Vancouver Canucks Face Off Against Florida Panthers Amid Lineup Changes

The Vancouver Canucks are set to play against the Florida Panthers in a regular season NHL game scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The game, which will be broadcasted on SCRIPPS and SNP, sees both teams dealing with lineup changes due to injuries and strategic adjustments.

For the Canucks, the lineup is expected to include Danton Heinen, J.T. Miller, and Brock Boeser on the top line. Elias Pettersson will attempt to find his form, potentially alongside Jake DeBrusk and Daniel Sprong. The Canucks will miss forward Thatcher Demko due to a lower-body injury, while Dakota Joshua continues his recovery from testicular cancer.

On the Panthers’ side, the lineup faces significant absences with Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk sidelined, affecting their forward depth. Eetu Luostarinen, Anton Lundell, and Sam Reinhart are among those stepping up in Barkov and Tkachuk’s absence. Sam Reinhart has been prolific, scoring four goals in five games this season, a continuation of his form that saw him net 57 goals last season.

“It’s early still, but that’s not an excuse,” said Pettersson after a recent practice. “We’ve got to change it now. We’re not happy with the start.” These words come as the Canucks attempt to rebound from a string of losses at the start of the season.

The Canucks’ defense will see Erik Brännström making his season debut, paired with veteran Tyler Myers. Brännström was recalled from Abbotsford of the American Hockey League (AHL) after Aatu Räty was reassigned. Brännström’s ability to facilitate quick puck transitions is seen as a strategic asset by head coach Rick Tocchet, who remarked, “He can get the puck up. He’s a one-pass breakout guy, plus he walks the blue line very well.”

The Panthers have shown resilience with a current season record of 3-2-0. Despite key injuries, players like Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell are contributing significantly, maintaining the team’s competitive edge.

The starting goaltender for the Canucks is expected to be Kevin Lankinen, following Arturs Silovs‘ recent performance against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Meanwhile, the Panthers are likely to start Sergei Bobrovsky, despite a strong performance by Spencer Knight in their recent victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Canucks aim to capitalize on the Panthers’ injury-induced depth issues, particularly targeting the Panthers’ third and fourth lines for scoring opportunities.