Caylie King

Canucks Review and Preview: December 4 to December 11, 2011

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Dec 052011
 

[Every week Caylie King looks at the Canucks week that was and the Canucks week ahead.  You can follow Caylie on Twitter (@CayKing.)]

This past week saw the Canucks’ five-game win streak end after a see-saw battle against the Nashville Predators. While everyone was preparing for a defensive battle, instead the game was an entertaining 6-5 loss. The Canucks then finished off the week by beating the Calgary Flames 5-1 for the second time this season.

Canucks Record

26 GP, 15-10-1, 31 points (2nd in Northwest Division, 5th in Western Conference)

Who’s Hot

The Canucks signed Dan Hamhuis mainly because he is a great shutdown defenseman who plays against the other teams top lines night in and night out. Somewhat surprisingly, he’s started to chip in on offense more consistently this season too.

Hamhuis is currently on a 4-game point streak in which he has recorded an assist in each game; he is also a plus-3 in that span. After recording just 1 point in his first 10 games (an assist in the second game of the season), Hammer has 12 points in his last 16 games. The longest he’s gone without recording a point is 2 games.

The fact that he’s been contributing offensively is an added bonus to his defensive repertoire; an added bonus Canucks Nation openly welcomes.

Who’s Not

Although the Canucks didn’t pluck Dale Weise off the waiver wire for his offensive talent, it would be nice if he were able to chip in once in a while.

Weise hasn’t scored in 19 games (unless you count Twitter) and his physical presence has been hit and miss recently. With the season-ending shoulder injury suffered by Aaron Volpatti, now is the time for Weise to step up and boost the physical factor that would help boost our bottom 6.

Who’s Next

Tuesday December 6, 2011 vs. Colorado Avalanche (7:00 PM start, home)

The Canucks and Avalanche met just under two weeks ago – a 3-0 win for the good guys. Since that loss, the Avs have won 3 of their last 4 games, helping them to get back to .500 while sitting only 2 points out of 8th place in the Western Conference.

Ryan O’Reilly, in just his 3rd NHL season, is leading the Avs with 21 points (6G-15). He has been one of their best players recently, putting up 4 goals and 5 assists in his last 5 games; he is also a plus-7 in that same stretch. Needless to say, O’Reilly, whose career-high is 26 points in a season (achieved in each of the last two seasons), is on pace to have a career year. He should set new highs this season unless some crazy happens.

Thursday December 8, 2011 vs. Montreal Canadiens (4:30 PM start, away)

The Habs have had a lackluster start to the season and are currently sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, though they are tied in points (27) with the 8th place Capitals and 9th place Senators. The Habs have gone 2-3-2 in their last 7 games.

The good news for the Canucks is that Montreal has yet to win a game against a Northwest Division opponent this season; they’re 0-2-1. The bad news is that the Habs won both meetings against the Canucks last year and were led by their star goalie, Carey Price.

The Habs are without one of their best defensemen, Andrei Markov, who has been suffering from knee problems. The club just announced that he will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery to clean up leftover debris and will be out for at least 3 more weeks.

Tomas Plekanec is leading the team with 22 points (6G-16A) while Max Pacioretty is leading the team with 10 goals.

Saturday December 10, 2011 vs. Ottawa Senators (4:00 PM start, away)

Chris Higgins was the overtime hero when the Senators visited Rogers Arena last month. Ottawa is another team in the East battling for playoff position and currently sit in 9th place; they are one game above .500.

The Sens have been decent against Western Conference opponents this season. So far, they are 4-3-1 against Western Conference foes, including a 3-1-1 against the Northwest Division.

Milan Michalek has had a good start to the season and leads the team with 16 goals. He is 3rd in team scoring with 22 points in 26 games and is currently on a 3-game point streak which had him scoring 4 goals.

The Special Special Teams

The powerplay and penalty kill were crucial to the Canucks’ success last season and they are relying on it again this season. Vancouver currently has the league’s best PP with a 26.1% efficiency (the second-ranked Toronto Maple Leafs PP has a 22.4% efficiency). They are also ranked 7th overall on the penalty kill with a 85.3% PK rate.

We saw last year how the Canucks’ special teams were key to winning close games. It’s just as important this season for them to maintain their smart and efficient play to keep pace with the close Western Conference race.

Canucks Review and Preview: November 21 to November 27, 2011

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Nov 222011
 

[Every week, Caylie King looks at the Canucks week that was and the Canucks week ahead.]

Last week, the Canucks continued their inconsistent play, which resulted in a brutal showing against the Chicago Blackhawks. Trailing by a goal going into the third period, they let the game get out of reach, eventually losing 5-1. Then, the Ottawa Senators came into town on Sunday. The game had some end-to-end rushes and excellent goaltending by Cory Schneider and ex-Canuck Alex Auld; and the Canucks came away with a 2-1 victory. Winning streaks have to start with one win, let’s hope we can string together a few more to try and better our position in the Western Conference.

Canucks Record

20 GP, 10-9-1, 21 points (3rd in Northwest Division, 11th in Western Conference)

Who’s Hot

Sami “Balls of Steel” Salo has been one of the Canucks’ most consistent defensemen all year long. Although he may be made out of glass, Sami has proved that he still a strong asset and that he can make things happen on both ends of the ice. Last season, Sami was limited to only 27 games last season and scored just 7 points (3G-4A); this season, he already has 11 points (4G-7A) in only 17 games this season. He is also the only plus-player among the defensive core with a plus-4 rating.

