Canucks-Red Wings Preview

by Sean Zandberg on Nov 12, 2009 1:46 AM PST in Game Preview Comment 34 comments

Luongodeadarmy_medium

"ATTACK!"

Canucks (10-9-0)

Red Wings: (8-5-3)

GAME TIME: 4:30 PM PST

TV: Canucks PPV

THE ENEMY: Winging It In Motown

UPDATE: 3:22 PM: I forgot to mention that Mathieu Schneider is in and O'Brien is out. C'mon Schneider! Burn your old team! Do it!

UPDATE: 11:12 AM: We told you the top 2 lines, and now the bottom 2 lines:

Glass-Johnson-Bernier

Pettinger-Rypien Hansen

UPDATE: 11:05 AM PST: Chris Osgood and Kirk Maltby are ill and will not play tonight. The newest Wing, Drew Miller, who was plucked off the waiver wire by Detroit earlier this week, will play. Jimmy Howard, who has a 2-2-1 record and a .893 save percentage, will start in goal.

**********************

Detroit had a few days to think about their 5-1 loss to the lowly Leafs on November 7. On Wednesday they took all that aggression out on Steve Mason and the Blue Jackets, destroying them 9-1. Concerning if you are a Canucks fan who just watched Vancouver lay a rotten egg in St. Louis on Tuesday.

Niklas Kronwall scored 2 goal and 1 assist in the win. Justin Abdelkader scored twice. Pavel Datsyuk, Todd Bertuzzi, Daniel Cleary and Henrik Zetterberg all had 2 points each. Despite the loss to the Leafs, the Wings have won 4 of their last 5. They now return home, where they have a stellar record of 5-1-1. The Canucks, as Mike pointed out in terrific, terrifying and in-depth fashion below, are lousy on the road with a 3-7 record. They have not found a consistency in their game at all away from GM Place. Slow starts are killing them.

On October 27, the Wingnuts beat the Canucks 5-4 in Vancouver. It was a great game despite the loss, from an entertainment perspective. AV's boys blew 2-0 and 3-2 leads. They were outshot 42-26. Generally, the Canucks 'get up' for games against Detroit, and we should see a much better effort from them tonight.

Roberto Luongo returns! Let's see if he has any rust on him after missing several games with a rib injury. The biggest factor is the team. They have a style of play that works. Now they have to, to a man, go out there and play that game.

We'll keep you updated on any roster adjustments. It looks like Darcy Hordichuk will serve his 1-game suspension tonight, even though he feels he is innocent, saying Cam Janssen dropped the gloves first. We could very well see Jannik Hansen make his regular season debut tonight.

The Province reported yesterday that AV was employing the following top 2 lines in practice:

Mason Raymond-Henrik Sedin-Ryan Kesler

Alex Burrows-Kyle Wellwood-Mikael Samuelsson

Burrows and Wellwood are being given a chance to shake their offensive futility. They had better get it going and quick.

Datsyukzetterberg_medium

Datsyuk: "I gotta...I gotta stop and go to the bathroom!"

Zetterberg: "Just go, man!"

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Comments

I've got a feeling...

…that Samuelsson is going to show up tonight.

Hopefully the rest of them too. And yeah – if you’re watching the game and you see a guy way up in the nosebleeds in the Canucks alternate jersey…it’s probably me. First Canucks game I’ve seen live since last year’s 4-3 OT win @ DET last October.

by Jevant on Nov 12, 2009 5:30 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Oh man, I feel bad for ya. Hopefully they show up tonight. Their ass kicking in St. Louis coupled with Detroit’s ass kicking last night just screams loss to me. Not a blow out hopefully, but a loss still.

And I’m trying to ignore the fact Detroit was the last team Luongo faced before bowing up with the rib injury. Lightning can’t strike twice right?

'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.

by Yankee Canuck on Nov 12, 2009 6:33 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, I’m expecting a bit of a let-down from the Wings, and a bounce-back from the Canucks.

Or at least, that’s what I’m telling myself.

by Jevant on Nov 12, 2009 6:46 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Are fans at the Joe nice to VAN fans? Or are you in for a world of shit?

'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.

by Yankee Canuck on Nov 12, 2009 8:11 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Last year was fine. I cheered quite emphatically when Burrows scored in OT, and only got the odd glance. No comments. I think they more pity us than anything else (considering we haven’t beaten them at any important time in forever). There’s also always a few of us scattered around the arena. Might have something to do with the fact it’s October/November as well.

Toronto fans are far more likely to chirp, but we always beat them in TO anyways (and most TO fans I’ve dealt with know that they suck, so it’s all in good fun).

by Jevant on Nov 12, 2009 8:41 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

There were a lot of Wings fans in Van last November when the Canucks beat the Wings in OT. There was always the polite heckling outside the arena before and afterwards. Hell, my buddy and I even drank with a couple Wings fans after the game. I ribbed them in front of the bar first though! haha. I believe we got a free round of drinks for that.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Nov 12, 2009 8:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m with Jevant on this one. I think the Canucks are going to play well tonight and win.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Nov 12, 2009 8:53 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

At the same time, I do get unreasonably optimistic when I am actually attending at the game.

by Jevant on Nov 12, 2009 8:57 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I have a surprisingly good record when I watch the team in person. Though I did have to suffer through the Keenan years which was almost always a loss.

