Smell that? No, not that, keep smelling.

The smell I’m talking about is that of the playoffs. While it may not seem like it around the city of Vancouver or anywhere you may live, it is most certainly here. The Canucks are fresh off of their fifth straight Northwest Division title win which has secured them home ice for at least this round of the playoffs.

The Canucks start the playoffs on a two game losing streak, the last game of the season saw them lose 7-2 in an absolute shit-kicking from the basement dwelling Edmonton Oilers.

But the team has moved past it, I’m sure and are looking a head to tomorrows game against the San Jose Sharks.

Can the Canucks beat the Sharks?

Yeah, sure, why not? I mean, you could ask me if I could do a back flip and I’d say yes, I’d try at least, which is what I assume the Canucks are going to do against the Sharks.

Can the Canucks beat the Sharks?

Try.

Alright, well maybe they’ll do more than just go out and give it the old college effort, I mean there’s a lot on the line here – The Canucks core isn’t getting any younger and the coaching staff isn’t riding the gravy train they’ve ridden in years past.

Something needs to happen this year with this team; I know it, you know it, my five year old son knows it too.

The Canucks will need to play and win four 60 minute games, something they didn’t quite do too much of this year. I know that isn’t exactly hard hitting analysis, but sometimes it doesn’t have to be.

The Canucks needs to put together strong games where they out work their opponent and win, because lets face it – as Canucks fans we haven’t really been graced with puck luck by the hockey gods over the years, right?

Special Teams

Power Play

Remember when the Canucks power play was just about the worst? Well it still is, though I would put 22nd in the league slightly above the “just the worst” line. The teams powerplay, while still frustrating to watch at times has gotten much better.

A healthy Ryan Kesler has helped that, as well as Jason Garrison being able to break bones on shots hit the net and bury some of his chances. While the whistles may indeed be put away in the playoffs it doesn’t mean that when the Canucks are gifted two minutes with the man advantage they should just hope for the best, they need to show those flashes of brilliance more often than once and a while.

It won’t be easy either, the Sharks finished the season with the 6th best penalty kill.

Penalty Kill

In the same vein, the Canucks penalty kill will have its work cut out for it as San Jose ended the regular season with the 7th best power play in the league. The Sharks stack their top unit with the likes of Marleau, Thornton, Couture, Pavelski and Dan Boyle.

Those five players are responsible for 29 of San Jose’s 34 power play goals for this season. The best way for Vancouver to beat San Jose at the special teams game is to stay out of the penalty box.

Avoid the after whistle BS and just play the game. When given the chance those five players will bury you when up a man.

Vancouver meeting the Sharks is going to be as easy as people are hoping for

Niemi

Antti Niemi finished the regular season tied for first in the NHL in wins with 24 and started 43 of his teams 48 games this year. He also has an impressive 2.16GAA and a .924SV%.

The Canucks are going to need to get bodies in front of Niemi as often as possible, he takes away a lot of the lower part of the net when he plays so you’re going to have to make him fight to see those pucks which could be hard working, dirty, grinding, garbage goals for the Canucks.

How bad would it be to hear “Canucks ran into a hot goalie in the first round” all summer…again?

Just win!

The Sharks have a top ten power play, penalty kill and a top 3 goalie. Does this mean they’re unbeatable? No, but it doesn’t mean that Vancouver meeting the Sharks is going to be as easy as people are hoping for.

This series could fall under the same lines as a Blues and Kings series. A low scoring, hard hitting and in other words boring series. That is unless the Canucks gets stupid, take unusual amounts of penalties and their special teams fall a part and they hand this one to San Jose.

While that may seem unlikely, in order for Vancouver to take this series, and I think they will, it will take four complete games, no farting around, no relying on anything other than outplaying their opponent.

I hope I’m not wrong, but I see the Canucks winning this in six games.

Here’s hopin’, right?

Go Nucks Go!

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If there was ever a perfect example of baptism by fire, for Frank Corrado his first Canucks game would be just that.

The 20 year old defenseman has had quite the year, first with an invite to the Canadian World Junior team camp, being traded mid-season from the Sudbury Wolves to the Kitchener Rangers and then being sent to Chicago of the AHL and finally last night making his debut for the Vancouver Canucks, at home against their biggest rival the Chicago Blackhawks.

