Canucks Hockey Is Back! Canucks vs Kings Preview
by Sean Zandberg on Oct 9, 2010 7:00 AM PDT
in Game Preview
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Print| Kings |
Canucks | ||||
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AT |  |
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| Time | 7:00 PM PST |
TV | CBC |
| Season Series | (2009/10) 3-0-1 Canucks |
Last Meeting | 4-2 Canucks (2010 Playoffs: 04-25-10) |
| The Enemy | Jewels From The Crown, Battle of California | Scoring Leaders | (2009/10 season) H. Sedin: 29-83-112 Kopitar: 34-47-81 |
| Kings |
Category | Canucks |
| 6th | Conference Position | 3rd |
| 4-3-3 |
Last 10 | 5-4-1 |
| 2.82 (9) |
Goals Per Game | 3.27 (2) |
| 2.57 (9) |
Least Goals Against Per Game | 2.66 (12) |
| 1.07 (10) |
5 On 5 GF/GA | 1.24 (2) |
| 20.8 (7) |
Power Play % |
20.9 (6) |
| 80.3 (20) | Penalty Kill % |
81.6 (18) |
| 29.1 (22) |
Shots Per Game | 30.9 (10) |
| 27.6 (3) |
Least Shots Against Per Game | 29.5 (11) |
| 73.9 (7) |
Winning % When Scoring First | 79.5 (4) |
| 81.5 (6) |
Winning % When Leading After 1 | 83.9 (4) |
| 33.3 (15) |
Winning % When Trailing After 1 | 41.9 (7) |
| 93.5 (5) |
Winning % When Leading After 2 | 97.0 (2) |
| 23.5 (6) |
Winning % When Trailing After2 | 31.4 (2) |
| 50.6 (9) |
Faceoffs % | 51.4 (5) |
| 11.9 (15) |
Least PIM's Per Game | 15.5 (26) |
| +16 (7) |
+ / - GF/GA (see here) |
+41 (3) |
Update (1:06 PM): hat tip to missy: Botchford has just tweeted that the Canucks will unveil their new captain on Hockey Night in Canada tonight.
Update (12:15 PM): Both teams will be wearing their old, old school retro jerseys tonight: numbers with no name plates, tweets Dan Murphy. Willie Mitchell will wear #33 because he thinks he's Patrick Roy. Actually, he explains why he chose #33 and discusses much more here (video).
Kind of difficult to post comparative stats at the beginning of the year, but I need to start somewhere. Of all the teams to play in the first game of the regular season it' had to be the Kings, the first team the Canucks ever played in the NHL history. This is a team that caused us fits in round 1 of the playoffs, especially on our PK, which completely fell apart, sinking the Canucks to the League basement in that category for the duration of the playoffs. Yes it really was that bad. Still gives me nausea just thinking about it. The other twist to this game 1 saga is, of course, Willie Mitchell's return to Vancouver, in a different jersey. Damn it! Combine the Kings' anger from the Canucks ousting them from the playoffs, plus Willie Mitchell's (no doubt) motivation to prove to Vancouver that letting him go was not a wise move and we have a great storyline right off the hop. Much more after the jump:
CHANGES / LINES:
The Canucks made a slew of personnel changes and now boast a team that is stronger in all areas, with the goaltending being the big scrutinizing point (obviously). Aside from that we will now find out how Raffi Torres fares on line 2 with Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond. I'm not too concerned with the top line of the Sedins and Mikael Samuelsson. They should be just fine. Line 3 is the biggy for me. Peter Schaefer-Manny Malhotra-Jannik Hansen (?). There's a decent checking line if I ever saw one in Vancouver. It has the making to erase the Kyle Wellwood-Steve Bernier combo of last year and hopefully play more PK minutes and score more, even short-handed. Line 4 has me excited as well, with Alexandre Bolduc centering Guillaume Desbiens and either Tanner Glass (if he is healthy) or Jeff Tambellini, who was called up from the Moose yesterday just in case.
