CANUCKS		KINGS
	AT

After the Preds beat the Canucks somebody mentioned something to Shane O'Brien about the Canucks being the better team. He responded: "They probably say that every time they lose. That's the way they are. They're a confident, cocky bunch. They're the best team in the West and they're going to have a mark on them the rest of the way and into the playoffs. They can think what they want. We got the two [points] tonight and we'll be seeing them down the road."  (More on that at The Province). Thanks SOB for reminding me why I am so glad you are no longer a Canuck. However, he makes a few good points. Maybe there are a few cocky players on the Canucks but we are not led to believe that through what they say to the media. "Composed" and even "confident" describe them better. It's hard not to be confident when you are sitting on top of the NHL standings. When SOB mentioned that the Canucks "were going to have a mark on them the rest of the way" I think he is correct. Teams get up to beat the big dogs, and the Canucks, despite their win 1 / lose 1 record for almost a month are still the big dogs.

Unfortunately, these big dogs now look to be struggling to find the back of the net. The top 3 lines have taken turns taking the brunt of the scoring load while the goaltending has been stellar. But nobody bailed out Roberto Luongo Thursday night. There were times that Pekka Rinne made stellar and even flukey saves but the bottom line is that there was not enough push from enough of the forwards to get the job done. The top line, which will now see even more checking on the road, is being too fancy and not dirty enough. There is no click on line 2 or line 3. The best forwards I saw on Thursday were Mason Raymond and Jannik Hansen. But there was no gel. No finish. Not enough forechecking. Not enough sandpaper.

Are the Canucks coasting or struggling? I think I'm seeing both. This is the danger of being the top team in the standings in the West and in your own division by a somewhat / huge comfortable margin. Panic? Hell no! These guys will get it going again. Does a 5-game road trip help? MAYBE. But the Canucks have kicked ass at home all season, and so the 500 record at the Rog lately isn't all that impressive. It all starts in Los Angeles Saturday afternoon. The Kings, who you know hate our guts for eliminating them from the first round last season, are rolling again and will play us with a vengeance. Look at their stats above...another defensive team! They do not allow many goals against per game, shots against per game or power play goals against per game. Hell, their last game was a 1-0 win over the Coyotes. The have won 3 of their last 4 at home, with a 7-4 loss to the Wings being the anomaly. Let's see another anomaly shall we?

After a 5-8 record in January and a loss of a playoff spot, the Kings went 8-2-3 in February to climb back in. They are currently in 5th spot in the West but 2 points away from 10th spot. It changes every day. They are in a dog fight. So here we go again: Canucks face another desperate team. Let's see if they can find their scoring ways again starting in L.A.

-BTW:

-The Sedins have scored a combined 1 goal and 3 assists in 2 losses against LA this season.

-Dustin Brown has scored 2 goals and 1 assist against the Canucks this season.

-Dustin Penner has scored 1 goal and 2 assists against the Canucks. He hates us. Filthy Hobbitses!

-Justin Williams has scored 2 goals against us this season.

LINKS

-Oh bullshit, Hank!

-Well there we go: "Canucks Confident Bunch Heading Into 5-Game Road Trip."

-Canucks' power play is drying up.

-You may not know that hits (of which he had 5, I believe) and take-aways (I counted several, at least 3, one leading to a scoring chance) are critical aspects of any game. (Quisp from Jewels From The Crown defending Dustin Penner's play in his first game as a King.)

-Huge perma-smiles on our faces and injuries to our livers...

Nucks Nation Invasion! Great stuff.

PROJECTED STARTING GOALTENDERS

WHO'S HOT / COLD

No no no. The last meeting:

Yes yes yes. Canucks eliminate Kings, 2010 Playoffs

I don't give 2 shits about your history!

Go Canucks Go!