If you think that sounds like a lot of hockey, well you’d be right. In 2012-13, Corrado, the 150th overall pick from the 2011 entry draft played 69 regular season games in the OHL before dressing in another 10 playoff games.

After Kitchener was elimination in the second round of the OHL playoffs Corrado spent 3 games with the Chicago Wolves before playing his first NHL game last night.

He spent most of the night paired up with Alex Edler, which was the plan from the start according to Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault who said he planned on having Edler act as a “big brother” to  Corrado in the same way former Canuck Sami Salo was to Edler when he first broke into the league.

First Impressions

What do you mean Corrado didn’t catch a slapshot with his teeth, spit the puck out and take it all the way back down the ice to score a goal?  - Some Canucks fan.

Canucks fans by now should understand that there is going to be a learning curve with prospects

That’s obviously a made up quote, but it’s the type of garbage you would almost expect to hear from time to time when a young player comes in and doesn’t wow right away. Remember Sergei Shirokov? Remember the expectation that he was going to be the next Pavel Bure?

Canucks fans by now should understand that there is going to be a learning curve with prospects the team brings in, after all they aren’t the Detroit Red Wings. For Corrado to join the team at the time he did (game 46 of a 48 game season),  against one of the teams biggest rivals is a pretty big deal.

Look past the teams desperation for a right handed shot and look at what they’re trying to do.

They’re giving key minutes to an unproven kid, 17:20 to be exact. Those are legit second pairing minutes, especially when you consider that he played more than both Barker (10:44) and Alberts (13:52). Corrado stepped in and filled a hole and did so pretty well, in my opinion.

He played the body, made quick and simple plays and didn’t gamble much with the puck.

There were a couple of times where I thought he may have been trying to hard to impress, one time in particular was his first shift when the Blackhawks were rushing the zone and Corrado came from his side clear across to Edler’s to take the man with the puck. Edler read the play well and adjusted, covering for Corrado on the right side.

But if that’s the biggest knock on his first game in the show, then that’s not all that bad, at least from my perspective.

Where do they go from here?

What happens now is anyone’s guess. I think Corrado’s play last night warrants another look in Thursday’s game against the Ducks, and if he continues to impress then there is no need to rush Kevin Bieksa or Chris Tanev back in the remaining two games of the season.

I’m not saying that Corrado will come in and play Bieksa or Tanev minutes but for the time being he’s a good stop gap, especially while the blue line is as hurting as it is.

That’s all from me today. Go Canucks!

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The Canucks started the morning off by putting defensemen Cam Barker on waivers for the purpose of sending him to the Chicago Wolves. Barker in 7 games this season with the Canucks had two assists and was most of the time bloody terrible.

Twitter went a little crazy when this happened, most speculated a trade was imminent, others realizing it was Barker simply thought the experiment with the former first rounder was over.

Shortly after that Nick “the mulligan” Kypreos reported that the Vancouver Canucks had acquired Derek Roy from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 2013 second round pick and defensemen Kevin Connauton.

#Canucks trade for #Stars Roy for 2nd pick and prospect.#TradeTracker

— Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) April 2, 2013

In Derek Roy the Canucks finally get the center they’ve desperately needed for sometime. Roy is ranked 59th in the league in face offs at 46.7%.  In 30 games this year Roy has posted 22 points (4g, 18a) and has a a lowly four penalty minutes. Roy was playing between Ray Whitney and Loui Eriksson.

Derek Roy is listed 5’9″ 184 lbs and was drafted in the second round in 2001.

Derek Roy is listed 5’9″ 184 lbs and was drafted in the second round in 2001.

This helps the Canucks in a number of ways.

Obviously the need for a legit centerman was obvious to everyone, even my sons goldfish knew this (RIP Killfish, seriously, that’s what my kid named him) and though the Canucks did the best they could with the talent available to them they weren’t able to find anyone who came remotely close to Ryan Kesler.

With Roy in the picture the Canucks now have options, they can move Kesler to the wing and play Roy in the middle, or they can move Roy to the third line for added scoring. The addition of Roy also adds a fresh face to a very stale Canucks power play.

The Canucks are at home for three games and Roy will likely make his debut with the team tomorrow against the Edmonton Oilers.

