How about them Canucks!
- Thread starter #juan
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TV: SNET-P, SNET-W
Last 10: Vancouver 8-1-1; Calgary 4-4-2
Season series: This is the second of five games between the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames. Mike Santorelli scored his second goal of the game in overtime to give the Canucks a 5-4 win against the Flames on Oct. 6 at Scotiabank Saddledome. The teams meet three more times this season, all in Vancouver.
Big story: Goalie Eddie Lack is the man of the moment in Vancouver, though for how long is anyone's guess. An undisclosed injury to Roberto Luongo has thrust the undrafted 25-year-old Swede into the spotlight, and he'll carry a 6-2-0 record with a 1.93 goals-against average and .928 save percentage into his 12th NHL appearance Sunday.
Team Scope:
Canucks: A six-day break for Vancouver wasn't enough for Luongo to get healthy after he left the Canucks' game against the Winnipeg Jets last Sunday in the first period. Coach John Tortorella has termed his No. 1 goalie day-to-day, and the team recalled Joacim Eriksson from Utica of the American Hockey League to back up Lack.
Lack, who spent three seasons in the AHL after coming over from Sweden, has given Tortorella as well as his teammates confidence in his brief body of work this season. Now he might get an extended chance to show what he can do.
"I always thought I was capable of playing in this League," Lack said in the National Post. "I worked hard a long time to get here.
"I'm just trying to have fun every day."
Flames: Goaltending was expected to be an issue in Calgary following the retirement of Miikka Kiprusoff, and the Flames entered the weekend 26th in the League with a 3.10 team goals-against average.
The issue Friday against the Edmonton Oilers wasn't in net; Reto Berra stopped 26 of 27 shots. The Flames had a goal by Mark Giordano in the first period disallowed and were stymied all night by Devan Dubnyk. An empty-netter in the final seconds sent them to a 2-0 defeat.
"When you don't get any goals, it's frustrating," forward Matt Stajan said in the Calgary Sun. "We've got to maybe get some puck luck, but at the same time, we've gotta bear down in front. We've gotta do a better job of getting to the net, screening the goalie. They got one goal by being in our crease and going to the dirty areas, and we have to do more of that."
Who's hot: Canucks defenseman Christopher Tanev, who scored the game-winner against the Jets, has four goals in 39 games this season. He had two goals in 92 career games over his first three seasons.
Injury report: Canucks defenseman Ryan Stanton (ankle) is out indefinitely, and defenseman Alexander Edler (lower body) and forwards Alexandre Burrows (jaw) and Jordan Schroeder (ankle) are on injured reserve. … Flames forward Blair Jones (knee) is out indefinitely. Defenseman Kris Russell (knee) is out 4-6 weeks. Defenseman Dennis Wideman (hand) and forward Curtis Glencross (ankle
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eddy lack will play again, this is good for him, to have some steady work, will establish him
further as an nhl goalie, he is a very good goalie, will be number one someday, maybe sooner than
we think.
hope canucks remember how to skate tonight, its been too long between games, and calgary has allready
had a game after xmas.
Last 10: Vancouver 8-1-1; Calgary 4-4-2
Season series: This is the second of five games between the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames. Mike Santorelli scored his second goal of the game in overtime to give the Canucks a 5-4 win against the Flames on Oct. 6 at Scotiabank Saddledome. The teams meet three more times this season, all in Vancouver.
Big story: Goalie Eddie Lack is the man of the moment in Vancouver, though for how long is anyone's guess. An undisclosed injury to Roberto Luongo has thrust the undrafted 25-year-old Swede into the spotlight, and he'll carry a 6-2-0 record with a 1.93 goals-against average and .928 save percentage into his 12th NHL appearance Sunday.
Team Scope:
Canucks: A six-day break for Vancouver wasn't enough for Luongo to get healthy after he left the Canucks' game against the Winnipeg Jets last Sunday in the first period. Coach John Tortorella has termed his No. 1 goalie day-to-day, and the team recalled Joacim Eriksson from Utica of the American Hockey League to back up Lack.
