Game Preview: Canucks vs Oilers

After a terrible performance last night against the Ducks, the Canucks play again tonight against the Oilers. Lineups haven't been released yet, but i'm guessing there won't be many, if any, changes. I'm also going to go ahead and assume Schneider gets the start tonight.

Edmonton finished just slightly lower than Anaheim last year, 14th overall in the West. The season series went to Vancouver 5-1, and the Canucks outscored the Oilers 22-13. I desperately want to say Vancouver will win, but here's the snag. Edmonton is mainly composed of young (Oilers first line has an average age of 20), talented players, the majority of whom have been playing in the AHL over the lockout. This is trouble because they've had time to develop more chemistry with each other, and are in game shape already. This, combined with the fact that the Canucks just played last night, means we're in for a tough one.

Players to watch tonight: Nail Yakapov and Justin Schultz. Yakapov and Schultz are both playing their first NHL games tonight, and are reinforcements to an already up and coming elite squad. There has been talk of Schultz starting on the first defensive pairing, and I don't doubt it. Yakapov will most likely start on the 2nd line.

Vancouver's success tonight will mostly balance on the defense communicating with each other, and their ability to shut down Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that the fourth line of Volpatti-Malhotra-Weise is the best option for suppressing Edmonton's first, due to their great performance last night against Anaheim. Weise showed speed and skill, as well as an ability to hit. Malhotra also has great defensive sense, a must for playing these guys.

My guess is that Vancouver plays better tonight, because they know what Edmonton's top 2 lines can do.

Game Preview: Canucks vs Ducks, January 19th 2013

So, the season kicks off tonight. I'd apologize for this post being late, but seeing as the blog was only created today, and that the only page view is my own, I won't.

Anyways. Back on track. The Canucks season starts off tonight against the Anaheim Ducks. Anaheim finished dead last in their division last year, and a full 15 points out of a playoff spot. Normally, this would waive any sense of threat that I, and many others, would feel...

... BUT...

2 factors:
 -  The Canucks are short Ryan Kesler and David Booth, the staples of the 2nd line
 -  Anaheim and Vancouver split the season series at 2 a piece last year, and have frequently been a pain in the butt.

Truthfully, this game could be a blowout or a shootout win for either side.

Moving on, here's the expected lineup for tonight:
 Sedin-Sedin-Burrows
 Raymond-Ebbett-Kassian
 Higgins-Lappiere-Hansen
 Weise-Malhotra-Volpatti

On that note, I don't expect the 2nd line to get as much ice time. Granted, if Raymond plays like he did a few years back, and Kassian has truly upped his game, I could be absolutely wrong. Either way, I think that we'll see the 3rd line get a lot more ice time.

Now, onto Dale Weise. Coming off of an impressive run in the Netherlands (oxymoron?) where he obtained 40+ point in less than 20 games. Looking back, he does have some talent (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQSVrna3tKE), but will his stint in De Dutch lead to a Weise that is constantly trying to force an up ice rush, even when nothings there?

Just some thoughts from a fan.