Scouting the Canucks

This is Game 3 in the best-of-seven, first-round playoff series between the Kings and the Vancouver Canucks. The Kings hold a 2-0 series lead. How difficult is the Kings’ challenge tonight? The Canucks did not lose three consecutive games during the regular season. As noted earlier, Cory Schneider gets the start in goal for the Canucks. Schneider and Kings goalie Jonathan Quick are no strangers. Schneider is a native of Massachusetts, and in youth hockey often faced Quick, a native of Connecticut. Daniel Sedin (concussion) is once again out for the Canucks, and Byron Bitz is serving the second of his two-game suspension for his hit on Kyle Clifford. The Canucks are expected to make one change up front, with Dale Weise replacing Andrew Ebbett on the fourth line. Samuel Pahlsson practiced with the Canucks’ power-play unit yesterday, but it’s not known whether he might get any power-play time tonight. For the latest on the Canucks, check out the coverage from the Vancouver Province and the Vancouver Sun, followed by the possible lineups for the Canucks and the Kings…

The Vancouver Province’s Canucks coverage

The Vancouver Sun’s Canucks coverage

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CANUCKS LINEUP
Maxim Lapierre-Henrik Sedin-Alexandre Burrows
Mason Raymond-Ryan Kesler-David Booth
Chris Higgins-Samuel Pahlsson-Jannik Hansen
Dale Weise-Manny Malhotra-Zack Kassian

Dan Hamhuis-Kevin Bieksa
Alexander Edler-Sami Salo
Keith Ballard-Christopher Tanev

Cory Schneider
Roberto Luongo

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KINGS LINEUP
Dustin Brown-Anze Kopitar-Justin Williams
Dwight King-Mike Richards-Jeff Carter
Dustin Penner-Jarret Stoll-Trevor Lewis
Andrei Loktionov-Colin Fraser-Jordan Nolan

Rob Scuderi-Drew Doughty
Willie Mitchell-Slava Voynov
Alec Martinez-Matt Greene

Jonathan Quick
Jonathan Bernier