The Dogs Are Deadly: Canucks - Coyotes Preview
by Sean Zandberg on Dec 29, 2009 12:00 AM PST
in Game Preview
37 comments
CANUCKS (23-16-0) AT COYOTES (24-13-2)
GAME TIME: 6:00 PST
TV: Canucks PPV
SEASON SERIES: 0-0
THE ENEMY: Five For Howling
UPDATE 1:58 PM: Bolduc in, Hansen out. Coach was a little discouraged with Hansen's play in the Canucks' zone last game, plus he likes Bolduc's ability to take draws from the left side (like Johnson does).
UPDATE 11:43 AM: With Bolduc being called up, does he draw right into the lineup and somebody else sits? The Canucks depth chart has Bolduc centering line 4 with Jannik Hansen out. That doesn't seem right to me. Hansen doesn't deserve to sit.
UPDATE 7:38 AM: About 3 more weeks of rehab for Pavol Demitra and he should be cleared to play.
UPDATE 7:30 AM: Jason LaBarbera will start for the Coyotes. Hat tip to Jevant for the info and link.
***************************
It's amazing how a new coach can change the fate of a team. The Coyotes, who were the "joke" of the summer with the potential buyer / relocation debacle, have quickly evolved into a successful team under coach Dave Tippett. What is Tippett bringing that Wayne Gretzky could not? A defence-first strategy that all of the players are buying into. It doesn't translate into many goals (Phoenix has the 5th-fewest goals for in the West) but it sure helps in the goals against category, where only the Blackhawks and Devils have allowed fewer goals. The success has Phoenix currently in 4th spot in the West, 3 points behind the Pacific-leading Sharks. They have extra motivation for tonight. If they win they will shatter a franchise record for consecutive wins at home (10), which will add to their brilliant 15-5-0 home record this season.
Cute stories. However, they are only 4 points ahead of Vancouver and need to be destroyed immediately. The Canucks, for the 4th time this year, have an opportunity to win 4 games in a row. They have failed to do so 3 times. More importantly, they can pull ahead of 9th place Detroit by 4 points and within 2 points of the Northwest Division-leading Avalanche.
More after the jump..
After a mediocre November (6-7-1), the 'Yotes have a 9-2-1 record in December. They have won 5 of their last 6 games. In those 6 games:
-Keith Yandle has 2 goals and 4 assists
-Scottie Upshall has 3 goals and 3 assists
-Martin Hanzal has 3 goals and 5 points
-Matthew Lombardi, who the Flames pissed away for Olli Jokinen, has 1 goal and 4 assists
-Shane Doan and Radim Vrbata each have 2 goals and 4 points
Check this out, Ilya Bryzgalov has:
-The second-most wins in the NHL
-The 4th-best goals against average
-Tied for 3rd with save percentage.
-The most shutouts in the League (5)
-The second-most time on the ice.
Is he a beast or what? Many people are waiting for the Coyotes' break-out party to abruptly end, but I don't see it happening. Not with Tippett's structure in place combined with Bryzgalov's stellar play. Hey, I was tooting Miikka Kiprusoff's horn prior to the Canucks-Flames game and Kipper was pulled. Think that will happen again?
COMPARATIVE STATS
GOALS PER GAME: Canucks 4th, Coyotes 22nd
GOALS AGAINST PER GAME: Coyotes 3rd, Canucks 7th
5 ON 5: Coyotes 3rd, Canucks 5th
POWER PLAY: Canucks 3rd, Coyotes 21st
PENALTY KILL: Coyotes 9th, Canucks 15th
SHOTS PER GAME: Canucks 11th, Coyotes 17th
SHOTS AGAINST PER GAME: Coyotes 7th, Canucks 10th best
WINNING % WHEN SCORING FIRST: Coyotes 2nd, Canucks 11th
WINNING % WHEN LEADING AFTER 1 PERIOD: Coyotes 3rd, Canucks 6th
FACEOFFS: Coyotes 8th, Canucks 11th
This will be the 2nd game in 2 nights for Phoenix. They lost in a shootout to the Sharks on Monday night. Wouldn't it be something if Barbie gets the start tonight?
There are 4 former Canucks on Phoenix's roster: Taylor Pyatt, Jason LaBarbera, Adrian Aucoin and Ed Jovanovski. Speaking of Pyatt, a few Canucks and their coach had some great things to say about their former teammate on Monday. Also, the Canucks are giving Michael Grabner a few more games with the Moose for conditioning purposes before they consider calling him up. You can read about Pyatt and Grabner here.
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The Canucks could desperately use these points
and can use this game as a continuing springboard into the New Year.
Which means they will lose. Badly.
Book It. :-)
by Temujin on Dec 29, 2009 12:08 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Phoenix on the 2nd game of a back to back. I think they lose. 3-1 with an empty netter. Daniel gets the winner.
What’s up with the back to back PPV games? Lame.
by marcness52 on Dec 29, 2009 12:46 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
4-3 OT win by….random Keslah.
I’m a dreamer, sue me.
"I was thinking it would be cool to see a game on the road. I have been looking all over this atlas but I don't see Vancouver anywhere. What state is this sh*t in!?"
- Dallas Stars Forum
by eightyseven on Dec 29, 2009 1:00 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Looks like we're getting old friend Labarbera instead of Bryzgalov tonight
Link.
This is one of those “should win” games. Coyotes played last night, and are starting their backup.
Need a full 60 minutes tonight for sure.
by Jevant on Dec 29, 2009 7:31 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
well, if it’s barbie tonight, then a good portion of the team would already know his weakspots :P
4-1 canucks, kesler with the winner.
now, let’s see how much of the game i get to see (i get off work right at 6:00)
check out my blog at canuckpuckbunny.blogspot.com
"If Chuck Norris was up against 7 Rangers, he'd call Ryan Kesler."