'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.

by Yankee Canuck on Nov 12, 2009 9:49 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Bahaha that dumb and dumber picture

AKA: Linix129

by sw12 on Nov 12, 2009 6:08 AM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Harry: I thought the Rocky Mountains would be a little rockier than this.
Lloyd: Yeah, that John Denver is full of shit, man.

'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.

by Yankee Canuck on Nov 12, 2009 6:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I almost used that line, heheh. Classic!

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Nov 12, 2009 8:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No pressure, Woody.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Nov 12, 2009 10:44 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Although Wellwood was a much-improved defensive player last year and had a good playoff, he still has produced just 10 points in his last 58 regular season games.

EYE PUKE!

'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.

by Yankee Canuck on Nov 12, 2009 11:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that futility just keeps adding up and adding up. His stats from last year dwindled as the year went on. His hot start skewed his overall stats…or…painted a false picture.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Nov 12, 2009 11:58 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Greatest Photoshop Ever, Love the Luongo pic!

by WebBard on Nov 12, 2009 11:06 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Thank you kindly. I just watched the extended Return of the King again last night. So damned good! Love the Dead Army.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Nov 12, 2009 11:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

LOTR is awesome. i have a ROTK-based fanpost planned out in my head for when the canucks finally make it to the Stanley Cup Finals again. i was hoping to use it last year, but that didn’t work out too well, so i’m still waiting…..

i mean no harm. i come in peace. unlike shane o'brien or kevin bieksa........
GO CANUCKS GO!

by missy on Nov 12, 2009 11:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

those lines are horrible

wtf, kesler can play with anyone, and raymond has been pretty good this year but neither of those guys is a good fit for hank’s game. second line is mikael and 2 guys that have done nothing this year. ryan johnson on your line = no offense whatsoever so you can write off glass and bernier tonight. the 4th line is actually a pretty decent 4th line, i’d be happy with that if the other 3 were expected to do anything.

i have a very pessimistic view of what is going to happen tonight.

by bitterguy on Nov 12, 2009 11:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Well this is AV giving Wellwood especially a chance to start putting up points. If he doesn’t do that, he’s going to be flogged.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Nov 12, 2009 11:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

at least it’s PPV, since i’ll be able to catch up on homework. got a midterm today, lab report for tomorrow, along with 2 more midterms, 3 assignments and another lab report next week, and i’ve done nothing over reading break.

i mean no harm. i come in peace. unlike shane o'brien or kevin bieksa........
GO CANUCKS GO!

by missy on Nov 12, 2009 11:57 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

PPVs are free at the pub. Beer and fries are more fun than homework ;)

by SteveNux on Nov 12, 2009 12:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

So you’re not going to support the Canucks’ PPV cause? Why not? It’s such a great piece of TV programming! (sarcasm alert)

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Nov 12, 2009 12:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, missy, blow off the homework. Show some support for your team, dammit. :)

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Nov 12, 2009 12:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

i’ll be watching the online feed while writing a lab report and looking up my stats notes to do the homework with. i’m finding that i do homework better when i’m watching the game on my laptop instead of the television.

i mean no harm. i come in peace. unlike shane o'brien or kevin bieksa........
GO CANUCKS GO!

by missy on Nov 12, 2009 12:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, so you’re going to STEAL for your own benefit. Shameful! I’m telling!

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Nov 12, 2009 12:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Pub @ 4:30 PM???? That’s ridicu…… I’ll be there. :(

Burrows + Canucks = Stanley Cup!

by SpeakUp on Nov 12, 2009 12:28 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Seriously, that’s an epic win right there. Best be near a pub if this game turns south too.

'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.

by Yankee Canuck on Nov 12, 2009 12:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

you call listening to team1040 online or watching free webcasts stealing?

i also just realized that the game starts at 4:30, and considering how i get out of my midterm at 4:20 and have to catch a bus, i’ll be missing the first period. however, the game will be done about 7:00ish, so i have plenty of time for homework afterwards.

i mean no harm. i come in peace. unlike shane o'brien or kevin bieksa........
GO CANUCKS GO!

by missy on Nov 12, 2009 12:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

free webcast as in justin tv? (You know I’m just bugging you, right?)

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Nov 12, 2009 1:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

4-3 Red Wings.

I think Luey will need a couple of games to get his timing and sharpness back.

I don’t like the look of the top 2 lines, not expecting them to work out and AV will change it back to “normal” if they get down 2-3 goals or they don’t produce much early on.

Of course I hope I’m wrong on all accounts.

by cyxj on Nov 12, 2009 2:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

3-2 Canucks. I’m feelin’ positive! Woody finally scores (or gets an assist or 2)

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Nov 12, 2009 2:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Can we safely presume now that no matter how well he does in the AHL, Shirok is not coming back any time soon? I mean, we still have lots of injuries and heck, we even played several D-men as fw’s, incl’g Bieksa on the top line, but all w/out bothering to recall Shirok. Was he that bad in his last outing? Or do they just think he needs a certain number of AHL games in order to adjust?

by casual on Nov 12, 2009 3:36 PM PST reply actions 0 recs