Kesler is expected to begin skating again this week and should play by Saturday. Where the Canucks decide to play Roy once Ryan Kesler is back in the fold remains to be seen.

The one thing that is certain is that the Canucks have made that much needed #BoldMove and addressed an area of weakness.

Schroeder Down to The farm. (breaking news)

Media Release: Jordan Schroeder has been re-assigned to the Chicago Wolves.

— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) April 2, 2013

Who knows, with the trade deadline tomorrow the Canucks could still surprise us.

Hope you enjoy the next 24 hours – Trade Deadline Madness.

Stay tuned to NWSB for all your Canucks news over the next 24 hours. Follow us on Twitter @mitchemdee @NWSBQ and @NWsportsbeat. Follow us on Facebook too.

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Afternoon, everyone.

The Canucks are back at home tonight after sweeping their three game road trip to take on the surging Columbus Bluejackets. As weird as it feels to say the Bluejackets are up and coming, they are. Posting a 7-1-2 record in their last ten games, the Bluejackets are pushing their way into the playoff picture at 11th place, sitting only two points out of the eighth and final playoff spot.

Meanwhile, the Canucks are on a bit of a roll themselves. After falling to the Detroit Red Wings (5-2) and the Minnesota Wild (3-1), the Canucks have won four straight and look to extend their win streak to five games.

Starting in goal for the Canucks is Cory Schneider. This should be no surprise as Schneider has been red hot as of late and in the last three games has a GAA of 1.00, a SV% of .963 and has one shutout.

This is the third meeting between the two teams, Columbus took the first game 2-1 in overtime, the Canucks won the second with a beautiful Mason Raymond shootout goal.

What the Canucks need to do to win:

Keep stoking the special teams fire

While it may not be first in the league, or anywhere even close to that, the Canucks power play looks like it’s gotten the kick in the ass it should have gotten quite a while ago.

After going 0/30 and angering every fan of this team, they’ve been able to score a couple lately, 2/16 to be exact. So what if one was a slow motion trickle into the net?

I’ve eaten a lot of crow this year when it comes to Raymond

It counts right?It’s bounces like that which help the team get back on their feet. The Canucks need to ride that 2/16 momentum and stoke the special teams fire tonight if they want to get up early on the surging Bluejackets.

Enjoy the secondary scoring

It’s something I’ve been saying since I’ve been writing these game day tips, it’s something anyone who watches or cover this team has said: Secondary scoring is vital to the teams success.

You can’t rely solely on Henrik Sedin & Daniel Sedin to carry the team through everything, you have to have an equal effort from all of your top six scorers and that is what the Canucks have been getting lately in the line of Jordan Schroeder, Jannik Hansen and Mason Raymond.

I’ve eaten a lot of crow this year when it comes to Raymond, but it’s something I don’t mind doing when I’m proven wrong about a player breaking through their struggles.

Hansen has been one of the more consistent players this season whether he’s playing in a bottom or top six role. Schroeder after some early success struggled a little bit but since being recalled has played exceptionally well.

If this line continues to improve and help the team with timely goals hen it leaves the Sedin’s open to work some magic and have two capable scoring lines.

Well, doesn’t that feel weird to say?

Get to Bobrovsky early, quick start to the game

Getting on Sergei Bobrovsky early and scoring a goal or two in the first period is key to winning this game. Bobrovsky is on a career pace for GAA and and SV% this year; again, no one would expect you to say that the Bluejackets are close to pushing for a playoff spot, but here they are.

It has a lot to do with the play of Bobrovsky. If the Canucks can fluster him early, get him off of his game and get the crowd into the game it will certainly help them extend this four game winning streak to five games.

If the Canucks can continue to convert with the man advantage, get secondary scoring and fluster Bobrovsky early they should be able to make this winning streak one that stretches to five games.

Hope you enjoy the game.

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It seems like it was only yesterday that the Canucks lost out on the Justin Schultz sweeps, and as a fan of the Canucks it is the type of thing you have come to expect. That’s not to say that they’ve never gotten a coveted free agent, I mean they did land Dan Hamhuis and Manny Malhotra a few years ago.

They were also able to land Jason Garrison last season, but it just seems like there’s a level of “Oh? Coveted free agent out of college? Hmm, no chance with the Canucks” that goes on when these type of things happen.

