Demitra
DEMITRA BACK IN VAN
Pavol Demitra returned to Vancover on Monday for personal reasons and may not rejoin the Canucks for the remainder of their roadtrip.
Demitra (1-3-4) has been excelling of late, scoring his first goal since returning to the ice after his injury against the Boston Bruins last Saturday, and scoring the winning goal in shootout.
This brings Steve Bernier (11-9-20) back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch last game against the Bruins.
Jannik Hansen returned to the Canucks on Monday after a five game conditioning stint with the Manitoba Moose and will dress today.
Brad Lukowich is also back in the lineup after missing last game against Boston. Healthy scratches for today are Ryan Johnson and Nolan Baumgartner.
GAME DAY NOTES
The Canucks play their fifth road game today against the Tampa Bay Lightning for the only time this season. With the Colorado Avalanche (33-19-6) now tied in points and the Canucks (35-20-2) with a game in hand, hope to earn another two points in order to retake their sole possession of first place in the Northwest division.
Last season the Lightning missed the playoffs and suffered a 2-1 defeat against the Canucks but have turned it around this season.
The Lightning have won their last three games including a 2-1 overtime win over the Calgary Flames last Saturday with a winning goal by Andrej Meszaros. The Canucks defeated the Boston Bruins Saturday in shootout when Pavol Demitra got one past Bruin goaltender Tuukka Rask.
Tampa Bay currently sits in second place in the Southeast division and eighth in the East with 61 points (25-21-11). Last season, they were the worst team at home only winning 12 (12-18-11) but have stepped it up this time around and are 16-6-6 at home.
The Canucks are tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for first place for home wins with 23, but are only 12-13-1 on the road; and with three away games left and six coming up after the Olympic break, the Canucks hope to bring their home success to the road.
The Canucks top line made up of Henrik and Daniel Sedin, and Alex Burrows have been held off the score sheet for the last two game but know that it’s just something that happens in the flow of the long season.
“There are going to be times during the season where you are not going to feel your best, and you are not going to be 100 per cent,” said Henrik. “Some of those times you are going to keep scoring and get a goal here or there, but this time we haven’t scored for three games, so we have to get back to it, plain and simple.”
With a few lineup changes and Pavol Demitra’s absence, the Canucks hope to stick it out and end the Lightning’s three game winning streak today.
GETZLAF A QUESTION MARK FOR TEAM CANADA
With the 2010 Winter Olympics just days away, the Olympic hockey teams have until February 15 to make any last minute changes to their roster. The recent ankle injury of Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Getzlaf poses a possible dilemma for Team Canada.
The 6’4”, 220lbs Regina, Saskatchewan native sprained his left ankle during the second period of the Ducks’ 4-2 victory against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, but it is not determined how long he will be out.
Getzlaf (15-42-57) left the game on crutches and in a walking boot and will undergo an MRI today.
Team Canada coach for the 2010 Olympics, Mike Babcock may have to make a call for a replacement if Getzlaf isn’t back in time for the games.
Talk of possible replacements include Philidelphia Flyers’ Jeff Carter, who was the final forward considered for the team but who’s spot was taken by teammate Mike Richards. Carter is 23-25-48 this season. Three Lightning forwards could also be possible candidates, Martin St Louis (18-45-63), Steven Stamkos (32-29-61), and Vincent Lecavalier (15-40-55).
Though St Louis has the most points out of the three and more than Carter, he is also the smallest standing at 5’9” and 177lbs. The most similar players in size to Getzlaf would be Lecavalier (6’4”, 223lbs), and Carter (6’3”, 200lbs), but things will not be set in stone until the timeline of Getzlaf’s return is known.
The Men’s Preliminary Round begins on February 16 when Team Canada faces Norway.
Hansen
HANSEN RECALLED
It was announced today by Mike Gillis that Canuck forward Jannik Hansen has been recalled from the Manitoba Moose.