Who’s Not

Ryan Kesler had off-season hip surgery this past summer so it’s understandable that he didn’t start the new season off with a bang. I think it was fair to give him a 10-game cushion which would account for his training camp and exhibition games that he missed. But through 15 games, Kes only has 8 points and has been visibly frustrated on the ice. His even-strength play has been mediocre, to say the least, though his presence on the powerplay has been evident and is much of the reason why the Canucks have been so successful lately. He’s beginning to skate well but he just hasn’t found that finesse and confidence that makes him so successful. In his case, less is more he needs to stop holding the stick so tight and just get back to his Selke-award winning ways. I’m not worried about his play but I am anxiously awaiting his resurgence.

Who’s Next

Wednesday November 23, 2011 vs. Colorado Avalanche (6:30 PM start, away)

The Avalanche started off the 2011/2012 campaign winning 5 of their first 6 games; however, they have been struggling lately and are now sitting beneath the Canucks in the Western Conference standings, having played one more game than Vancouver.

This is the first meeting between the two teams this season. Last season, the Canucks went 5-0-1 against the Avs.

Young gun Matt Duchene has become a main staple in Colorado’s offensive charge and is currently leading his team in points with 9 goals and 7 assists. He’s put up points in 7 of his last 9 games (7 goals and 3 assists). Needless to say, it will be important for the Canucks to try and shut down Duchene, as well as noted “Canuck-killer” Milan Hejduk, who seems to be on the score sheet every time he plays against Vancouver.

Friday November 25, 2011 vs. Phoenix Coyotes (6:00 PM start, away)

The Canucks roll into Phoenix for their first match up this season against the Desert Dogs. Last season, the two clubs split their 4-game series; each team won their two games on the road with Roberto Luongo backstopping in all 4 games. Eric Belanger and Daniel Sedin led their respective teams with 5 points.

The Coyotes have points in 6 of their last 8 games and are being led by Ray Whitney and Radim Vrbata; both have 15 points and a plus-rating.

The new addition of Mike Smith has paid off for the Coyotes. He has helped his team get points in 12 of the 15 games he’s started; he’s lost just 3 times in regulation.

Saturday November 26, 2011 vs. San Jose Sharks (7:00 PM start, away)

By this time, the Canucks would have gone almost a month without playing on Saturday night Hockey Night in Canada – their last HNIC game was on October 29th against the Washington Capitals. It will also be the first meeting between the Canucks and Sharks since the stanchion Kevin Bieksa eliminated the Sharks in double-overtime in the Western Conference Finals last year.

The Sharks have won both of their games against Northwest Division teams this season and have outscored them 7-2. It’s no surprise, but they are being led by their captain Joe Thornton, who has 20 points (5G-15A). While Jumbo Joe is leading the team in points, little Joe (Pavelski) is leading the team with 11 goals. San Jose is also getting great goaltending from Antti Niemi, who has gone 8-2-1 and has a 0.915 save percentage.

Déjà vu?

When the Canucks were struggling in October, the fans and media – well, at least some of them – defended the team by pointing out that they are notoriously slow starters. Everyone was hoping that November would see a more consistent team; however, we are obviously still waiting for this to happen. At the quarter mark of the season, it’s not the .500 record that is worrisome, it is the fact that the team is still having major breakdowns on the back-end, having trouble scoring goals and have yet to play the cliche, a full-60 minute game.

No need to stress Canucks Nation, I have the answer.

Last season, the Canucks went 10-7-3 in their first 20 games, but it was on game 19, when the Blackhawks embarrassed the Canucks 7-1, that things started to turn around. After that, they went 17-1-2 in their next 20 games.

Fast forward to this year. In game 19, the Blackhawks won 5-1 at Rogers Arena. Again, the Canucks struggled to score and the defence was mesmerized by the speed and skill of Marian Hossa and company. Could history repeat itself? Was the blowout loss to the Blackhawks followed by the less-than-exciting win against the Senators the turning point of the season? Can the Canucks mirror what they did last season and finally start putting together more than a win at a time?

Canucks Review and Preview: November 7 to November 13, 2011

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Nov 072011
 

[Every Sunday, Caylie King looks at the Canucks week that was and the Canucks week ahead.  You can follow Caylie on Twitter (@CayKing).]

This past week was full of ups and downs. The Canucks came out flying against the Calgary Flames to start the month off right; they won decisively 5-1. They then followed it up with two of the most frustrating and disappointing games by the Canucks so far this season. Defensive zone break downs, not being able to capitalize on chances and an overall lackluster effort resulted in back-to-back losses against the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. Vancouver then rolled into the Madhouse on Madison, came out guns-a-blazing, and beat the rival Chicago Blackhawks 6-2. They had secondary scoring, the powerplay was unstoppable, and they got key saves at key times. Remember last week when I mentioned about seeing a more consistent team in November? Well, here’s hoping that their success in the Chicago game help turn things around for good.

Canucks Record

15 GP, 7-7-1, 15 points (4th in Northwest Division, 10th in Western Conference)

Who’s Hot

After being moved to the 3rd line with the addition of David Booth and the consistent play of Cody Hodgson, Chris Higgins has shown signs of why he was once a 50-point guy in this league. Higgy has 3 goals and 1 assist in his last 5 games and is a plus-1 in that span. He is tied with Daniel Sedin in goals with 6 and his 4th in team scoring with 9 points. If he can continue his solid play, he will be an important asset to this team because we all know that secondary scoring is key to winning. One can also hope that his play will help to motivate and help Uncle Manny get out of his rut.

Who’s Not

Unlike last season when he spent a lot of time in the press box, Keith Ballard seems to be getting much more opportunities this season. So far, we’ve witnessed his great skating abilities and his want to jump up on the rush. However, with only 1 goal, he doesn’t have much to show in terms of offense, and his play this might be taking away from his defensive play as he is currently a team worst minus-11. If he does not start to smarten up defensively, and with Aaron Rome back in the lineup and Alex Sulzer performing adequately, we might see him back in AV’s dog house sooner than later.