I’ll admit, when I first heard about the Canucks interest in Lake Superior State Lakers center Kellan Lain I didn’t hold out hope that he would be a Canuck at the end of the process. Thanks for souring me on that one, Schultz, ya bastard.

But, here I am, eating crow now that the Canucks and Lain agreed to a one-year deal on Friday. Crow tastes awful by the way, even when you don’t mind eating it for the great good of your favorite team.

Kellan Lain

I’ll be honest, until I heard the Canucks had interest in Lain I had no idea who he was. I will never say that I diligently follow college hockey, because I don’t. But after hearing the team was interested in a 6’6, 220lb center my interests had peaked to say the least, so naturally I looked into what kind of player he was, what his skill set was and what he could potentially do for the team.

When I finished reading about Lane I definitely had my hopes up.

According to Cory Pronman of Hockey Prospectus:

Lain is an older than usual Junior, a 23 year old who turns 24 in July. His main asset is his physical game, at 6′6′’ 222 not only is he tall and strong but tough as well.

He’s a big center who can win battles and make opposing defensemen aware of his presence on the ice. He also skates at a decent level for a man his size. Lain doesn’t have a whole lot of offensive upside, notching 39 points over 108 NCAA games, but he does have some defensive value and I think he can stay at center at the pro level.

Until I heard the Canucks had interest in Lain I had no idea who he was.

He actually led Lake Superior in face off % this season, winning 56% of his 571 draws. That’s not a great sample, but it is nevertheless intriguing.So obviously the first thing that jumps out at you is his size.

The guy is a monster, AND a center? Yes please.

He also wins face-offs and plays to his size, something the Canucks could really use. What doesn’t jump out is the lack of offense he brings, 39 points in 108 NCAA games doesn’t make you jump out of your seat and take a swing at someone, but it doesn’t appear that this signing is meant to add scoring depth, but add in a position of great weakness.

Having said that, we would be fools to assume that Lain comes in and runs away with a roster spot. What will actually happen is he’ll join the Chicago Wolves soon and play out his one-year contract with them.

Should he impress the Canucks management then he could be called up and used as a fourth line center.

Ludwig Blomstrand

The Canucks also announced today that they’ve signed winger Ludwig Blomstrand to an entry level deal. Blomstrand, 20, was drafted by the Canucks in the fourth round of the 2011 draft. Though he isn’t a coveted college free agent, it’s nice to see the Canucks lock up some of their draft picks.

Blomstrand is a 6’1, 198lbs left-winger who spent this season in Sweden’s second-tier league. While I don’t know a ton about him, I was able to find this little bit from Cory Pronman.

Blomstrand is a decent lower-role player, but I didn’t really see much in terms of skill from at the Under-18′s.

So take it for what its worth; a decent lower-role player. Who knows, sometimes players like this turn out to be a diamond in the rough. That or they don’t pan out at all.

Lets hope for the Canucks sake he pans out.

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After opening the scoring six seconds in to Saturday nights game against the Detroit Red Wings, the Canucks allowed five unanswered goals before scoring one more in a 5-2 loss. The Vancouver Canucks are back in action tonight and need a bounce back game.

The amount of times I’ve said that this year is probably pretty alarming, but that’s the way the season has gone so far. In town to face-off against the Canucks are the Minnesota Wild.

This game is important for a few reasons: A win and the Canucks bounce back and forget that they lost again to the Red Wings for a second time this season and they capture possession of first place in the North West division.

Coming into tonight’s game the Canucks are currently sitting in seventh place.

One thing after another

Just when the Canucks string together a couple of much needed wins they play a game like they did on Saturday. I can’t think of a game starting with as much promise as that one either.

Remember when the Canucks would walk all over the Wild?

A goal six seconds in to the game is a great way to set the tone, something the Canucks at times have struggled with this season. It didn’t go well after that and even though they were only down 2-1 after the second period they couldn’t find a way to win.

A lucky goal here, a well placed shot there and before you knew it the Canucks had allowed five unanswered goals before Alex Burrows adds one late in the third period. Top that all off with David Booth being injured and it’s just another game along the way for this team that has struggled to find a consistent intensity this season.

Tonight’s game will be a much needed win.

