going to be a extremely good problem for us.”

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That’s so Hughes. He’s a complete group man. He vowed to get stronger within the offseason and added a brand new dimension with a vastly-improved shot. However he simply desires to win. The playoffs imply every part, though he was second in defencemen scoring final season.

“I needed to be within the playoffs and be on a profitable group with a profitable group,” he stated. “We’ve been profitable to start out the yr, however we’ve acquired to maintain going.”

The historical past: The Canucks went 2-1-0 in opposition to the Avalanche final season. They prevailed 4-3 in Denver on Nov. 23 and received 4-2 at dwelling on Jan. 5 earlier than dropping a 4-1 determination at Rogers Area on Jan. 20. Within the highway win, third-period targets by Sheldon Dries and Ethan Bear erased a 3-2 Avs lead. Within the home-ice win, the Canucks erased a 2-0 deficit with four-straight targets, together with two by Andrei Kuzmenko.

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The hope: The Canucks discovered easy methods to grind out a win Monday. Their prime strains struggled early and a scoreless recreation within the second interval examined their resolve. That must be the plan in Denver. Don’t get in a run-and-gun recreation. Colorado is banged up, however remains to be third in targets per recreation at 3.76.

The worry: Getting caught up within the second and dropping system staples. Makar will be a part of the push and make one thing occur. Mikko Rantanen has 11 targets, three power-play targets and 4 recreation winners. Nathan MacKinnon is a swift and direct beast with the puck and may’t be neglected. He has 22 factors.

The highest weapons: The NHL scoring record continues to appear like a Canucks roll name. Other than Hughes and his main 30 factors (8-22), J.T. Miller is tied for second with 29 factors (12-17) and tied for the league lead with six power-play targets. Elias Pettersson is tied for fourth with 20 factors (8-20).

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The wounded: Canucks: Carson Soucy (foot, six to eight weeks), Pius Suter (undisclosed, day-to-day), Guillaume Brisebois (concussion, LTIR). Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog (knee, IR), Artturi Lehkonen, (neck, IR), Jean-Luc Foudy (decrease physique, IR), Pavel Francouz (groin, IR), Chris Wagner (ruptured Achilles, IR), Samuel Girard (private day-to-day).

The quote: “He’s taking pictures with site visitors and timing his pictures rather well. He doesn’t have probably the most highly effective shot. However when he will get it off, he’s at bizarre angles and the goalie is in a bizarre spot and there’s site visitors. They’re moving into at a excessive charge, which is superior.” — Miller on the creativity of Hughes.

The lineup:

Mikheyev-Pettersson-Kuzmenko

Di Giuseppe-Miller-Boeser

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Joshua-Blueger-Garland

Hoglander-Lafferty-Beauvillier

Hughes-Hronek

Cole-Juulsen

Friedman-Myers

The prediction: By enjoying onerous and sensible, the Canucks are going to get their appears. Drawing penalties will put the league’s third-ranked energy play in opposition to the fifth-ranked penalty kill. Canucks intestine one out and prevail 4-3.

(FAN FORUM: Do you could have a particular query for a participant? Go it alongside to @provincesports and we’ll get it in a future version.)

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