The 23 year old Denmark native was assigned to the Moose for a conditioning assignment where he played five games, earning two points (0-2-2) and five penalty minutes. He has played 24 games for the Canucks this season recording nine points (5-4-9) and six penalty minutes.
Hansen was drafted by Vancouver 287th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
OHLUND REMINISCES
Long time Canuck defenceman, Mattias Ohlund, plays Vancouver Tuesday night for the first time since joining the Tampa Bay Lightning this summer.
Not surprisingly, Ohlund was glad to see his teammates when the Canucks arrived in Tampa on Saturday.
“I had 11 fantastic years in Vancouver, loved every second of it,” Ohlund. “I met some fantastic people, people I love.”
Ohlund is fifth for most games played for the Canucks having played 770 games over the 11 seasons. Ohlund has earned 325 all-time points with the Canucks (93-232-325), and is the all-time leader in points among Canucks defencemen.
Ohlund was drafted by the Canucks in the first round, 13th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft and until this season has only worn the Canucks crest.
”I was extremely lucky to have spent 11 years with one team,” he said. “You look around the room, there are a very few guys who get to say that, no matter how good a player they are,”
As an unrestricted free agent at the end of last season, Ohlund parted ways with the organization that brought him into the NHL and signed a seven year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“He’s a guy that in close space is really good, like in corners stopping the cycles,” Tampa Bay coach Rick Tocchet. “And he’s a good guy in the locker room.”
Since joining the Lightning, Ohlund has recorded 10 points (0-10-10) in 50 games. However he has been left off the score sheet for the last 16 games.
Ohlund will re-visit Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics where he joins former teammates Daniel and Henrik Sedin on Team Sweden.
Another lightning defenceman Andrej Meszaros, who played for the Vancouver Giants in 2004-05, will also be in Vancouver for the Olympics, playing for Team Slovakia with Canuck forward Pavol Demitra.
“I’ve only been back to Vancouver once [with the Ottawa Senators] and I can’t wait,” Meszaros. “Ottawa is Ottawa and it’s nice here in Tampa, but I really miss Vancouver.”
Forward Ryan Malone, who will represent Team USA, and goaltender Antero Nittymaki who will represent Finland along with Canuck defenceman Sami Salo rounds out the Lightning Olympic roster.
LUONGO RACKING UP THE WINS
Saturday night’s 3-2 shoot-out win against the Boston Bruins was Roberto Luongo’s 30th win this season. This is Luongo’s fifth 30-win season of his career and with 25 games remaining will try for a second 40-win season.
Luongo surpassed Richard Brodeur’s 126 wins and is currently sitting second behind McLean, who holds the record at 211 wins over 11 seasons. McLean had one 30-plus wins season in the 1991-92 season and was a League high that year with 38 wins in 65 games. Luongo is now at 145 all-time wins with the Canucks and counting.
Luongo had a stellar performance against the Bruins stopping 41 shots, and had a save percentage of .953.
Luongo (30-15-2) currently sits in fourth place in the NHL for wins this season. He has a save percentage of .920 and is in the top 10 amongst goaltenders in the NHL with a 2.32 GAA.
In just four seasons with Vancouver, Luongo has already made dents into the Canucks record books. He is now is the sole leader in shutouts at 22, breaking the 20-shutout tie with Kirk McLean.
With a 2.33 GAA, he has the best Canucks goals against ahead of Dan Cloutier and Alex Auld at 2.42 and 2.75 respectively.
Luongo will join goaltenders Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils and Marc-Andre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Team Canada in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver in less than a week.
Demitra
DEMO MOVES UP, BERNIE MOVES OUT
Canuck forward Pavol Demitra was skating alongside second liners Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond at practice this morning, and will likely stay there for tomorrow’s match against the Boston Bruins.
Since returning on January 16 after a shoulder injury, Demitra has recorded three assists, one each in the last two games.