What the Canucks need to do to win:

Would the Canucks power play please stand up?

Do you remember when the Canucks would get a power play and you knew there was a good chance of them scoring a goal? I do, but it seems like it was ages ago, in fact, didn’t Dave Babych play for them at that point?

Maybe I’m being a little to dramatic, but lets be real here -

The power play has been dreadful this season, in fact I would say dreadful is the nicest way I could say that it has sucked ass. 11 games without a goal and none on the last 30 attempts! 30!

That is unreal and makes you wonder at what point does the team have to do something to score with the man advantage? Either way, if they’re going to come out of this on top, that damn power play has to show up.

Not just another game

While we’re taking a trip down Memory Lane and remembering things that were almost a lock, why don’t we talk about the Wild? Remember when the Canucks would walk all over them and the North West division?

Well, those days are apparently over. While the North West isn’t anything to write home about, the Canucks haven’t had a strangle hold on it like they have in years past.

In fact, if you had told me that on March 18th the Canucks would be in 7th and heading into a game against the Wild for top spot in the division I might have slapped you and pulled your hair, but here we are, so maybe I need the slap and hair pull?

Either way, the Canucks need this game tonight to regain a bit of a cushion in the North West.

A win in regulation would be better.

Score early, often and please, don’t sit back

I’m starting to sound like a player in the middle of a media scrum. I’m saying the things that they’re saying and not doing. The team hasn’t been able to score a ton of goals this season. Whatever the reason may be, we don’t know.

The Nucks haven’t had the first line running at their usual rate, the second line isn’t a second line right now, compounded by the fact that Ryan Kesler just can’t catch a break, it makes it worse.

The Canucks just need to score a lot and often tonight and from here on out! The season is more than half done and the Canucks are dangerously close to being on the outside looking in.

Take the lead tonight early, add two or three more to it and play solid defensive hockey. Seems simple, but here we are talking about it.

My tips for the game tonight: Revive the power play, don’t play this like it’s any other game, there is much more at steak and score some goddamn goals. A 7 goal outburst should spark the team, or should have. Anyways, if the Canucks can do this, they can win.

At least I hope so.

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The Vancouver Canucks are back at home to start a four game home stand against the Nashville Predators. The Canucks are fresh off of a win in a shootout against the Columbus Bluejackets that snapped the teams four game losing streak and helped salvage the teams three game road trip.

The Predators on the other hand are also coming off a win over the Dallas Stars have also struggled as of late, they’re 4-5-1 in their last ten games and are currently sitting in 10th place in the conference.

According to Jeff Patterson, it looks as if Kevin Bieksa will be back in the lineup tonight, making either Andrew Alberts or Cam Barker a healthy scratch.

Looks like Bieksa back in for #Canucks. Team skating with burgundy Millionaires gloves

— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) March 14, 2013

Also it appears as if the Canucks are going to go with the same forward group they had in Columbus on Tuesday night.

#Canucks Same forward lines as in Columbus: Sedins-Burrows; Booth-Higgins-Kassian; Raymond-Ebbett-Hansen; Sestito-Lapierre-Weise.

— Jim Jamieson (@JamiesonCanucks) March 14, 2013

The Canucks have taken the ball, now it’s time to run with it

If you had asked me if at the start of the season if we would be making a big deal about a win against the Bluejackets I would have laughed at you and said no.

However, it’s almost the middle of March, the half way point of this shortened season and here we are, making a big deal about a win over the Bluejackets.

The Canucks have taken the ball, now it’s time to run with it. If that doesn’t work, its time to pray.

The Canucks haven’t looked good lately and you can attribute that to a number of things whether it’s the absence of Kevin Bieksa on the back end or Ryan Kesler in the middle on the first unit power play and killing penalties, the Canucks have been a shell of the team that is the two-time President’s Trophy winners.

A big win, and I hate using the term big win when talking about them beating Columbus, but a big win gives the Canucks the ball and lets them run with it on this four game home stand the Canucks are about to get into.

It all start tonight with a solid game against the Predators.

What the Canucks need to do to win:

Breathe life into the power play

The Predators penalty kill is 24th in the league, which for a team as defense minded as Nashville is strange, but it’s something the Canucks need to exploit. The Canucks power play, for lack of a better word has been dog shit awful, in fact, my friend Joel who I’ve never seen hold a hockey stick could probably score a power play goal somewhere in the league.

