The NHL regular season doesn’t run like a sprint; it’s a marathon. It’s becoming quite apparent the Canucks aren’t that interested in galloping down the stretch.

Why would they?

With second-place locked up in the Western Conference and playoffs right around the corner, the team doesn’t have a ton to play for, except maybe confidence and momentum heading into Round 1.

Despite half-hearted efforts of late, and only 5 games left to go, the team is riding a 4-game win streak which includes tight 1-0 victories over Los Angeles and Colorado.

But having produced little in the way of scoring, there is worry afloat. Without the team’s three MVPs of 2011-12 (read about them below), who are at it once again providing stellar performances down the stretch, there would be more cause for concern.

Maybe the Ryan Keslers and Sedins of the world are simply choosing to save their moxie for playoffs. One can hope hope.

YOU SHALL NOT STAPH...I MEAN PASS!

First Star: Chris Higgins

Plagued by a staph infections for much of the season but still outworking everyone wearing sweaty skates, Chris Higgins has found the scoring touch that made him the teams’ leading goal-scorer through October.

Higgins has three goals in his last four, and the team’s only goal in a win Wednesday against Colorado.

The feisty Long Islander was igniting the second line with Ryan Kesler and David Booth until coach Alain Vigneault juggled to try and spark the Sedin twins and Alex Burrows, and since Higgins was bumped down to the third line with Jannik Hansen, Samuel Pahlsson he’s been the team’s best forward.

It seems any line this guy goes on, he provides a spark. Whether it’s stealing a ton of pucks, laying the body, or just out-hustling opposition defencemen to the puck – like he did Wednesday to stave off an icing and seal a Canucks win – Higgins’ consistently inspired play is solidifying himself as one of the team’s leaders heading into playoffs.

Second Star: Roberto Luongo

Bobby Lu posted his fourth shutout turning aside shots against a desperate Los Angeles Kings club. With yet another strong regular season outing, many sportscasters and writers argue that Roberto Luongo has been the team’s MVP.

Whether he is or whether he isn’t, the man from Montreal has quietly delivered another excellent year in goal – just so long as we dismiss Bobby Lu’s usual October rust.

In six seasons since trading in a panther for the orca-emblazoned crest, Luongo’s averaged 37 wins, 2.35 goals against, and a .920 save percentage in 64 starts per season. Impressive; but we all know that despite Luongo’s A+ numbers now, like UBC undergrads, the real test begins in April.

Third Star: Cory Schneider

Cory Schneider, the other half of the dynamic duo, stopped  all 43 shots against Colorado on Wednesday to make it back-to-back shutouts, one from each netminder.

Schneiderman’s third shutout of the season pushed him to a league-high .969 save percentage and outside of maybe St. Louis, with Brian Elliot and Jaroslov Halak, there isn’t any debate on who has the best goalie tandem in the NHL.

Goal of the Week

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With the commencement of the Western Hockey League’s playoffs this weekend, here are my Western Conference previews and predictions.

(1) Tri-City Americans versus (8) Everett Silvertips

Season Series: Americans 6-2-0-0

Key Players:

Tri-City – Brendan Shinnimin – Forward – 58 goals, 76 assists, 134 points

Everett – Corbin Boes – Goaltender – 23 wins, 10 losses, 2.84 GAA, .916%

There couldn’t be more of a David versus Goliath matchup in the first round. Everett squeezed into the post season as the 8th-seed thanks to Seattle’s loss to Portland on the final day of the regular season. Now they’re up against a Tri-City club that blew away the competition scoring 281 goals while allowing allowing a league-low 190 against.

Tri-City boasts three players, including Brendan Shinnimin’s league-high 134 points, that were in the Top 10 in WHL scoring. The Americans also owned the head-to-head series against Everett winning six of eight.

Prediction: Americans in four.

(2) Kamloops Blazers versus (7) Victoria Royals

Season Series: Blazers 7-1-0-0

Key Players:

Kamloops – Brendan Ranford – Centre – 40 goals, 52 assists, 92 points

Victoria -  Hayden Rintoul – Defence -  17 goals, 34 assists, 51 points

Kamloops blazed their way to a B.C. Division crown for the first time since 2001-02 and boast a scary 25-11-0 record at home this season. As a franchise, the Royals are in the post-season for the fifth time in six years, while it’s their first since moving to Victoria from Chilliwack in September.