Lack, who spent three seasons in the AHL after coming over from Sweden, has given Tortorella as well as his teammates confidence in his brief body of work this season. Now he might get an extended chance to show what he can do.
"I always thought I was capable of playing in this League," Lack said in the National Post. "I worked hard a long time to get here.
"I'm just trying to have fun every day."
Flames: Goaltending was expected to be an issue in Calgary following the retirement of Miikka Kiprusoff, and the Flames entered the weekend 26th in the League with a 3.10 team goals-against average.
The issue Friday against the Edmonton Oilers wasn't in net; Reto Berra stopped 26 of 27 shots. The Flames had a goal by Mark Giordano in the first period disallowed and were stymied all night by Devan Dubnyk. An empty-netter in the final seconds sent them to a 2-0 defeat.
"When you don't get any goals, it's frustrating," forward Matt Stajan said in the Calgary Sun. "We've got to maybe get some puck luck, but at the same time, we've gotta bear down in front. We've gotta do a better job of getting to the net, screening the goalie. They got one goal by being in our crease and going to the dirty areas, and we have to do more of that."
Who's hot: Canucks defenseman Christopher Tanev, who scored the game-winner against the Jets, has four goals in 39 games this season. He had two goals in 92 career games over his first three seasons.
Injury report: Canucks defenseman Ryan Stanton (ankle) is out indefinitely, and defenseman Alexander Edler (lower body) and forwards Alexandre Burrows (jaw) and Jordan Schroeder (ankle) are on injured reserve. … Flames forward Blair Jones (knee) is out indefinitely. Defenseman Kris Russell (knee) is out 4-6 weeks. Defenseman Dennis Wideman (hand) and forward Curtis Glencross (ankle
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eddy lack will play again, this is good for him, to have some steady work, will establish him
further as an nhl goalie, he is a very good goalie, will be number one someday, maybe sooner than
we think.
hope canucks remember how to skate tonight, its been too long between games, and calgary has allready
had a game after xmas.
The boys are off to a good start- 1/0 at the end of the first period! Gotta love that Jannuck Hansen.
they have frankie carrado, we'll probably see him soon i would think of defense.
they also had kevin connaughton, but they traded him away last year, after
grooming him for about 4 years, and now he is making a name for himself,
wish they would have kept him, i didn't like him leaving at the time.
he is with dallas, he was first star the other night. forget the trade
that involved him.
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canucks and flyers, 7:00 p.m.
Last 10: Philadelphia 5-3-2; Vancouver 8-1-1
Season series: This is the final game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks, who won 3-2 in Philadelphia on Oct. 15. Ryan Kesler broke a 2-2 tie with 2:35 left in the third period to complete the Canucks' rally from a 2-1 deficit after two periods.
Big story: The Canucks will face a Flyers team that is much-improved from the one they defeated at Wells Fargo Center in mid-October. The Flyers were 1-5-0 heading into that game, on the way to a franchise-worst 1-7-0 start, but have gone 17-10-4 since.
Vancouver enters the game as one of the hottest teams in the NHL, particularly at home. The Canucks are 10-1-1 overall and 6-0-0 at Rogers Arena in December.
Team Scope:
Flyers: Philadelphia opened its six-game road trip by rallying from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night.
Coach Craig Berube wants his team to play a more disciplined game the rest of the trip.
"You can't make risky plays at times and turning pucks over and stuff," he told the Flyers website Sunday. "You're not going to win hockey games if you do that. You can't give freebies to teams, especially with skill. You know, like [Monday] night playing Vancouver, with the skill they have, you've gotta be good with the puck, and the puck has to go in deep or, you know, has to go on net. You turn pucks over and take bad penalties, it'll cost you hockey games."
