Sunday February 22 - Vancouver Canucks at New York Islanders - 3 p.m. - CITY-TV, TSN1040
Vancouver Canucks: 33-22-3 69 points second in Pacific Division
New York Islanders: 39-19-2 80 points, first in Metropolitan Division
As the injuries continue to mount, the Vancouver Canucks hit the midpoint of their eastern road trip when they visit the New York Islanders this afternoon. Game time is early—3 p.m.—and the matchup is the featured "Hometown Hockey" game of the week, so you'll find it on CITY-TV.
I joked at the beginning of this road trip that the Canucks would have an easy time making callups from Utica while they were out east. Defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti got that call a couple of days ago, and Nick Jensen joined him on Saturday.
Though Alex Burrows' condition was downplayed when he was scratched before Friday's game against New Jersey, he didn't take the morning skate today on Long Island, so it looks like he'll miss his second straight game.
Jason Botchford
reports that Zack Kassian skated with the Sedins again this morning, so it doesn't sound like he'll be pulled from the lineup again.
Here are the lines as they stood this morning:
Looks like Jensen and Sanguinetti will both be the extra players for the time being.
Nice to see Nick Bonino back on the ice. He's not taking line rushes, but at least he's skating. That mean's he's probably the closest to returning.
Here's a little intel on Frank Corrado from back in Vancouver:
Also still on the injured list, with no particular timetables: Chris Tanev, Alex Edler, Kevin Bieksa and Brad Richardson. And the beat goes on...
As for the Islanders, they dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Washington Capitals yesterday, but have been surging of late. With a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games, the Islanders are currently at the top of their division and just one point out of first place in the Eastern Conference.
They're missing some bodies, too. First-line winger Kyle Okposo is sidelined with a detached retina, bottom-six forward Casey Cizikas is out with a lower-body injury and skill forward Mikhail Grabovski is out with a concussion after taking a big hit from Nashville's Eric Nystrom last Thursday.
Jaroslav Halak will be attempting to establish a new Islanders franchise record for wins as he goes for his 33rd of the year tonight. John Tavares is also red-hot, with 11 points in his last five games. He's now just two points off the top of the NHL scoring race, behind Nicklas Backstrom of Washington and Patrick Kane of Chicago.
The visit will be the Canucks' last to Nassau Coliseum, as the Islanders will relocate to their new home in Brooklyn next season. Of course, Vancouver's most lasting memory against the Islanders is their matchup during their dynasty years, in the 1982 Stanley Cup Final.
Interest in Bergenheim?
Eklund is suggesting today that the Canucks could be in the mix on a deal for Florida's Sean Bergenheim.
The Hockey News posted a cheery piece this weekend that could have been written by Dale Tallon himself, outlining why Bergenheim should be on every team's wishlist for this trade deadline.
Author Jared Clinton argues that the 31-year-old may not have the most impressive stats line, but he's a fancy-stats darling who drives puck possession.
I'd be a little more cautious. He's not a big body—just 5'10"—and if he's "the type of role player that wins games," as Clinton claims, then why has he been scratched from the Panthers' lineup eight times since New Year's—as Florida pushes Boston for that last playoff spot in the East?
I know the Panthers are trying to integrate their younger players, but if Bergenheim was such an asset, I feel like he'd still be in their lineup.
Bergenheim's also an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. I've said this before—I'd be very disappointed to see the Canucks give up a long-term asset like Zack Kassian in exchange for a player who'd only be around for 20 games or so.
If the bidding is getting high on Bergenheim, I'd just as soon see Vancouver step aside, unless there are some other significant pieces involved. I'd rather see the Canucks working the other end of the spectrum, trading their own impending UFA, Matthias, for a piece that can help the team over the long term.
But that's just me. What do you think?
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