GDRC – Canucks @ Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks last games were both thrashings, but the two clubs had vastly different outcomes. While the Red Wings look to carry their momentum forward from their tilt last night, the Canucks try to turn their fortunes around and get back to their winning ways.

The Canucks have now lost two in row, and are looking to come back from a dismal effort in St. Louis, where they were man-handled 6-1. They also look to avenge an earlier home loss to Detroit, when the Canucks twice had leads but could not hold either.

Roberto Luongo, who came into their last game in relief of Andrew Raycroft, will get his first start after returning from a rib injury which kept him out for six games. The Canucks will also see the return of Jannik Hansen, who makes his way back into the roster after missing over six weeks with a broken hand. Hansen will replace Darcy Hordichuk, who has been suspended one game for a late-game instigator against St. Louis.

The other roster move is somewhat surprising, as Alain Vigneault looks to get Kyle Wellwood back on the scoresheet. Wellwood has only one point this season, and only ten points in his last 58 regular season games. Wellwood will likely centre a line between Alex Burrows and Mikael Samuelsson.

The last time the Canucks suffered an ugly loss, they responded with a great effort and a gutsy win. Vancouver went into Anaheim and surrendered seven straight goals en route to a 7-2 loss. The following game, the Canucks replied with a shutout victory against Colorado.

Canucks fans want to see their boys in blue, green and white can get back to the win column, and avoid failling back to .500, but face an always tough test against their counterparts in the Motor City. Let’s hope the Canucks get their engines revved early and keep the Red Wings stuck in Neutral.