Monday February 16 - Vancouver Canucks vs. Minnesota Wild - 7 p.m. - Sportsnet Pacific, TSN1040
Vancouver Canucks: 31-21-3, 65 points, third in Pacific Division
Minnesota Wild: 28-20-7, 63 points, fifth in Central Division
It's getting down to crunch time. After dropping two decisions to the Minnesota Wild in the last two weeks, the Canucks will wrap up their season series tonight at Rogers Arena. The Wild are now just two points back of Vancouver (and Calgary) in the Western Conference standings thanks to an 8-0-2 run in their last 10 games.
The Wild are starting a three-game Western Canadian road trip, coming off a 6-3 win over Carolina last Saturday night. Vancouver is playing its last home game for two weeks after dropping a 3-2 decision in Calgary two nights ago.
For the Canucks, the big concern is the status of their blue line.
Let's start with the good news. We have a Frank Corrado sighting!
If he isn't taking part in the regular morning skate, it's same to assume he won't be back in the lineup tonight.
Next—a blueliner has been recalled from Utica:
Biega is in town and taking the morning skate—as the extra defenseman. Chris Tanev is also skating, so it's a bit of a relief to presume that the team will *only* be missing Alex Edler tonight.
Here's how the combinations look for tonight's game:
Back when Kevin Bieksa was injured before the All-Star break, I worried that the team could be in trouble if more of his cohorts joined him on the sidelines. Without Edler, the Canucks' depth will be tested.
One thing's for sure—Jim Benning's acquisition of Adam Clendening is looking like a masterstroke at this point. Where would we be without him?
Benning had praise for Biega earlier in the season, so he may be a pleasant surprise when (if?) he slots into the lineup. Bobby Sanguinetti is the Utica Comets' All-Star blueliner this season, but Biega is second in scoring among defensemen with 3-12-15 in 42 games.
With Edler sidelined, speculation mounts about whether the blueline situation might cause the Canucks to make a bold move and trade for an NHL-level defenseman to help with the playoff push.
Marc Methot took himself off the market this morning, signing a four-year extension with the Ottawa Senators at $4.9 million a season. Cody Franson was also a name that has been bandied about, but he and Mike Santorelli were traded to Nashville on Sunday.
Ed Willes at
The Province offers up a few other players that could be available as rentals, at a price that wouldn't be too steep:
• Michael Del Zotto - Philadelphia Flyers
• Zybnek Michalek - Arizona Coyotes
• Andrej Sekera - Carolina Hurricanes
Also, consider Jeff Petry from the Edmonton Oilers.
Jason Botchford
caused a stir on Sunday when he offered up this look at the Canucks' assets that could be available for trade.
He does a good job of breaking down the values of Zack Kassian, Chris Higgins, Eddie Lack, Jannik Hansen, Shawn Matthias and Kevin Bieksa—both to the Canucks and in the trade market.
I'll leave that for you to chew on for now.
A couple more quick game-day notes about the Wild to wrap up today:
• Part of their offensive outburst against Carolina on Saturday came from a new-look second line of Mikael Granlund, Thomas Vanek and Justin Fontaine. After a slow start, free-agent signing Vanek has heated up as the Wild have started winning, with 11 points in his last 13 games.
• Some good news—ex-Canuck Keith Ballard skated with his Wild teammates on Sunday for the first time since suffering a concussion and facial injury after being hit into the boards by the New York Islanders' Matt Martin back on Dec. 9. There was talk that the injury might force the 32-year-old to retire, so it's great to hear that he's back on the ice.
No surprise here: Devan Dubnyk will make his 13th consecutive start for the Wild tonight. After besting the Canucks in his last two appearances, surely it's time for an appearance by the old Dubnyk, who the Canucks schooled nearly every time they played the Oilers? Sure, he's now working behind a stronger defensive system, but isn't he due to falter?
We'll find out soon enough. Enjoy the game!
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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