Blue Jackets At Canucks Preview: We Hear You Cry

BLUE JACKETS		CANUCKS
	AT

TIME:	Tues. 7:00 PM PST	TV	Sportsnet Pacific
SEASON SERIES:	1-0-1 Canucks	LAST MEETING	2-1 Canucks, Mar. 12/13
THE ENEMY	The Cannon	SCORING LEADERS	H. Sedin: 8-21-29 Prospal: 9-9-18

JACKETS	CATEGORY	CANUCKS
13-13-6	SEASON RECORD	17-9-6
32	POINTS	40
11th	CONFERENCE POSITION	4th
Lost 1	STREAK	Won 4
7-1-2	LAST 10	6-3-1
3-9-1	ROAD RECORD / HOME RECORD	8-5-3
2.22 (29)	GOALS PER GAVE AVERAGE	2.62 (17)
2.56 (15)	GOALS AGAINST PER GAME AVERAGE	2.50 (10)
0.85 (23)	5 ON 5 GF / GA	1.15 (8)
13.9 (27)	POWER PLAY %	13.4 (29)
85.2 (6)	PENALTY KILL %	81.2 (16)
50.8 (13)	FACEOFF WINS %	47.0 (28)
355 (14)	ROAD HITS / HOME HITS	339 (18)
389 (26)	BLOCKED SHOTS	369 (29)
116 (8)	MINOR PENALTIES TAKEN	130 (22)
NHL.COM

To me, probably the most interesting storyline for this game is that Alexander Edler returns to the lineup after serving a 2-game suspension. No, I am not exactly excited about it. The Canucks played sound defence as a group in Edler's absence. Was that just a lucky coincidence? Hell, I prefer that style they have played. Edler is going to have to step in and tow the line. It seemed the more adversity the Canucks faced the better they played. So let's see how they fare with a returning "star" to the lineup.

By the way, I want Jason Garrison to stay on the top power play unit, and so do you, regardless of Edler's return.

The Blue Jackets have had a super March, until recently. They started with a 4-3 OT loss to the Blackhawks in Chicago. Then they played 9 of their next 10 games at home (how sweet is that?) and achieved an 8-0-2 record in that span. In there they broke a record for consecutive home games won. However, their last game was on the road, where lost a stinker to Nashville, 5-2. It has the folks at The Cannon calling that game "The Mean Regression". Hell, even the unstoppable Sergei Bobrovsky had stinker last game. Is he coming back to earth? Hell, he's had a super month. But the Jackets are 3-9-1 on the road this season. Ooofff.

Speaking of records, the Blue Jackets have not won in Vancouver since October 5, 2009. They are 0-5 in Van since that date.

I like what Columbus has done this month and I feel for their fanbase. But not on this night. On this night the regression must resume and hearts must be broken and playoff hopes hurt.

PROJECTED ROSTERS

Luongo

Sedin - Sedin - Burrows (I think he gets promoted again)

Raymond - Schroeder - Hansen

Higgins - Ebbett - Ballard

Gordon - Lapierre - Sestito

Hamhuis - Garrison

Bieksa - Edler

Tanev - Alberts

FOR THE BJ'S

Bobrovsky

Foligno - Johansen - Umberger Medium Rare

Prospal - Jean-Luc Brassard - Letestu (bless you)

Calvert - Anisimov (for sinus infection) - Atkinson

Gillies - MacKenzie - Boll(ing for Columbine)

Johnson - (Darn) Tyutin

Prout - Nikitin

Moore - Aucoin

TRENDS

• Blue Jackets are 4-10 in their last 14 games following a loss of 3 or more goals.
• Blue Jackets are 15-44 in their last 59 road games.
• Blue Jackets are 2-6 in their last 8 Tuesday games.
• Blue Jackets are 1-4 in their last 5 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
• Canucks are 32-12 in their last 44 in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation.
• Canucks are 37-14 in their last 51 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
• Canucks are 20-8 in their last 28 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Canucks are 3-1-2 in their last 6 games played on Tuesday.
• More at Covers.com.

SCORE-PREDICTING WIZARDS UPDATE

Lots of folks getting points last game. I highlighted the names of those who got points. Congrats you stinking homers.

Twin Terror: 11

Bobby Canuck: 10

patrik e: 7

andrew21nz: 6

FormerHab: 6

Meat Mayos: 6

PeaceJo: 6

raincity: 6

gmonk33: 5

Nathaniel Perlow: 4

Geordie Nuck: 3

marcness52: 3

westy99: 3

acg515: 2

ChuckinNux: 2

DeathdogIGBL: 2

EvianBubble: 2

ktownfan: 2

Pheenster: 2

Sandwich76: 2

Sean Zandberg: 2

seedvt: 2

Tengeresz: 2

vancitydan: 2

YorkAveOrca: 2

beardstache: 1

BW79: 1

Coach Ryan: 1

dshaps: 1

Kent Basky: 1

KYCanuck: 1

missy: 1

NS_Cix: 1

nucksandpucks: 1

radepalma: 1

Smoboy41: 1

team pinnelli: 1

Tangent: 1

Thursday: 1

Twitchy2010: 1

Vancouverguy: 1

ZeeTee: 1

VIDEO

The shootout from the last meeting, and you know what happened here:

The title of this game preview post has been brought to you by Peter Jackson cigarettes and, once again, Soundgarden:

How awesome is that song?

GO CANUCKS GO!