It’s A Wicked Pahty: Canucks & Bruins

> Hot Acquisition Action: Boston had no need to wait for the deadline to bolster their lineup, adding Tomas Kaberle, Chris Kelly, Rich Peverley and Boris Valabik in the past several days. Combine that with excellent goaltending, a solid top six and a strong defense and the Bruins (like Vancouver) have every reason to think this is the year they can go the distance. They have a little over a million left in cap space, so it’s even possible another move may shake out by Monday.

> Coho’s Last Stand?: It took a third period benching of Cody Hodgson to kick up the rumors the Canucks badly need a fourth line center (well that or the trade deadline being a few days away, take your pick). Hodgson remains with the team so how AV uses him tonight should be a decent subplot. If he hovers around five minutes again, the writing could be on the wall for a trip back to Manitoba; burying him in the minor along with cap relief gives the Canucks some much-needed flexibility at the dealine in two days.

> Impress Your Friends With Knowledge!: Vancouver (hysterically) trails the franchise series against Boston at a paltry 25-65-17. I blame Cam Neely and Tom Cruise.