While the Royals will be motivated to steal a playoff series for their new fans, they’ll be in tough against a high-octane Blazers team that won seven out of eight in head-to-head games.

The Memorial Cup goes May 18-27 in Shawinigan, Quebec.

Prediction: Blazers in six.

(3) Portland Winterhawks versus (6) Kelowna Rockets

Season Series: Winterhawks 4-0-0-0.

Key Players:

Portland – Sven Bartschi – Forward – 33 goals, 61 assists, 94 points

Kelowna -  Brett Bulmer – Forward -  34 goals, 28 assists, 62 points

After Sven Bartschi solidified himself as a bona fide blue-chip prospect by scoring 3 goals in 4 games in an NHL-loan to the Calgary Flames last week, the Portland Winterhawks are more than happy to have the Swiss’ services returned for their first-round match-up against Kelowna.

Along with snipers Ty Rattie and Brad Ross, Bartschi and the Winterhawks have a great opportunity to go deep into the post-season and fight for a Memorial Cup berth. Outside of Tri-City, the Winterhawks boast the most lethal/balanced attack. Portland hammered in a league-high 328 goals.

The only chance Kelowna has to sneaking out of this series, is a Miracle on Ice performance from goaltender Adam Brown and consistent scoring efforts from the likes of Brett Bulmer and Colton Sissons.

Prediction: Winterhawks in five.

(4) Vancouver Giants versus (5) Spokane Chiefs

Season Series: Vancouver 2-0-0-0

Key Players:

Vancouver – Brendan Gallagher – Forward - 41 goals, 36 assists, 77 points

Spokane – Brenden Kichton – Defence – 17 goals, 57 assists, 74 points

On paper this is arguably the tightest first-round matchup. Only one point separated the Vancouver Giants and Spokane Chiefs during the regular season. While the Giants won the head-to-head series with two wins, the fact that neither team saw much of each other means it could get interesting.

Vancouver’s workhorse Brendan Gallagher might be the difference-maker in this series, and if goaltender Adam Morrison can continue his consistent play – 35 wins, 2.75 GAA, .901% – into the playoffs, the Giants will have a sizeable advantage.

The Giants will have to watch out for swift-skating defenceman Brenden Kichton who lead the Chiefs – not to mention all WHL blueliners – with 74 points.

Prediction: Giants in seven.

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With six of the possible eight Western Conference playoff spots already clinched by Tri-City, Kamloops, Portland, Vancouver, Spokane and Kelowna respectively, the final week of the 2011-12 WHL season will decide which of the bottom four teams will nab the remaining two.

As far as outcomes for each club, here’s a team-by-team shakedown of they’ll need to do to avoid an early golf season:

Victoria Royals, 53 points; 1 game remaining: The Royals currently cling to a playoff position with a game to go against Spokane on Saturday.

They can decide their fate with a win, which will all but guarantee them a trip to the post-season and, likely, that coveted 7th spot. Only if Seattle wins all of their final three games will the Royals not grab 7th with a  win on Saturday.

However, if the Royals lose, they’ll still sneak into the playoffs as long as either Seattle drops 2-of-3 and or Everett falters in both their remaining games.

Everett Silvertips, 52 points; 2 games remaining: The ‘Tips will need to win both their remaining to games to help their chances. As of right now they are only two points ahead of the Seattle Thunderbirds for that final 8th spot in the Western Conference, but the T-Birds do have a game in hand.

The head-to-head showdown on Saturday in Seattle will likely determine which of the two clubs avoid an early spring vacation.

Seattle Thunderbirds, 50 points; 3 games remaining: The aforementioned showdown Saturday against the their I-5 rivals should determine Seattle’s postseason fate.

However, if Victoria loses their last game and Prince George fails to pick up more than one-point in their final two games, the ‘Tips might be looking pretty.

Prince George Cougars, 48 points; 2 games remaining: The Cougars are the outsiders looking in as they currently sit in last place. However with two games left to go, P.G. can claw back into the picture with a pair of victories this weekend in back-to-back games against Kamloops.

They’ll need some luck too, because even if they win, they need either Everett to lose both their games or Seattle to pick up only one-point in their final 3.

