Game Day Recon #04 – Canucks @ Kings

Game Day Recon #04 – Canucks @ Kings

The Vancouver Canucks look to avenge their home opening loss from Saturday, as they face the Los Angeles Kings for the second time in a week. The last time the Canucks were in Staples Center, they eliminated the Kings from the first round of last year’s playoffs.

TV: RSN; RADIO: TEAM 1040

The Kings opened their home campaign with a 3-1 win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Tuesday. Despite taking 35 shots, the Kings have one of the lowest Shots-per-game totals in the league. The Kings also have struggled out of the gate with their Power Play, with only 1 PPG this far.

Ryan Smyth and Jarret Stoll were a formidable force against the Thrashers, combining for 5 points and 10 shots on goal.

On the Canucks side, (per Kristin Reid from Canucks.com and Dan Murphy from Sportsnet) they are keeping the same lineup in tact as they had in Anaheim, with Roberto Luongo in net for Vancouver. That lineup worked well for most of the game Wednesday, until a breakdown in their overall game led to Anaheim taking over the game and ultimately winning. Luongo has played very well to start the season, despite the team only being .500 through 3 games.

The Canucks need to keep their power play working. It’s been pretty effective so far this season. If they can keep their feet moving, they be able to draw the Kings into taking penalties, who’ve been shorthanded, on average, 5 times per game, so far this season.

After watching their first three games, the Canucks have three main areas where they need improvement.
Here are your Three Keys for the Canucks tonight:

1. Discipline. The Canucks timely lack of discipline killed them against the Ducks two nights ago, and the Kings have arguably a better power play unit. That said, the Canucks did very well to contain the Kings power play last Saturday, but it’s a better idea to not give the Kings those kinds of chances. Eventually, it will come back to haunt the Canucks.

2. Score early. The Canucks will serve themselves well by taking the crowd out of the game by scoring early and keeping up the pressure. They did so against the Ducks, only after first surrendering an early SH goal. They need to hop on this quick Kings team as quickly as possible.

3. Play a full 60 minutes. For 45 minutes, the Canucks played a great game against Anaheim. Then five minutes into the 3rd period, they collapsed and looked horrible. They need to close out this game as strongly as they start it.

Here are your Top 5 links for today’s game:

1. Tale of the Tape (canucks.com)

2. Kings to Host Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night Friday at STAPLES Center Friday (lakings.com)

3. Canucks/Kings Preview (cbssports.com)

4. Canucks Get Another Crack At L.A. (sportsnet.ca)

5. Canucks and Kings Meet Again (tsn.ca)