Vancouver Canucks News

The low-scoring, defensively challenged Vancouver Canucks have not made life easy for Lankinen between the pipes, but he has played serviceably in recent outings. The 30-year-old Finnish goalie has quality starts in six of his last eight games (1-6-1), posting a 2.87 GAA and a .898 SV%. That said, the Canucks enter Wednesday's contest as significant +370 road underdogs against a first-place Avalanche team coming off a dominant 9-2 win over the Calgary Flames.

Lankinen was supposed to have the night off in Vancouver's previous game, but a poor showing from Nikita Tolopilo thrust Lankinen between the pipes in relief midway through the game. He allowed three goals on 12 shots (.750 SV%) in a 7-3 loss to the Calgary Flames. The 30-year-old Lankinen has lost nine of his last 10 (1-8-1), posting an ugly 3.93 GAA and .862 SV%. The Canucks enter Monday's contest as -334 home underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights, who are in their first game under new head coach John Tortorella.

Curtis Douglas will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Hoglander to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Hoglander is averaging 11:34 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 28 games this season.

Nils Hoglander will draw back into Vancouver's lineup on Thursday, resulting in Douglas being a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Dougal is averaging 9:00 time-on-ice and has a -4 plus/minus in five games with the Canucks.

The Canucks continue to rest at the bottom of the NHL, boasting a league-worst -80 goal differential, but the team has gotten some decent performances from Lankinen lately, despite the poor play around him. The 30-year-old Finnish goalie has allowed two or fewer goals in three of his last six games (1-4-1), posting a 3.01 GAA and .892 SV%. The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as +154 home underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team riding a four-game losing streak (0-3-1).

Mancini will take a seat on Tuesday in order to make way for Pierre-Olivier Joseph's return from an upper-body injury. Mancini is yet to register a point through 19 games this season.

Joseph has not played since March 2nd due to an upper-body injury, but will return on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 26-year-old defenseman is averaging 13:18 time-on-ice and has five points (1G / 4A) in 24 games this season.

Max Sasson will draw back into Vancouver's lineup on Tuesday, sending Hoglander to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Hoglander is averaging 11:34 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 28 games this season.

Nils Hoglander will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks, allowing Sasson to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Sasson is averaging 11:39 time-on-ice and has 15 points (11G / 4A) in 58 games this season.

Joseph has not played since March 2nd due to an upper-body injury, but could be an option on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 26-year-old defenseman is averaging 13:18 time-on-ice and has five points (1G / 4A) in 24 games this season.

Lankinen has strung together some solid outings, but has been on the wrong side of most of them for the offensively challenged Canucks. The 30-year-old Finnish goalie saved 18 of 20 shots (.900 SV%) in his most recent outing, but did not receive enough goal support, losing 3-1 to the St. Louis Blues. He has allowed three or fewer goals in four of his last five games, but only has a 1-3-1 record to show for it. The Canucks enter Tuesday's contest as +157 home underdogs against an Anaheim Ducks team with points in four straight games (3-0-1).