Vancouver @ Chicago TSN, Team 1040, 5:30 PST
Canucks are coming off three impressive wins against good Western Conference teams. Now they face their biggest rival in recent time and for team sake need a win. Tonight's game could set the team up to play the rest of the season with a ton of confidence. Beating the Hawks will be one of the last big regular season hurdle the Canucks will have this year. Even though the team is flowing with confidence and everyone seems to be clicking as a unit tonight's game will be no easy victory. The Hawks are also coming in with a three game winning streak and have been playing well as of late.
Luongo gets the nod in goal tonight and for me it was the only option. I know lots of fans were calling for Schneider but that situation seems like a lose lose one to me. If they were to start Schneider and he won starting Luongo against Chicago wouldn't be much of an option anymore really handcuffing the team come playoff time. He could also lose bad and that wouldn't be very good for his confidence. Luongo's job tonight is not to win the game for the team but not to lose the game. He's been doing exactly this in the last three games and if he continues this a win is very possible. The team is playing great in front of him and he needs to be the guy on the team who can keep things calm in the defensive zone.
In my opinion the Chicago defence is the only defence the Canucks don't match up tremendously well against. The Sedin line faces the very skilled and smart pairing for Keith and Seabrook. They are able to stop the down low cycling with good positioning and can get back to the net with their speed. The Kesler line's speed is dramatically decreased playing against the smooth skating Campbell. He's able to get back in his own zone quickly and move the puck right back out. Boynton and Cullimore aren't slouches in their own zone either.
What the forwards will need to do is continuously dump the puck in deep and force the defence to become tired throughout the game. A big game from the two gritty lines will come in huge tonight. If they can use the forecheck the Canucks have had going in recent games they will be able to wear down the Hawks allowing the Twins to create some open ice.
The Canucks on defence need to be solid all around. Av needs to do a better job tonight of getting the right lines on the ice at the right time. Alberts and Ballard will be playing together again and as good as they've been playing recently it will be dangerous to have their lack of speed matched up against the Stalberg Toews Kane line tonight. Because the forwards will have a tough time getting goals tonight a goal from the point would be really helpful tonight. Look for Edler to keep up his scoring pace of the season and get in on the act tonight.
This years Canucks team brings something a little different to this matchup. Their Special Teams are one of the best in the league. Their PP is first firing at 26.4% and their PK is third at 87.4%. Keeping this trend going will be a huge boost for tonight's game. They have the advantage in both areas as the Hawks PK is only 24th in the league however their PP is ranked 5th right behind the Canucks. The winner of the Special teams battle will win the game.
A win tonight will not only be good for the standings but huge for the team.
A small side note I forgot to mention the other day. Yann Sauve is playing in Victoria for the Salmon Kings, wow is he a big shut down guy. He could look very good in a Canucks uniform in a few years. I'll be there again tonight hopefully I can get another look at his game.
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