This bumps Mikael Samuelsson down to the third line with Tanner Glass and Kyle Wellwood, possibly leaving Steve Bernier out of the lineup completely for tomorrow’s game.
Darcy Hordichuk will likely find himself back in the fourth line with Ryan Johnson and Rick Rypien after missing Thursday’s game against the Ottawa Senators.
HODGSON GLAD TO BE BACK
After being sidelined last July because of a back injury, Canuck prospect Cody Hodgson of the Brampton Battalion did not waste any time in his first game back in four months.
Hodgson contributed to the 4-2 win against the Erie Otters on Thursday night by recording two assists. He was also seen on the power-play and the penalty kill, and was chosen as the game’s first star.
“I had a lot of fun last night, played with some great speedy wingers [Scott[ Tanski and [Sean]Jones,” said Hodgson. “They were having fun as well. It’s great to create offence and be able to do the things that I could do at one time before. It’s a relief to get back.”
Before injuring his back while preparing for the Canucks’ 2009-10 training camp in July 2009, Hodgson spent the summer in London, Ontario training with Dave Gagner, the Canucks Director of Player Development. Gagner worked with Hodgson on his skating, which Hodgson acknowledged a marked improvement at camp but didn’t use Gagner’s facilities during his rehabilitation.
“Most of my rehab has been independent,” said Hodgson. “I’ve done that through Dr. Miniaci in Cleveland, doctors throughout Toronto and my trainer here in Brampton. During the summer next year I won’t be training with Mr. Gagner. I feel I have good trainers here in Toronto I can work with also.”
Due to his injury, Hodgson did not play on Team Canada in the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship.
“Anytime you get the chance to represent your country you go,” said Hodgson. “Last year was the greatest experience of my hockey career winning the gold medal for Canada. This year was tough but I knew I couldn’t help the country or be at my best.”
Brampton head coach and general manager Stan Butler is impressed with Hodgson for his endurance and performance throughout his long recovery, and compared him to Bruin defenceman and captain Zdeno Chara, who played for Butler on the Prince George Cougars in 1996.
“The only other guy that I saw work as hard as he has was a guy I had in Boston, Zdeno Chara,” said Butler. “When I had him in Prince George we used to kick him out of the weight room or switch the clocks so he would think it’s later than it was. Cody’s put in long hard work outs here every day.”
Hodgson is happy to be back playing for the Battalion and hopes to continue his progress the rest of the year as he did against the Otters on Thursday.
“Worked hard to get the rehab, and make sure everything is set now and hopefully that pain doesn’t return,” said Hodgson. “That’s the biggest thing, making sure it’s healthy and ready to go from now on. I think we’ve done a great job here in Brampton rehabbing and being around the guys kept me motivated and now getting back feels great.”
A VISIT TO BOSTON
After being defeated 3-1 Thursday against the Ottawa Senators, the Canucks hope to improve their 1-2-0 record tomorrow when they play their fourth game of their 18 day road trip against the Boston Bruins.
This will be the only time the two teams play each other this season. Last season the Canucks lost 1-0 to the Bruins at GM Place.
Roberto Luongo is expected to return between the pipes for Vancouver. A battle of the goalies is very much at the forefront with Tim Thomas at the other end of the rink.
Luongo has a 9.19 save percentage and a 2.33 GAA in 48 games this year and Thomas is sitting at a 9.15 save percentage with a 2.52 GAA in 35 games and both will represent their countries this year at the Winter Olympic Games in one week. Luongo will wear the red and white for Canada, while Thomas will join Canuck, Ryan Kesler on Team USA.
A far cry from last year’s Eastern Conference winning team, the Bruins are 1-6-3 in their last 10 games and have just one regulation win in their last 13.
With a 2.46 goals against per game, which is sixth in the NHL, just behind the Canucks’ 2.43, the defence, featuring their captain Zdeno Chara hasn’t been a problem.