Western League Warrior

Emerson Etem, 19, Medicine Hat Tigers: The third-year forward from Long Beach, California notched his 60th goal in just his 62 regular season game this past week as he tallied a total of 5 goals in three games to push the Tigers to a 2-1-0-0 record. It’s the first time any player has eclipsed 60 since Layne Ulmer pulled off the feat in 2001 for the Swift Current Broncos.

Western Hockey League Weekly Notebook

Etem is a former NHL first-rounder and property of the Anahiem Ducks.

Bartschi Recalled to Flames

As the saying goes, one man’s pain is another man’s gain.

The Portland Winterhawks are feeling that sort of pain after all-star forward Sven Bartschi was called up last week to the Calgary Flames to help the NHL club make a bid for the playoffs. The 19-year-old Swiss native has already scored twice in two games for the Flames meaning he probable won’t be seeing Portland anytime soon.

The nifty-playmaker had amassed 94 points in 47 games for the Winterhawks and was second, only behind Ty Rattie, for the team lead in points before the big club recalled him on March 7th.

It will be interesting to see if Bartschi does suit up again this season for the Winterhawks. That outcome however depends a lot on the failure or success of the Flames over the next month.

Top 10 Scorers

GM  G   A  PTS

1. Brendan Shinnimin, Tri-City Americans      67  58  73  131
2. Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks                   67  55  62  117
3. Mark Stone, Brandon Wheat Kings               64  39  78  117
4. Jordan Weal, Regina Pats                                68  41  75  116
5. Adam Hughesman, Tri-City Americans       70  48  65  113
6. Patrick Holland, Tri-City Americans            70  24  83  107
7. Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat Tigers             63  60  45  105
8. Michael St. Croix, Edmonton Oil Kings       70  43  58  101
9. Michael Ferland, Brandon Wheat Kings     66  45  49   94
10. Sven Bartschi, Portland Winterhawks       47  33   61   94

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We’re now past the halfway point of the 2011-12 WHL season and in the midst of the World Junior Hockey Championships the Tri-City Americans pencil themselves in as the team to beat having won ten in a row, owning a league best 29-7-0-0 record.

If the playoffs were to begin tomorrow Everett Silvertips and Prince George Cougars would be the two odd teams out. But as it stands even the lowly ‘Tips are only 10 points behind the 8th seeded Victoria Royals with plenty of time to gain some ground.

The Kamloops Blazers, just 3 points back from top spot in the Western Conference, claim the biggest turnaround as they missed playoffs in 2010-11 and jumped 7 spots up this year’s ranking. Their Okanagan counterpart Kelowna Rockets took the biggest slide from second place a season ago to seventh in the Conference.

Hot Streak:

Tri-City Americans (29-7-0-0). The Tri-City Americans are the best in the West and are getting it done through goaltending, among other things. They’ve allowed a league-low 2.36 goals per game behind the superb backstopping of 19-year-old Ty Rimmer who leads all netminders with a 2.03 goals-against average and .932 save percentages in 22 games. Rimmer earned WHL Goaltender of the Month for December after a 6-0 record and 1.50 goals-against average. It also helps that the Americans have two players in the Top 1o in WHL points and four in the Top 20.

Winter Blues:

Victoria Royals (13-23-2-2): The Royals have gone 1-7-1-1 in their last 10 games, including a winless streak of seven that dates back to December 9th. It doesn’t help that Victoria has given up a league high 203 goals against and accumulated a Conference high 717 penalty minutes.

Holiday Puck Warrior:

Michael St. Croix, 18, Edmonton Oil Kings: The Oil King veteran forward is on fire as he’s racked up 10 points in his last 4 games, which includes 6 goals. He’s climbed up the WHL scoring ladder to third with 24 goals and 38 assists for 62 points in 39 games.

Western Hockey League Weekly Notebook

Top 10 Scorers:

1. (2) Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks – 37g, 31a – 68 points
2. (1) Mark Stone, Brandon Wheat Kings – 27g, 38a – 65 points
3. (9) Michael St. Croix, Edmonton Oil Kings – 24g, 38a – 62 points
4. (3) Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat Tigers – 30g, 31a – 61 points
5. (4) Adam Hughesman, Tri-City Americans – 23g, 37a – 60 points
6. (6) Kevin Sundher, Victoria Royals – 22g, 38a – 60 points
7. (7) Jordan Weal, Regina Pats – 22g, 38a – 60 points
8. (NR) Brendan Shinnimin, Tri-City Americans – 20g, 35a – 55 points
9. (5) Sven Bartschi, Portland Winterhawks – 12g, 42a – 54 points
10. (10) Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat Tigers – 31g, 22a – 53 points

* Denotes rookie

() Previous week’s ranking

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The WHL heads into its final week of games before the holiday break, and teams have already lost many of their marquee players to the World Junior training camps.

