Iced Tea
12-16-05, 4:58 PM
Oilers-Canucks Preview
GAME: Edmonton Oilers (17-11-4) at Vancouver Canucks (20-9-2).
TIME: Saturday, 10 p.m. EST.
The Vancouver Canucks look to continue their dominance at GM Place when they begin a season-high six-game homestand against an Edmonton Oilers team that has beaten them twice this year.
Vancouver has lost once in 13 home games and is looking to win seven straight there for the second time this season. The Canucks won their first seven at GM Place before a 5-3 loss to Colorado on Nov. 10.
Vancouver won its fourth straight overall Thursday, all against Eastern Conference teams, as Anson Carter scored twice in the third period in a 5-4 victory over Philadelphia.
"We want to play well against the East," Carter said. "We have a lot of pride and we want to show we're one of the top teams in the West."
Alex Auld continued to play well in goal for Vancouver in place of Dan Cloutier, who could miss up to four months after undergoing knee surgery Thursday. Auld finished with 39 saves, including a few key stops in the final seconds when Philadelphia pulled its goalie for an extra attacker.
"He was a difference-maker in the third period," Canucks coach Marc Crawford said of Auld, 12-6-1 this season.
Vancouver's last loss was 5-3 to the Oilers on Dec. 1, its second in Edmonton this season.
The Oilers avoided another close defeat Thursday as Ethan Moreau's power-play goal with 1:23 left snapped a 3-3 tie to help Edmonton beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-3.
Edmonton was 1-3-0 in its previous four games, with all the losses coming either in overtime or a shootout.
"I'm skating well, and any time I skate well I'm going to get a lot of chances," Moreau said.
The left winger has three goals and four assists in his last five games.
"Now he's got the confidence," Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said.
STANDINGS: Oilers - 38 points, 3rd place, 4 PB, Northwest Division. Canucks - 42 points, 1st place, Northwest Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Oilers - Ryan Smyth and Raffi Torres, 13 goals; Shawn Horcoff, 23 assists; Jarret Stoll, 28 points; Moreau, 49 PIM. Canucks - Markus Naslund, 17 goals and 35 points; Henrik Sedin, 21 assists; Wade Brookbank, 63 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Dec. 15): Oilers - Power play: 17.2 percent (33 for 191), 15th in NHL. Penalty killing: 82.6 percent (162 for 196), 14th. Canucks - Power play: 17.2 percent (36 for 209), 16th. Penalty killing: 83.2 percent (154 for 185), 11th.
GOALTENDERS: Oilers - Jussi Markkanen (10-9-3, 3.03 GAA); Mike Morrison (5-1-0, 1.79). Canucks - Auld (12-6-1, 2.65); Rob McVicar (0-0-0, 0.00).
SEASON SERIES: Oilers, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: Dec. 1; Oilers, 5-3. At Edmonton, Torres had a goal and an assist, and Stoll scored two goals for the Oilers.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Oilers - 10-7-2 on the road; Canucks - 13-1-0 at home.Link (http://www.nhl.com/scores/previews/479_2_preview.html)
The Oilers will be the first opponents faced in a six game home stand. Although the Canucks have lost both games to Edmonton this season, they were on the road and the Canucks were struggling. With the current road success and the confidence from beating 3 of the top NHL teams, the Canucks will come out flying in this game, beat the Oilers and build on their incredible home record.
Keys to winning:
1. Bertuzzi's continued improvement. He yelled at himself for screwing up in the Flyers game. Have to love the emotion. With Bert's improvement comes success for the top line.
2. Continued stellar play from the A S S line. Carter is clicking again with the Sedins and I hope it keeps on going. The Sedins are also amazing on the penalty kill and Carter is good too.
3. Auld has a great game. There were some bad rebounds in the Flyers game, particularly on the Flyers' second goal. He should have gloved that one. Also, Auld needs to watch his "14 hole" as John Garrett calls it. The Flyers third goal was weak. Other than that, Auld is playing well and is huge in the net.
4. Continued energy, PK, and the odd goal chipped in by the bottom two lines. Linden's offensive play has improved a lot I think due to his confidence from his great penalty killing. Cooke's return made an instant difference and it was clear the Canucks missed him. I'd like to see more of the CLR line (Cooke, Linden and Ruutu).
5. No big mistakes from Jovo. I believe his recent play has improved.
6. Salo and Ohlund have huge games.
7. Crawford and Iced Tea have good hair days.
8. Iced Tea eats a healthy supper before watching the game.
9. The Senators thoroughly spank the Leafs. It would make me happy before I watch the Canucks spank the Oilers.
10. Pronger gets a wedgie from his too short hockey pants. Chris, they aren't supposed to look like hot pants. It's nasty, get some pants that fit.
11. The Canucks need to improve on their face offs as the Oilers have trounced them in the face off circle in both their games this season. The Canucks need to improve period but if they can stay even with the Oilers, it will be a moral victory for the Canucks' centres.
12. Bertuzzi needs to reacquaint himself with Pronger.
13. Greg Millen is trapped in a snowstorm and is unable to make the Canucks game.
14. Juicy is playing because I like calling him Juicy.
15. More eggnog for Iced Tea.
16. Bryan Allen makes some massive hits on a few more Oilers.
17. Keep the Oilers top line off the scoresheet.
18. The special teams are fairly evenly matched. I hope the Canucks can continue their great PK and build on the 2 for 4 success of the PP against the Flyers.
