I Aim To Cure You Of Your Wicked Ways: Canucks & Predators – Game Six

> Aim At Foot, Fire Gun: Vancouver’s narrative for this series has changed from beating Rinne to beating themselves: Samuelsson’s turnover for the Legwand SHG, Edler’s mistake on the second goal and his turnover for the third. As inspiring as Kesler’s play has been, it’s been underminded by the Sedins’ disappearing act, some uncharacteristic mistakes from the defense and Luongo being less than stellar at key points. If Vancouver expects to win this series (to say nothing about the rest of their run), they’ll need a far better collective effort, from the net on out. Game V saw some role players (Torres, Raymond, Hansen) finally make the impact on the series, but if the big guns continue their radio silence and the defense continues to gift prime scoring chances, this is probably heading for a game seven. Pick it: stick to what got you this far or see you again on Wednesday. Only line-up changes should be Oreskovich or Tambellini in for Samuelsson on the fourth line. AV has opted to split up his bottom pairings, so behind Hammer/Juice you’ll see Salo/Edler and Rome/Ehrhoff.

> Feel Good Story of the Year: It’s tough to not love what Joel Ward is doing. The journeyman is now leading the NHL in goals and is a constant threat to force a turnover and sneak almost any type of shot (from the greasy to the freaky over-the-net-off-Edler) past Luongo. Ditto Legwand who is riding Ward’s gravy train and providing some timely offense as well. Now that Fisher decided to show up, it may only be a matter of time before the other phantom forwards (Erat, Kostitsyn) pick up the thread in front of the home crowd. Rinne has stopped 163 of 171 shots this series and will get barraged again tonight.

> Impress Your Friends With Knowledge!: Daniel Sedin’s -4 in game five was the worst +/- total of his career.