Opinion
3 min read

Can the Vancouver Canucks Outshine the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena?

The Vancouver Canucks are gearing up for what promises to be an electrifying encounter against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. With recent performances painting a picture of resilience and strategic gameplay, fans are on the edge of their seats, anticipating how their team will fare in this upcoming clash.


Dec 12, 2023; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko (35) forward Brock Boeser   s (6) third goal of the game by cleaning up thrown hats on the ice against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third period at Rogers Arena. Vancouver won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

Analyzing Recent Performances


The Canucks have shown a mixed bag of results in their preseason games, displaying both moments of brilliance and areas needing improvement. In their last game against the Calgary Flames, despite a loss with a scoreline that saw them netting 2 goals to Calgary's 4, there were positive takeaways. The team's aggressive play was evident from their 30 hits and they managed to put up 27 shots on goal. However, discipline was an issue as they racked up 8 penalties leading to significant penalty minutes which could have impacted their momentum during crucial phases of the game.


On another night against the Edmonton Oilers, it was a nail-biter that extended into overtime and eventually saw the Canucks succumb in a shootout. Despite this setback, they demonstrated resilience by bouncing back from being down and forcing the game into extra time. Their goaltending shone with an impressive save percentage throughout regulation time and overtime.


Dec 12, 2023; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) celebrates his first goal of the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

Strategic Insights


One area where Vancouver has excelled is in capitalizing on powerplay opportunities. This was highlighted in their victory over Edmonton where they managed to convert these chances into crucial goals. However, maintaining discipline to avoid unnecessary penalties will be key against Tampa Bay Lightning who are known for punishing teams during powerplays.


Defensively speaking, goaltending has been solid for Vancouver with commendable save percentages across recent games indicating reliability between the pipes which will be critical when facing high-caliber offenses like that of Tampa Bay.


Dec 12, 2023; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko (96) during a stop in play against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

Looking Ahead


As we look towards this matchup at Amalie Arena scheduled for October 15th at 7:00 PM EDT broadcasted on ESPN+ and BSSUN networks, it’s clear that if Vancouver can leverage its strengths while tightening up defensively and staying disciplined, they stand a good chance against Tampa Bay Lightning.


Fans eager to see if Vancouver can outmaneuver Tampa Bay should not miss this game as it promises not only high-intensity hockey but also pivotal moments that could set the tone for both teams early in the season.

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