The hits just keep on coming, don’t they?

Vancouver Canucks vs Colorado Avalanche

Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC

When: 7:00 PM PST

Where to watch: Sportsnet Pacific, Altitude

Where to listen: Sportsnet650

SB Nation Game Hub

Opposition Blog: https://www.milehighhockey.com/

Jim Benning, with a vote of confidence from ownership and has been eager to show that he does indeed have a plan for the Canucks.

So despite Gudbranson being a serious defensive liability, one who makes the people he plays with worse, by literally every metric available, Benning has decided that he will ignore that there are others who value his size and I guess grit and that he was a high 1st round pick, locking him up rather than getting draft picks for him in a trade. And so who does that leave? Tanev? Well...

If there’s one saving grace in this disaster, it might be this nugget:

Anyway, more detailed stuff on this ham-stringing to come down the road, let’s focus on the game, shall we?

These teams met 3 weeks ago, and while the Canucks have continued to spiral towards the bottom of the NHL standings, Colorado’s stumbled a bit, having won 4 of their last 10 and find themselves 5 points back of the last wild card spot in the West. Not an insurmountable wall, but time is running out if they want to make it to the dance.

The Avs are coming into this one without Erik Johnson and Anton Lindholm, who were both banged up in their loss to Edmonton Sunday night. They’ve recalled David Warsofsky and Andrei Mironov from San Antonio of the AHL. Semyon Varlamov will get the start tonight for Colorado.

The Canucks injury woes continue as they have recalled Richard Bachman from Utica, and he’ll back up Anders Nilsson tonight. Jacob Markstrom is out, and while we’re not sure what it is he tweaked, and how long he’ll be out, this is good as a last chance showcase if the Canucks have any plans to trade Nilsson.

It also looks like Chris Tanev is going to be out longer than first thought. He has a ‘small fracture’ which could see him out of the lineup for 3 or 4 weeks. Sam Gagner won’t play tonight, but may return to the lineup Friday against Vegas.

GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN

Dead Cross features Mike Patton (Faith No More) and Dave Lombardo (Slayer/Suicidal Tendencies) and while they’re pretty amazing on their own, here’s a clip of them covering Dead Kennedys and Slayer. You’re welcome.