Who’s Next

Thursday November 10, 2011 vs. Los Angles Kings (7:30 PM start, away)

The Canucks have a few days off before facing the Kings at Staples Center. Last year, the two teams split the season series. Goaltenders Roberto Luongo and Jonathan Quick each backstopped their respective teams to a couple of wins each.

The Kings are currently holding on to 8th place in the Western Conference and are being lead by sniper, Anze Kopitar, who has 7 goals and 9 assists in just 13 games. Last season, Kopitar only managed 1 assist in the season series; and captain Dustin Brown led the team with 3 points (2 goals and 1 assist). It’ll be key to focus on both players come Thursday night.

Friday November 11, 2011 vs. Anaheim Ducks (7:30 PM start, away)

The Ducks have been struggling as of late, going winless in their last 5 games (0-3-2). This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season and will certainly be an exciting matchup with the likes of Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan and the ageless Teemu Selanne again leading the Ducks.

Both teams won 2 games each in last season’s series. Ryan Getzlaf with 6 points (1G-5A) and Daniel Sedin with 7 points (4G-3A) led their respective teams in scoring.

Like the Canucks, the Ducks are off to a slow start but are getting solid contributions from their core players. 41-year old, Teemu Selanne is showing that age doesn’t matter and currently leads the team in points (14) and goals (5). The Ducks are also happy to see the return of number 1 goalie Jonas Hiller after he battled symptoms of vertigo for a few months last season which saw him play a limited 49 games.

Sunday November 13, 2011 vs. New York Islanders (6:00 PM start, home)

The Islanders started off the season well winning 3 of their first 4 games however since then they have gone 1-4-2 in their last 7 games. The Canucks won their only meeting last year against the Isles in a shootout; Ryan Kesler had the shootout winning goal. Blake Comeau had a goal, an assist and was a plus-2 in that game.

Considering the Islanders do not play many games against the Northwest Division they had a lot of success last season going 4-1-1, while outscoring their opponents 22-14.

John Tavares currently leads the team in scoring with 12 points (8G-4A). He also leads the league in powerplay goals with 4. Sunday will also mark the return of Michael Grabner who has come into his own on Long Island.

Ehrhoff who?

After losing Christian Ehrhoff this off season to the Buffalo Sabres, Canucks Nation was worried about who would pick up his offensive numbers. Ehrhoff was obviously a key player last year, putting up 50 points (14G – 36A) and a plus-19 rating.

This season, Alex Edler was expected to pick up some of the lost offense on the blueline, and so far, he has lived up to expectations. He is 3rd in team scoring with 15 points (3G-12A) in 15 games, including 8 points (3G -5A) in his last 5 games.

In contrast, the ‘Hoff only has 7 points (1G-6A) in 13 games. He is also a minus-6, which the worst plus/minus rating on the Sabres.

It’s still early in the season and I expect that Ehrhoff will have another solid campaign in Buffalo but I also expect to see a career year from Edler. Eddy’s poise on the backend and his ability to finish off plays, will hopefully be a big reason the Canucks go on a long playoff run again.

Canucks Review and Preview: October 31 to November 6, 2011

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Oct 302011
 

[Every Sunday, Caylie King looks at the Canucks week that was and the Canucks week ahead. You can follow Caylie on Twitter (@CayKing).]

Canucks Record

11 GP, 5-5-1, 11 points (4th in Northwest Division, 11th in Western Conference)

This past week saw the Canucks suffering two losses, including being shutout for the third time this season. To the delight of Canucks Nation, the boys brought their A-game to Rogers Arena when the Capitals visited on Saturday. Don’t be fooled by the 7-4 score, the Canucks outplayed the Caps, Luongo made big saves when he needed too and most importantly we scored goals and got the win. Vancouver now heads out on a 6-game road trip, which will be a good opportunity for the team to bond.

Who’s Hot

Remember when we picked up Maxim Lapierre at the trade deadline last season and many Canucks fans were hesitant because of his reputation as a player who plays on the edge and has been questioned about his antics many times? Well this week I recognize Lappy for his tireless work ethic, aggressive forecheck and his ability to finish. He has 3 goals and 1 assist so far but after 11 games he has been one of, if not THE best and more consistent Canucks. His intensity is infectious and he undoubtedly gets the bench going. AV has said that on merit alone he could be playing more minutes on the 2nd or 3rd line. Max is the anchor of the 4th line and has been doing an excellent job leading by example. It’s always a bonus to have a shutdown fourth line that can contribute offensively.

Who’s Not

Manny Malhotra’s leadership and presence in the locker room is undeniable. At one stage last year he didn’t even know if he could play hockey again. He had a rough off-season going through a few more procedures to repair his eye but he was deemed fit to start the season. Unfortunately, Uncle Manny hasn’t been as effective as he can be. He is a minus-7 through 11 games and has been splitting his time between the 3rd and 4th line due to overall fitness. He is such an important member of team and is invaluable in the faceoff circle but hopefully he will be able to pick up his game offensively and start finding the back of the net.

Who’s Next

Tuesday, November 1, 2011 vs. Calgary Flames (6:30 PM start, away)

The Flames are last in the Northwest Division but will host the Canucks riding a two-game win streak. It is the first meeting of the season between these two teams and will certainly be an exciting matchup as they renew rivalries.

The Flames, 2-0 against the Northwest this year, are being lead by Alex Tanguay who has 8 points (1G-7A) in 9 games and has recorded a points in 3 of his last 5 games.

The Canucks went 5-0-1 last year against Calgary and hope for much of the same this season.

