I’m certainly sounding like a broken record by starting off by saying, “The Vancouver Canucks finished up another up-and-down week,” but it’s once again true. The boys in blue just can’t seem to keep up good, consistent play for the length of a week.

This is troubling to think about heading into the postseason. I certainly wouldn’t say we are backing into the playoffs by any means, but we are definitely not ‘hot’. As we all witnessed last season, it’s who’s hot that you must worry about this time of year.

I’m not sure who, or what, to blame for these lapses the Canucks keep falling into, but it is getting very old, as you might agree.

Despite the ups and downs, there were a few players who maintained their ‘up’ last week for the Canucks.

Third star – Alexander Edler

Alex Edler has had a fairly rough season, according to fans. After getting a big contract extension, the defenceman’s productivity dropped substantially, and the Vancouver faithful made a note of venting their frustrations surrounding that.

To me, it was no more a disappointment than a number of former and current Canucks’ lack of production and/or that ability to step up and be an elite player. But Edler had a solid bounce-back week for his club, tallying two goals and an assist.

It really is nice to have this guy back(Photo: NHLPA.com)

The only way to really silence your critics is to perform on the ice. I hope for the team’s sake that he performs this well in the opening round of the playoffs.

Second star – Ryan Kesler

It really is nice to have this guy back. I’m not always his biggest fan, but he brings a certain confidence and swagger to a team that desperately lacks both of those intangibles.

Ryan Kesler is a great combination of skill and intelligence. He’s similar to a Sedin (both of whom are honourable mentions on this list), but he plays with more passion – or so it appears.

I realize the twins are well-oiled machines who show no human emotion at times, and that’s fine; but I love that Kes has attitude. He has certainly brought back some solid scoring threats and overall confidence to the group since his injury. He had a good week with two goals to accompany an assist.

If his 2011 playoffs were an indicator, we really want him on the ice in the coming weeks. He can be a force in the clutch.

First star – Derek Roy

The new face got hot. Derek Roy, who the Canucks acquired just before the deadline, had a slow start in Vancouver. Fans definitely had too high of expectations for him, as they often do in this city, but after getting settled in with his new teammates, the Canadian centre has begun to flourish.

Roy managed two goals and two assists last week to earn him the first star. He also brings that tough, veteran leadership and mentality that can spread positively through the locker room.

If he can impact this team’s psyche and give them a mental edge in the playoffs, he was officially worth signing.

Leadership is something this team has lacked since Linden, and it would be great to have some guys on the roster who can lead when the going gets tough.

Here is the Canucks’ goal of the week: a beauty by Roy in his return to Dallas:

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Last week started off well for the Vancouver Canucks, but was spoiled by a very disappointing loss to the Colorado Avalanche, the Western Conference’s worst team. The team showed that ‘play to the level of the competition’ mentality, which is never good when you face an inferior team.

There were glimmers of hope again last week as to how the Canucks could play heading into the postseason. At times they seemed in total control of the game pace and style, which is how the C’s can make a legitimate run for the Cup.

Solid contributions from all four lines have been common lately, which is another promising factor heading towards the playoffs.

Here’s a recap of the top performers from the Canucks in last week’s action.

Third star – Henrik Sedin

Captain Henrik Sedin is typically on this list, and for good reasons. He’s almost always leading the team in points scored, and he is the captain. Along with his brother, he displays great passing and play making skills, which sometimes are simply not utilized by the third forward on the twins’ line.

Dan Hamhuis had a very surprising week for Vancouver.

It’s always been a challenge in recent years to try to pair somebody with the Sedins that could really complement them and help the team score more. This past week Hank was up to his old tricks, registering three pretty assists in three games.

Second star – Dan Hamhuis

Here’s a guy who is never on this list. Dan Hamhuis has stepped up lately–basically out of nowhere–to help the team both defensively and on offense. The Smithers, BC native is rarely a staple in discussion. However, he has been standing out as of late. Hamhuis tallied two assists and a goal last week. Not staggering numbers, but very high for the defenseman’s typical output.

I certainly like Hamhuis as a player, but always worried about his inconsistencies. Let’s keep an eye out and see if he is ready to step up to becoming an elite player in the league and smooth out Vancouver’s shaky defensive problems.

First star – Ryan Kesler

You knew this was coming. Ryan Kesler has been amazing since his recent return from injury. I was worried he would play ‘soft’ in his first few weeks getting back into the swing of things. But that has certainly not been the case.

