It's back to business for the Canucks tonight. After a dissapointing loss to Detroit (are they looking lethal or what?) on Saturday night the Canucks visit Edmonton looking to earn two points against a team they should beat. Basically it's recipe for disaster if you go by trends the team has shown this season, however in the last 10 games they are 6-2-2 for .700 hockey. Is it really that bleak?
I tend to shine a critical light on the team at the best of times and right now is no different. Players are talking about not looking behind them in the standings but looking at who the can catch ahead of them. They are saying all the right things but when it comes to on ice performance is the action equal to the talk?
Saturday's game started in what most would call a good fashion but by the second period the life seemed to be sucked out of the Canucks all due to one goal. When Bertuzzi shoved the puck into the net while it rested between Bieksa's feet it certainly gave reason to put your face in your palm. However, what happened after that should be the cause of concern for Canucks fans.
With Luongo upset about the goal, noticeably so to those on the ice and watching on TV, Pavel Datsyuk won a face off and ripped the shot from the blue line past a unprepared and completely unsettled Luongo. Folks, the word is out on our franchise goalie- when he is upset you shoot from anywhere. It happened in Chicago too and that's just from recent memory. If not for that goal and an unfortunate bounce on the PP the Canucks may have slipped out of the 2nd period leading 2-1 not down 3-2.
Great players find ways to change the game and Datsyuk knew Luongo was not 'all there' after that first goal and took a chance- it worked. When Luongo first arrived in Vancouver and was so well profiled and covered by the media, no one better than the esteemed Josh Plummer, it was his focus and mental fortitude most people acknowledged. In my opinion this has been the weakest part of his game this season.
With 10 games remaining it's time for the goalie, the franchise player and team captain to find his mental fortitude and lead this team by his play.
Edmonton launched 5 unanswered goals on Detroit Sunday night. The hit a tired team and got a big win for themselves despite playing for a lottery pick. I would expect no different from them tonight.
Demitra did not travel with the team for personal reasons as it is believed his wife is still ill. They live across the street from some friends of mine so I will try and find out more on this but I think it's pretty obvious.
Dan Murphy has stated that it will by Lou in net tonight and he thinks Raycroft tomorrow at home versus Anaheim.
With Demitra out it looks like the second line will be Raymond, Kesler, Grabner. Makes the 3rd and 4th lines pretty thin doesn't it?
It's an important two points for the Canucks tonight let's hope the players see it that way too.
Enjoy the Game
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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