Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks - Wednesday January 29 - 7:30 pm - TSN, WGN
Vancouver Canucks 27-18-9 63 points fourth in Pacific Division
Chicago Blackhawks 32-10-13 77 points second in Central Division
The Vancouver Canucks play their last home game before the Olympic break at Rogers Arena on Wednesday night. Normally, there'd be great anticipation surrounding a matchup with the Blackhawks, but who knows what we'll get tonight?
Both these teams are struggling. The Canucks lost 4-2 to Edmonton on Monday thanks to a lackluster effort, while Chicago dropped a 5-4 decision in Calgary on Tuesday. Chicago's now winless in their last four games, and just 3-3-4 in their last 10. They've dropped into a tie with St. Louis in the Central, so the Blues have taken over the division lead thanks to three games in hand.
If we were dealing with a more confident Canucks team, I'd think we have a chance to take advantage of a good team that's going through a rough patch. Instead, I worry that Vancouver will play slump-buster tonight for the 'Hawks.
Funnily enough, the view looks much the same from the other direction.
Click here for a look at the game day notes from the Blackhawks' website. They touch on all of the Canucks' January woes, then conclude, "All of this, along with a 4-7-2 record so far in January, might indicate a team on the ropes, but sometimes those can be the most dangerous opponents."
After winning two Stanley Cups, the Blackhawks have built a list of rivals as long as my arm. Every team is gunning for them; there's no love lost between Chicago and teams like Boston, Los Angeles and St. Louis, just to name a few. I think the fire still burns between the Blackhawks and Canucks, so I'll go out on a limb to suggest that we'll see a typical game between these two teams tonight, despite their difficulties. Close-checking, defensively tight, and likely decided by one goal.
Or not. The Canucks have been anything but predictable these days.
So far this season, Vancouver is 1-1-0 against Chicago. They lost 2-1 at Rogers Arena back in November, then won 3-2 thanks to Eddie Lack's dazzling play in the eight-round shootout just before Christmas in Chicago. This is the last meeting of the year between the two teams, so the season series is on the line.
No word yet on any possible lineup changes for the Canucks, as Tuesday was another team day off. I'll update my Twitter if any lineup news trickles out between now and puck drop.
Antti Raanta started in net for Chicago on Tuesday but was replaced by Corey Crawford midway through the second after allowing four goals. I'd assume Crawford will still play in Vancouver, though he won't be as rested as he'd like. Roberto Luongo will likely get the nod for Vancouver.
The game is scheduled for a late 7:30 start, running as the back half of the TSN double-header following the Stadium Series game between the Islanders and Rangers. That broadcast starts at 4:30, but with outdoor games, who knows what time the game will finish? There will be the usual pomp, ceremony, and entertainment—and probably some issues with the ice. Puck-drop at Yankee Stadium for the Rangers/Devils game on the weekend was delayed by over an hour due to "sun glare." As I type this at 10 a.m., the temperature is -7 celsius at Yankee Stadium and could drop as low as -13 tonight, so the cold will be the issue tonight.
Bottom line: our game could start even later than 7:30 if they hold the puck-drop till after the outdoor game concludes.
Quick Hits:
- Those of you who want to see some bold personnel moves from the Canucks might want to start campaigning to bring in singer Michael Buble as the team's next general manager.
Speaking on Sportsnet's
Hockey Central, Buble says he's not opposed to the Canucks making major moves. From
StarFM.com:
If you don’t give away or trade away your pieces that are worth something now, you are going to sit mid-pack. You are only going to make one round of the playoffs and you are just going to sit there and be mediocre. I would bet this is a battle. I really would bet you that in that club there really are people who want to rebuild and I bet you there are people who don’t. It is a pretty fiery time there I’m guessing.
Buble, of course, is a lifelong Canucks fan who knows his hockey. He has impressed when occasionally filling in as radio colour-man beside John Shorthouse and, as part-owner of the Vancouver Giants, was part of the group who decided to blow up that squad last year. ”We decided to rebuild and admitting it was the hardest part probably, to yourself and to your fans, but once it happens the healing starts.”
- Tom Sestito played just 3:26 against Edmonton on Monday, which left him with plenty of energy to deal with a Twitter troll out of LA on Tuesday night. Sterling Beaumon is an 18-year-old actor, best-known for having played the young Benjamin Linus on
Lost. Here's the first part of the conversation:
Sestito holds his own from there—and Keith Olbermann gets back into the fray. We could be fixin' for a rumble when the Kings visit Vancouver next, on April 5:
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