BLUES		CANUCKS
	AT

Update (1:54 PM): The Canucks have recalled Alexandre Bolduc from Manitoba this afternoon. Now the question is if he can make it to Van in time to play tonight.

Update (11:14 AM): According to Alain Vigneault, Mason Raymond is sick and is highly doubtful for tonight. He intends to put superstar Aaron Rome on the 4th line and promote Jannik Hansen. (hat tip to thelastjohnny for the heads up). Roberto Luongo will start for the Canucks and Jaroslav Halak will "likely" start again for the Blues, according to Dan Murphy via Twitter.. Andy McDonald is doubtful for the Blues. Another top scorer on the shelf for St. Louis. Wow. McDonald took an accidental knee to the head from Oilers' Shaun Horcoff on Saturday night.

The Canucks keep getting better and better in all the major stat categories above. The Blues..not so much after losing 5 straight games. Despite the woes for the Blues, they are still only 1 point out of a playoff spot and 3 points behind the Canucks. 5 points separate the 2nd seed from the 12th seed in the Western Conference. So there is no point for the Canucks letting their foot off the gas. However, the Canucks do hold a 4 point lead over the Avalanche for the Northwest Division title. Hilariously enough, the Canucks are the only NW Division team currently holding a playoff spot.

St. Louis performed well in October,

achieving a 7-2-2 record, only to go 6-7-1 on November. Why the collapse? For starters, they are missing T.J. Oshie And David Perron because of injuries. Those 2 guys were leading the team in scoring at the time of their injuries. Secondly: a lack of effective defence and goaltending. From the St. Louis Dispatch: In the past 12 games, they have given up 51 goals (4.25 per game) and Halak and backup Ty Conklin have both struggled. Also: In another strong indication of how the back end has faltered, the Blues have averaged more goals per game and scored more power-play goals in their last 12 games than they did in the first 12. I believe the Blues have outshot their opponents in all of their past 5 losses. The injury/depth situation is bad enough for St. Louis that they recalled Dave Scatchard (remember him?) from Peoria on December 1. He has played small minutes in the Blues' last 2 games.

The Canucks are rolling. The win over Chicago on Friday night was a visual treat. Thanks Luongo! I wonder if they start Cory Schneider against the Blues (and if the Blues start Ty Conklin). We'll find out soon enough. The Canucks only play 3 games this week and 3 the next. So the rest Lou concept is not there really. What is there for tonight's game is the possibility of taking the Blues lightly. Like I said, I hope the Canucks keep the foot on the gas. The Blues can be an ultra-hard-working team and as you can see above, they have allowed the least shots against than any other team in the NHL. Vancouver needs to strike early on a team playing in a back to back road game situation.

Should be another entertaining game. I'm pretty sure these guys hate eachother as well....still...

The proof is in the VIDEO!

"Give your balls a tug you p*ssy!"

Never gets old does it? Neither does Alexandre Burrows scoring the OT winner in game 4:

Highlights from the last time the Canucks-Blues butted heads:

Are we going to see Tanner Glass fight Stefan Della Rovere? Maybe it will be Glass vs Cam Janssen, who has not played over the past 2 games. Check out this Glass-Janssen tilt:

Glass is awesome. Period. That guy can throw 'em AND take 'em.

Enjoy the game!

Go Canucks go!