| Canucks (39-23-2) |
Predators (35-24-5) | ||||
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AT |
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| Time | 12:00PM PST |
TV | Sportsnet Pacific |
| Season Series | 2 - 1 Predators |
Last Meeting | 3-2 Predators (01-11-10) |
| The Enemy | On The Forecheck | Scoring Leaders | H. Sedin: 25-58-83
Erat: 19-20-39 |
| Canucks | Category | Predators |
| 3rd | Conference Position | 7th |
| 5-5-0 |
Last 10 | 5-3-2 |
| 3.19 (3rd) |
Goals Per Game | 2.73 (12th) |
| 2.53 (8th) |
Least Goals Against Per Game | 2.81 (20th) |
| 1.29 (2nd) | 5 On 5 GF/GA | 1.04 (11th) |
| 21.4% (5th) | Power Play % |
16.8% (23rd) |
| 81.1% (19th) | Penalty Kill % |
75.9% (28th) |
| 30.4 (12th) | Shots Per Game | 30.1 (13th) |
| 29 (8th) | Least Shots Against Per Game | 29.1 (9th) |
| 79.3% (4th) | Winning % When Scoring First | 80.8% (2nd) |
| 86.4% (3rd) | Winning % When Leading After 1 | 95% (2nd) |
| 45.7% (5th) |
Winning % When Trailing After 1 | 36.8% (10th) |
| 96.2% (3rd) | Winning % When Leading After 2 | 90.9% (10th) |
| 32% (2nd) | Winning % When Trailing After2 | 10% (21st) |
| 51% (9th) | Faceoffs % | 49% (20th) |
| 15.8 (26th) | Least PIM's Per Game | 9.2 (1st) |
| +34 (3rd) | + / - GF/GA | +7 (12th) |
Still 9 points up on 9th place Calgary, the Canucks sometimes seem to play like they have that cushion. There is not that 60-minute effort as much lately. At least, not consistently. There are the bad 2nd periods, and then there are the numb skull first periods. Nothing was a more hair-pulling experience than the first period in the last game against Chicago. The Canucks went into the
1st intermission down 5-1 and the great Luongo was done for the night. A frustrating effort against a team that you want the Nucks to show up against.
If the Canucks lose today they will still keep their top spot in the NW Division, tied with the Avalanche for 80 points but with the edge in wins. But it's time to get on a roll. Colorado is approaching fast. I don't care if the Sedins are seeing the other teams' top checkers on the road. Get your asses going! Even with each Twin earning 3 assists against the Red Wings the other night, they have been too silent over the last 10 games or so for my liking. It's not like the Sedins have sucked on the road all year.
Allow me to focus on Hank. Prior to the road trip from hell (tm), Hank played 22 road games, scored 7 goals and 20 assists for 27 points. On the RTFH (tm) Hank has played 11 games and has scored 1 goal and 6 assists for 7 points. It would have looked a lot worse had he not had that 3 assist night against Detroit. Like I said before: if the Sedins don't put up points the Canucks have a tough time winning. The pressure is on boys...you are making the big bucks after all.
Meanwhile, the steal deal of the year Alexandre Burrows is finding the net lately and getting the job done. Yes, they need secondary scoring to take the heat off the Twins, and they are getting it lately, especially with Kesler and Demitra and Wellwood in a sense. But the Sedins need to snap out of it. Get dirty! Dig deep for god's sake!
Lou....oh Lou....don't do that again....
Vancouver was out-worked badly against the Hawks. They spotted them 7 power plays! Cut it out! Take control of the Preds and stay out of the box. Amazing stat above is that the Preds have taken the least amount of penalties out of any NHL team, yet their PK is ranked 28th. Nuts!
-The Preds have won 3 of their last 4 games against Vancouver. This is the last meeting between the 2 teams this season.
-Love that Shea Weber shot from the point for Team Canada during the Olympics? Well you won't see that today. Weber has a hand injury. Amen. Cody Franson has been recalled.
-The Preds are 11-6-1 against NW Division teams this season.
-Nashville is 19-1-0 when leading after the first period this season. Wow.
-Nashville has won 125 of 154 games at home since 2005-06. That is 2nd best overall behind the Red Wings.
-Head coach Barry Trotz, he of the gargantuan head, has 399 victories as head coach.
Where am I getting this info from? Check this out.
I don't like the Preds. I don't mind Dan Hamhuis because he's from my hometown and I went on a canoe trip from hell with him once, but that's about it. But I can respect some things about them beyond their home ice dominance: they have made some steals come draft day, or just drafted wisely:
STEALS:
-Martin Erat in the 7th round in 1999
-Pekka Rinne in the 8th round in 2004
DRAFT DAY PARADISE:
-Alexander Radulov in the first round in 2004, even though he is a shitbag.
-Ryan Suter in the 1st round, Shea Weber in the 2nd round in the 2003 Draft
-Scottie Upshall in the first round in 2003
-Dan Hamhuis in the 1st round and Jordin Tootoo in the 4th round in 2001
-Scott Hartnell in the 1st round in 2000
-Adam Hall and Andrew Hutchinson in the 2nd round in 1999
Great stuff hey? Yeah yeah yeah, whatever.
OK, I'll calm down. Sometimes I think I'm too emotionally involved in this team...No rah-rah videos. Just a nice little Paganini piece to settle me down a bit. Feel it. Paganini's 24 caprices are gold, but I love #6 the best. Gives me chills.
Oh, and this is pretty damned funny..(Wish the game was in Van)...