Either way, if the Canucks want to win this game and not have it become a battle of the defenses, then they need to breathe life into their power play and exploit the Predators weak power play.

Where is Alex Burrows? Could we get him to score?

Alex Burros is a guy I generally don’t like to rip on because it’s not just goal scoring that he brings to the team. His work ethic and ability to play a complete game in all zones is what has gotten him where he is in his career.

Now, having said that, I think that even while he’s played well without scoring it’s about time he starts burying his chances. While you can say that for a lot of people on this team, Burrows sticks out to me because of who he is playing with.

Burrows has zero goals in his last nine games and no points in his last three.

Not the Alex Burrows we’re used to seeing over the past few seasons, but if anyone is due for a break out game it’s him.

Score, Score and Score

Nashville is third in the league for the least amount of goals against with 2.15 GA/per game, if the Canucks are going to win they’re going to need to get on Nashville early and fire everything they can from everywhere at goalie Pekka Rinne.

The Canucks currently score 2.6 GF/per game but will need to get more than a few to make sure they stay on top of the Predators.

Make no mistake about it, these two teams are known for putting teams to sleep and winning games by one goal, so why not get the jump on a team that has struggled in their last ten games and not let them back into it?

The Canucks, if they can wake up their power play up against a penalty kill that is struggling, have Alex Burrows bump the slump and have a break out game and score early and often on Rinne, they stand a good chance of taking two points away from the Preds.

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The Canucks are back in Columbus tonight for the second time in three games, taking on the Bluejackets for the second time in three games. The Canucks haven’t won in four straight games (0-2-2), meanwhile the Bluejackets are red hot having won five straight games that include back-to-back wins against the Detroit Red Wings.

The Canucks head home after tonight where they hope to carry a win on to home ice for the next four games.

Roberto Luongo will get the start in goal for Vancouver. Kevin Bieksa will miss his fifth straight game with a groin injury and Andrew Ebbett, recalled from the Chicago Wolves will be centering a line that includes Jannik Hansen and Mason Raymond.

What the Canucks need to do to win:

Enough with the poor starts

I can’t tell you how man times the Canucks have either put themselves down a man or a goal in the first two minutes of the game in the last six or so games, but the fact that it has been more than once is what’s really alarming. The Canucks need to come out with a strong start.

They’re facing a Bluejackets team that is red hot and looking to extend their five game winning streak to six. The Canucks were badly outworked by the Minnesota Wild on Sunday and spotted them a 3-0 lead.

In order for them to have any sort of chance at winning tonight they need to play hard and smart, get the first goal of the game and avoid staying out of the penalty box or allowing a goal early to start things off.

Canucks are hoping that the injection of Andrew Ebbett will help the team

Match intensity

This goes hand-in-hand with nixing the poor starts they’ve been having. The Canucks have shown little to no intensity on this road trip and if they hope to manage at least one win in these three games they will need to come out with an intensity equal to or greater than the Bluejackets’. Big hits, lots of shots and smart play are easy ways to keep the intensity up during the early part of this game.

The Canucks are hoping that the injection of Andrew Ebbett will help the team and their scoring woes. Also, look for Cam Barker to slot in on the power play if he’s in tonight.

At this point desperation isn’t just in the air when the Canucks are on the power play, it’s covering them like a cheap cologne.

Playing a full 60 minutes

I know it’s a cliche thing to say, but the Canucks are in desperate need of a full 60 minute game tonight. When your general manager says he thinks the team played their first full game of the season at the 19 game mark, then something is wrong.

This also ties in with my first two points: Scrap the slow start to the game, match the intensity of the opposition and some and play a full game tonight. Don’t sit back on a lead, keep pressing forward.

The Canucks haven’t held a lead in a game since they played the Calgary Flames nine days ago. They were up 2-1 and ended up losing 4-2.

There you have it folks. Those are my very obvious and some what pointed gameday tips for the Canucks to win.

Hope you enjoy the game.

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There is a slight chance you grimaced at the title of this article, and I guess you have the right to do so, but the Canucks are in an interesting position right now. Though they sit third in the Western Conference as of now, they’re only three points up on the Minnesota Wild. 