After leaving Vancouver, Philadelphia plays the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes and New Jersey Devils on the road before returning to Wells Fargo Center for a game against the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 8.
The Flyers are 4-1-0 in their past five games.
Canucks: Vancouver defeated the Calgary Flames 2-0 Sunday night. It was the Canucks' first game since a 2-1 home win against the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 22.
"We got a long break, but the points are just as important as they are in late March and early April, and these points are going to stick with us to the end," said Jannik Hansen, who scored the Canucks' first goal. "If you look at the standings, it's extremely tight. If you're not stringing wins together, you're not going anywhere. We've played a tremendous December, and we're still fourth in our division. It takes a lot of wins and it takes a team effort to get them on a nightly basis."
Rookie goalie Eddie Lack made 18 saves Sunday to earn his second shutout. It was Lack's first start since Roberto Luongo sustained a lower-body injury Dec. 22. The 25-year-old Swedish goalie is 7-2-0 and has won five straight decisions.
Who's hot: Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds has scored two goals in each of the past three games. He's the first Flyers player to score two goals in three straight games since Reggie Leach in 1981. Forward Claude Giroux has 10 points (three goals) his past five games. … Hansen has three goals in Vancouver's past six games.
Injury report: Flyers defenseman Erik Gustafsson (knee) is on injured reserve. … Canucks defenseman Andrew Alberts (undisclosed) left the game Sunday against Calgary in the first period following a hit by Brian McGrattan and did not return. Luongo (lower body), defensemen Alexander Edler (lower body) and Ryan Stanton (ankle) and forwards Alexandre Burrows (jaw) and Jordan Schroeder (ankle) are on IR.
Last 10: Philadelphia 5-3-2; Vancouver 8-1-1
Season series: This is the final game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks, who won 3-2 in Philadelphia on Oct. 15. Ryan Kesler broke a 2-2 tie with 2:35 left in the third period to complete the Canucks' rally from a 2-1 deficit after two periods.
Big story: The Canucks will face a Flyers team that is much-improved from the one they defeated at Wells Fargo Center in mid-October. The Flyers were 1-5-0 heading into that game, on the way to a franchise-worst 1-7-0 start, but have gone 17-10-4 since.
Vancouver enters the game as one of the hottest teams in the NHL, particularly at home. The Canucks are 10-1-1 overall and 6-0-0 at Rogers Arena in December.
Team Scope:
Flyers: Philadelphia opened its six-game road trip by rallying from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night.
Coach Craig Berube wants his team to play a more disciplined game the rest of the trip.
"You can't make risky plays at times and turning pucks over and stuff," he told the Flyers website Sunday. "You're not going to win hockey games if you do that. You can't give freebies to teams, especially with skill. You know, like [Monday] night playing Vancouver, with the skill they have, you've gotta be good with the puck, and the puck has to go in deep or, you know, has to go on net. You turn pucks over and take bad penalties, it'll cost you hockey games."
After leaving Vancouver, Philadelphia plays the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes and New Jersey Devils on the road before returning to Wells Fargo Center for a game against the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 8.
The Flyers are 4-1-0 in their past five games.
Canucks: Vancouver defeated the Calgary Flames 2-0 Sunday night. It was the Canucks' first game since a 2-1 home win against the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 22.
"We got a long break, but the points are just as important as they are in late March and early April, and these points are going to stick with us to the end," said Jannik Hansen, who scored the Canucks' first goal. "If you look at the standings, it's extremely tight. If you're not stringing wins together, you're not going anywhere. We've played a tremendous December, and we're still fourth in our division. It takes a lot of wins and it takes a team effort to get them on a nightly basis."
Rookie goalie Eddie Lack made 18 saves Sunday to earn his second shutout. It was Lack's first start since Roberto Luongo sustained a lower-body injury Dec. 22. The 25-year-old Swedish goalie is 7-2-0 and has won five straight decisions.