The Kings did not make a lot of changes as they hope to improve from within. Willie Mitchell will play with Norris Trophy candidate Drew Doughty on the top unit. Jack Johnson is supposed to pair up with Rob Scuderi. The 3rd pairing is rumored to be Jake Muzzin and David Drewiske. Matt Greene is sidelined with a shoulder injury and won't be ready for a few more weeks.
Up front: Anze Kopitar (who is predicted to have a huge year)-Dustin Brown-Ryan (effing) Smyth, Brad Richardson-Jarret Stoll-Justin Williams (who really needs to avoid the injury bug), Alexei Ponikarovsky (who replaced the departed Alexander Frolov)-Michal Handzus-Wayne Simmonds, and young 4th line Kyle Clifford-Brayden Schenn-Kevin Westgarth. Scott Parse is out with a groin injury.
The Kings are not going to be content with a playoff appearance this year. They are thinking Stanley Cup now. Personally I think this is a great team that can do a lot of damage this season.
LA Kings info source: Rich Hammond at LAKings.com.
It's gotta be a Roberto Luongo-Jonathan Quick goaltender battle tonight. Are you ready Lou?
40th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
-All kinds of festivities will take place at Rogers Arena to celebrate the Canucks' 40th anniversary. Read about those events here. It is going to be a celebration that you don't want to miss. Hopefully CBC airs the entirety of the celebrations on-ice. Should be a great.
THE CAPTAINCY
-Will they unveil it pre game or earlier in the day? Either way we have had the scoop for weeks (h/t ShiftySC, right?). Henrik Sedin will be named the new captain.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SEDINS
Well, allow me to focus solely on Hank. The Canucks were 41-16-5 when Hanky boy registered a point. They were 8-13-0 when he did not register a point. My math is off by one game but you get my drift. The Canucks need more scoring from the other lines!! And at a more consistent basis too because you know the checkers will be all over those guys this season. It's also just a matter of if they can stop them as well. Those Twins sure are shifty and tricky!
LONG LIVE LARSCHEID!
This will be the final game doing color commentary for legend Tom Larscheid. I am going to miss him as much as I still miss Jim Robson, no offense to John Shorthouse, who is phenomenal. I wonder if/how Larscheid gets some recognition during the evening. He had better!
SCORE PREDICTING WIZARDS
OK, we did this for most of last year. What happens here is that in the comments section of these game previews, you can predict the score, the winning team and the game winning goal scorer. The rules on this competition are on the lower left sidebar on the main page where it states: The winner last season was cyxj with 22 points (bugger). Score-predicting will begin October 8th. You get 1 point for predicting the correct score, 2 points for predicting the correct score AND team and a bonus point if you predict the correct game winning goal scorer. No points attained by only predicting the correct winning team. Got it? Good. You can predict the same score, team and player as somebody else as well. Please keep the predictions in the Preview threads. It's a tough task going through all the predictions. If you post it elsewhere I won't count it. A leaderboard will be continually updated on the lower left sidebar on the main page.
How about a pump up video from samjam99 from CDC? Hell yes!
This post will be updated with any late breaking roster / other news.
Enjoy the festivities and the game! GO CANUCKS GO!!! Thank the good lord hockey is back!!
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Comments
You and I are thinking the same thing
I have the same prediction.
Hockey: The best and most entertaining sport out there. PERIOD!
Please put up your score, team and GWG guy anyways so it makes it easier for me to skim over it later. Thanks.
Nucks Misconduct
"Here goes nothin'" - Han Solo
by Sean Zandberg on Oct 9, 2010 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions
3-1 Vancouver. Phoenix gets the first goal quickly, sending doubters into paroxysms of self-righteous “I told you so”s.
Game winner to Brother Daniel (h/t Pass it to Bulis).
So if Phoenix scores the only goal
does Luongo still get credit for shutting out the Kings?
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
Nucks Misconduct chief curmudgeon and chief hunk.
by Section 312 on Oct 9, 2010 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Oh, Good Grief.
