Game #31 Preview: Canucks @ Kings
Dimitri Filipovic
March 23 2013 11:48AM
How the Sedins hold up against Anze Kopitar's line will go a long ways towards determining the result of this game.
I'm not quite sure how they have managed to do it - especially given their lineup construction in the most recent game against the Coyotes - but the Canucks have won two straight games. They'll be hard-pressed to stretch that streak, though, as they'll be invading the barn of one of the best teams in the league.
As if that wasn't tough enough of a task, they'll have to do it without Alex Edler, who was (rather absurdly) suspended for two games following his run-in with Mike Smith. Thomas Drance did a fine job summing the situation up, so we'll just leave it at that. With the missing pieces up front and now on the defense, the team will need its medley of role players to step up once again if they wish to keep this thing moving in the right direction.
Read on Past the Jump for More on the Game.
Chris Higgins seems to really miss David Booth and Ryan Kesler
Dimitri Filipovic
March 20 2013 02:43PM
"'Till you get on my level, I don't have time for you. Later, dude."
It's no secret that the Vancouver Canucks have missed the services of their two best play-driving forwards, Ryan Kesler and David Booth, this season. The two American power forwards have combined to play just 19 games thus far this season, leaving a big void on the second line. To the surprise of no one, the Canucks have had a tough time finding the back of the net as a result. While the team has actually been able to sustain a dominant puck-possession game, but it just currently doesn't boast the offensive artillery to capitalize on it.
So we know just how much the Canucks as a team have missed them. But one player in particular has missed their services the most, and has found himself in a world of hurt as a result.
Read on Past the Jump for More.
Jekyll & Hyde Both Make Appearance In Canucks Win Over Blues: Recap and Chance Data
Dimitri Filipovic
March 20 2013 12:33AM
Rust? What rust? Schneider was tremendous in the early going, keeping the Canucks in it until they found their legs.
This game probably justifies having three separate recaps, since none of the periods really had anything to do with each other. It makes me wonder what a potential fourth period of hockey would have looked like; likely a bunch of sluggish, tired play since it's, you know, a fourth period of hockey.
The Canucks shrugged off a nearly disastrous opening 20 minutes, before taking control of the game in the middle frame en route to a 3-0 lead. Things got dicey in the third as the Blues countered with an onslaught of their own, but the home team wound up holding on for a desperately needed 2 points.
Read on Past the Jump for Analysis, and Scoring Chance Data.
Game #29 Preview: Blues @ Canucks
Dimitri Filipovic
March 19 2013 01:32PM
Jordan Schroeder did something well, but the Canucks aren't celebrating. They're trying to get him back on the bench, per the coaches orders. That's how Alain Vigneault rolls.
It's a short turn-around for the Vancouver Canucks, as they don't have very much time to dwell on their perplexing loss to the Minnesota Wild on Monday night. The St. Louis Blues come into town, and things could get ugly if the Canucks don't figure out a way to turn things around on the fly. Especially given how well the opposition has been playing in recent weeks.
Forget the Northwest Division title for now; the Canucks flat out need to start getting some wins. They are 3-5-2 in their last 10, and suddenly find themselves in a fight just to stay in the Western Conference's top 8. A good place to start the climb back up the standings would be tonight against a fellow puck possession juggernaut.
Read on Past the Jump for More on the Game.
Process Fails The Canucks Against The Wild: Recap and Chance Data
Dimitri Filipovic
March 19 2013 12:25AM
The Canucks dominated, but Niklas Backstrom was stopping the puck from all sorts of positions.
On Tuesday night, the Vancouver Canucks fell to the Minnesota Wild by a score of 3-1. They actually managed to do a lot of things well; they fired a ton of pucks in Niklas Backstrom's direction, and controlled play for much of the game. However, they also did some other things not so well, too. You may be told by some that the differences in the game were hits and blocked shots, but by now I hope our audience knows that that's not the case. You block shots and throw hits when you're scrambling in the hopes of gaining possession of the puck. That's how it works.
Really the big issue was the fact that they scored only 1 goal, while giving up 3 the other way. It's as simple as that. With the defeat, the Canucks now sit in 2nd place in the Northwest, a rather unfamiliar position, as the Wild took sole possession of the division.
Read on Past the Jump for Analysis, and Scoring Chance Data.