Who's hot: Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds has scored two goals in each of the past three games. He's the first Flyers player to score two goals in three straight games since Reggie Leach in 1981. Forward Claude Giroux has 10 points (three goals) his past five games. … Hansen has three goals in Vancouver's past six games.
Injury report: Flyers defenseman Erik Gustafsson (knee) is on injured reserve. … Canucks defenseman Andrew Alberts (undisclosed) left the game Sunday against Calgary in the first period following a hit by Brian McGrattan and did not return. Luongo (lower body), defensemen Alexander Edler (lower body) and Ryan Stanton (ankle) and forwards Alexandre Burrows (jaw) and Jordan Schroeder (ankle) are on IR.
Good game again tonight, Sestito is starting to even look good and of course Jannuk Hansen continues to excel! They still need one more goal.
everything was fine till they bungled that face off to allow the tieing goal right before game ended.
then the shoot out, its becoming very hard to watch, kesler and daniel were pathetic, as they didn't
even fight for the goal, and torterella again has to take partial blame, as he insists on putting
a sedin or two in the shoot out, and his stubborn attitude about it is rather immature.
at that point, winning the game is foremost, not insisting the best players must be part of the
shoot out.
it was a good game, both goalies played well, their's especially, as canucks peppered many shots
at him, to no avail.
one point was not acceptable for that game.
then the shoot out, its becoming very hard to watch, kesler and daniel were pathetic, as they didn't
even fight for the goal, and torterella again has to take partial blame, as he insists on putting
a sedin or two in the shoot out, and his stubborn attitude about it is rather immature.
at that point, winning the game is foremost, not insisting the best players must be part of the
shoot out.
it was a good game, both goalies played well, their's especially, as canucks peppered many shots
at him, to no avail.
one point was not acceptable for that game.
Canucks, Lightning look to get 2014 off to fast startTuesday, 12.31.2013 / 10:36 PMBrian Hunter - NHL.com
PrintLIGHTNING (23-12-4) at CANUCKS (23-11-7)
TV: TSN, SUN
Last 10: Tampa Bay 6-2-2; Vancouver 7-1-2
Season series: This is the first of two games between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vancouver Canucks. They haven't faced each other since Jan. 10, 2012, a 5-4 shootout win for Vancouver at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Big story: The Lightning hope 2014 brings them the return of star scorer Steven Stamkos sooner rather than later, though for the time being they're managing just fine without him. The Canucks are surging as well and have hardly missed a beat with rookie Eddie Lack filling in for Roberto Luongo.
Team Scope:
Lightning: This is the start of a four-game Canadian road trip for Tampa Bay, with trips to face the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets forthcoming in the next week. The Lightning dropped seven straight on the road at one point after Stamkos broke his leg, but they carry a three-game road winning streak into the new year.
However, the Lightning will be looking to get back in the win column after going 0-1-1 on a brief homestand. They gave up three power-play goals on as many opportunities Sunday in a 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers.
"We have to get back to pushing the pace and keeping the puck moving forward," captain Martin St. Louis said. "We did that in the third period [against the Rangers] and gave ourselves a chance. It seems like since the break we've lost a little bit of our identity."
Canucks: Despite allowing a late lead slip to away and losing 4-3 in a shootout to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, the month of December was good to Vancouver. The Canucks finished with a 10-1-2 record that helped move them from a fringe contender for the Stanley Cup Playoffs into solid top-eight positioning.
The Canucks are fourth in the NHL with a 2.24 team goals-against average. Lack, who has started the past two games, has a 1.84 GAA in 13 appearances.
"I like the way we are playing," forward Daniel Sedin said in the Vancouver Sun after the loss Monday. "You can say we are not scoring enough, but we are winning games. I like the way we play, we play really solidly defensively. It's a good feeling in this room, we know we are not giving up a lot of chances and that's the way I think we have to play. Goals are going to come. We are finding ways to win. We didn't do it tonight but I think we have so far."
