Canucks Sport Day: It's Roberto Luongo's large day, however will Panthers have their manner?

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Florida Panthers (17-9-2) at Vancouver Canucks (19-9-1)

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When/the place: Thursday, 7 p.m., Rogers Area

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TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650

The thrill: Brock Boeser’s redemption and revival season has captured the creativeness of your complete NHL as a result of good issues are presupposed to occur to good individuals — particularly after they’re respectful, humble, put within the work and don’t put themselves above others.

Boeser is tied with Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the league purpose lead with 21 in 29 video games. He had simply 18 objectives in two earlier seasons riddled with damage, self-doubt and the psychological anguish of his father’s failing well being and passing.

When the Canucks winger struck for this fifth profession hat trick Tuesday in a powerful 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning to stretch the present win streak to 4 video games, it was a win-win. The Canucks’ credo about caring for their very own enterprise — it’s about them and never the opposition — speaks of progress below the path of head coach Rick Tocchet.

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They’re now not in awe. Their focus is laser sharp.

“Prior to now, we’ve possibly nervous about our opponent,” stated goaltender Thatcher Demko, who made 28 saves in opposition to the Lightning, together with 5 off sniper Steven Stamkos. “The arrogance stage is such that if we play our recreation, we all know we’re going to compete with each group within the league.”

The historical past: Second assembly of the season. The Canucks blew a 3-1 lead in Florida on Oct. 21, however rallied late with a purpose from Andrei Kuzmenko and empty-netter by Boeser to assert a 5-3 victory. Quinn Hughes had 5 photographs and 9 makes an attempt and Casey DeSmith made 33 saves. Final season, the Canucks went 0-2-0 in opposition to the Panthers, shedding 5-1 at dwelling on Dec. 1 and 4-3 in Florida on Jan. 14.

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The hope: The league’s highest-scoring group at 3.83 objectives per outing finds early tempo and push. And an enhancing penalty kill retains utilizing Nils Aman, Dakota Joshua and Teddy Blueger extra and doesn’t tax J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, who logged 1:22 and 0:25 respectively Tuesday throughout three profitable kills.

The worry: The Canucks get caught up within the Roberto Luongo induction into the Ring of Honour hoopla, begin slowly and have hassle discovering their recreation, which looks as if a stretch. They’ve been taking part in their most full video games of the season within the newest win streak.

Nonetheless, seeing the Luongo ceremony might be one thing particular. Tocchet was an assistant coach in Pittsburgh when Luongo moved on to Florida and he marvelled on the measurement, talent and sturdiness of one of many nice stoppers. From 2003-04 to 2007-08, Luongo logged 72, 75, 76 and 73 video games, which is unparalleled in at present’s goalie-management technique of relaxation and restoration to remain contemporary and keep away from damage.

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“He was one of many outdated guys again within the day like (Martin) Brodeur and (Patrick) Roy,” Tocchet stated Wednesday following observe. “Very sturdy and a giant man within the internet who was very quiet. Pucks hit him and he swalllowed them up and never a variety of rebounds.

“I’m amazed that these guys performed that a lot. Now, we’re very aware of load administration. Once we performed Brodeur, I couldn’t even identify his backup. Really, it was Craig Billington, and he can be mad at me if I didn’t bear in mind. In at present’s recreation, the backups they usually’re good goalies.”

The highest weapons: The Canucks proceed to dominate NHL scoring. Miller was second with 42 factors (15-27) heading into league play Wednesday and has seven power-play objectives. Hughes had three assists Tuesday and was tied for third with 39 factors (9-30) whereas Pettersson was tied for eighth with 37 factors (11-26).

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The wounded: Canucks: Carson Soucy (foot, six to eight weeks, LTIR), Pius Suter (decrease physique, day-to-day), Guillaume Brisebois (concussion, LTIR). Panthers: Josh Mahura (undisclosed, IR).

The quote: “Brock is only a good man and is aware of the spots to go at. And he has sharpened his defensive recreation and nonetheless desires to get higher, however it’s night time and day from final 12 months.” — Tocchet on Boeser.

The lineup:

Mikheyev-Pettersson-Lafferty

Hoglander-Miller-Boeser

Joshua-Blueger-Garland

Kuzmenko-Aman-Di Giuseppe

Hughes-Hronek

Cole-Juulsen

Zadorov- Myers

The prediction: The Canucks push their file when main after two intervals to 17-0-0, strike on the facility play and have one other strong penalty killing efficiency to tame the powerful Panthers in a 4-2 victory.

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