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Kamloops and Tri-City sit on top of the respectively and are revelling in the holiday spirit, while slumping teams like Everett – just 5 victories – and Seattle – just 12 wins – are asking for almost any kind of help from Santa on their Christmas wish lists to turn things around in the new year.

Weekend Winners

Western Conference leader the Tri-City Americans (25-7-0-0) picked up two wins as Patrick Holland led the charge Saturday en route to a Tri-City 5-1 victory over the Everett Silvertips.

On Sunday they followed that solid performance when they blanked the Portland Winterhawks 3-0 as goalie Ty Rimmer made 29 saves for the shutout.

Tri-City has one 9 of their last 10 games.

Weekend Losers 

Everett Silvertips (5-21-0-5): There is no team in the WHL that’s mired in a worst slump heading into the Christmas break. Over 31 games Everett has mustered up just 5 victories.

Western Hockey League Weekly Notebook

The ‘Tips dropped back-to-back games against division powerhouses Spokane, 5-2, on Friday and then Tri-City, 5-1, on Saturday and have just one win in their last 10.

It doesn’t help that Everett has scored a league-low 71 goals and given up a league-high 132 against.

Weekend Warrior

Patrick Holland, 19, Tri-City Americans: The veteran forward notched two helpers in a win over Victoria on Wednesday before scoring his first hat-trick of the season against Everett on Saturday for a 5 points in two games last week.

Top 10 Scorers

1. (1) Mark Stone, Brandon Wheat Kings – 27g, 38a – 65 points
2. (4) Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks – 32g, 27a – 59 points
3. (2) Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat Tigers – 29g, 30a – 59 points
4. (7) Adam Hughesman, Tri-City Americans – 22g, 34a – 56 points
5. (10) Sven Bartschi, Portland Winterhawks – 12g, 42a – 54 ponts
6. (5) Kevin Sundher, Victoria Royals – 21g, 31a – 52 points
7. (9) Jordan Weal, Regina Pats – 17g, 31a – 48 points
8. (6) Brendan Gallagher, Vancouver Giants – 24g, 22a – 46 points
9. (NR) Michael St. Croix, Edmonton Oil Kings – 17g, 29a – 46 points
10. (8) Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat Tigers – 27g, 18a – 45 points

* Denotes rookie
() Previous week’s ranking

Are the thoroughbreds finally off to the races? It certainly looks that way as the Tri-City Americans (16-6-0-0), Vancouver Giants (15-9-0-1), Portland Winterhawks (14-8-1-1) and Kamloops Blazers (14-6-1-0) are starting to pull away from the rest of the Western Conference pack.

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While Spokane (10-5-1-2) aren’t too far behind, the teams on the bubble that will most likely be fighting for a spot in the postseason come spring include Victoria, Kelowna and Seattle.

Weekend Winners

Seattle Thunderbirds (9-11-0-0): They are clinging to the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, but a strong weekend of back-to-back victories could mean the ‘Birds have found lift-off.

Western Hockey League Weekly Notebook

Saturday Seattle blanked first-place Tri-City Americans 3-0 and followed it up with a 6-3 victory over Portland as Burke Gallimore potted a pair in the win.

Weekend Losers 

Victoria Royals (11-12-0-1): The boys from the island have played around .500 hockey all season long, at looks as though they might not change that trend. While this weekend’s 11-3 spanking to the Giants shouldn’t scare Royals fans, the fact that Victoria sits in third in the B.C. Division and sixth in the Western Conference standings with more than 20 games into the campaign means the team with the WHL’s newest address isn’t boasting a Memorial Cup contender just yet.

Weekend Warrior

Calvin Pickard, 17, Seattle Thunderbirds: The stellar netminder had a 90-save weekend, turning away  a staggering 43 shots against the Tri-City Americans – the best team in the Western Conference – to give the T-Birds a 3-0 win. The 20-year-old followed it up with a 47-save performance to give Seattle a 6-3 win against Portland on Saturday.