I know it’s hard and seems rather ridiculous to harp on a team that currently sits in third place in the conference, but this is different. This is a division the Canucks have owned for quite some time. The fact that they’re battling the Wild for top spot in the division is no surprise either.

Last year at this time it was the Wild who sat in third place while the Canucks tried to make their way to the top of the standings.

However, in a truncated season the Canucks issues seem a lot more pronounced then they did last season at this time. At the 23 game mark in a regular 82 game season there is still room for improvement, significant room, actually.

But when you’re a nose hair away from the half way mark of the season and you’re having these issues it may be time to look inward and see what needs to be done in order to succeed and not just get by.

Inconsistency is a pain in the ass

While the standings are some what of a mirror imagine from last season, there is some underlying issues of concern for me.

The Canucks have been unusually inconsistent this season and are currently 3-4-3 in their last ten games. Players are going through slumps, maybe none more pronounced than Zack Kassian, who started the season off with 6 points in his first 10 games, 5 goals and 1 assist.

Kassian has registered only two more points since the tenth game of the season

It appeared that the lockout had benefited Kassian greatly and the extra minutes he was getting the Canucks AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves was paying off handsomely.

Well, fast forward 12 games and Kassian has registered only two more points since the tenth game of the season. In fact, Kassian hasn’t scored a goal since January 30th against the Colorado Avalanche.

You could attribute this to a number of things I suppose. His drop in ice-time, moving off of a line that saw him Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin and a reduction in time on the power play. Whatever the case is, Kassian is slumping hard, and not just in the goal scoring department.

For long stretches you can see him not engaging opponents or finishing checks, two things that are key to him staying in the lineup when he isn’t producing offensively.

Kassian isn’t the only guilty party here. Though it would certainly appear that I’ve singled him out, the team has been plagued this season with this type of play from a number of players, Kas has stood out perhaps because I expected big things from him.

Either way, there are a number of players who have been hard to watch this season for one reason or another.

Alex Edler doesn’t get out of this easily either.

At times you see flashes of brilliance in him when he quarterbacks a power play, makes a hit or is, dare I say it, effective in his own zone against opposing teams top lines.

Unfortunately for Edler, those games have been few and far between.

The Canucks power play is horrible, Edler is not to blame for that, solely, but he hasn’t been himself out there.

He’s been out muscled on plays where the opposition has no business out-muscling him and made to look awful in his own zone.

When do you make a move?

Now, I’m also not suggesting that either of these players are moved in a trade, I’m simply saying that they’ve been the most frustrating to watch, at least from my perspective. What I’m actually suggesting, or wondering is when is the appropriate time to make a trade?

How many more games do the Canucks eek out a win?

How many more games does the power play struggle and they get a loser point in a game that they should have won outright? Those are dangerous things to just sort of “wait and see” on.

I also understand it’s hard to win and play with a real level of consistency when your second line center is out of the lineup more often than he’s in it. But what happens when you can’t eek out wins anymore and those loser points turn to regulation loses and the only level of consistency is not winning?

I’m reaching on this, I know, but you have to wonder if the team is at all prepared for this.

In my opinion, the team is ready for a move now more than ever. Not a earth shaking move that changes the fabric of the entire team.

It could be something simple, yet effective. It could be bringing in a legit number three center to send Max Lapierre back to the fourth line, moving Jordan Schroeder to the second line to give him another shot in that role rather than have him play with Dale Weise and what other Muppet they decide to dress that night.

if you’re making a run Chris Higgins is someone you want to be a part of your team!

Not trading the obvious

When I suggest the Canucks make a move I don’t mean moving Roberto Luongo. I think part of the teams success this season is from the goaltending, especially from Roberto Luongo. If they’re going to continue winning games by one goal, or eking out wins as I said earlier, then having two reliable goalies will be needed.

What I’m (and probably everyone who pays even a shred of attention to this team is) thinking is that a move will come in the form of a winger being moved.

The Canucks have some depth on the wings and could and will likely move one of them in order to bring back a natural center.

The obvious candidates, despite their relatively solid play lately are likely Mason Raymond and Chris Higgins.

Now, neither of those players will bring you a solid third line center back on their own and who or what you add to that is up to you to speculate on, but it’s a starting point.

