Scouting the Canucks

On this gameday in Canada, a happy 83rd birthday to “Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe (and, in a complete non sequitur, a happy 66th birthday to Gabe Kaplan of “Welcome Back, Kotter” fame). This is the last of four regular-season meetings between the Kings and Vancouver Canucks, and another goalie showdown between Jonathan Quick and Roberto Luongo. The Canucks have altered their line combinations slightly, but they lead the league in essentially every notable statistical category, including goals per game, goals-against per game, power-play percentage, penalty-kill percentage and faceoff percentage. For the latest on the Canucks, check out these stories from the Vancouver Sun and Vancouver Province, followed by the expected lineups for the Canucks and the Kings…

Canucks Game Day: Canucks can clinch Presidents’ Trophy tonight (Vancouver Sun)

Mitchell says only luck separates him and Malhotra (Vancouver Province)

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CANUCKS LINEUP
Daniel Sedin-Henrik Sedin-Alexandre Burrows
Chris Higgins-Ryan Kesler-Jeff Tambellini
Raffi Torres-Mason Raymond-Jannik Hansen
Alexandre Bolduc-Maxim Lapierre-Victor Oreskovich

Christian Ehrhoff-Sami Salo
Aaron Rome-Kevin Bieksa
Keith Ballard-Christopher Tanev

Roberto Luongo

—–

KINGS LINEUP
Penner-Handzus-Moller
Smyth-Lewis-Brown
Ponikarovsky-Stoll-Simmonds
Clifford-Richardson-Westgarth

Mitchell-Doughty
Johnson-Scuderi
Martinez-Greene

Quick

53 Comments

  1. KingsFanFTW says:

    god am going to hate the Fans more and more each time Luongo saves the puck please let him not save just watch the pucks go by him and get boot really fast

    We need a win

    Go Kings GO

    [Reply]

  2. CB14 says:

    They may lead the league in essentially every notable stastical category, but not against the Kings. The Kings are 2 and 1 against Vancouver, with the loss being the “Sedin Sister push” game. If Doughty doesn’t get pushed into Quick, then it’s likely to go to OT, and if it then went to the shootout, I think we all know what the outcome of the game would’ve been. Go Kings Go! Brownie please bury a Sedin Sister tonight, or both Sedin Sisters!

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  3. Stacy says:

    Rich . . . loved both Happy Birthday wishes . . .I don’t think tonight will be the night for the President’s Trophy . . . so sorry Canucks . . .

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  4. kevin from toronto says:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XnFMgADtWI&feature=relmfu

    Come on Boys!

    [Reply]

    kb Reply:

    @kevin from toronto, Thank god no samuelson and no frolov!!!

    [Reply]

    kevin from toronto Reply:

    @kb, If Frolov scored on that break away in game 4, I bet the Kings would have went up 3-1 in the series…

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  5. LaKingBob[chi] says:

    Kind of strange, Watching the DODGER-GIANT GAME AND WE HAVE 1 HOUR TILL WE GO TO PUCK DROP.How many will switch over like me when the time comes.. GO KINGS GO!!!!

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    KFII Reply:

    @LaKingBob[chi], LOL I’m lucky, I’m an Angels fan and that game is over already. Angels won, one down one to go tonight. GKG!

    Hey if the Kings can go deep in the post season, I’ll tell you right now, Kings games win out over the Angels games if there is a conflict of schedules. That would be a good problem to have.

    [Reply]

    LaKingBob[chi] Reply:

    @KFII, I am a Dodger fan and the question has never came up.. Kings all the way!!

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    LBlocal Reply:

    @Baseball Fans – With respect, how can you find entertainment from “a sport” where the all-time hits leader is banned from it’s Hall of Fame, and happens to dress like this to opening day 2011?

    http://mit.zenfs.com/121/2011/03/PeteRose.jpg

    I’ll take hockey over baseball any day of my life!

    gKg!

    [Reply]

    370455VinSD Reply:

    @LBlocal, I could see Don Cherry in that outfit.

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  6. KFII says:

    I guess there’s no question any longer about how much effort the Nucks will bring to their game tonight. No coasting tonight. They do have something at stake. I thought they’d already earned the President’s Trophy. Seems this game will be a good measuring stick for our “Kopi and William-less lines” after all.

