CANUCKS		RED WINGS
	AT

I have waited a long time to see the Detroit Red Wings in this position. Out of a playoff spot (even though it's barely) and just lousy in most major statistical categories. I know that's mean but it's a jealousy thing. Pay no attention to me, Wings fans. But keep in mind that our General Manager is molding the team using Detroit as a role model.

This will be the last game of the Canucks' road trip. Their 4th road game in 6 nights. Might they look tired? I think so. It's an early game too (2:00 PST). If they can sneak any points out of this one I will be mightily impressed. I doubt they will run and gun with the Wings. I expect another super defensive effort.

This will be a back to back situation for Detroit. They spanked the Predators 4-0 on Saturday night, ending a 5-game losing skid mark. Besides being decimated by injuries, coach Mike Babcock said this prior to the Preds game:

"It's a game of mistakes. You're going to make mistakes. You're going to have sort-out issues and turnover issues, that's always going to be the case. You've just got to find a way. We've got to find a way to score a power-play goal, we've got to find a way to make one less mistake, and we've got to find a way to make one more save and score one more hard goal."

PROJECTED LINES / ROSTERS

Luongo

Sedin - Sedin - Burrows

Higgins - Kesler - Hansen

Raymond - Schroeder - Booth

Kassian - Lapierre - Weise

Edler - Tanev

Garrison - Ballard

Hamhuis - Bieksa (hopefully)

For Detroit:

Howard

Damien Brunner - Zetterberg - Filppula

Abdelkader - Datsyuk - Cleary

Miller - Cory Emmerton - Tootoo

Jan Mursak Eaves - Joakim Andersson - Tomas Tatar

Ericsson - Kronwall

White - Huskins

Brian Lashoff - Quincey (probable)

No FU Sweden (Samuelsson)? Damn!

TRENDS

• Canucks are 28-10 in their last 38 in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation.
• Canucks are 8-3 in their last 11 overall.
• Canucks are 45-21 in their last 66 in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 situation.
• Canucks are 0-6 in their last 6 Sunday games. DING DING DING!
• Red Wings are 6-0 in their last 6 in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 situation.
• Red Wings are 6-16 in their last 22 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Red Wings are 1-4 in their last 5 in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation.
• Red Wings are 1-5 in their last 6 games playing on 0 days rest.
• 54% of the experts at Covers.com have the Canucks winning this one.

YOU MADE MY SHITLIST

David Booth. Looked a lot better in Nashville. But no points in his first 3 games. 5 shots. A -1. Booth scored no goals in the LA series. David Booth has scored 1 goal in his last 18 games with the Canucks. SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITLIST! Maybe he'll bag one in the city where he was born.

SCORE-PREDICTING WIZARDS LEADERBOARD

Only gmonk33 got any points over the past 2 Canucks games.

Twin Terror: 8

Bobby Canuck: 6

andrew21nz: 4

FormerHab: 4

Meat Mayos: 4

raincity: 4

marcness52: 3

westy99: 3

ChuckinNux: 2

EvianBubble: 2

gmonk33: 2

Nathaniel Perlow: 2

patrik e (hugs kittens): 2

PeaceJo: 2

Sean Zandberg: 2

seedvt: 2

YorkAveOrca: 2

beardstache: 1

dshaps: 1

Geordie Nuck: 1

Kent Basky: 1

KYCanuck: 1

NS_Cix: 1

radepalma: 1

Tangent: 1

Thursday: 1

Twitchy2010: 1

vancitydan: 1

Vancouverguy: 1

VIDEO

The last time these teams met, Dank, Burrows and Luongo ruined a Red Wings streak:

I was at this game (RIP Demitra):

The title of this preview post has been brought to you by Kid Rock:

GO CANUCKS GO!