PREVIEW: Us vs Them (Canucks and Islanders)

Vancouver Canucks vs. New York Islanders

7:00 PM PT - Rogers Arena- Vancouver, BC

TV: SNP - Radio: TSN 1040

Today’s the day. It’s either win it all for Willie or take our rightful place at the draft table feeding frenzy. Or both.

It’s also the day that the normally punctual NM game preview is late for work, goofing off at the snow and sleet park sipping ice cold martunis from a recycled Zamboni oil filter.

I don’t normally do game previews because it’s so stressful. The anticipation of great victory or the other not-so-great not unexpected result can ruin an otherwise miserable day on the wet coast. Now with hail. And snow. And sleet! Thankfully, hockey is a winter sport. And we still have that.

So...how do these two ice titans compare on paper?

While they say you can’t put a dollar value on a team...it’s obvious that the Isles are the bigger spenders. Is spending more more better? Yes, yes it is...

ISLANDERS:

CANUCKS:

Not much better tho... (crappy powerplays can happen anywhere - that’s what league parity is all about)

What does this mean? Not much. Except that the Canucks have a chance to break their horrid one game losing slump, while at the same time breaking the Islander’s greedy one game winning streak.

GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN

Welcome to the West Coast Winter Jungle, kids!