Bolts host the Canucks tonight. Time is starting to run out on the Lightning if they want to even be relevant in the playoff discussion this year, but they face a pretty tough foe tonight. The Canucks did play last night, a loss against the Florida Panthers. If we're lucky the travel, plus being the 2nd of a back to back plays into our favor.
For the Canucks, obviously, the big line is H. Sedin, D. Sedin, Burrows, but they really bring a full 2 (2.5 depending on how you look at things) lines that can score. The group of forwards are good at cycling, creating space by passing, and their movement away from the puck is extremely strong. It's one of the best passing teams I've seen. They will perfectly execute a ton of drop passes to create space (see my write up on the game against the Canadiens to see what I'm talking about) and pull off crazy east/west passes as well. They can score every way. Off the rush, shots from the points with screens, or just grinding away and getting pucks to the net with traffic (which their bottom 2 lines will typically do).
Rush coverage will be huge, similar to when the Lightning played the Flyers. And gap control against the rush will be paramount. Extremely important to get sticks on pucks against the rush to take away time for the opposing forwards creativity.
The Canucks definitely are *not* a dump and chase team, which is really the best tactic against the Lightning's 1-3-1, so it will be interesting to see if they change up their offense at all for this game.
Their goaltending is strong, but their D is so so. They are slow footed (like the Lightning), so they can be beat with sheer speed. And number 23 on defense, Edler...while a great d man, is definitely weak along the boards. If he is on the ice, I would get the puck past the red line, make him turn his back and hit him, because he *will* give up the puck that way.
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