Thursday, November 3, 2011 vs. Minnesota Wild (5:00 PM start, away)

Sami “Balls of Steel” Salo scored the OT winner against the Wild in their last meeting a few weeks ago. The Wild currently have the same number of points as the Canucks(11P) but hold a game in hand.

Dany Heatley was Minnesota’s big acquisition and he is living up to the hype by leading the team with 7 points (3G-4A). It’s no secret the Wild are a defensive-minded team so don’t be surprised if there isn’t much excitement between the two.

Friday, November 4, 2011 vs. St. Louis Blues (5:00 PM start, away)

The St. Louis Blues handed the Canucks their 3rd shutout of the season just last week, led by none other than Alex Steen who scored 2 goals. It was the battle of the backups at Rogers Arena, so it will be interesting to see who suits up for both clubs. Don’t forget this game is taking place in November, which means that Roberto Luongo should be coming into fine form.

Veteran Jason Arnott was a nice acquisition for the Blues this off-season. He has played in over 1,100 games and uses his size and skill to control the play and set up his teammates. He loves to stand in front of the net and now sits second in team scoring with 3 goals and 5 assists and is a plus-6.

Sunday, November 6, 2011 vs. Chicago Blackhawks (4:00 PM start, away)

It’ll be the first meeting between the two clubs since game 7 of round 1. How can we all forget Burrows’ clutch OT goal to end the Blackhawks’ recent playoff domination against the boys in blue? That being said, Chicago is having a great start to the season and are sitting in second place of the Western Conference.

It won’t take long for the bad blood to boil come Sunday and with the addition of Dan Carcillo and there will sure be a few scrums here and there. The Canucks and Blackhawks split last season 2-2, with Roberto Luongo starting in all 4 games. Here’s hoping that we don’t have to hear Chelsea Dagger over and over and over and over again.

October is over, now the real season starts

The Canucks and Roberto Luongo have been known to be a slow starting team with mediocre records during the month of October. That added with the fact that we had a short off-season and AV deciding not to use the regulars very much during the preseason, and November seems to be the time when the Canucks start getting into their groove.

The hope is that the new month sees the Canucks start to play more consistently in all departments. They need to see more consistent production from the top two lines, the defence needs to sort out their miscommunications, and most importantly, Roberto Luongo needs to be better. I am not blaming our slow start purely on Luongo – the team in front of him haven’t been playing up to their standards either – but Luo needs to start showing why GMMG signed him to the huge contract that will have him here for the next decade. A return to form by the Vezina-nominated Luongo will have nothing but positive ripple effects to the rest of the team.

Canucks Review and Preview: October 24 to October 30, 2011

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Oct 232011
 

[Every Sunday, Caylie King looks at the Canucks week that was and the Canucks week ahead.  You can follow Caylie on Twitter (@CayKing).]

Canucks Record

8 GP, 4-3-1, 9 points (2nd in Northwest Division, 6th in Western Conference)

Last week, the Canucks were shut out against the Rangers, the second time they’ve been held off the scoresheet this season. The boys were the better team for most of the game, but were unable to capitalize on their chances against King Lundqvist. The Canucks also pounded the Predators – a lopsided 5-1 win – and won an overtime squeaker against the Wild, thanks to Sami Salo and his balls of steel.

Who’s Hot

Reigning Art Ross champion and Ted Lindsay award winner, Daniel Sedin, has had a great start to the season. He currently has 12 points (4G-8A) to lead the team in scoring. He and brother Henrik have combined for 22 points (7G-15A) already – to put that into perspective both have generated the same number of points than the next 5 highest scoring players on the Canucks combined!

Who’s Not

The defensive pairing of Kevin Bieksa and Keith Ballard is a risk and reward type of relationship. They are both great skaters and willing to join the rush but they have also had trouble getting back and tying up their men. It’s been evident that Keith Ballard is playing some of his best hockey in a Canucks uniform; he is skating well, he gets into the dirty areas and he likes to chirp and get under the skin of opposing players. That being said, KB3 and KB4 have the worst plus/minus ratings on the team. They only have 1 goal and 1 assist between the two of them. Either they need to change their mentality to defensive first, join the rush later or AV needs to mix up the pairings and put a more stay-at-home defenseman with Ballard and maybe reunite the shutdown pair of Hamhuis-Bieksa.

Who’s Next

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 vs. Edmonton Oilers (6:30 PM start, away)

In their last meeting just over a week ago, the Canucks witnessed the talent of young star Ryan Nugent-Hopkins when he scored his first career hat-trick. In that contest, the Canucks overcame several one-goal deficits and battled back to win the game 4-3. Since then, the Oilers have points in 3 of 4 games and are sitting just outside the top 8 in the Western Conference.

The Oilers have yet to beat a Northwest Division opponent this season (0-2-2). With a team-leading 5 goal and 7 points, RNH is having the best possible start to his rookie season. The Canucks saw his hockey sense and goal scoring instinct first-hand so perhaps the Canucks would want to pay special attention to number 93.

Thursday October 26, 2011 vs. St. Louis Blues (7:00 PM start, home)

The St. Louis Blues are on a bit of a streak having won both of their weekend games against the Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers.

The Blues had a losing record against the Northwest division last season going 7-10-3, including a 2-2 tie against the Canucks.

Against the Canucks last season, Alex Steen had 5 points (4G-1A). The Blues will look for much of the same as he and new comer Jason Arnott lead the team in scoring with 6 points (3G-3A) and 7 points (3G-4A), respectively.

There seems to be a legitimate battle in net for the Blues as their backup Brian Elliott has gone 3-0 this season with a 2.06 GAA and a .935 save percentage. On the other hand, starter Jaroslav Halak has struggled with a 1-4 record with a 3.47 GAA and .835 save percentage.