Top 10 Scorers

1. (1) Mark Stone, Brandon Wheat Kings – 22g, 32a – 54 points
2. (2) Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat Tigers – 25g, 22a – 47 points
3. (4) Michael Ferland, Brandon Wheat Kings – 15g, 21a – 36 points
4. (3) Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks – 20g, 18a – 38 points
5. (5) Kevin Sundher, Victoria Royals – 14g, 23a – 37 points
6. (7) Brendan Gallagher, Vancouver Giants – 19g, 17a – 36 points
7. (6) Adam Hughesman, Tri-City Americans – 15g, 21a – 36 points
8. (10) Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat Tigers – 23g, 10a – 33 points
9. (NR) Jordan Weal, Regina Pats – 10g, 23a – 33 points
10. (9) Sven Bartschi, Portland Winterhawks – 7g, 26a – 33 points

* Denotes rookie
() Previous week’s ranking

Shock of shocks, some are already screaming Armageddon in Van City, and others don’t really care because the B.C. Lions football team is steamrolling over the competition and are a game away from their first Grey Cup Championship since 2006.

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Whatever your anxiety level Vancouver Canucks  fans – panic or apathy – don’t worry the sky will not fall because this team has too many weapons to continue playing .500 hockey.

While the Boston Bruins – winners of 9 in a row – have found their form through sheer urgency, the Canucks continue to appear lackadaisical most nights.

And until the physically sculpted Ryan Kesler starts hitting the scoresheet the way he did a season ago, the Vancouver Canucks are going to struggle to shake-off the Stanley Cup hangover.

Mason Raymond returns to the lineup this week and will he spark the troops? Well if he can even play half as inspired as Sidney Crosby in his return performance Monday night (2 goals, 2 assists) it certainly can’t hurt.

First Star: Chris Higgins

Unquestionably the only Canuck playing at, or beyond expectation, through 20 games.

And Tuesday night’s tip-in winner is the kind of clutch performance that the Canucks got last year from the Sedins and Kesler, and sorely need again on a nightly basis.

Higgins leads the team with six even-strength markers, he scored a total of 11 in 2010-11, and even though he’s been bounced around the second and third line, the NHL journeyman is not letting it alter his game.

Unquestionably the only Canuck playing at, or beyond expectation, through 20 games. - (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

What’s probably been the most impressive about Higgins so far is his work ethic and willingness to go into the corners to win the puck – something sorely missing from a pedestrian Canuck forecheck.

Second Star: Cory Schneider

“Schneiderman” was tangled in his own web against Chicago in a 5-1 loss Wednesday night at Rogers Arena – but hey the Blackhawks have that venomous affect on their foes all too many time.

The 25-year-old American rebounded nicely in Vancouver’s 2-1 overtime win against Ottawa on Sunday as he earned the game’s First Star with 28 saves, and all things considered he’s had a decent start to the 2011-12 campaign.

His .912 save percentage and 2.52 GAA is more than respectable, but he is still not playing at the .929  save percentage, 2.23 GAA-mark he did last season.

And while, the Canucks could use some monster performances between the pipes, Schneider still proved that he can make a key saves when the game’s on the line as he did in overtime on Sunday.

With Roberto Luongo cleared to play Wednesday after recovering from his mysterious upper body injury, it will be interesting to see if Coach Vigneault goes back to his No. 1 guy or plays the redhead.

Third Star: Dan Hamhuis

He was here last week. He’s here again in 3rd this week. The Hammer continues to be the most consistent on the blueline and after a dismal October is rounding into season’s form.

On Tuesday he was all over the ice and helped set-up Higgins overtime winner.

The Smithers, B.C. native is second on defence behind Alexander Edler for ice-time with 22:29 per game and has 10 points in 20 games, he’s also been playing with the physicality that saw him flourish in the post-season.

Our vote for the Nicest Goal Last 7 Days (Video)

The waves of change have swept the shores of the Western Hockey League standings. After a red-hot October, the Kamloops Blazers are cooling off, while the Vancouver Giants have flexed their muscles in November powering to 8 wins their last 10 games to supplant their B.C. Division rivals atop the standings.

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While the U.S. Division is still Tri-City’s to lose zipping along on a five-game win streak, the Portland Winterhawks are coming on strong with a five-game unbeaten streak of their own and trail top spot by just two points.