    Alright Kings, kick some whale butt tonight!

    [Reply]

  7. tellmeY says:

    I’m going upstairs now to pour myself some Tequila (which makes me mean), and then some Margarita mix on top of that to soften the effects of the Tequila…anyone have a suggestion what else I should add to it that might help me get thru this game?

    [Reply]

    climberpm Reply:

    @tellmeY, I with you dude, I’m so nervous for our boys tonight!

    [Reply]

    Slim Reply:

    @tellmeY, Quaaludes!

    [Reply]

  8. KingsOfComedy says:

    Kings overdue foe a ROUTE. Canuckleheads overdue for a bad game!

    [Reply]

  9. kevin from toronto says:

    with baseball back, i’m in playoff mode boys!

    WE BELIEVE!

    [Reply]

  10. LaKingBob[chi] says:

    Nashville is starting in Colorado with 2 minutes to go in first 1-0 Preds

    [Reply]

  11. jess says:

    make’m pay..

    [Reply]

  12. KDinUT says:

    Let’s GO Kings!!!!

    [Reply]

  13. kingsxstevenxkings says:

    Hate these guys..they’re scary good this year. We can’t hope for a low scorer in this one and that’s what I’m worried about..hope we pull it out though! GO KINGS!

    [Reply]

  14. jason says:

    i hope lewis gets some points again :) Simmons, poni, stoll have been horrible lately.. no offense

    [Reply]

  15. Capt Jam says:

    VAN is a surprising 1-2 this season in the first home game following a road trip of at least 4 games. The one win came against a non-playoff team (MIN); the two losses came against SJ and CHI.]

    We are not as much of underdog tonight as you might think we are.

    [Reply]

    BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:

    @Capt Jam,

    Nice point.
    –Kings WINNING TIME!

    [Reply]

  16. 370455VinSD says:

    Kings are firing, keep it up boys.

    [Reply]

  17. jason says:

    scuderi and johnson are horrible

    [Reply]

  18. jess says:

    Handzus is sure looking furry

    [Reply]

  19. jess says:

    Does kompon get credit for that trick PP??

    [Reply]

  20. Capt Jam says:

    We will be lucky to get out of this period at 0-0. The Kings are playing far too conservatively, as if their focus is to avoid mistakes. Need to pick up the pace and create chances.

    [Reply]

  21. Slim says:

    We gotta score on one of these pp”s….

    [Reply]

  22. kinginsaltlake says:

    #8 looks like he’s been to the local Donut shop. He’s falling all over the ice.

    [Reply]

  23. jason says:

    i hate sedins and their cheap shots

    [Reply]

  24. Slim says:

    Henrick is singing “I got you under my skin” to Brownie..

    [Reply]

  25. kinginsaltlake says:

    The little viking just missed

    [Reply]

    jess Reply:

    @kinginsaltlake, he’s a swede, not a viking

    [Reply]

  26. kinginsaltlake says:

    Only 1 pp goal vs Canucks this season

    [Reply]

  27. kinginsaltlake says:

    Kings are getting knocked all over the ice

    [Reply]

  28. CB14 says:

    Clifforddddddddddddddd

    [Reply]

  29. jess says:

    YESSSS!!!

    [Reply]

  30. King John says:

    Wow!! Cliffy!

    [Reply]

  31. Slim says:

    Big Red DoG!!!!

    [Reply]

  32. KDinUT says:

    Clifford!!!

    [Reply]

  33. kevin from toronto says:

    Get Simmonds on that Power Play

    [Reply]

  34. Capt Jam says:

    Funny what happens when you put an attack together.

    [Reply]

  35. jason says:

    the 4th liners! whaoo

    [Reply]

  36. kinginsaltlake says:

    But clffy scores

    [Reply]

  37. King John says:

    Kings survived the onslaught.
    Penalties changed momentum.
    Kings score a goal!

    [Reply]

  38. kinginsaltlake says:

    Time to watch game see ya peeps later

    [Reply]

  39. Capt Jam says:

    Looooooooooo. LOL.

    [Reply]

  40. You da man rich! says:

    Atta boy cliffie!!!!! Man almost a whole period of a canucks game and not 1 luongo or sedin dive

    [Reply]

  41. What's the frequency, Kenneth? says:

    I’d say it looks like a decent start.

    [Reply]

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