Personally, I would hate to see these two go, even with the amount of shit I’ve given Raymond on here and anywhere else over the years, he’s played well, perhaps that works out to the Canucks advantage when making a trade.

Higgins on the other hand has played well and his versatility could see him fetch a decent return. However, if you’re making a run, or at least attempting to, Chris Higgins is someone you want to be a part of that.

Where do you go from here?

In my opinion, if the Canucks are going to make a move anytime soon it’s not going to be a monumental one.

It will be one to shore up a position where they are currently weak. I don’t think that solves all their problems, but it’s certainly a start.

By acquiring a defensive minded center for the third line it allows you to move Maxim Lapierre back to the fourth, gives Jordan Schroeder another chance to play in an offensive role on the second line until Ryan Kesler is back; it also alleviates the “problem” of having one too many wingers playing out of their means and out of their position.

From there, they can work on scoring more goals and showing that their an elite team in this league.

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Mornin’, everyone. The Canucks are in Ohio tonight to take on the Columbus Bluejackets, who despite winning their last two games are still dead last in the NHL. Vancouver is coming off of a disappointing Tuesday night shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks.

Tonight’s game is the first of a three game road trip that sees them play the Bluejackets twice. Seems kind of strange. It will also mark the first time the Canucks have played the Bluejackets this season and the first time since Rick Nash was traded to the New York Rangers.

Time to get the ball rolling

The Canucks are just barely holding on to the lead in the Northwest Division by three points over the Minnesota Wild. The Canucks, 3-4-3 in their last ten games and haven’t shown a real level of good, consistent play this season, save for a six game winning streak. But if the Canucks are going to start getting the ball rolling here, it needs to be tonight.

The Canucks face the Bluejackets two times in the next three games. They also play the Wild in between their two games with Columbus. These six points are crucial points.

Kevin Bieksa (groin, day-to-day) and Keith Ballard (charley horse, day-to-day) are out tonight. Cam Barker and Andrew Alberts will take their place and play as the teams third defensive pairing. Cory Schneider gets another shot in goal tonight as he tries to string together a few wins and get on a roll himself.

The Canucks are just barely holding on to the lead in the Northwest Division. Noticed how I slipped Hodgson into the image? lol

What the Canucks need to do to win:

Win the game in regulation

I know I said this in my last gameday post and right above this, but if the Canucks are hoping for a momentum builder then it happens with a win tonight in Columbus. Not in a shootout or overtime, but in regulation. While they’ve been able to win in overtime and occasionally in the shootout, The Canucks have been painful at times to watch during the shootout.

There and there but what appears to be utter lack of preparation is still baffling to me. The Canucks need to win this game in regulation and not give up any points to teams in the West, even if it is the lowly Bluejackets.

Win the special teams game

The Canucks went 0-for-5 with the man advantage against the Sharks, including a chance in overtime to finish off the come from behind win. For whatever reason, maybe a stale power play unit, maybe the wrong people on it, whatever the case might actually be, the Canucks cannot take advantage of being a man up.

Daniel Sedin hasn’t scored on the power play in what feels like an eternity, and then you’ve got Jordan Schroeder playing the point on the first unit. I don’t get it, not one bit. There needs to be some new life on the power play and they need to start taking advantage of it. The Canucks sit 20th in the league, a shell of the team that held the leagues best only two seasons ago.

Change things up

Due to injuries and the lack of organizational depth at center, the Canucks have been forced to mess around with the lines over the past few games. One of those being Mason Raymond at center.

Now, Raymond hasn’t been bad in the role, I mean – sure he can barely win a face off, but his positioning has been good and his speed is an asset in this role; not to mention he’s been able to put up a few points, but I’m not liking Jordan Schroeder on the fourth line with Tom Sestito and Dale Weise.

It’s a role I feel is more suited to Max Lapierre, but hey, that’s just my shap.

I’d like to see Schroeder moved back up to the third line and Lapierre moved down. In my opinion, it gives the third line a little more offensive punch and the fourth line the “grit” to be a better fourth line.

Well, there you have it, my long-winded rant gameday tips for the Canucks to win. The Canucks need to win it in regulation to avoid giving up more points in the conference, even if it is the Bluejackets, win and change up the special teams and get some new life on the third and fourth line with a simple swap of centermen.

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