Saturday, October 29, 2011 vs. Washington Capitals (7:00 PM start, home)

Alexander the Gr8 and the Washington Capitals have had a dream start to the season, going 7-0-0 so far, including a 7-1 beating of the Detroit Red Wings; at the time, the Caps and the Wings were the only 2 unbeaten teams in the league.

It’s always exciting to see Eastern Conference teams play in Vancouver, it’s especially exciting to see the likes of team scoring leader, Nicklas Backstrom (2G-8A-10P), Alexander Semin, Brooks Laich, and of course, the always entertaining Ovechkin. The Caps addressed a major issue in the off-season, boosting their blueline with the additions of Dennis Wideman, who is second in team scoring with 7 points (2G-5A), and veteran Roman Hamrlik.

With a solid veteran presence on the back end, their always potent firepower up front, and now, a consistent goalie in Tomas Vokoun, the Caps are hoping to finally translate their regular season production to postseason success.

A Shoutout to the 4th Line

Having a good top-six is needed to win games, but having a gritty, hardworking bottom-six who can change the course of game is vital as well. Do we all remember the effect that Shawn Thornton had on the Bruins?

I believe the line of Volpatti-Lapierre-Weise is the best 4th line that the Canucks have had in a long time. These three gentlemen have been the biggest surprises for me this season. They are not afraid to play physically and get to the dirty areas. They’re able to maintain a strong forecheck, and most importantly, they’re not a liability when they’re on the ice. The 4th line’s energy and enthusiasm can change the atmosphere of the game with one great shift. They have the ability to get the bench going with one bone crushing hit. If they continue to play the way they are as well as chip in offensively every now and then, the issue of the revolving door, that we saw all of last season, will no longer be a problem.

Canucks Review and Preview: October 16 to October 23

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Oct 162011
 

[Every Sunday, Caylie King looks at the Canucks week that was and the Canucks week ahead. You can follow Caylie on Twitter (@CayKing).]

Canucks Record

5 GP, 2-2-1, 5 point (3nd in Northwest Division, 9th in Western Conference)

The Canucks are back home for the week and are looking for their first win in front of the home crowd.

Who’s Hot

In last week’s post I pointed out that Cody Hodgson has been given his best opportunity to show himself as a proven NHL player. Messaged received! Cody has undoubtedly been one of the best Canucks players on the ice every game. He has shown confidence and has done a commendable job on the 2nd line. Although he only has 2 points at the moment, if he keeps playing like he has been the goals and points will come. Canucks Nation is excited to see him play to his full potential.

Who’s Not

Last year, Chris Tanev came in towards the end of the season and played like a veteran. He fitted into the system like a glove and didn’t show many signs of his young age. Unfortunately, he hasn’t had the best start to this season and has been scratched for 2 of the 5 games. He seems a little lost on the ice at times and has been involved in a fair share of the team’s defensive breakdowns. Hopefully he will start to gain his confidence again and get back to his game.

Who’s Next

Tuesday October 18, 2011 vs. New York Rangers (7:00 PM start, home)

The Rangers started their season on the other side of the pond in Sweden with two losses after regulation; they also recently lost to the kids on Long Island.

They did win the Brad Richards sweepstakes this off season, hoping that he could come in an help them this season. When he’s healthy, he’s still a point-a-game guy and he’s not that far removed from his Conn Smythe performance with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

So far, so good – Richards is leading the team with 3 points in 3 games.

In their one and only meeting last season, the Rangers beat the Canucks in a close 1-0 game at Madison Square Garden.

Thursday October 20, 2011 vs. Nashville Predators (7:00 PM start, home)

The Predators didn’t make any huge off-season acquisitions but will still be a strong team in the West with the leadership of Shea Weber and superstar goaltender Pekka Rinne.

David Legwand has had a great start to the season. He already has 8 points (2 goals – 6 assists) in just 4 games played, tying him for the early league lead in points with Phil Kessel and John Tavares.

Nashville went 11-6-3 against the Northwest Division last season. The Canucks and Preds tied 2-2 in their season series.

Saturday, October 22, 2011 vs. Minnesota Wild (1:00 PM start, home)

The Minnesota Wild improved their offense in the off-season with the acquisitions of Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi from the San Jose Sharks. Alongside captain Mikko Koivu and veteran goaltender Niklas Backstrom, the Wild will look to make a push in what seems to be a weak Northwest Division this season.

The Wild went an impressive 16-7-1 against the Northwest Division last season. However, the Canucks had the upper hand in the season series, winning 4 of the 6 games they played against each other.

Tough Crowd

Only 5 games into the season and I am already seeing tweets and comments on how we should trade Roberto Luongo and how the Canucks don’t have what it takes to make it to the Cup Finals again.

Let me reiterate we are ONLY 5 games in.

For all those Luongo haters, you have to realize that he never has a strong October. Sure he has let in some questionable goals, but the team in front of him hasn’t been clicking like they usually do. Signs of a Stanley Cup hangover are evident, but I advise you to wait until a few more games before making snap judgements.

Canucks Review and Preview: October 9 to October 15, 2011

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Oct 092011
 

[Every Sunday, Caylie King looks at the Canucks week that was and the Canucks week ahead. You can follow Caylie on Twitter (@CayKing).]

Canucks Record

1 GP, 0-0-1, 1 point (2nd in Northwest Division, 9th in Western Conference)

After a slow start against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Canucks showed heart coming back from a 3-1 deficit to later lose in the shootout. There were a lot of positives to take out of the first game of the season, including solid outings by Keith Ballard and Chris Higgins.