Kes has been contributing beyond expectations for the club, and it couldn’t be at a better time. Kesler notched a goal to accompany three helpers last week. Hopefully his hot play continues, and more importantly, he stays healthy heading into postseason play. I’m not the biggest Kesler fan, but his talent is undeniable, and he can bring so much to this team moving forward. Keep up the good work Ryan!

The loss to the Avs was a bitter way to end a week, but the Canucks seem to be slowly gaining some momentum as the season winds down. I have no idea how this year’s playoffs will pan out, but that’s part of the excitement. I know I will be watching closely with fingers crossed as soon as Lord Stanley’s playoffs begin.

Here is the Vancouver Canucks goal of the week, a beautiful bat out of the air move by Mason Raymond:

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The Vancouver Canucks bounced back from a few sloppy games to play a solid three last week. The first game of the week, against the Sharks, didn’t start well at all; however, the boys fought back like we are certainly not used to seeing this season.

The result was a loss, but it sparked the team in a different way. It showed their resilience for a change, and sent a message that they won’t just roll over and die once down in a contest. That made us fans very happy, despite the losing effort.

The two games to follow saw the Canucks’ sticks get red hot—another thing we haven’t seen a lot of this year. Lots of scoring from a variety of players, as well as the usual suspects.

It’s reassuring to see Vancouver with some pep in its step heading into the final stretch of this season. As we all know, it’s not the best team in the playoffs that wins the cup, it’s the team that gets the hottest.

Here are the top three performers for the Canucks from last week’s action.

 Third star – Daniel Sedin

It’s been a relatively quiet season for the twins on the score sheet. Maybe it’s due to the lockout, or the goalie controversy or the constantly shifting lines. Or maybe this is the Sedins beginning to wind down their careers. I hope that’s not the case, but only time will tell.

Daniel Sedin is still a great scoring threat anytime he’s on the ice, no matter what his stats for the season look like. This past week it was his passing and play making that made the difference.

Dank finished the three game week with four assists. As fun as it is to see him score, it’s just as exciting when he sets up a fellow teammate for the score.

It’s been a good week in Vancouver (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press)

Second star – Chris Higgins

More often than not in professional sports, there comes a curse with handing a player a big contract extension. Teams reward their star players with a big payday, and then—as if on cue—that player’s stats seem to plummet or they get bit by the injury bug.

Chris Higgins‘ contract isn’t monumental by any means, but it’s significant for a role player like him. Luckily, he isn’t sitting quietly in the corner collecting his money. He’s stepping up and becoming more and more of a focus for the Canucks’ late season push

It’s not surprising coming from Higgins—one of the hardest working players in the organization. It’s nice to see him have success and spread that hard working attitude around the locker room. Higgins managed two goals and an assist last week.

First star – Henrik Sedin

As I mentioned before, the usual suspects contributed substantially in the Canucks’ solid week of play. Captain Henrik Sedin was no exception.

Hank was on fire, registering two goals and three assists en route to a 2-1 record for the team last week. We have come to expect a lot out of the twins over the years, especially Henrik. It’s great to see him deliver on those high expectations.

Of course then there comes the issue of the Sedins not being clutch playoff performers, something we will get a chance to judge in just a few weeks time. Maybe this will finally be the year they come up big when it matters most. One can only hope!

Here is the Vancouver Canucks goal of the week, a beautiful pass from Alex Burrows to Dan Hamhuis who buries it home:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbwEecCOggI

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It was (another) up and down week for the Vancouver Canucks. The routine we are all too accustomed to seeing this season reared its’ ugly head last week as the Canucks showed signs of greatness, and of absolute garbage.

It’s almost baffling  how a team can play such solid hockey one night, and days later forget how to play defense or make a proper pass.

Goaltending was certainly not helping anything in their embarrassing loss to the Oilers, but you have to look at the team as a whole. The D was non existent, and goals just are just not being produced by this once high powered offense.

It’s nice to see some of the boys still playing hard though, and here are the top three from the past week.

 Third star – Alexandre Burrows

Although he only has 20 points so far this season, Alex Burrows has been contributing with energy and effort. Those are attributes you wouldn’t likely pair with the Canucks team right now, but Burrows seems to always play with that chip on his shoulder that we all wish would rub off on the other guys in the locker room.

Last week the Quebec native notched a goal and an assist. I’m not personally a big fan of number 14, but I certainly respect his talent and tenacity, and that is why he makes an appearance on this list.