I gotta watch my typing when I have a game on! 8)
The way Phoenix looked this morning, they may well score one! Those kids are looking fast, fast, fast. On the other hand, Boston hasn’t looked good, even if they’re happy picking up Horton.
5-3 Nucks
Raffi with the GWG
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
Nucks Misconduct chief curmudgeon and chief hunk.
by Section 312 on Oct 9, 2010 9:34 AM PDT reply actions
5-0 Canucks, Hank with the winner.
Nucks Misconduct chief babe, now with a new Twitter username.
Keep your stick on the ice. Seriously, keep it on the ice, or you'll take another hooking penalty and put the Canucks back on the kill!
btw, pure genius from earl sleek.
Nucks Misconduct chief babe, now with a new Twitter username.
Keep your stick on the ice. Seriously, keep it on the ice, or you'll take another hooking penalty and put the Canucks back on the kill!
On the Record
I really hope the Canucks don’t do the hyper-extended silliness that was Toronto’s snoozefest. Ye gods, that was dull!
I get no respect! :)
Nucks Misconduct
"Here goes nothin'" - Han Solo
by Sean Zandberg on Oct 9, 2010 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions
5-4 Canucks
Son of Sam ftw. Make us proud boys!
Chuck Norris has counted to infinity... twice.
Sean Z, regarding Andrew Alberts: "And of course credit goes to Alain Vigneault for sticking with this guy. When most of us wanted his nuts stapled to the bench."
by nucklord on Oct 9, 2010 12:26 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
4-1 Canucks
Samuelsson
"Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, and disregard of all the rules."- George Orwell
by Arizona via Slough on Oct 9, 2010 12:27 PM PDT reply actions
Wow it feels good seeing these predictions back. Got the guiness and negra modelos, let’s watch some hockey tonight! 3-0 canucks, sammy
by kiyotok on Oct 9, 2010 12:37 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
OH GOD YES CANUCKS HOCKEY IS BACK
Finally something for my eyes to do that isn’t a waste of time.
6-2 Canucks; Dank.
Quick gets replaced by Bernier at some point, foreshadowing the remainder of the season.
by Beantown Canuck on Oct 9, 2010 12:41 PM PDT reply actions
Do you guys want me to put a game day open thread up until the actual Game Thread goes up at 6? It would filter the general conversation away from this preview thread, where I see I am going to have my work cut out for me with the predictions :)
Nucks Misconduct
"Here goes nothin'" - Han Solo
I think I just answered my own question
Nucks Misconduct
"Here goes nothin'" - Han Solo
by Sean Zandberg on Oct 9, 2010 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions
The first prediction from the defending champ!!
4-2 Canucks, Son of Sam.
I’m so pumped for the game tonight!
Poutine & Meatballs
4-1 Canucks.
Hansen starts his GWG account with the winner here.
"If I'd written the truth I knew for the past ten years, about 600 people—including me—would be rotting in prison cells from Rio to Seattle today. Absolute truth is a very rare and dangerous commodity in the context of professional journalism."
—Rolling Stone, February 15, 1973 Hunter S Thompson
BotchonCanucks
Canucks have saved their captaincy for HNIC to unveil tonight. People still debating Kesler or Henrik.
Nucks Misconduct chief babe, now with a new Twitter username.
Keep your stick on the ice. Seriously, keep it on the ice, or you'll take another hooking penalty and put the Canucks back on the kill!
thanks missy!
Open Game Day Thread is up. Feel free to discuss why PK Subban is a dud there. haha.
Nucks Misconduct
"Here goes nothin'" - Han Solo
by Sean Zandberg on Oct 9, 2010 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions
YEAH
Opening night baby!