The Canucks head out on the road for the next week which is perfect for team bonding and getting back into the swing of things.

Who’s Hot

It’s no secret that Keith Ballard was in AV’s doghouse last year; however, we have to commend him for his professionalism and positive attitude. He got a lot of playing time in the preseason and showed a lot of jump against the Penguins. He used his great skating abilities to score a beauty of a goal. I truly hope that he continues to get opportunities to show his skills and contribute offensively like he did in his days in Phoenix and Florida.

Who’s Not

Since the Canucks have only played one game it’s hard to pick someone who is playing badly. So I will dedicate this section to Mr. Cody Hodgson. We have recently learned that Ryan Kesler will be back in 5-6 games, so Cody has a limited time to show what he has and to prove that he is ready to stay in the NHL full-time. He had a solid preseason and seems to be a step quicker, which can be attributed to his off-season training with Gary Roberts. He has never looked better or sharper on the puck, so this is the perfect time for him to stick with the club.

Who’s Next

Monday, October 10, 2011 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (4:00 PM start, away)

Columbus added some depth this off-season with the acquisition of Jeff Carter, who will hopefully complement their leader Rick Nash. Although he hasn’t played a game yet this season, young prospect Ryan Johansen, from Vancouver made the roster. Maybe he will see his first action in the big leagues against his hometown Canucks.

Vancouver took all four games last season in their season series with Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider each in net for two wins.

The Jackets lost their first two games of the season. On the bright side, newcomer Jeff Carter has 3 assists to lead the team.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011 vs. Philadelphia Flyers (4:30 PM start, away)

The big bad Flyers did a total overhaul this off-season. They lost captain Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Dan Carcillo, Kris Versteeg and Ville Leino, just to name a few. However, they did finally add a big-name goaltender in Ilya Bryzgalov, up-and-comer Wayne Simmonds, Maxime Talbot, and they took the risk of signing Jaromir Jagr hoping he will take a time machine back to the early 2000s when he was putting up 120-point seasons.

The Flyers went 9-5-4 last season against Western Conference teams, which included a 6-2 loss to the Canucks. The new season brings a new team to Philly but with their additions they seem like they could, once again, be contenders in the Eastern Conference.

Thursday, October 13, 2011 vs. Detroit Red Wings (4:30 PM start, away)

Perennial Western Conference contenders, the Detroit Red Wings are the definition of consistency. Even Canucks GM Mike Gillis admits that he tries to emulate the Red Wings when building the Canucks.

Some of the Canucks most exciting games last season were against Detroit. The season series ended tied at 2-2 with Jimmy Howard and Roberto Luongo getting the call each time to backstop their respective teams.

Saturday, October 15, 2011 vs. Edmonton Oilers (7:00 PM start, away)

The Edmonton Oilers already have young guns in Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, and Magnus Paajarvi, but because they were, yet again, the worst team in the league last season, they were able to add stud forward, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. They also added toughness in Ben Eager and Darcy Hordichuk. Let it be known that Hordichuk has already challenged the Canucks players; we shall see if he can put his money where is mouth is… that is if he’s actually on the ice long enough to start a fight.

The Season of Redemption

With the wounds of June 15th, 2011 still fresh and in every Canucks fan’s mind, we all need to prepare ourselves for the questions that we will hear all season long: Can they go deep again? Have they addressed their weaknesses that led the Bruins to outplay them in the final series? As hard and gut-wrenching as it is to hear these questions and see replays of the Bruins hoisting the Cup, if this doesn’t motivate the boys in blue, nothing will. We were one win away, and although I will never get over the game 7 loss, I am ready to move on. A new season brings a clean slate, but the same expectations. Until we have our hands on Lord Stanley, we will never be satisfied. Buckle up folks, this is going to be a LONG season!

Canucks Review and Preview: April 4 to April 10, 2011

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Apr 032011
 

[Every Sunday, Caylie King looks at the Canucks week that was and the Canucks week ahead. You can follow Caylie on Twitter (@cayking).]

Canucks Record

79 GP, 52-18-9, 113 points (1st in Northwest Division, 1st in Western Conference, 1st in NHL)

Who’s Hot

Remember earlier this season when people were saying that Alex Burrows was having an off season? Well, he now has 25 goals, 47 points and a plus-25 rating in 69 games. Burr scored the only goal against Edmonton and has 4 goals in his last 5 games.

Who’s Not

Raffi Torres has 1 assist in his last 8 games. But although he has not been putting up huge numbers, he’s at least contributed in other ways. Raffi can turn a mediocre shift around with a big hit or an aggressive forecheck. It looks like this will be Raffi’s first full season in 3 years. He may even be a plus-player for the first time in 4 years. Especially in Manny’s absence, the Canucks will be counting on Raffi’s leadership and physical play to be a big part of their playoff run.

Who’s Next

Tuesday, April 5, 2011 vs. Edmonton Oilers (6:00 PM start, away)

Having the worst record in the NHL didn’t stop the Edmonton Oilers from ending the Canucks’ 5-game winning streak on Saturday night, the first of a home-and-away, back-to-back between the two clubs. Before that, the Oilers had lost their last 11 games.

This is the last game of the season between the two teams. The Canucks lead the season series 4-1.

Jordan Eberle had a goal and an assist in the meeting on Saturday. In his rookie year, Eberle has 18 goals and 41 points – only 1 point behind team leaders, Taylor Hall, Sam Gagner and Ales Hemsky who all have 42 points.

Thursday, April 7, 2011 vs. Minnesota Wild (7:00 PM start, home)

The Wild’s season is pretty much over. They’re out of the playoff race, sitting in 11th place in the Western Conference, 10 points back of a playoff spot and only 4 games to go. Like the Oilers, the Wild players might not be playing for playoff position but they are playing for jobs next year. No doubt, they’ll play hard, play loose and would love to beat the number 1 team in the NHL.