Understatement: The Sedins have had a slow start to the season

 Second star – Daniel Sedin

The Sedins had a slow start to the season, then got real hot and have since leveled off at a decent point pace. They certainly aren’t among league leaders in any major category, which is somewhat disappointing for fans.

But they are still our best players, thus why they often grace this list.

Daniel Sedin is definitely a true scorer when he is on his game. He should have more goals than he does at this point, but he managed a pretty one last week to accompany an assist.

Let’s hope he can get hot at the tail end of the season and stay hot into the playoffs.

First star – Henrik Sedin

Who else? Henrik Sedin is the captain and the best player on the team. Hank, like brother Dank, is not putting up the point totals he is capable of, but he is still playing consistent and keeping his line mates involved with his creative passing and stick handling. Henrik registered a goal and an assist last week.

Again, not sizzling numbers by any means, but he is consistently performing better than any other Canuck. The question still looms about the twins, will they win a cup before they retire?

This year could be their last shot at it as the Canucks will likely begin a rebuilding process in the near future.

Hopefully the captain can lead us deeper than last season’s playoff run.

Overall, it was an unsatisfactory week for the boys in blue.

Things will certainly not be any easier in the final stretch of games this season, so here’s hoping they sharpen up those skates and get down to business.

Here is the Canucks goal of the week thanks to Daniel Sedin’s sharp wrist shot:

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After some very disappointing recent weeks, the Vancouver Canucks kicked it up into a long awaited higher gear. The wins weren’t all pretty, but that’s what us fans have been waiting for: our team to win the close ones.

Nobody cruises through a schedule in picture perfect form, so winning the gritty, hard-fought battles is vital for any team’s playoff dreams to become real.

But no matter how great it feels to have won four straight games, the Minnesota Wild have heated up at the exact same time. Vancouver will have to keep their foot on the gas if they hope to win their division again this year. After winning four out of five games, the ‘Nucks are getting us excited for playoff hockey. Here are the three stars from the past week of action.

Third star – Jannik Hansen

Unlike some weeks, this past week for the Canucks there were many standouts. Jannik Hansen was one of them. Having a very solid overall season, Hansen continued his stellar play last week with points in three of the five Vancouver games.

Hansen was one of the Canucks’ top performers this past week.

And as I’ve said before, it’s his style of play that is also greatly appreciated. His speed and creativity make him a gem to watch. I wouldn’t call this a breakout year for the Dane, but maybe he’s ramping up for an amazing postseason. We will surely be watching.

Second star – Jordan Schroeder

At only five-foot-eight, Jordan Schroeder surprises many opponents with his abilities. He has a unique combination of speed and toughness that makes him a great two-way centre. His season has been rather streaky, but when he’s on, he’s really on.

Last week Schroeder racked up three assists to complement a goal.

He’s certainly not the biggest on the ice–in fact he’s usually the smallest. But there is never a lack of effort from number 45, and that has earned him the second star.

First star – Mason Raymond

I know what you’re thinking, ‘no Sedins on the list!?’ That’s correct! Although the twins had a solid week, these other guys stole the spotlight, especially Mason Raymond.

Maybe he caught wind of some trade talk rumors in the past few weeks because something motivated this guy to have an amazing week. Raymond, always known for his speed–but often questioned for hand skills–tallied two goals and two assists in the past week.

There are few players in the league who can keep up with this guy when he’s really skating, and when he keeps solid control of the puck coming in fast, it’s a pretty thing to watch. Raymond has always quietly been one of my favorite Canucks, and I get to reward him for it for his performances last week.

Hope he keeps it up and helps us get back to first in the division.

Starting the week with a loss put all fans a bit on edge again due to the very unpredictable and often disappointing play as of late. But the boys in blue pulled up their socks to round up four consecutive wins. They were well deserved wins, and also very much needed wins.

The neck in neck battle with Minnesota continues as we jock back and forth for first in the division. Vancouver has some very win-able games upcoming; let’s hope they extend this winning streak.

Here is the Vancouver Canucks goal of the week, a beauty by Mason Raymond

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After a few weeks of utter dismay, the Vancouver Canucks went back to the up and down routine, showing bright spots, but ultimately letting their ugly habits prevail. In a week we all hoped would be their breakthrough to get back to elite team form, the ‘Nucks only managed two wins out of four chances.

It’s gotten beyond frustrating as fans to watch a team that should be way out in front of their division fighting to even maintain a playoff spot.

Some weeks I feel bad naming any Canucks player a star based on the team’s poor performance over the past month. But just because the club has been underachieving doesn’t mean it’s all bad. Here are the guys who played hard and have the stats to show from last week.

