The Vancouver Canucks kick off a road back-to-back on Sunday by facing the Vegas Golden Knights. Vancouver enters the matchup looking to halt a seven-game losing streak and secure their first victory of November.
Roster and Lineup Changes
Head coach Manny Malhotra is shaking up his forward combinations. Morning skate rushes indicate that Jonathan Lekkerimäki will skate alongside Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk. Meanwhile, Brock Boeser shifts to a line featuring Filip Chytil and Paul Cotter. The Canucks also made a pair of roster adjustments over the past 24 hours, recalling goaltender Nikita Tolopilo while sending Jacob Quillan down to the Abbotsford Canucks.
As for the crease, Leevi Meriläinen is projected to get the start. Although Kevin Lankinen occupied the starter’s net initially, the 24-year-old Meriläinen was the first goaltender to leave the ice, as reported by Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy. Meriläinen holds a 2-9-1 record this season and has received the nod in each of the past four games.
Projected Lineup and Game Details
The projected forward combinations feature DeBrusk alongside Pettersson and Lekkerimäki, followed by Öhgren with Rossi and Karlsson. Cotter centers Chytil and Boeser, while O’Connor joins Sasson and Gallagher up front. On defense, Buium pairs with Hronek, Pettersson teams with Willander, and Oleksiak partners with Crotty.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PCT at T-Mobile Arena. Fans can catch the television broadcast on Sportsnet or listen to the radio call on KiSS West Coast.
