The Vannies came down to Anaheim to finish up the preseason over the weekend, and after smashing the Ducks up (live on NHL Network, thank you very much), we are one step closer to figuring out who the Canucks will be sending out against the Kings on Saturday to open the regular season. Here's a hint: it's not Shane O'Brien.
It was a 4-2 win over the formerly Mighty Ducks this weekend, and it was pretty darn enjoyable to watch. The scoring opened up with Mason Raymond flashing his speed and his puck handling. Possible surprise Canuck starter Peter Schaefer picked off a Ducks pass in the zone while they were on the power play, and Schaefer immediatelty passed the puck to Ma$e, who was on the run (or, uh, skate). Raymond got in all alone, went forehand to backhand, and scored on Hiller for the shortie. Man, it was sweet! We got out of the first 20 minutes with the lead, but the Ducks weren't ready to be counted out. Saku Koivu scored a power play goal on Schneider with a quick bang bang play early on. Luckily, the special teams play wasn't over, as Alex Edler stepped it up with a cannon of a slap shot to get the Canucks the lead back before the end of the second. He was looking like a young Sami Salo with that gun, eh? While Beleskey got to Schneider in the third, the Vannies would capitalize on another Duck penalty when H-Bomb dropped a game winning bomb on the Pond to send all the OC Puck Bunnies home crying in their frozen carrots. Ryan Kesler iced it with an empty netter to finish 'em off 4-2, and end this up and down preseason on a high note.
The Canucks finished their preseason 3-5, but we're okay because we all remember than individual performances outweigh the end of game results. Right? We remember that, right? We have definitely come into finding out more about who will play for the 'Nucks and who won't once the puck drops on October 9. Obviously, if you've been following our "LSF Instant Suffering," you know how the cuts have gone. Brendan Morrison was offed, only to be signed by the hated Flames. Shane O'Brien was traded to the Preds for a couple of guys who probably won't play. Darcy Hordichuk has been traded to the Panthers for a goon who probably won't play. Maybe more surprisingly, based on his preseason play, Jeff Tambellini was sent down to Manitoba (thanks to getting cleared through waivers). So, where does this leave our lines? Well, it proves that I have no business guessing the lines before the season starts, that's for sure! With that concession, I will step aside and let my go to Canucks blog, "Nucks Misconduct," tell us who will start where:
Daniel-Henrik-Samuelsson
Raymond-Kesler-Torres
Hansen-Malhotra-Shaefer
Glass-Bolduc-Desbiens
Bieksa-Hamhuis
Ehrhoff-Edler
Alberts-Ballard
Luongo-Schneider
A couple of "big deals," in my opinion, are presented with the list. Raffi Torres is up on the Kes-Raymond line, which is pretty crazy. Did his stock raise that much with his preseason play? Maybe. But there will be a complete RW shift downward once Burrows comes back (I'm putting you on notice, Desbiens). Another big deal is that fourth line. Outside of Glass being a goonish stud, Bolduc and Desbiens are kind of unknown qualities as far as a full regular season up in the NHL goes. I like Bolduc, but am left wondering if this fourth line has enough to hang tough against the elites of the league. On defense, by putting Ballard with Andrew Alberts, the Canucks have made sure that each of their three defensive pairings are strong. There is no weak pairing, and that's WITH Salo being on the sideline. That's promissing. A big question mark may be Cory Schneider. With the cap space issue going on, there is an idea that Schneider may be offed to Manitoba just to make space on the cap, and maybe Eddie Lack will stay up. I'm not sure about it, but if it has to happen to save money, it has to happen. I really just hope that we're not going to sign some other aging one year Bobby Lu backup at the league minimum. I know I'm not all up and up on the cap space issue, but all things equal, it is Schneider's time to be the #2. As we have just three days remaining, there are still issues to be sorted out, and it'll be interesting to see how it finally shakes down. We MUST beat Willie Mitchell. No hard feelings.
As the preseason has come to a close, we have to ask ourselves what we expect and what we think about this team coming into the October 9th opener. Are we, as many "experts" suggest, the favorites in the NHL to win the Cup. Are we the best chance to bring the Cup back to Canada in recent memory? I don't know man, it's hard to get on the bandwagon that all these guys in the "real" media are getting started. Surely I think that we have a special team here, as I always do. Surely I think that we can win this whole thing, as I always do. But, as a long suffering Canucks fan of 16 years, I have that feeling in the pit of my stomach that something is going to go wrong. I just want this squad, and this fanbase, to take this season one game at a time, and see what we can do.
October 9th seems like so far away, but I can't wait. TGI-a free Center Ice preview!
Go Canucks Go!
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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