Who's hot: Valtteri Filppula has four goals and six assists in his past seven games for the Lightning. Tyler Johnson has two goals and one assist during a three-game point streak. … Jannik Hansen has goals in consecutive games for the Canucks. Dan Hamhuis has four assists in the past three games.
Injury report: Tampa Bay defensemen Eric Brewer (arm) and Sami Salo (upper body) remain day-to-day. Stamkos (leg), defenseman Keith Aulie (hand) and forward Ryan Malone (ankle) are on injured reserve. … Luongo (lower body) is day-to-day for Vancouver. Defenseman Ryan Stanton (ankle) is out indefinitely. Defenseman Alexander
Edler (lower body) and forwards Jordan Schroeder (ankle)
PrintLIGHTNING (23-12-4) at CANUCKS (23-11-7)
TV: TSN, SUN
Last 10: Tampa Bay 6-2-2; Vancouver 7-1-2
Season series: This is the first of two games between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vancouver Canucks. They haven't faced each other since Jan. 10, 2012, a 5-4 shootout win for Vancouver at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Big story: The Lightning hope 2014 brings them the return of star scorer Steven Stamkos sooner rather than later, though for the time being they're managing just fine without him. The Canucks are surging as well and have hardly missed a beat with rookie Eddie Lack filling in for Roberto Luongo.
Team Scope:
Lightning: This is the start of a four-game Canadian road trip for Tampa Bay, with trips to face the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets forthcoming in the next week. The Lightning dropped seven straight on the road at one point after Stamkos broke his leg, but they carry a three-game road winning streak into the new year.
However, the Lightning will be looking to get back in the win column after going 0-1-1 on a brief homestand. They gave up three power-play goals on as many opportunities Sunday in a 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers.
"We have to get back to pushing the pace and keeping the puck moving forward," captain Martin St. Louis said. "We did that in the third period [against the Rangers] and gave ourselves a chance. It seems like since the break we've lost a little bit of our identity."
Canucks: Despite allowing a late lead slip to away and losing 4-3 in a shootout to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, the month of December was good to Vancouver. The Canucks finished with a 10-1-2 record that helped move them from a fringe contender for the Stanley Cup Playoffs into solid top-eight positioning.
The Canucks are fourth in the NHL with a 2.24 team goals-against average. Lack, who has started the past two games, has a 1.84 GAA in 13 appearances.
"I like the way we are playing," forward Daniel Sedin said in the Vancouver Sun after the loss Monday. "You can say we are not scoring enough, but we are winning games. I like the way we play, we play really solidly defensively. It's a good feeling in this room, we know we are not giving up a lot of chances and that's the way I think we have to play. Goals are going to come. We are finding ways to win. We didn't do it tonight but I think we have so far."
Who's hot: Valtteri Filppula has four goals and six assists in his past seven games for the Lightning. Tyler Johnson has two goals and one assist during a three-game point streak. … Jannik Hansen has goals in consecutive games for the Canucks. Dan Hamhuis has four assists in the past three games.
Injury report: Tampa Bay defensemen Eric Brewer (arm) and Sami Salo (upper body) remain day-to-day. Stamkos (leg), defenseman Keith Aulie (hand) and forward Ryan Malone (ankle) are on injured reserve. … Luongo (lower body) is day-to-day for Vancouver. Defenseman Ryan Stanton (ankle) is out indefinitely. Defenseman Alexander
Edler (lower body) and forwards Jordan Schroeder (ankle)
nothing complicated about this game, tampa bay are, and played like, a better team than the canucks.
in every aspect of the game, consequently they won.
i was impressed by tampa's game, and even more because they are without stamkos, if
he was playing tonight, canucks would have been left in the dust early on.
in every aspect of the game, consequently they won.
i was impressed by tampa's game, and even more because they are without stamkos, if
he was playing tonight, canucks would have been left in the dust early on.