The Bruins have a league low 2.31 goals per game and 133 total goals on the year have struggled to find the back of the net - they were second in goals per game last year, averaging 3.29 per game. Getting one extra goal can be the difference maker for a team and it couldn’t be more true for Boston, who have lost 10 times in overtime or a shootout and nine by one goal in regulation.
Boston looks to break their nine-game winless streak as the Canucks look to get back on track on the road after back-to-back losses in Montreal and Ottawa.
Even with two consecutive losses against the Senators and Canadiens, the Canucks remain first in the Northwest Division with 70 points (34-20-2), keeping their two-point lead on the Colorado Avlanche.
The Bruins currently sit in twelfth place in the East with 56 points (23-22-10). Their last game ended in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
Glass
FOURTH LINE JUGGLE
Glass sat out last game against the Montreal Canadiens, but will possibly be put back in the fourth line with Ryan Johnson and Rick Rypien for tomorrow's match against the Ottawa Senators.
Darcy Hordichuk was skating as a defenceman at todays practice in Ottawa and will likely be the one replaced by Glass in the lineup. So far this season Glass has recorded 9 points (4-5-9) in 49 games.
CANUCKS TO GET BACK ON TRACK
Before suffering a 3-2 loss against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, the Canucks had a seven game winning streak, five of which were at home.
With the 18 day road trip, the longest in club history, the Canucks did have more than one day off at a time with no games due to travelling. Since the team departed from Vancouver on January 28, they’ve only played two games in seven days.
The last four games the Canucks played before embarking on the trip were every second day. The Canucks know they have to adjust to their road trip schedule in order to rack up more wins.
"I feel like we've should've played four or five games already,” said Ryan Johnson. “That's the way the schedule goes and now we have an opportunity here to play a few, two games in three days. It's good for us, and then we're going to have another little break so we have to find time to keep the tempo up in practice."
The schedule is looking a little tighter in the upcoming games, including two back to back games on February 11 and 12 against the Florida Panthers and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
"It's tough enough to be on the road for a long time, and to not play games is even tougher,” said Henrik Sedin. “This is when the fun starts, we play every second day, and we have a back to back at the end of the road trip so it should be good now."
With road trip adjustments in order, the Canucks hope to succeed in their next game tomorrow night against the Ottawa Senators and break their nine game winning streak.
LUKOWICH: “PLAY TUFF LIKE SANDPAPER”
NHL players are often asked, If you could offer one piece of advice for aspiring hockey players, what would it be?
In the case of 28-year-old Gavin Smith, he still remembers a message Canucks defenceman Brad Lukowich told him many moons ago.
Smith grew up playing hockey in the small town of Lillooet, BC, and he had the chance to attend a match between the WHL’S Kamloops Blazers and the Victoria Cougars when he was 11.
After the game, Smith found a hockey stick behind the benches that was in perfect shape. After a quick look around to ensure the coast was clear, he decided to grab it. While testing out the new stick with his friends, Gavin heard, “Hey! That’s my stick!”
“I must have looked like a deer in the headlights because, I thought I was going to catch hell for this one,” explained Smith. “I stood there dumbfounded and quickly tried to make amends by asking him if he wanted it back. He told me to hold on as he went aboard the bus. He came out with a black marker and signed: ‘To Gavin: Good Luck and Best Wishes, Brad Lukowich.’”
After finding out a few details about Smith, Lukowich gave him a message he would never forget.
“He asked me what position I played, and I proudly said defence. He said ‘That’s good now you play tuff as sandpaper out there no matter what.’ The message stuck with me through hockey and small town life.”
Even though Smith never made it big in hockey, he claims to “still play tough as sandpaper.” Since that time he’s earned nicknames such as ‘badger’ and ‘ferocious,’ proof that he’s stuck by Lukowich’s words of wisdom.
Smith describes a recent hockey fight he took part in, while keeping Lukowich’s message in mind.
