How to watch Canucks vs. Flames online, preview, game time and TV schedule
With a new head coach, the Canucks begin their quest to get back into the postseason tonight in Calgary.
Vancouver and Calgary begin their schedules tonight as the Pacific Division rivals wrap up the NHL’s opening slate of games, and these are two teams that have played amid strange circumstances in recent history.
Some of the destructive elements that sparked the bad blood between the Canucks and Flames are gone, as John Tortorella, former Vancouver coach and hallway invader of the Flames, was fired this offseason. Tortorella lasted one year behind the Canucks bench, which also coincided with Vancouver’s five-season postseason streak being snapped.
It's been the exact opposite case for the Flames, who have missed out on the playoffs for the past five seasons, but have a more competitive roster this year, although it will still be an uphill climb cracking the top eight in the cutthroat Western Conference. Last year's top player in college hockey Johnny Gaudreau has certainly created some excitement in Calgary, and he begins his first full season of professional hockey tonight. All Gaudreau did late last season when he got a one-game taste of NHL play was score a goal, something Gaudreau will be expected to do quite a bit for the Flames.
A team that battled injuries in 2013-14, the Canucks are without some familiar faces, as Vancouver traded Roberto Luongo back to Florida at last year's trade deadline, and then moved Ryan Kesler to the Ducks before this year's draft. In the crease, the Canucks found a replacement in free agency inking Ryan Miller, while Nick Bonino, a skilled forward up front, was acquired in the Kesler deal. The biggest key to success for Vancouver this year will be keeping the Sedin twins healthy, as Daniel and Henrik are undoubtedly Vancouver's motor, and as vital to their team's success as any tandem in the league.
Sans Tortorella, this does again figure to be a matchup with less fireworks, although Calgary did its part to bulk up and add punching power this offseason. The Flames' fourth line of Brian McGrattan, Lance Bouma, and Brandon Bollig pack about as much punching-power as any trio in the league. If things go south tonight for Calgary, those are three prime candidates to muck it up, and renew some of that bad blood between these two clubs.
Vanocuver Canucks at Calgary Flames
10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Scotiabank Saddledome | Calgary, Alberta, Canada
In the United States: NHL Center Ice, GameCenter Live
In Canada: Sportsnet, TVA Sports 2 (French)
More: Canucks blog | Flames blog