 Third star – Henrik Sedin

I often criticize the Sedin twins for not being physical enough or for seeming to not even try out on the ice. But that’s just how they play, and as hard as it is to accept sometimes, you cannot deny how talented they are. Henrik had a strong week registering two goals and an assist.

Not mind blowing numbers, but he had that great passing presence going which helps get other guys involved in the offense. Watching Hank and Dank pass between each other is great fun because they just have this unreal chemistry that is unrivaled among NHL duos.

But when the captain and his brother spread the puck around and make other guys better, that’s when we give ourselves the best chance to win games.

Edler had been under a lot of fire from Canucks fans as of late but he’s our #1 star this week.

Second star – Jannik Hansen

It was a solid week for speedster Jannik Hansen. The Danish winger accounted for three assists and a goal during Vancouver’s hit and miss week. I love watching this guy play. Whether he scores on breakaways or not, they’re always exciting just because of how fast he gets up the ice.

One of these years Hansen is going to break out with 40 goals and finally get the rest of the league’s attention. I hope that time comes sooner than later.

First star – Alexander Edler

Alex Edler had been under a lot of fire from Canucks fans as of late due to some very obviously misplayed pucks. It’s never good to see a  high paid defenseman making rookie mistakes in our own end. But Edler seemed to settle down last week, and also got himself involved offensively.

Alexander racked up three assists to accompany a goal. Again, not crazy numbers. But a solid week from a player this team needs to be solid all the time.

It would be great to see Edler build off this and round out the season on a high note at both ends of the ice.

So it was again an overall let down last week for the Vancouver Canucks. And the question continues to loom, who is to blame? Is Alain Vigneault just not motivating the guys anymore? Or is the goalie tandem simply not working out?

These are questions only time can tell, but the scary thing is that there isn’t much time left in this condensed season.

Who knows, maybe finishing in a lower playoff seed could benefit the team, as clearly winning the past two Presidents’ Trophies hasn’t paid off.

Here is the Canucks goal of the week, brought to you by Henrik Sedin via penalty shot:

Go ‘Nucks!

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This season is short, and so are the Vancouver Canucks fans’ patience levels. After a slow start the boys seemed to get it into gear and start clicking. We all sat back and blamed the long off season for their early woes, but then we got past the first few weeks and it was time to discard excuses.

The ‘Nucks showed signs of playoff form for a few weeks as they heated up. The Sedins started scoring, and both Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider were playing solid in net.

But then the wheels fell off. The offense went cold, the power play became a laughing stock, and the goaltending became shaky at best.

A note on the poor net minding: Alain Vigneault has made poor decisions on who to start and has put Schneider between the pipes far too often.

To sum up the Canucks’ first half of the season in one word I would say ‘underwhelming’. There is a lack of urgency in tight games that is extremely frustrating to see as a fan. Whether this is the fault of AV, captain Henrik, the veterans as a group, or just the overall team collectively is unclear from the outside looking in.

To sum up the Canucks’ first half of the season in one word I would say ‘underwhelming’.

We can all pretty much see what is being done poorly, or just not at all. Here are a few key changes that Vancouver must make in the second half of this season if they want to be considered a cup contender down the stretch.

Power play must improve

Considering just a few years ago we were the best in the league on man advantages we sure do not show for it now. The Canucks rank 24th in the league in power play percentage. But it’s not the numbers that are the most aggravating part of the problem, it’s the lack of effort on the ice. With the amount of talent Vancouver has on roster they really don’t seem to put forth a good effort on power plays.

The Sedins are known for not being clutch, and that’s fine, but they have unrivaled passing abilities which opens up the door for another Canuck to step up and make some big shots.

Ryan Kesler used to be that guy at times, and Alexandre Burrows has had some great moments, but this season nobody is taking charge on the power play and it is killing so many scoring opportunities.

Goaltending needs to be more consistent

The eight goal game in Detroit was kind of embarrassing. But I don’t blame Luongo for all of those goals, if even half. The defense was literally non existent, and against a veteran team like the Red Wings you cannot just leave your goalie out to dry like that and expect nothing bad to come of it.

Lu realistically should have been pulled after five. But outside of that game things haven’t really been that much better. Maybe it’s the two goalie system failing, or maybe it’s Schneider not being able to handle the ‘starting job’. Both goalies’ save percentages need to go way up, and it would be nice to win more of the shootouts we enter.

I think AV needs to stick to one guy. I vote Luongo, but regardless, someone needs to be traded sooner rather than later. This issue seems to keep getting brushed up under the rug, but it’s been the elephant in the room for months.

