Was it a case of Vancouver getting the bounces, the team coming together after a 7 goal pounding or a combination of both things? Regardless the Canucks shut out the best team in the West and now face a top contender in the east as they try and find some sort of consistent performance.

Before looking at tonight's match up we need to look back at Sunday's game. The team won because it came to play and because two players who should be relied upon showed up. Kesler and Raymond both had strong games with a goal and assist each. With a roster missing Daniel Sedin, Pavol Demitra, Jannik Hansen and Roberto Luongo the Canucks need guys like Kesler and Raymond to carry more of the load. They did during the Colorado game and that needs to be acknowledged by all.

With the Rangers in town it marks the return of a familiar nemesis Marion Gaborik. Although he is no Hejduk to the Canucks he certianly has provided plenty of pain throughout the years and is currently looking sharp with his new team. The Rangers have had a good start to the season but are still waiting for Henrik Lundqvist to catch fire, currently he sits outside the top ten in almost all goalie stats- not a common position for him.

The Canucks have signed Matt Pettinger to a contract- not that this breaking news but it is interesting. Pettinger was acquired at the trade deadline by Dave Nonis in 2008 for Matt Cooke. Pettinger was faster and quicker on the puck than Cooke and a few others and added a significant presence to the fore check- something the current 4th line unit could use. He will get ice time tonight and AV has stated this (as posted in CDC).

"I said Matt, we have a lot of injuries right now and you've got an opportunity to play and you've got to make the best of it," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "I said last year, guys outplayed you for a position and if you come in, outplay those guys, then you're going to stay."

It's not a complicated formula for the Canucks right now. Fans don't have to look at the team and guess who needs to 'step it up' or wonder what line will get going tonight. AV will roll out his standard 'injury adjusted' lines and see how they make out before mixing it up. The real test is how well the Canucks respond after a game in which they had a strong showing- do they repeat the effort and style or bring something entirely different to this match up?

It's not a secret that the team is going to play a different game with all the roster changes happening. The real test is whether the players are aware of the inconsistent style/effort and are now understanding what they have to do with this current group to play good hockey. Tonight should be a great game to judge if this team is progressing or still treading water.

Enjoy the game

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