Canucks face injury-riddled Predators
Posted April 15, 2013 11:14 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NASHVILLE, TN (NEWS1130) – The Vancouver Canucks will try to bounce back from a 4-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Denver Saturday when they begin a busy week with a visit to the struggling Nashville Predators.
While the Canucks saw their four-game winning streak come to an end against Colorado, the Predators have lost six in a row and are 1-7-2 in their last ten games, which has knocked Nashville nine points out of a playoff spot with only five games left in their regular season.
Roberto Luongo will get the start in goal with Cory Schneider expected to start in St Louis tomorrow night. Luongo, who started in just one of 11 games between March 19th and April 8th, will have his second starting assignment in three games.
The Canucks have also been experimenting with different forward line combinations. Ryan Kesler has been playing right wing beside centre Derek Roy and Alex Burrows. Roy hasn’t scored in five games as a Canuck and is pointless in the last four. The third line at practice has been Andrew Ebbett between Mason Raymond and Zack Kassian. Jannik Hansen is expected to stay with Daniel and Henrik Sedin on the top line.
Nashville is also reeling from injuries with Colin Wilson, Paul Gastad, and Gabriel Bourque all out for the season. Patrick Hornqvist, Brandon Yip and Mike Fisher all missed the Predators 3-0 loss to Detroit Sunday and are considered day-to-day.
The Canucks have taken both meetings with the Predators this season, 7-4 at Rogers Arena on March 14th and 1-0 in Nashville on February 22nd. Game time is 5 p.m. (Rogers Sportsnet Pacific).