It would probably ease up some locker room tension and allow the rest of the team to concentrate better on the task at hand, and that is winning games.

Someone needs to step up besides the Sedins

We all know the Sedins are good for 60-100 points each per year, give or take. This is a shorter season, so adjustments will be obvious on paper, but the consistency has always been there from Hank and Dank. However you can’t expect to be a top team with only one dangerous line. The L.A. Kings proved last season that depth is very wearing on opponents.

If you can get solid scoring from the bottom lines it takes a lot of pressure off your top scorers and will likely see their numbers go up as well. I’m not saying we need all four lines to produce goals every game, but it sure would be nice to have someone else score a significant number besides the twins.

Players have appeared defeated and show zero urgency

With Kesler injured it has been tough, but one of the other guys absolutely needs to pick up the slack. With only five goals thus far, it would be nice to see Burrows finish the year with 20, and it would go a long way in helping fix the team’s scoring woes.

More effort required

Aside from these key areas Vancouver is falling short, there is a general lack of effort being displayed by the team. For example in games where we have given up early leads, the players have appeared defeated and show zero urgency in attempts to make comebacks. That is the nature of the sport, and of sport in general.

No game is over until the final buzzer. Someone needs to remind the Canucks of that, because watching them from only one goal down, you’d swear they had written off the entire game already.

Let’s hope they haven’t written off the season yet either. There is enough talent on this team to go far into the playoffs, but AV needs to rally his troops and whip them into playoff form as soon as possible.

Another first round exit would be more than disappointing across the province of B.C.

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It was a very disappointing week for the Vancouver Canucks, and certainly for their legion of fans. The team dropped two of three games, and to teams they really, really should beat.

The lone bright spot was a home victory over the defending champion L.A. Kings. It’s always a great feeling to beat the team that ended your season a year ago.

The losses to Phoenix and Calgary were tough to swallow as a fan. The Coyotes are having a decent year, but they really pose no threat down the stretch. And the Flames are very mediocre and should not beat a top-tier team like the Canucks.

The boys seem to be pulling their old ‘play to the level of your competition routine again. Let’s hope they can snap out of it and just play up to their own capabilities, which are among the best in the league.

Jannik Hansen earns top honors this week. (Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

In the meantime, here’s a look at the Canucks’ top performers from the week of Feb. 25 to March 4.

Third Star – Chris Higgins

Chris Higgins is one of my favourite Canucks. He is a hustle guy who skates hard and has a great shot when called upon.

He is quiet, like many of the ‘Nucks, and he does his job. He’s one of a handful of talented Americans on the roster, often part an all-American front ice trio.

Higgins registered three points, including two goals, in last week’s action.

Second Star – Henrik Sedin

The twins took some time to heat up this year, which was understandable for most players following the lengthy off-season. But Hank and Dank got the ball rolling, and started piling up the points, to every fan’s delight.

The captain continued his solid play last week—albeit during a very uninspiring week for the team as a whole. Henrik tallied a goal and three assists in last week’s three games.

First Star – Jannik Hansen

This guy can flat out fly. That’s one of a few reasons he is one of my other fave Canucks.

Hansen, like the Sedins, has revved up his contributions on the stat sheet lately. The great Dane (could be a new nickname?) posted a solid week of work for the Canucks with a balanced attack of two goals and two helpers. His speed is undoubtedly one of the reasons he scores some pretty goals, but he has also improved his hands greatly over the past couple of seasons to make himself a scoring threat and not just a speedy decoy.

It’s obvious to hope he continues his solid play in pushing forward for the playoff run, but I really hope he keeps up his hot streak for the sheer entertainment value.

Last week’s goal of the week comes courtesy of Daniel Sedin:

Let’s all cross our fingers for some more successful outings in the near future for the boys in blue.

Go ‘Nucks!

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The Vancouver Canucks completed another topsy-turvy week in the NHL. The boys in blue continued their Jekyll/Hyde routine over the past four games, showing signs of greatness, and of utter despair. It began with a hard earned point against the league’s best, and ended with an embarrassing showing in the motor city.

The Canucks went 2-1-1 over the past week, earning points in each game, but letting the Red Wings walk all over them and stir up the Roberto Luongo hate train again.

Every time we get ready to praise the ‘Nucks for getting back to fine form, they flip the switch and show their ugly side. Losing to the Blackhawks in a shootout is respectable, but letting in more than a touchdown’s worth of goals to Detroit just is not what Vancouver fans had in mind.

