{"id":35395,"date":"2025-12-27T10:16:06","date_gmt":"2025-12-27T15:16:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/27\/vancouver-canucks-gameday-preview-37-fresh-faces-back-in-action-as-canucks-gear-up-to-battle-san-jose-sharks\/"},"modified":"2025-12-27T10:16:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-27T15:16:06","slug":"vancouver-canucks-gameday-preview-37-fresh-faces-back-in-action-as-canucks-gear-up-to-battle-san-jose-sharks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/27\/vancouver-canucks-gameday-preview-37-fresh-faces-back-in-action-as-canucks-gear-up-to-battle-san-jose-sharks\/","title":{"rendered":"Vancouver Canucks Gameday Preview #37: Fresh Faces Back in Action as Canucks Gear Up to Battle San Jose Sharks"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/27\/vancouver-canucks-gameday-preview-37-fresh-faces-back-in-action-as-canucks-gear-up-to-battle-san-jose-sharks\/#Key_Players_to_Watch\" >Key Players to Watch:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/27\/vancouver-canucks-gameday-preview-37-fresh-faces-back-in-action-as-canucks-gear-up-to-battle-san-jose-sharks\/#Vancouver_Canucks_Standouts\" >Vancouver Canucks Standouts:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/27\/vancouver-canucks-gameday-preview-37-fresh-faces-back-in-action-as-canucks-gear-up-to-battle-san-jose-sharks\/#Goaltenders\" >Goaltenders:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/27\/vancouver-canucks-gameday-preview-37-fresh-faces-back-in-action-as-canucks-gear-up-to-battle-san-jose-sharks\/#San_Jose_Sharks_Standouts\" >San Jose Sharks Standouts:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/27\/vancouver-canucks-gameday-preview-37-fresh-faces-back-in-action-as-canucks-gear-up-to-battle-san-jose-sharks\/#Goaltenders-2\" >Goaltenders:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/12\/27\/vancouver-canucks-gameday-preview-37-fresh-faces-back-in-action-as-canucks-gear-up-to-battle-san-jose-sharks\/#Game_Details\" >Game Details:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Following a five-game road trip and a holiday break, the Vancouver Canucks (15-18-3) return home to face the San Jose Sharks (17-17-3). Before the break, Vancouver suffered a 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in their first game led by new head coach Rick Tocchet. Meanwhile, San Jose entered the break on a losing streak, having recently been defeated 7-2 by the Vegas Golden Knights.<\/p>\n<p>This game marks the debut of new Canucks players Jeev Bouium, Marco Rossi, and Liam Ogren in front of the home crowd. It&#8217;s also the first time fans will see the team without Quinn Hughes, a key player since 2019. Fans are eager to see how the team adjusts and how Tocchet&#8217;s leadership influences the Canucks&#8217; performance moving forward.<\/p>\n<p>Before the loss to the Flyers, the Canucks were enjoying a four-game winning streak, fueled by better systems and strong goaltending from Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen. Tonight&#8217;s game could signal a turning point for fans hoping the team can recover and aim for the postseason. For those supportive of a rebuild effort, this game sets the tone for the team&#8217;s future direction.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Players_to_Watch\"><\/span>Key Players to Watch:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Zeev Buium<\/strong><br \/>\nBouium has yet to play in front of Vancouver fans since being acquired during the road trip. He&#8217;s played five games alongside Tyler Myers, tallying one goal and two assists. Seen as Hughes&#8217; potential successor, Bouium is an offensive-defenseman who could significantly boost the Canucks&#8217; lineup.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Macklin Celebrini<\/strong><br \/>\nCelebrini is among the NHL&#8217;s top scorers at just 19 years old and has been a highlight of the Sharks&#8217; season, trailing only Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon in points. As a North Vancouver native and former Canucks fan, tonight marks his third NHL game in Vancouver, drawing extra attention from local fans.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Vancouver_Canucks_Standouts\"><\/span>Vancouver Canucks Standouts:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Elias Pettersson: 8 goals, 14 assists, 22 points  <\/li>\n<li>Kiefer Sherwood: 16 goals, 4 assists, 20 points  <\/li>\n<li>Connor Garland: 7 goals, 13 assists, 20 points  <\/li>\n<li>Filip Hronek: 2 goals, 18 assists, 20 points  <\/li>\n<li>Evander Kane: 6 goals, 12 assists, 18 points<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Goaltenders\"><\/span>Goaltenders:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Thatcher Demko: 8-6-0  <\/li>\n<li>Kevin Lankinen: 5-10-3  <\/li>\n<li>Nikita Tropilo: 2-1-0  <\/li>\n<li>Jizzy Patera: 0-1-0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"San_Jose_Sharks_Standouts\"><\/span>San Jose Sharks Standouts:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Macklin Celebrini: 19 goals, 36 assists, 55 points  <\/li>\n<li>Will Smith: 12 goals, 17 assists, 29 points  <\/li>\n<li>Tyler Toffoli: 10 goals, 15 assists, 25 points  <\/li>\n<li>Alexander Wennberg: 7 goals, 16 assists, 23 points  <\/li>\n<li>William Eklund: 8 goals, 14 assists, 22 points<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Goaltenders-2\"><\/span>Goaltenders:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Yaroslav Askarov: 12-10-1  <\/li>\n<li>Alex Nedeljkovic: 5-7-2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Game_Details\"><\/span>Game Details:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Start Time: 7 PM PT  <\/li>\n<li>Venue: Rogers Arena  <\/li>\n<li>Broadcast: Sportsnet, Radio Sportsnet 650<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This match is crucial as it offers a glimpse into how the Canucks&#8217; recent roster changes and coaching leadership will shape their future performance. Fans watching closely will gauge whether the team can capitalize on the momentum built before the break or face more challenges ahead.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Fan Take:<\/strong> This matchup is a critical moment for both the Canucks and Sharks as they test the impact of new players and strategies halfway through the season. For hockey fans, it signals potential shifts in team dynamics and future league standings, making it an exciting game to follow that could influence the sport&#8217;s evolving landscape.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Following a five-game road trip and a holiday break, the Vancouver Canucks (15-18-3) return home to face the San Jose Sharks (17-17-3). Before the break, Vancouver suffered a 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in their first game led by new head coach Rick Tocchet. Meanwhile, San Jose entered the break on a losing streak, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35396,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[730],"tags":[734],"class_list":{"0":"post-35395","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nhl","8":"tag-nhl"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35395"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35395\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}