CANUCKS		STARS
	AT

Thank you Cory Schneider for getting the Canucks the 1 point in the shootout loss to Chicago last game. Consider that match a colossal fail by the Canucks team defence. I lost count on odd man rushes against, breakaways, etc. It was embarrassing. It was embarrassing watching the Hawks players skate circles around the Canucks' D. I do not expect the same to happen in this one. Given that it's a back-to-back game scenario for Vancouver, I expect a lower-scoring much-improved effort defensively from our troops. Hey, there are ebbs and flows to a season. This isn't anything new for the Canucks to put out stinkers like last game. If I got what I wanted, they'd win all their games, and Mats Sundin would still be a Canuck..

A big plus from the loss to Chicago: the power play got going! It's now top 10 in the NHL! Let's hope they can keep that rolling.

Let's hope that David Booth's transition period doesn't take longer than weeks as well. He sure loves to carry that puck, doesn't he? Almost too often. To the point of annoying me.

Jannik Hansen will sit this one out due to his 1-game suspension for clocking Marian Hossa in the cabbage. That will bring Aaron Volpatti back in.

The Stars have had 3 days off after their 4-3 loss to the Flames on Sunday. They should have lots of jump in this one.

PROJECTED LINES / ROSTERS

Schneider (EARNED IT)

Sedin-Sedin-Burrows

Kassian-Kesler-Raymond

Booth-Schroeder-Higgins

Volpatti-Lapierre-Weise

The D was so FUKT last game that AV changed them up at practice today:

Bieksa-Hamhuis

Edler-Tanev

Ballard-Garrison

I honestly have no idea what Vigneault is going to do with the forward lines.

For the Stars:

Cristopher Nilstorp

Morrow-Benn-Jagr

Reilly Smith - Roy - Eriksson

Roussel - Eakin - Ryder

Nystrom - Fiddler - Garbutt

Dillon-Robidas

God-Goligoski

Jordie Benn-Larsen

GETTING TO KNOW A STAR

Goaltender Cristopher Nilstorp will get the start for the Stars. Who the hell is he? He is a 28 year old Swedish player standing at 6'1" and 176 pounds. He has played in 2 NHL games, both this season with the injury problems to kari Lehtonen and I guess the inconsistent play of Richard Bachman. He has an 0-2 record with a 2.70 GAA and a .918 save percentage. Ni(h)lstorp was never drafted. The Stars signed him out of the Swedish Elite League last summer.

TRENDS

• Canucks are 6-1 in their last 7 Thursday games.
• Canucks are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. Pacific.
• Stars are 4-0 in their last 4 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
• Stars are 5-2 in their last 7 overall.
• Stars are 16-35 in their last 51 vs. a team with a winning record.
• 60% of the experts at Covers.com project the Canucks to win.

SCORE-PREDICTING WIZARDS LIST UPDATE

No changes after last game.

VIDEO

The last game was not without adventure: Hank getting the points record, the Canucks blowing a 3-1 lead, the whole 4th line fighting:

The title of this preview post has been brought to you by The Rolling Stones:

GO CANUCKS GO!