Luongo could return as Canucks visit KingsFriday, 01.03.2014 / 4:34 PMMike Battaglino - NHL.com Staff Writer
PrintCANUCKS (23-12-7) at KINGS (25-13-4)
TV: CBC, FS-W
Last 10: Vancouver 6-2-2; Los Angeles 4-6-0
Season series: The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Vancouver Canucks twice in November. Anze Kopitar's overtime goal decided the most-recent, 3-2 in Vancouver on Nov. 25, a game the Kings trailed with less than three minutes to go, and one when they were outshot 39-22.
Big story: Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo is expected to return from a lower-body injury and play at least one of the weekend road set against the Kings on Saturday and the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.
"They're a big test for our group on back-to-back nights," Luongo told the Canucks website Friday. "They're divisional opponents, we know how a lot of those games go, they're important games, they're teams that we're going to face in the playoffs probably, or hopefully. Those are games that you want to make sure that you establish something good, in their building especially."
Team Scope:
Canucks: Luongo said after practice he's ready to play.
"Obviously I felt good out there, so don't know yet what's going on for [Saturday], but, yeah, good to go," he said.
The 34-year-old has not played since sustaining the injury Dec. 22 in the first period against the Winnipeg Jets.
"I've been working out on the ice for the last week, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue," he said. "You want to make sure that you start feeling the puck right away, and feel good."
Goalie Eddie Lack went 1-1-1 while Luongo was sidelined, and is 7-3-0 with a 2.02 goals-against average and .924 save percentage this season. Luongo is 16-9-6 with a 2.24 GAA and .920 save percentage, and had a five-game winning streak to start December.
Coach John Tortorella would not confirm when Luongo would return, but his message was simple.
"He was playing very well before he was hurt," Tortorella said. "So there's no specific formula here: Go in and stop the puck."
Kings: Los Angeles, which has lost five in a row, also could get its No. 1 goaltender back soon.
Jonathan Quick said Friday his recovery from a groin injury sustained Nov. 12 against the Buffalo Sabres is almost complete.
"I feel good. I think the next step is to get some game action," Quick told LA Kings Insider after practice Friday. "... So it's up to the coaches, trainers to decide when they want me to take that step."
Quick was scheduled to play over the weekend for Manchester in the American Hockey League, but bad weather scuttled those travel plans, and the Kings thought it best for him to return to Los Angeles to be closer by for a possible return.
"I wasn't really crazy about that to be quite honest ... because first off, he was going to fly all day Monday, which would've taken him out of the equation Tuesday," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "So ... you're almost losing another week on him. It was kind of his call if he wanted to, and what games he wanted to play. Obviously that didn't happen, so now we just try and get him game ready for doing this."
Quick was with the Kings on a four-game road trip that ended with a 5-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. The 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, who was named to the U.S. Olympic team Wednesday, is 10-5-0 with a 2.35 goals-against average and .905 save percentage this season.
Who's hot: Canucks forward Tom Sestito has a two-game point streak, half of his four points in 39 games this season. ... Kopitar has five points in his past six games.
Injury report: Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows (broken jaw), defenseman Alexander Edler (sprained right knee) and forward Jordan Schroeder (ankle sprain) skated this week. Burrows wore a visor and protective piece. Defensemen Andrew Alberts (upper body) and Ryan Stanton (
PrintCANUCKS (23-12-7) at KINGS (25-13-4)
TV: CBC, FS-W
Last 10: Vancouver 6-2-2; Los Angeles 4-6-0
Season series: The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Vancouver Canucks twice in November. Anze Kopitar's overtime goal decided the most-recent, 3-2 in Vancouver on Nov. 25, a game the Kings trailed with less than three minutes to go, and one when they were outshot 39-22.
Big story: Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo is expected to return from a lower-body injury and play at least one of the weekend road set against the Kings on Saturday and the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.
