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Vancouver looks to avoid their first 3 game home losing streak of the season tonight, as they host the Winnipeg Jets. While Vancouver has gone a rather respectable 5-3-2 in their last 10, the last two performances have shown signs that this team isn't very motivated right now. Flipping the switch can be difficult in pro sports. Hopefully Vancouver flips that switch soon or they may not be ready in time for the playoffs.
On the other side of things, Canada's new favourite team the Jets might be playing their best hockey of the season. Currently on a 6-2-2 run, the Jets look poised to make a solid run at the 3rd seed (which I'm picking them right now to get). If you thought the opening night was rocking in the Peg, you ain't seen nothing yet. With the way the Jets are playing right now the 3rd seed is possible. I believe that if it was to line up Winnipeg vs Ottawa series that it would be great for Canadians to watch.
Canucks 41-18-8 90pts
Jets 32-27-8 72pts
Leaders
Canucks
Goals D. Sedin 28
Assists H. Sedin 53
+/- Hamhuis +20
Hits Lapierre 195
Jets
Goals Kane 26
Assists Wheeler 39
+/- Wheeler +12
Hits Glass 206
This game is simple to me. Vancouver is the better team and has better players, but now it is time for them to prove it. For two straight games they have been out played as a result of playing down to the completion. Now is the time for Vancouver to put their foot down and show everyone that they are the league's best team. Now is the time for Vancouver to send a message that they can outplay and out work a more desperate team.
People will say that they are not concerned and that this team knows how to win in the playoffs, but I would disagree. While this team had a long run last year, I'm not 100% sure that that was all them. A lot of that run was luck to me and this team never really showed the killer instincts that winners have. Winners don't let teams get up when they have them down like Vancouver did with Chicago. Winners don't let inferior teams hang around like they did with Nashville. And finally, winners don't rely on a power-play to beat teams like they did with San Jose.
I really believe last year's team was as lucky as it was good, but every championship team can say that. This year's team seems to have the luck down, but they have yet to really show that they are as good as last year's team. Now last year's team was a special bunch. They led the NHL in pretty well everything and I'm not sure a team has done that since the 70's or 80's. I don't expect that kind of production out of them, but at the same time seeing the power-play drop from 1st to 3rd behind Nashville and Edmonton over the past month because of rather lackadaisical efforts is a red flag.
Can this team be better? Yes, absolutely. You don't just suddenly go from being the best all season long to being average. The better question is does this team want to be better? I believe that this isn't a question we can determine yet. The Sedins and the rest of the team can preach night in and night out about the execution being the reason they won or lost, but it is want that gets you through the playoffs and wins you games. Passes and shots don't win in the playoffs. Winning in the playoffs requires 18 guys saying to themselves they want to be better than the other 18 across the ice from them. The team claims the have learned how to win but the real question is do they want to win.
Again we will have to wait a 1-3 months for the answer. I'm hoping the answer is yes.
Prediction- 4-3 Canucks
Sedin Scoring
The pressure is beginning to mount of the twins to start producing. Ordinarily I wouldn't be too worried. The twins have always had peaks and valleys in their seasons, but this time there seems to be something different about the twins. As much as they want to talk about not changing their game because of last year's playoffs, you can look a t their stats to see they have.
Daniel- 09/10 8 hits/28pim 10/11 13 hits/32pim 11/12 21hits/40pim
Henrik- 09/10 13 hits/48pim 10/11 15 hits/40pim 11/12 21 hits/42pim
Seeing as the twins are on pace or already have exceeds their hit and penalty minutes totals, I think it is safe to say they are playing a little different. The twins always talk about not changing their game but this year it looks like they have a little. The result of this change is a more physical, less disciplined duo that doesn't score as much. Personally I hope Danny and Hank go back to playing the way they were before because I'd rather have them scoring than doing whatever it is they are doing now.
Thanks for reading
Enjoy your day.
Ian
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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