CANUCKS		KINGS
	AT

Have you forgotten about the Canucks 3rd period atrocity against the Ducks on Wednesday? Me neither. But I know what will help: laying an ass-kicking on the Kings, a team that spoiled our open night ceremonies last Saturday. It won't be easy. I watched Los Angeles beat the Thrashers on Tuesday. In a close game they stayed true to their system and shut down Atlanta while burying them in the 3rd period in a 3-1 win. It was a 3 point night for crease crasher Ryan Smyth.

The Canucks could learn a lesson from that kind of consistency in a game. They could also STOP TAKING SO MANY PENALTIES! Enough is enough, especially when their PK ability is crashing and burning.

A similarity between the Kings and Canucks is the lack of goal scoring, as you can see on the team comparison chart above. While the Canucks are getting no scoring yet from the likes of Ryan Kesler, Mason Raymond and (insert 2nd line winger here), LA is waiting for Anze Kopitar, Michal Handzus, Alexei Ponikarovsky and Wayne Simmonds to get going. The Canucks allowed the Ducks' top guys to get on the scoresheet last game. The same had better not happen tonight.

Raymond and Kesler have a combined zero points, 20 shots and an even plus/minus in their first 3 games. Jannik Hansen, who has played on their line over the past 2 games, only has 3 shots. This line needs a finisher. Hansen may not be that guy. In fact, he won't be in the end, even though he shows great determination, he's not a top 6 guy.

The positives? It's just a matter of time before the Canucks score more. As far as the breakdowns last game: I console myself in the fact that this Canucks team has a lot of new faces on it. It's too early to sound the alarm. They need some more time. Hell, their game-to-game inconsistency shows it. One night Luongo is facing over 40 shots with mostly routine saves (Panthers) and the next he's facing less shots but being hung out to dry (Ducks). Identity crisis?

On an angry note, I'm sick of hearing that the Canucks miss/need Alexandre Burrows. While it would be grand to have Burr on the Current roster to slide Mikael Samuelsson back down to line 2, it's not an excuse. Nor will it be an acceptable one if things go awry over the next while. There is enough talent and depth on this current squad to get the job done.

MISC

• Jordan Schroeder has 4 assists in his first 2 games with the Moose this season. Victor Oreskovich has 2 goals and 1 assist. Uh-oh..look at Cody Hodgson though. Pointless so far.
• Damn straight Dan Hamhuis is a driven competitor! Great read on him at The Province.
• You'll also like this read at The Vancouver Sun about Luongo, Cory Schneider, Roland Melanson and mixed messages about Lou's starts from the coach and the GM. 
• Get used to seeing Andrei Loktionov tonight as he will remain on the Kings' top line with Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. The Kings' second line of Ryan Smyth, Jarret Stoll and Justin Williams has been impressive, so they remain in tact.
• ALRIGHT STOP..VIDEO TIME!

Ahh..sweet memories as the Canucks beat the Kings in Game 6 of the 2010 Playoffs and eliminate them

Speaking of that series, how about the Game 1 win on overtime?

Rypien vs Clune from last season:

I've posted this one before and I'll post it again: Old-school Canucks-Kings brawl:

GO CANUCKS GO!!!