There were some positives this week, particularly the Sedin twins stepping up and playing like we all know they can.

Third Star – Kevin Bieksa

Kevin Bieksa is arguably the heart and soul of the Canucks. He’s not our captain, but could probably pull off wearing the C. His game is built around aggression and passion, two traits you love to see in any of your players.

The twins were at it again, netting 4 goals this week with 7 assists

‘Boom Boom’, as he is affectionately known by fans, had a great week which built upon a successful previous week for Vancouver. Bieksa is always solid behind our blue line, but when he contributes offensively it is a thing of beauty.

Bieksa notched two goals in four games this week and maintained his physical presence and leadership.

Second Star – Henrik Sedin

Henrik Sedin became the Canucks’ all time leading scorer earlier this season in the midst of one of his slowest starts in recent memory. But since reaching that milestone, our captain has been back to his old self again. Hank has been racking up points, mostly in conjunction with his brother, and helping our offence gain that spark it had been missing early in the year.

Sedin tallied a goal and four assists this past week.

First Star – Daniel Sedin

Twin number two takes this week’s first star. Daniel Sedin had a superb week, and just like his bro is getting back to that impressive form we are all used to seeing game in and game out. The skill of this man is undeniable, and when teamed up with Hank, Dank is a pure scoring machine.

In the past week Daniel registered three goals to compliment three assists.

Not many one-two punches in the league are as powerful or fun to watch as the Sedin twins, and for that we are grateful. I speak for all of us when I say I really hope this hot Sedin steak continues into the heart of the schedule and beyond.

The devastating blow out in Motown was a bad taste left to end an otherwise decent week. But one can always have the mentality that a win’s a win, and a loss is a loss, no matter the margin of victory.

Here is the goal of the week, although in a losing effort, provided by Chris Higgins

Go ‘Nucks!

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The Vancouver Canucks ended their season-high winning streak this past week and also saw another close shootout battle slip past them. But there were some positives wedged in between the disappointing moments.

Getting Ryan Kesler back was a big bonus for the Canucks, as he hasn’t seen ice time since last year, even with the elongated off-season. Many doubted whether he could have an immediate impact, and he surely didn’t waste time proving his doubters wrong.

Here were the three biggest impact players for the week of Feb. 11th to 18th

Third Star – Daniel Sedin

Daniel Sedin, or ‘Dank’, is slowly getting back into his groove.

The Sedin Brother are back in business and ready to roll.

After a very slow start for the Swede, he picked things up this past week with a goal and two assists. Everyone knows how dangerous the Sedin brothers are when they’re clicking on all cylinders, and that’s why they get so much attention from defenders on the ice.

It’s not really surprising for them to see extra heat put on them early in a season, since other Canucks players haven’t proven to be threatening.

But as other guys step up, opponents are forced to respect the entire lineup and can’t just play shadow the twins all night. That’s what is happening now, and the talented twins are beginning to cash in again.

Look for Daniel to rack up the points from this point on this season.

Second Star – Ryan Kesler

It was great for any Canucks fan to see No. 17 skate out onto the ice again at Rogers Arena.

Friday’s 4-3 loss to Dallas marked Ryan Kesler‘s first game back since last season’s playoffs. Although the night was spoiled by a feisty Stars squad, who marched into Vancouver and left with the W, it was still great to see Kes making an impact immediately.

He was very active both shooting and passing that night and registered a nice assist.

Then in just his second game back, notched a beautiful goal against the Blues. Kesler seems to be fully healthy and ready to help Vancouver make a run for the cup.

Let’s hope his hot start continues on into the season.

First Star – Henrik Sedin

This guy is good, and has been good for a long, long time. He now has the record to prove it.

Henrik Sedin became the Vancouver Canucks’ all-time leading scorer on Friday night in their loss to Dallas. ‘Hank’ registered two assists to move him past Canucks legend Markus Naslund for the franchise record in points scored.

And he wasn’t finished there, adding a goal and assist versus the St. Louis Blues to push his weekly total up to three assists and a goal.

Henrik, like his brother, seems to be heating up just in time for the Canucks to get serious about the playoff push. We all know how short this season is, meaning playoff races begin soon, but we also all know how dangerous the twins can be when they’re hot.

It was a disappointing week in the standings for the Canucks, but a few upbeat noteworthy moments are sure to give the boys some momentum moving into their next road trip.

Here was the goal of the week for Vancouver courtesy of Ryan Kesler

Go ‘Nucks!

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