The Vancouver Canucks face one of the stingiest teams in the NHL tonight. The Canucks are flying high and well rested, after a 6-2 beat down of their archrivals the Chicago Blackhawks and three days off. The Kings are struggling right now and despite collecting points in three of their last six games, they only have one win to show for it. It will be key for Vancouver to get a quick start and score first so the Kings open things up a bit.
Canucks 7-7-1 15pts
Kings 7-5-3 17pts
Leading Scorers
ANZE KOPITAR 18PTS
DANIEL SEDIN 18PTS
HENRIK SEDIN 18PTS
ALEXANDER EDLER 15PTS
JUSTIN WILLIAMS 12PTS
MIKE RICHARDS 11PTS
Matchups
Doughty VS Edler
This is a battle of two of the NHL’s premier offensive defenceman. Edler has shocked most fans outside of Vancouver by leading the NHL in scoring so far this season. After starting out the year with only 2 points in his first 6 games, Edler has caught fire and has 13 points in his last 9 games. Doughty has struggled out of the gate for a variety of reasons, such as an injury and his holdout. While Doughty has only 5 points in 10 games, the former Norris Trophy nominee is always dangerous when he’s on the ice. Whichever one of these talented D’s has a better night, their team will likely win.
Richards VS Kesler
This is a battle of two of the premier 2-way players in the NHL. These two players careers may have started out on different paths, but the 23rd and 24th picks from the 03 Draft have both turned out ok.
Richards is the heart and soul leader of the LA Kings. No player on their roster brings it every shift, night in and night out, like Richards does. He hits, he wins face offs, he checks, he kills penalties, he plays the power play, he scores. There’s not much Richards can’t do.
Kesler on the other hand does all those things as well, except he win’s Selke’s and doesn’t just get nominated for him. Kesler is not only a great two-way player, he has that special ability to take games over by himself (just ask Nashville). Last season it took Kesler about 10 games to get going, and tomorrow’s game 11 for him. Tomorrow night I think Keslord returns and silences the debate amongst Canucks fans as to who they should have taken in 2003.
Henrik VS Kopitar
This will be a Battle of two of the premier centres in the NHL. Herick has done just about everything in his NHL career and he looks like he may be turning things up a bit in order to do it again. He’s won a scoring title, a gold medal, and he’s won a Hart, the only thing left for him now is the Stanley Cup. Henrik is often the straw that stirs the Canucks drink. He is there MVP. When he is on, the Canucks are on. When he's not on, the Canucks generally aren't on.
Likewise, Kopitar means the same thing to the Kings that Henrik does to the Canucks. Kopitar is the Kings best player and the only King that seems to bring his "A" game on a consistent basis. The Canucks D often struggle with big players, and they often struggle with skilled player. Kopitar is both so I don't expect them to slow him down much.
The number 1 centre that has the best game tonight will likely win the game tonight. Since I don't have much confidence in the D to stop Kopitar, Hank is going to have to be extra good tonight for the Canucks to win.
Daniel VS Brown
These are two players with little in common. One is a bruising, physical, power forward, who is tough to play against, the other is Daniel Sedin. Both will have an impact on this game. If Brown can bang and crash, he will likely force all kinds of turnovers by the Canucks D. Brown is also good at getting to the front of the net and will be a handful for the Canucks D to contain.
Sedin on the other hand is key to the Canucks power play. He is exceptionally good at finding the open ice a finishing the play. 5-on-5 he will have to be good and not get scored on for the Canucks to win this game. If Daniel can get a point or 2 I can't see Brown being able to keep up, and the Canucks will win.
Well those are the 4 matchups I'm watching tonight. The Canucks often win when their stars are better than the other team's stars. For the Canucks to win tonight they will need to at least split these matchups.
Random thoughts on the Kings
- When you go to most NHL sites you see pictures of the players. Why when you go to the Kings site do you see a giant picture of Adam Sandler in drag? Kinda weird if you ask me. Are the Kings that hard up for cash that they are promoting someone else's product and not their own?
- How long until Terry Murray gets canned? All that talent and the big moves and the Kings are maybe the most boring team in the NHL. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if he is gone before Arniel.
- Kyle Clifford, how is this kid going to be. Plays with so much heart, he reminds me a lot of Ryan Kesler at that age.
Thanks for reading.
Enjoy the game.
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