Weekend Winners

Vancouver Giants (13-8-0-1). No team has been hotter than the Giants who are being powered by their little-big man 5-foot-8 forward Brendan Gallagher. The feisty winger potted and is shooting up the WHL scoring list with 31 points in 18 games.

The Giants rolled on the weekend, beating Edmonton 4-1 on Wednesday night, then a 3-2 OT victory against the Kelowna Rockets Saturday, before capping a 4-3 shootout victory over the Prince George Cougars on Sunday.

Weekend Losers

Prince George Cougars (6-13-0-2): The Cougars are struggling to score goals and sorely miss all-star forward Brett Connolly who graduated to the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. It doesn’t help that the squad has been devastated by injuries, while gritty leader Charles Inglis is currently serving a suspension for a charging penalty and game misconduct.

The Cougars dropped back-to-back games against Kelowna and Vancouver and sit at the bottom of the B.C. Division Standings.

Western Hockey League Weekly Notebook

Penalty Explosion

As beat reporter Gregg Drinnan from the Kamloops News pointed out there were 10 checking-from-behind minor penalties dolled out on Saturday night.

The list includes:

Kenton Miller, Moose Jaw Warriors
Richard Nedomiel, Swift Current Broncos
Carter Proft, Spokane Chiefs
Alessio Bertaggia, Brandon Wheat Kings
Mitchell Moroz, Edmonton Oil Kings
Tyler Alos, Seattle Thunderbirds
Mitch Topping (double minor), Tri-City Americans
Mason Burr, Red Deer Rebels
Auston Carroll, Victoria Royals

Weekend Warrior

Ty Rattie, 18, Portland Winterhawks: Rattie has 14 points in five games in November. The St. Louis Blues prospect potted 2 goals and added a pair of assists in a 6-5 shootout victory over the Spokane Chiefs on Friday.

Top 10 Scorers

1. (2) Mark Stone, Brandon Wheat Kings – 19g, 27a – 46 points
2. (1) Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat Tigers – 25g, 19a – 44 points
3. (5) Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks – 19g, 18a – 37 points
4. (4) Michael Ferland, Brandon Wheat Kings – 15g, 21a – 36 points
5. (3) Kevin Sundher, Victoria Royals – 13g, 23a – 36 points
6. (6) Adam Hughesman, Tri-City Americans – 14g, 21a – 35 points
7. (9) Brendan Gallagher, Vancouver Giants – 18g, 13a – 31 points
8. (5) Taylor Vause, Swift Current Broncos – 13g, 17a – 30 points
9. (NR) Sven Bartschi, Portland Winterhawks  – 7g, 23a – 30 points
10. (9) Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat Tigers – 21g, 8a – 29 points

* Denotes rookie
() Previous week’s ranking

The world is full of the bizarre and puzzling: crop circles, the Bermuda Triangle, black holes in space – just to name a few. But when it comes to hockey, the play of the Vancouver Canucks is the most confounding.

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After sleeping through embarrassing losses to embarrassing teams last week (St. Louis and Columbus), the Orca-emblazoned club hammered arch-nemesis Chicago 6-2 in an inspired game last Saturday, and then follow it up with a tight, but well-executed 3-2 win versus a strong L.A. Kings side.

However, the mysterious play of the Canucks crept up on them Friday night as they dropped a 4-3 decision to a struggling Anaheim Ducks who had lost 9 of 10. The Canucks are 11th in the Western Conference with an 8-8-1-0 record and nearing the season quarter-mark are quickly running out of excuses. Alas, without further ado, this week’s three stars…

First Star: Jannik Hansen

The Honey Badger: he don’t care! You kind of knew it was only a matter of time until the real Jannik Hansen would arrive. Surprisingly, it’s taken the feisty Dane – known in the dressing room as the aforementioned repugnant, but tenacious rodent -  this long to etch his name onto the weekly star list.

His two goals in a near come-from-behind 4-3 loss to Anaheim on Friday deserve first-star recognition. The second tally was quintessential Hansen as he mucked around the crease for a rebound and then slid it in with his butt on the ice. If he can continue to play like a honey badger, Vancouver might be able to find at least some of the consistency it’s sorely lacked.

While he’s making the most in his cameo role alongside the Sedins, I’m interested to see if Alain Vigneault keeps the trio intact once Alexandre Burrows returns from his upper body injury.