This is the last game of the season series that Vancouver leads 3-2; the Canucks won the last meeting 4-2 in Minnesota where Ryan Kesler recorded his second game-winning goal against the Wild.

Andrew Brunette has 3 goals and 1 assist in 5 games played against the Canucks. He has 43 points (17G-26A) this season, which is good for fourth place in team scoring.

Saturday, April 9, 2011 vs. Calgary Flames (7:00 PM start, away)

As of right now, the Flames hopes of making it to the postseason are still alive. It’s a long shot and they’ll need a lot of help from the teams around them in the standings, but with 3 games left and being 3 points out of the 8th and last playoff spot in the Western Conference, it’ll be a small miracle if they manage to make it through. Calgary hasn’t really been helping their own cause with only 3 wins in their last 10 games.

The Canucks lead the season series, having won 4 of their previous 5 meetings. Special teams have been key; the Canucks have scored 7 powerplay goals against the Flames this season and have also killed off 16 of 17 penalties.

Surprisingly, 1000-point man Jarome Iginla has not scored a goal against the Canucks but he does have 4 assists. Even though the Flames haven’t had the best season, Iggy is still having an outstanding campaign with 39 goals and 80 points.

Is this the year?

The Canucks officially wrapped up the President’s Trophy this week, ensuring home ice advantage throughout the entire playoffs. What is more impressive is that when the Canucks got a little “p” beside their name in the standings, no other team in the West had clinched a playoff spot yet.

Not only are the Canucks the number 1 team in the league, but many of their personnel have a legitimate opportunity to win major hardware. Daniel Sedin looks likely to win the Art Ross and has a good chance to win the Hart as well. In my opinion, Ryan Kesler is the front-runner for the Selke. And coach Alain Vigneault should get some consideration for the Jack Adams.

While winning the first President’s Trophy in franchise history is huge accomplishment, we all know that unless Lord Stanley makes an appearance come June the season will be looked at as a failure. Canucks Nation truly believes that this is the best, most complete team we’ve ever seen. Now enough with the talk, let the playoffs begin!

Canucks Review and Preview: March 28 to April 3, 2011

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Mar 282011
 

[Every Sunday, Caylie King looks at the Canucks week that was and the Canucks week ahead. You can follow Caylie on Twitter (@cayking).]

Canucks Record

76 GP, 50-17-9, 109 points (1st in Northwest Division, 1st in Western Conference)

Who’s Hot

Roberto Luongo is ranked 11th in games played in, yet he leads the league with 35 wins. He’s been playing some of his best hockey as of late, he himself says that he doesn’t know of a time where he has felt better. His positional play and “never give up” attitude has allowed him to shine.

Allow me to put his brilliance into perspective. Since January 1st of this year, Bobby Lou has not been pulled from a game and has only allowed more than 3 goals in a game ONCE, and the Canucks still got a point in that game. He is third in the NHL in both save percentage (.927) and goals against average (2.18).

His great play can be credited to a good team in front of him, both defensively and offensively, and also, stellar play by Cory Schneider, which has allowed Lou to have lots of rest and not be overworked. We hope the 20+ games rest he will have this regular season will help him to stay fresh and ready to go come playoff time.

Who’s Not

Jannik Hansen has 1 assist in his last 9 games. Seems ever since Uncle Manny got hurt, both Hansen and Torres have not been as offensively threatening as they were when those 3 were meshing. Hansen has been part of the line juggling that AV is doing, experimenting to find that right combination for the bottom-six forwards. The Canucks don’t rely on Hansen’s scoring and his tireless work on the penalty kill is a big part of his game. But hopefully he can help to contribute more offensively.

Who’s Next

Tuesday, March 29, 2011 vs. Nashville Predators (5:00 PM start, away)

The Predators have been on a roll as of late, riding a 6-game win streak and currently sitting in 6th place in the Western Conference.

This is the last meeting between these two teams; Nashville is leading the series 2-1.

Martin Erat has 4 points (1G-3A) and a plus-4 rating in the 3 games played so far against the Canucks. He also shares the team lead, in points (46), with team captain, Shea Weber.

The preview for this game is probably as boring as the game will be. Coach Barry Trotz loves to push results in low scoring, low excitement games. Buckle up, you’re in for a snooze-fest.

Thursday, March 31, 2011 vs. Los Angeles Kings (7:00 PM start, home)

The Kings are one of the teams in the heat of the playoff race position. They currently sit in 5th place in the Western Conference and have gone 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. They’ve won their last 3 straight games, however the last game saw them losing point leader, Anze Kopitar, who broke his ankle and is expected to be out at least 6 weeks.

Both Justin Williams and Dustin Brown have 3 points (2G-1A) against the Canucks this season. Williams and Brown are 2nd and 3rd in team scoring with 57 points and 52 points, respectively. Brown is also tied with Anze Kopitar with 25 goals.

Saturday, April 2, 2011 vs. Edmonton Oilers (7:00 PM, home)

The Oilers haven’t won a game after starting off the month of March with 3 straight wins; they have 1 win in their last 10 games.

Unfortunately, they’ve been hit hard by the injury bug all season long. For all intents and purposes, they’re just playing out the hockey season and preparing for next year.

The Canucks have won all 4 meetings against the Oilers; both Bobby Lou and Schneider have won 2 games each. The Canucks have outscored the Oilers by a combined score of 15-7 in their previous contests.

Andrew Cogliano has 3 assists against the Canucks this year. He has recorded a point in 4 of his last 6 games played. Cogliano and Tom Gilbert are the only 2 players on the team that have played the full 75 games. Cogliano has 32 points (11G-21A) this season.