GO CANUCKS GO!
by missy on Dec 29, 2009 8:30 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
TSN showing some love
Looks like those stats are convincing some analysts that the Canucks are a good team. TSN ranks them 3rd best team in the league now. Not that it means much in the big picture though.
by Linden4evah on Dec 29, 2009 8:51 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of Demitra returning, he made the Slovakian olympic team.
by thelastjohnny on Dec 29, 2009 8:59 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah but it’s the Slovaks. Anybody care about them? ;) At least Demo can get his legs going more with that team, because he may only play a few games with the Canucks before the Olympics.
by Sean Zandberg on Dec 29, 2009 10:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
You're all a bunch of overly optimistic homers
and I’m ashamed to be associated with with such non-objective Canuck fans who cannot even see the inevitable crushing loss tonight.
Sigh.
5-3 Canucks
Bernier with the winner, for teh lulZ
by Temujin on Dec 29, 2009 9:14 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Damn wellwood and his getting the winner one game late last time… He messed up my perfect (1 outta a bunch) score. Made it 1 outta a bunch plus 1. So…we need our first 4 game streak, and Barbie in net, so 4-2 Vancouver. Bernier FTW.
by GAHHHHH! on Dec 29, 2009 9:25 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
3-2 Canucks, with Mr. Alexander Burrows with the deciding goal…
The earliest use of the word with the spelling we recognize today is found in "L'Acadie: or Seven Years' Exploration in British America" by James Edward Alexander, published in 1849:
We also met a lusty fellow in a forest road with a keg of whisky slung round him who called to us 'Come boys and have some grog, I'm what you call a canuck"
by vancitydan on Dec 29, 2009 9:40 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
4-2 Canucks, Daniel w/the GWG
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
by casual on Dec 29, 2009 10:08 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
With LaBarbera playing the ’Nucks should win by the score of 5-2 with Salo scoring the game winner.
by Bobby Canuck on Dec 29, 2009 11:13 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Barbie isn’t that bad! He may just stick a fork in us tonight.
by Sean Zandberg on Dec 29, 2009 11:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Gonna try and watch for the first time in months
AKA: Linix129
by sw12 on Dec 29, 2009 11:14 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Hard to bring yourself to it, huh?
by Sean Zandberg on Dec 29, 2009 11:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Another contribution to the Coyotes’ success is that they’re icing a more veteran team. Turris, Porter, Tikhonov, etc. are in the minors this year.
I think it’ll be a tight game despite the B2B factor but the Canucks will pull through.
3-2 Canucks, Dank.
Just call me Jay...
by cyxj on Dec 29, 2009 11:34 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
3-0 Canucks
Going with the hot hand, and Raymond with the winner. :)
Coyotes will not solve Luongo…not with the 22nd ranked offense.
by sirrated on Dec 29, 2009 11:56 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
This on paper should be a Canucks win tonight. Of course if it looks good on paper it probably means they will blow it. It should be a fun one as the Coyotes have become a graveyard for old Canuck and Flames players recently so there will be a lot of familiar faces.
I anticipate a good showing from both goalies tonight. I’ll say 2-0 Canucks with a Kesler winner.
by Twincest on Dec 29, 2009 12:01 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know if it will be “fun”. Will both teams play tentative defensive hockey? That’s what I can see happening.
by Sean Zandberg on Dec 29, 2009 12:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Canucks Depth Chart
UPDATE 11:43 AM: With Bolduc being called up, does he draw right into the lineup and somebody else sits? The Canucks depth chart has Bolduc centering line 4 with Jannik Hansen out. That doesn’t seem right to me. Hansen doesn’t deserve to sit.
It also has Rome instead of Edler, which can’t be right.
I would think that Hordichuk probably sits tonight.
by Jevant on Dec 29, 2009 12:05 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Ah, good eyes. I didn’t even look at the D. So fuck that depth chart. It’s full of dung! Now I know!
by Sean Zandberg on Dec 29, 2009 12:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Hordi sitting for Bolduc makes the most sense, the Coyotes don’t have any goons.
Unless Edler tweaked something, I don’t see why he would sit.
Just call me Jay...
by cyxj on Dec 29, 2009 1:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Ugh, Back to back PPV
Guess I’m going out tonight.
"I was thinking it would be cool to see a game on the road. I have been looking all over this atlas but I don't see Vancouver anywhere. What state is this sh*t in!?"
- Dallas Stars Forum
by eightyseven on Dec 29, 2009 1:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Watch it on the interweb. It’s cheaper and make your eyes go crossed.
Please allow me to adjust my pants, so that I may dance the good time dance, and lead the onlookers and innocent bystanders into a trance.
by Smoboy41 on Dec 29, 2009 1:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
4 wins in a row for the Canucks? And Phoenix lost last night?
They are due for a loss.
3:1 Desert Dogs.
Go Canucks, make me wrong!
Los Angeles, CA
by AttilaS on Dec 29, 2009 4:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Ah, finally someone picks the Coyotes.
by Sean Zandberg on Dec 29, 2009 4:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Coyotes 24 – Canucks 17. Wait that’s not right…
Coyotes 4 – Canucks 2
Support Your Local Coyotes Blog - Five For Howling
JaredFromLondon: ...Odin, he's cool.
by Travis Hair on Dec 29, 2009 5:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Canada 3, Slovakia 0 … 9:17 left in the 1st.
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
by casual on Dec 29, 2009 5:27 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
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