Vancouver Canucks at Flyers – Big Hits and Line-up Changes

— The Vancouver Canucks take their road show to Philadelphia today for a 4 pm pacific start. It’s game-two of the season opening roadie that will also see stops in Detroit, Buffalo, Chicago and Seattle. The Canucks home opener is October 26th against the Minnesota Wild and NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly seems to think that Rogers Arena might be allowed 100% fan capacity by that point. For now the province is dictating 50% capacity limits for such events.

— Without a doubt, the hit of the game the other night in Edmonton against the Oilers came from Vancouver Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers when he crushed Oilers D-man Duncan Keith with a hit deep inside the Edmonton zone. Keith passed the puck from the right wing corner, looked up, and boom!  The hit came at 15:16 of the second period and presumably had Canucks TV viewers jumping out of their seats at home. Keith continues to be routinely booed when he touches the puck at Rogers Arena for earlier transgressions against the Canucks when he was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks. His infamous elbow to the head of Henrik Sedin in March of 2012 being the benchmark.

“It could have been anybody that I was making the hit on, it just happened to be a guy that has a lot of history with the city (Vancouver),” Myers told the media Friday morning with a smile. “It just happened to be that one guy, and I haven’t paid too much attention to the (positive) chatter.”

— During our real time reaction and analysis of the game in Edmonton Wednesday night, VHN pointed out the early deficiencies, or discombobulation, from forward Alex Chiasson at even strength, originally lined-up with Elias Pettersson and JT Miller on what would have been considered the top line. By the time the 2nd period was over the line-up had been juggled and it appears Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Travis Green will roll with the changes.

At the morning skate Friday, Green had moved Chiasson down with Justin Dowling and Juho Lammikko and put Russian rookie Vitaly Podkolzin up with Pettersson and Miller. While Chiasson proved effective with his net-front game on the power play, creating scoring chances and earning most of his five shots on goal, the new even-strength look gives the top line more skill, quickness and creativity.

— Green announced Thatcher Demko, our first star from Wednesday, would get the start once again in net. Injured forward Brock Boeser will remain out of the line-up but he did skate extensively this morning. It will be interesting to see if he’s able to go in the Canucks next game as it comes quickly, Saturday night in Detroit. The team then has two days off before playing in Buffalo on Tuesday.

Enjoy the Hockey Action!