Jannick Hansen - Our #1 Canucks Star Last 7 Days

A second-line of Burrows, Ryan Kesler and David Booth could balance the attack as Chris Higgins would then move to the third-line alongside Cody Hodgson and Manny Malhotra, turn Mason Raymond when he gets inserted into the lineup.

Second Star: Aaron Rome

Aaron Rome is clearly a Vigneault guy. He’s tough, dependable and comes at a cheap price ($750,000). That being said, he’s quickly becoming a sin bin liability. Before the Anaheim game Rome was penciled in as sure shot first star having scored the decisive goal on the power play against the Blackhawks and then scoring yet another in Los Angeles.

But two rights can’t right a wrong (or something like that). Friday night’s brain-fart hit on Duck rookie Devante Smith-Pelly lead to a game misconduct and two powerplay goals which put the Canucks in a hole they couldn’t climb out of.

Reminiscent of Todd Bertuzzi, these overaggressive tendencies are inexcusable in a tightly-officiated NHL, and Rome knows better after paying the price in the Stanley Cup finals when he levelled Nathan Horton with a questionable hit.

Without being too hard on the rugged defenceman, Rome’s play has been more inspired after recently coming off a broken hand, and his work ethic is always welcomed, but it’s his lack of restraint that trumps his continued progress.

Third Star: Dan Hamhuis

Master of the art of invisibility, Dan Hamhuis is quietly rounding into form. The soft-spoken veteran is on a four-game point streak which includes 1 goal and 4 assists.

While Hamhuis and defence partner Kevin Bieksa have struggled mightily up until this point, “the Hammer” has been excellent in the month of November, officially shaking the October blues posting 6 points in 6 games – four of those with the man advantage. He’s also fired 14 shots on goal and made 8 hits.

The 28-year-old Smithers native is so dynamic his contributions are often overlooked.

But with the continued Canuck defensive woes, the improved play from Hamhuis is an encouraging sign that should be applauded.

Our vote for the Nicest Goal Last 7 Days (Video)

Just over a quarter of the way through the season – and yes it’s still really early – but the main WHL storyline has continued to be the play of Medicine Hat Tigers forward Emerson Etem and his incredible scoring run. A pre-season favourite to lead the ‘Dub in points, the California native has 24 goals in 19 games and is on pace to score 90 goals.

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The question, however, is this just the same type of hype that Steven Stamkos was receiving last year around this time when he was on pace to score 50 in 50, before disappearing after Christmas on losing the Maurice Richard trophy to the upstart Corey Perry?

Weekend Winners

Portland Winterhawks (11-7-1-1): Trying to make some ground on a hot Tri-City team at the top of the standings in the American Division, the Winterhawks did an excellent job of keeping pace by winning all three games last week on the road which included a 4-2 victory over Kamloops on Wednesday and then back-to-back wins over Kelowna, 6-5 shootout on Friday followed by a 3-1 win on Saturday.

Western Hockey League Weekly Notebook

Weekend Losers 

Seattle Thunderbirds (5-9-0-0): The Thunderbirds have scored a league-low 35 goals in 14 games and are struggling to stay competitive  in the Western Conference as they are currently dead last. Seattle got hammered 8-2 against Red Deer on Friday night and followed that up with a 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings to extend their losing streak to 4 games.

Weekend Warrior

Hunter Shinkaruk, 17, Medicine Hat Tigers: The left wingers scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 overtime victory against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday to top the 20-goal mark on the year. Alongside Emerson Etem, Shinkaruk adds a dangerous dimension to the Tigers offence.

Top 10 Scorers

1. (1) Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat Tigers – 24g, 17a – 41 points
2. (2) Mark Stone, Brandon Wheat Kings – 14g, 23a – 37 points
3. (3) Kevin Sundher, Victoria Royals – 13g, 23a – 36 points
4. (NR) Michael Ferland, Brandon Wheat Kings – 15g, 16a – 31 points
5. (6) Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks – 15g, 14a – 29 points
6. (4) Adam Hughesman, Tri-City Americans – 13g, 15a – 28 points
7. (5) Taylor Vause, Swift Current Broncos – 12g, 16a – 28 points
8. (NR) Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat Tigers – 19g, 8a – 27 points
9. (8) Brendan Gallagher, Vancouver Giants – 16g, 11a – 27 points
10. (NR) Jordan Weal, Regina Pats – 8g, 19a – 27 points

* Denotes rookie

() Previous week’s ranking