Unfortunately I will predict 5-3 LA Kings, Brown winner (just to go against the grain)
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
I was waiting for the Beantown hate to come forward
Nucks Misconduct
"Here goes nothin'" - Han Solo
by Sean Zandberg on Oct 9, 2010 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions
well you’ll be directing that anger in my direction repeatedly this season
Nucks Misconduct
"Here goes nothin'" - Han Solo
by Sean Zandberg on Oct 9, 2010 5:34 PM PDT up reply actions
And with your numbskullery, you will deserve it.
by Beantown Canuck on Oct 9, 2010 5:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Kings don’t have enough defensive depth to compete for the Cup just yet. Adding Mitchell was nice but they really only have 4 NHL-calibre defencemen. Even if Doughty comes out of the gate strong (last I heard he was out of shape compared to last year) I see him tailing off badly down the stretch and no way he repeats his career year from last year (that being said, still think he has a bright future).
Watch for the Kings to key on Samuelsson early tonight (they won’t forget last year’s playoffs) but that will be key for getting Daniel some extra space tonight.
5-2 Canucks, Dank GWG
just to make it worse:
benkuzma
Oh, the suspense. Now hearing #Canucks will have four players skating with an ‘A’ in warm-up Saturday before their captain is finally named.
Nucks Misconduct chief babe, now with a new Twitter username.
Keep your stick on the ice. Seriously, keep it on the ice, or you'll take another hooking penalty and put the Canucks back on the kill!
Worse? Have faith in Shifty’s source! Hank Hank and Hank
Nucks Misconduct
"Here goes nothin'" - Han Solo
by Sean Zandberg on Oct 9, 2010 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions
I haz bold prediction
5-3 Kings, Kopitar with the GWG.
CANUCKS HOCKEY IS BACK PEOPLE. REJOICE! BASK IN ITS GLORY! I WILL WIN THE SCORE PREDICTING CONTEST THIS SEASON!
See how I slipped that in there?
"Money drives you crazy, look at Marbury's handle" - Pusha T (The Clipse)
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Alternate Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
by Chuckles Canuckles on Oct 9, 2010 1:44 PM PDT reply actions
Hey
Not so bold, I predicted very similar, just different GWG.
Stop stealing my ideas!!
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
Are you
actually in Pompey, Italy?
"Money drives you crazy, look at Marbury's handle" - Pusha T (The Clipse)
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Alternate Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
by Chuckles Canuckles on Oct 9, 2010 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Staright from sweden comes
the sad news that the Canucks drop the opener by a score of 4-1. On the upside however, I no longer have to feel like shit for popping the beer open at 4 am for the next 6-7 months.
Enjoy the season!
a man after my own heart
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Oct 9, 2010 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Hodge you watchin?
Nucks Misconduct
"Here goes nothin'" - Han Solo
by Sean Zandberg on Oct 9, 2010 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions
4-2 Nucks
Sammy with the winner
by Woodinville_12thMan on Oct 9, 2010 2:40 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
O/T..
Just wanted to throw a hat tip to Seanberg for bolding Hank’s point total in the preview. Well played sir.
Chuck Norris has counted to infinity... twice.
Sean Z, regarding Andrew Alberts: "And of course credit goes to Alain Vigneault for sticking with this guy. When most of us wanted his nuts stapled to the bench."
I heard
they’re going to make a velocipraptor captain tonight.
"Money drives you crazy, look at Marbury's handle" - Pusha T (The Clipse)
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Alternate Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
by Chuckles Canuckles on Oct 9, 2010 3:43 PM PDT reply actions
Raptor Jesus
"Money drives you crazy, look at Marbury's handle" - Pusha T (The Clipse)
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Alternate Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
by Chuckles Canuckles on Oct 9, 2010 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions
It would be pretty neat
If they spliced Hank/Kesler’s DNA with a velociraptor. I bet he would win all the awards. Maybe not Lady Byng though
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
He'd chomp up
all the competition.
"Money drives you crazy, look at Marbury's handle" - Pusha T (The Clipse)
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Alternate Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
by Chuckles Canuckles on Oct 9, 2010 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Speaking of splice...
Has anyone here seen that movie?
Chuck Norris has counted to infinity... twice.
Sean Z, regarding Andrew Alberts: "And of course credit goes to Alain Vigneault for sticking with this guy. When most of us wanted his nuts stapled to the bench."
by nucklord on Oct 9, 2010 5:51 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
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