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Vancouver is back at home tonight to take on the Phoenix Coyotes. The Coyotes will be looking for revenge in this one, after the Canucks hammered them at home 5-0 last time they met. The Coyotes come into this game in the thick of the battle for the eighth and final playoff spot. The Coyotes currently hold the eighth spot and have won their last five straight. The Canucks on the other hand, continue to plug along and are 6-1-3 in their last ten.
Canucks 34-15-6 74pts
Coyotes 27-21-8 62pts
Leaders
Canucks
Goals D. Sedin 24
Assists H. Sedin 46
+/- Burrows +18
Hits Lapierre 157
Coyotes
Goals Vrbata 26
Assists Whitney 35
+/- Whitney +19
Hits Hanzal 151
As sad as it is for me to say, I feel this game is going to be a bit of a snoozefest. The Coyotes are back to playing lock down, boring, Tippett style hockey. They will clog everything up and hope to grab a point in their pursuit for the playoffs. That's my biggest problem with the looser point. It basically rewards teams who want to play boring hockey. Then when teams who play that way get in to the playoffs, they get their asses kicked because they are used to playing for ties instead of playing for wins. Oh well, another year of four or five and out for Phoenix if they manage to sneak in.
The other reason I feel it will be a boring game is the way Vancouver is playing as of late. Is this team one of the top five teams in all of hockey? Yes. Is this team playing like they are one of the top teams in hockey? No. As of late, the Canucks have played down to their opponents in almost every game. I think that we will continue to see them do that for the next 15 games or so unless they play someone like Detroit, Chicago, San Jose, Nashville or St. Louis.
I believe the Canucks came into the season with the goal of winning the Northwest, and getting to the playoffs or at least that would appear to be their goal, judging by the way they are playing right now. With a 14 point division lead on Calgary, and an 8 point lead on San Jose for the two seed, the Canucks are home free. Could they chase Detroit? Sure. Is there really any reason to other than bragging rights and the opportunity to not have to go into Detroit for a game seven? Not really. I think that we're seeing pretty lacklustre Canucks team right now because they don't really have a lot of motivation. However, the last 8-10 games I feel they will be motivated by getting ready for the playoffs and the switch will get flipped in that locker room.
As far as the game goes tonight, I think the Canucks will look a lot like they did in Calgary. They won't really play bad, but I think they won't really be in to it tonight. When you play a team like Phoenix, they have the ability to dull the game down and take all the fun out of the game. I can see the Canucks having one of their typical games as of late, good first 10 minutes, average to crap next 30 minutes, and a solid final 20 for a win or at least a point.
Overall, Vancouver has nothing but pride to play for tonight and I'm not sure that will be enough for them to show up for a full 60 minutes. Phoenix is by far the more desperate of the two teams and will likely come with a 60 minute effort. Vancouver is a far better team than Phoenix, so I feel they will hang in there and keep it close.
Let's go with Vancouver scores in the first 10 minutes for a 1-0 lead. Phoenix roars back with three (a softy from Lu, one even, one on the PP). Vancouver realizes they are at home and have to save a bit of face. The Canucks dominate the third and tie it up after outshooting Phoenix 17-3 in the final period. Phoenix wins in a shootout.
Prediction- 4-3 Phoenix in a shootout
Respect Your Rival
Ray Whitney
I still remember getting a Victoria Cougars program with Ray Whitney and Pat Fallon on the cover after they had guided the Spokane Chiefs to the Memorial Cup. Back then, Fallon was the star and Whitney was riding shotgun. Now, at 39, Whiney is still going along at a point a game type pace, and Fallon, well, I'm not sure what he's up to. Over 1200 games, and close to 1000 points, not bad for a shifty playmaker that was suppose to be too small and slow.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
When OEL was drafted, there were a ton of comparisons to Lindstrom. Those are some large shoes to fill and I doubt he'l ever completely fill them, but in his second year with the Coyotes, he has been one of their best players. Ekman-Larsson has the perfect blend of speed, skill and smarts that is bound to make him a star. He is having an almost all star year this season with 21 points in 56 games while playing good defence.
Gilbert Brule
It's great to see Brule get his career back on track after being stuck in possibly to two worst NHL organizations for his entire career. I've always liked the kid and think if he was developed properly and sent back to Jr, he would be an all star right now. Brule is finally getting a chance to succeed and looks injury free. With 7 points in 13 games and a +4, Brule is the kind of depth player that all teams need. I wouldn't surprise me if he played a hell of a game tonight in his hometown. Best of luck the rest of the way Gilbert
Alberts
There seem to be a lot of misunderstanding on my analysis of Alberts' game yesterday. First off I like when Alberts plays physical. In my opinion he should be trying to bump someone every time he is out there. That's his role on the team and if he isn't getting 2-5 hits a game he'll likely be watching or playing in Chicago. The hits themselves I had no problem with and I agree that for the most part, they were just bad timing. On both of the hits, Alberts just appeared to catch the Flame player falling and in a bit of an awkward position. The call could have gone either way in my opinion and it is very well likely that in the playoffs they aren't even called.
My problem with Alberts' hits were that he came a long way to make them and took himself out of position to do so. On the first one, in my opinion, it would have been a better decision to sit back a bit and let the player come to him for a hit, rather than charge up and take himself out of position.
On the second hit, I have no idea what he was doing. The NHL is in crack down mode as far as hits go. Alberts plays the right side for the most part and covered the entire width of the ice to make that hit. Anytime a player charges that far for a hit the referee is going to be looking to make a call on it. You simply can't charge 50-100 feet at another player anymore. When you add to that, the fact he was dramatically out of position on the play and there could have been a 2-on-1 coming in on Lu because of it, the play was a dumb decision.
Then you add to that, he went after Mikael Backlund for giving him a bump after the play. There are likely 19 other players in Calgary's line-up tougher than Backlund. When Backlund asks you to go, just laugh and skate away. After the hit he should have known he would be fighting Jackman or Kostopoulos at some point, why put your team down a D-man any longer than you have to?
Alberts' physical play wasn't why I ripped into him yesterday. Alberts' decision making was.
Thanks for reading.
Enjoy your day.
Ian
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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