SAN JOSE, CA. (NEWS 1130) – The Canucks begin their three-game California road swing this evening with a stop in San Jose. It is the first game after the NHL trade deadline and Vancouver looks a little different with the departures of Alex Burrows and Jannik Hansen.
Ryan Miller gets the start in net for the 19th time in the last 25 games. Jacob Markstrom remains out for at least the next week with a lower body injury, so Richard Bachman will back up Miller tonight.
Joseph Cramarossa was claimed off waivers from Anaheim yesterday and he will make his Canucks debut on the 4th line with Reid Boucher and Michael Chaput. Team President Trevor Linden says the team is very happy with the addition of Cramarossa.
“Cramarossa was a guy we identified throughout the year as someone who plays in straight lines, plays hard, can kill penalties, can bring physical element to our group and he still has some upside. He was a nice piece to add to the team.”
Cramaross was a 2011 third round pick and he will wear the number 26 jersey when he steps on to the ice for Vancouver.
Nikolay Goldobin’s paperwork isn’t complete, so he will not play this evening, but he is expected to make his Canucks debut on the weekend. He will wear the number 82 jersey.
Jannik Hansen was traded to the Sharks on Tuesday, but he will not face his former team tonight because of visa issues. He practiced with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants this morning as he waits for clearance from US customs.
This is the second of four meetings between the two teams this season. The Sharks defeated the Canucks 4-1 on February 2nd.
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. and you can watch the game on Sportsnet.