“It all started when one of their D men played me up high. I gave him a shot to the dome, and he answered back with a slash across my waist with his stick. I grabbed him in a head lock and gave him a pile driver into the ice. He squirmed around pretty good but I kept his head held tight until the refs pulled me off.”
Lukowich still remembers signing Smith’s stick, which he kept in mint condition.
Now Lukowich has found his way back to British Columbia after playing for the Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks. The Cranbrook native has played 11 games for the Canucks; he scored his first goal against the Buffalo Sabres on January 25.
Salo
SALO IN, BAUMER OUT
It was confirmed today after the Canucks morning skate that Sami Salo is back in the lineup and will play in today's game against the Montreal Canadiens. He will replace Nolan Baumgartner and skate with Alex Edler.
"He’s been able to practice a couple of times now and he’s pain free again this morning so he’s ready to go," said Alain Vigneault.
Ryan Johnson is also back in the lineup after missing the last game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He will skate with Darcy Hordichuk and Rick Rypien, leaving Tanner Glass out of the lineup for today's game.
GAME DAY NOTES
This is the second and last time the Canucks and the Canadiens will play each other this season. The first game on October 7 ended in an impressive 7-1 victory over the Canadiens.
The Canucks’ top lines dominated with two goals from Henrik Sedin, and one each from Ryan Kesler, Mason Raymond, Mikael Samuelsson, and Alex Burrows.
The Canucks have won their last seven games, including a comeback last Saturday against the Maple Leafs. The last time the Canucks won seven straight was in the 2006-07 season from December 26-January 7. The win increased the Canucks point total to 70 - four points up on the Colorado Avalanche.
“It’s tight,” said Roberto Luongo. “There’s a lot of good teams not only in our division but in our conference. We feel like almost every game is so important and it is. We’re playing well right now and we want to keep it going. When you’re on a streak like that you always want to keep it going as long as you can.”
Luongo will start again tonight after being pulled last game against Toronto. Luongo has been pulled three times this season but seems to get right back up for the next game. He is 3-0 with a .943 save percentage and a 1.33 goals-against average in the games that followed him being pulled.
“It doesn’t happen very often that we have to take him out of games,” said Alain Vigneault. “Every time that we’ve had since he’s been here, he’s bounced back extremely well and that’s what we expect tonight.”
The Canadiens (25-25-6) have lost their last three games and are currently tied for ninth place in the East with the Atlanta Thrashers. Their last match against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday was a close call but ended in overtime when Mike Fisher scored the winning goal making it 3-2.
Montreal will have to play without forward Michael Cammalleri who was sidelined last game against the Senators, injuring his knee and won’t be back for six to eight weeks. Cammalleri has 48 points (26-22-28) in 56 games this season.
The Canucks hope to bring in another win to extend their longest streak of the season, and are especially excited to play in Montreal.
“I think for players it’s one of the best buildings to play in because of the atmosphere that you have in here,” said Vigneault. “Original six teams so obviously for them they have a great fan base and a great support.”
HODGSON TO RETURN TO OHL
Canuck prospect Cody Hodgson is likely to return to the lineup for OHL’s Brampton Battalion on Thursday after being out with back problems for four months.
Hodgson played six of nine Canucks’ pre-season games but “complained that he didn’t have the necessary explosiveness in his right leg due to a bulging disc impinging on a nerve,” wrote Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun.
Hodgson underwent months of physiotherapy but didn’t start to improve until he received a cortisone injection in December. Canucks assistant general manager Laurence Gilman was happy to hear the news of Hodgson’s return.
”We’re certainly happy that Cody will resume his playing career in the OHL this week,” Gilman told Pap. “He has informed us that he now feels ready to play. It’s been a long road for him. He’s worked extremely hard to get back to this point and he feels he is 100 per cent ready to resume his career.”
Hodgson was the Canucks 2008 first round draft pick at the NHL Entry draft and last season’s CHL player of the year. He had 92 points (43-49-92) in 53 games, a +41 rating and 33 penalty minutes.
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