"They're a big test for our group on back-to-back nights," Luongo told the Canucks website Friday. "They're divisional opponents, we know how a lot of those games go, they're important games, they're teams that we're going to face in the playoffs probably, or hopefully. Those are games that you want to make sure that you establish something good, in their building especially."
Team Scope:
Canucks: Luongo said after practice he's ready to play.
"Obviously I felt good out there, so don't know yet what's going on for [Saturday], but, yeah, good to go," he said.
The 34-year-old has not played since sustaining the injury Dec. 22 in the first period against the Winnipeg Jets.
"I've been working out on the ice for the last week, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue," he said. "You want to make sure that you start feeling the puck right away, and feel good."
Goalie Eddie Lack went 1-1-1 while Luongo was sidelined, and is 7-3-0 with a 2.02 goals-against average and .924 save percentage this season. Luongo is 16-9-6 with a 2.24 GAA and .920 save percentage, and had a five-game winning streak to start December.
Coach John Tortorella would not confirm when Luongo would return, but his message was simple.
"He was playing very well before he was hurt," Tortorella said. "So there's no specific formula here: Go in and stop the puck."
Kings: Los Angeles, which has lost five in a row, also could get its No. 1 goaltender back soon.
Jonathan Quick said Friday his recovery from a groin injury sustained Nov. 12 against the Buffalo Sabres is almost complete.
"I feel good. I think the next step is to get some game action," Quick told LA Kings Insider after practice Friday. "... So it's up to the coaches, trainers to decide when they want me to take that step."
Quick was scheduled to play over the weekend for Manchester in the American Hockey League, but bad weather scuttled those travel plans, and the Kings thought it best for him to return to Los Angeles to be closer by for a possible return.
"I wasn't really crazy about that to be quite honest ... because first off, he was going to fly all day Monday, which would've taken him out of the equation Tuesday," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "So ... you're almost losing another week on him. It was kind of his call if he wanted to, and what games he wanted to play. Obviously that didn't happen, so now we just try and get him game ready for doing this."
Quick was with the Kings on a four-game road trip that ended with a 5-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. The 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, who was named to the U.S. Olympic team Wednesday, is 10-5-0 with a 2.35 goals-against average and .905 save percentage this season.
Who's hot: Canucks forward Tom Sestito has a two-game point streak, half of his four points in 39 games this season. ... Kopitar has five points in his past six games.
Injury report: Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows (broken jaw), defenseman Alexander Edler (sprained right knee) and forward Jordan Schroeder (ankle sprain) skated this week. Burrows wore a visor and protective piece. Defensemen Andrew Alberts (upper body) and Ryan Stanton (
I can name a half dozen Vancouver players who need to be replaced-they just don't (or can't) play hard enough on the puck.
Maybe next year.....
Maybe next year.....
Basically an excellent game, sure can't fault Luongo on that one. I missed the first L.A goal.
it was a good game, tough, fast and hard fought, both goalies played excellent, and both were playing
their first game back.
l.a. had lost 5 in a row, guess they were fed up with that and determined and cranky and were not going
to lose another, they are a big team, hard to play against, and against canucks they rise to the occasion.
canucks sure need to score more goals, an ongoing problem, but then l.a. were no different, took them
a long time to get that first one, and they don't score many either.
a tough 2 game road trip for canucks, tomorrow in anaheim, and if they think l.a. was tough, just wait till
tomorrow.
their first game back.
l.a. had lost 5 in a row, guess they were fed up with that and determined and cranky and were not going
to lose another, they are a big team, hard to play against, and against canucks they rise to the occasion.
canucks sure need to score more goals, an ongoing problem, but then l.a. were no different, took them
a long time to get that first one, and they don't score many either.
a tough 2 game road trip for canucks, tomorrow in anaheim, and if they think l.a. was tough, just wait till
tomorrow.
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Anaheim ducks -- vancouver canucks
remember 5 p.m. today