Shutouts

In their last 4 games, the Canucks entered the third period without having been scored on. Despite that, Luongo and Schneider have a grand total of 0 shutouts to show for their efforts.

It’s pretty clear that the dynamic duo of Luongo and Schneider is one of the best goalie tandems in the league, however the Canucks seem to struggle to hold out on allowing that one goal. Superstitious fans blame it on all those tweeps and commentators saying the “S” word before the game is over. But the way I see it, shutouts are overrated. As long as we get the “W”.

Canucks Review and Preview: March 21 to March 27, 2011

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Mar 212011
 

[Every Sunday, Caylie King looks at the Canucks week that was and the Canucks week ahead. You can follow Caylie on Twitter (@cayking).]

Canucks Record

73 GP, 47-17-9, 103 points (1st in Northwest Division, 1st in Western Conference)

Who’s Hot

Captain Henrik Sedin has done a commendable job of keeping up with brother Daniel in the NHL scoring race. He’s scored in 7 of his last 8 games and has 11 points (2G – 9A) in that stretch. It doesn’t look like he’ll reach his career-high, franchise-record of 112 points that he set last season, whilst winning the Hart and the Art trophies, but still leads the league with 68 assists. His 86 points has him currently tied with Steven Stamkos for second place in NHL scoring, 7 points behind Daniel.

Who’s Not

Mason Raymond has 2 goals in his last 14 games with a minus-7 rating. Although the effort looks like it’s there, he’s been struggling to score consistently all season long . With the recent injury of Manny Malholtra, AV has demoted May Ray to fourth line center; while giving Chris Higgins a turn on the 2nd line. Higgins has looked great so far, using his speed and generating scoring chances; he has fit into the system seamlessly. Hopefully Higgins’ good play will put some fire under Raymond; I wouldn’t mind him scoring consistently come playoff time.

Who’s Next

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 vs. Detroit Red Wings (4:30 PM start, away)

After four days off, the Canucks head into Detroit to take on Pavel Datsyuk and friends. How else do you describe the Wings’ consistent play, year in and year out? They are one of the best hockey organizations in the league.

Detroit has won 4 of their last 5 games and are holding onto 2nd spot in the Western Conference. (They have been for quite some time now.) This game could very likely be a Western Conference final preview.

The Wings have won 2 of 3 games this year against the Canucks this season. Both of their wins came in extra time: one in the shootout and the other thanks to an overtime winner by Henrik Zetterberg. Speaking of Zetterberg, he has 2 goals, 3 assists and is a plus-2 against the Canucks. He also leads the team in scoring with 72 points (20G-52A), averaging a point a game.

If you happen to be in “Hockey town”, the Red Wings have some great deals for families – 2 premium tickets, 2 cokes, and 2 hot dogs for $78. I think you can get about 4 beers at Rogers Arena for the same price.

Friday, March 25, 2011 vs. Atlanta Thrashers (4:30 PM start, away)

The Canucks head into Atlanta for the first and only meeting of the season. ATL is led by a few of our friendly foes, ex-Hawks, Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien. The Thrashers had a great first half of the season, but have been dropping consistently in the second half. They have 1 win in their last 6 games and currently sit in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, 6 points out of a playoff spot.

BC boy and Thrashers captain Andrew Ladd has 8 points (4G-4A) in his last 10 games, however he is a minus- 7 in his last 3 games. Ladd also leads the team in scoring with 26 goals and 53 points but he is a minus-11.

Arguable the most effective player in the last couple of playoff series against the Canucks, we don’t mind that we only see Buffy once a year now. He’s moved from forward to defenseman, which has translated into a career year for him in assists (31), points (50), and goals (19).

Sunday, March 27, 2011 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (2:00 PM, away)

The Blue Jackets hopes of making the playoff is hanging by a thread. They sit 8 points out of a playoff spot and have not been helping their cause by going 2-4-4 in their last 10 games.

This is the last meeting of the season; the Canucks have won all 3 previous matchups.

Captain Rick Nash had a huge 4 point (2G-2A) night, in their last game against the Wild, and he leads the team in scoring with 31 goals and 65 points, all while being a plus-player.

Events of the Week: The Good, The Bad, and The “Did he really just call a major penalty?”

The Good: This week, the Canucks became the first team in the NHL to reach the century mark. In the process, they clinched the Northwest Division and a playoff spot. The boys in blue sit 9 points ahead of Detroit for the Western Conference lead and 7 points ahead of Philadelphia for the President’s Trophy race. (The Wings and Flyers do have 1 and 2 games in hand, respectively.)

The Bad: In the game against the Avalanche on Wednesday, the Canucks suffered a huge blow to the team and locker room. After getting hit in the eye with the puck, Manny Malholtra skated rapidly to the locker room, while blood was pouring from his face. We were all hoping he would get stitched up and be out by the next period. Unfortunately, Manny suffered a serious eye injury that required surgery and places him out indefinitely. Uncle Manny is a huge part of this team’s leadership core, on and off the ice, and more importantly is a fantastic person. We wish him all the best in his recovery. We miss you already!

The “Did he really just call a major penalty?”: In the last game against the Coyotes, Burrows was called for a major penalty against Vernon Fiddler, which give the Yotes a five minute powerplay and Burr was kicked out for the remainder of the game. Yes he did hit him in the numbers. Yes Fiddler did an excellent job of going into the boards in an awkward position. But a MAJOR penalty? I do believe Burr deserved a two for boarding, but the call on the ice changed the entire game, seeing Phoenix score 2 goals on the PP. I hate to blame the refs for a loss, but all I ask for is consistency throughout the game.

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