GAME: Edmonton Oilers (17-11-4) at Vancouver Canucks (20-9-2).
TIME: Saturday, 10 p.m. EST.
The Vancouver Canucks look to continue their dominance at GM Place when they begin a season-high six-game homestand against an Edmonton Oilers team that has beaten them twice this year.
Vancouver has lost once in 13 home games and is looking to win seven straight there for the second time this season. The Canucks won their first seven at GM Place before a 5-3 loss to Colorado on Nov. 10.
Vancouver won its fourth straight overall Thursday, all against Eastern Conference teams, as Anson Carter scored twice in the third period in a 5-4 victory over Philadelphia.
"We want to play well against the East," Carter said. "We have a lot of pride and we want to show we're one of the top teams in the West."
Alex Auld continued to play well in goal for Vancouver in place of Dan Cloutier, who could miss up to four months after undergoing knee surgery Thursday. Auld finished with 39 saves, including a few key stops in the final seconds when Philadelphia pulled its goalie for an extra attacker.
"He was a difference-maker in the third period," Canucks coach Marc Crawford said of Auld, 12-6-1 this season.
Vancouver's last loss was 5-3 to the Oilers on Dec. 1, its second in Edmonton this season.
The Oilers avoided another close defeat Thursday as Ethan Moreau's power-play goal with 1:23 left snapped a 3-3 tie to help Edmonton beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-3.
Edmonton was 1-3-0 in its previous four games, with all the losses coming either in overtime or a shootout.
"I'm skating well, and any time I skate well I'm going to get a lot of chances," Moreau said.
The left winger has three goals and four assists in his last five games.
"Now he's got the confidence," Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said.
STANDINGS: Oilers - 38 points, 3rd place, 4 PB, Northwest Division. Canucks - 42 points, 1st place, Northwest Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Oilers - Ryan Smyth and Raffi Torres, 13 goals; Shawn Horcoff, 23 assists; Jarret Stoll, 28 points; Moreau, 49 PIM. Canucks - Markus Naslund, 17 goals and 35 points; Henrik Sedin, 21 assists; Wade Brookbank, 63 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Dec. 15): Oilers - Power play: 17.2 percent (33 for 191), 15th in NHL. Penalty killing: 82.6 percent (162 for 196), 14th. Canucks - Power play: 17.2 percent (36 for 209), 16th. Penalty killing: 83.2 percent (154 for 185), 11th.
GOALTENDERS: Oilers - Jussi Markkanen (10-9-3, 3.03 GAA); Mike Morrison (5-1-0, 1.79). Canucks - Auld (12-6-1, 2.65); Rob McVicar (0-0-0, 0.00).
SEASON SERIES: Oilers, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: Dec. 1; Oilers, 5-3. At Edmonton, Torres had a goal and an assist, and Stoll scored two goals for the Oilers.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Oilers - 10-7-2 on the road; Canucks - 13-1-0 at home.Link (http://www.nhl.com/scores/previews/479_2_preview.html)
The Oilers will be the first opponents faced in a six game home stand. Although the Canucks have lost both games to Edmonton this season, they were on the road and the Canucks were struggling. With the current road success and the confidence from beating 3 of the top NHL teams, the Canucks will come out flying in this game, beat the Oilers and build on their incredible home record.
Keys to winning:
1. Bertuzzi's continued improvement. He yelled at himself for screwing up in the Flyers game. Have to love the emotion. With Bert's improvement comes success for the top line.
2. Continued stellar play from the A S S line. Carter is clicking again with the Sedins and I hope it keeps on going. The Sedins are also amazing on the penalty kill and Carter is good too.
3. Auld has a great game. There were some bad rebounds in the Flyers game, particularly on the Flyers' second goal. He should have gloved that one. Also, Auld needs to watch his "14 hole" as John Garrett calls it. The Flyers third goal was weak. Other than that, Auld is playing well and is huge in the net.
4. Continued energy, PK, and the odd goal chipped in by the bottom two lines. Linden's offensive play has improved a lot I think due to his confidence from his great penalty killing. Cooke's return made an instant difference and it was clear the Canucks missed him. I'd like to see more of the CLR line (Cooke, Linden and Ruutu).
5. No big mistakes from Jovo. I believe his recent play has improved.
6. Salo and Ohlund have huge games.
7. Crawford and Iced Tea have good hair days.
8. Iced Tea eats a healthy supper before watching the game.
9. The Senators thoroughly spank the Leafs. It would make me happy before I watch the Canucks spank the Oilers.
10. Pronger gets a wedgie from his too short hockey pants. Chris, they aren't supposed to look like hot pants. It's nasty, get some pants that fit.
11. The Canucks need to improve on their face offs as the Oilers have trounced them in the face off circle in both their games this season. The Canucks need to improve period but if they can stay even with the Oilers, it will be a moral victory for the Canucks' centres.
12. Bertuzzi needs to reacquaint himself with Pronger.
13. Greg Millen is trapped in a snowstorm and is unable to make the Canucks game.
14. Juicy is playing because I like calling him Juicy.
15. More eggnog for Iced Tea.
16. Bryan Allen makes some massive hits on a few more Oilers.
17. Keep the Oilers top line off the scoresheet.
18. The special teams are fairly evenly matched. I hope the Canucks can continue their great PK and build on the 2 for 4 success of the PP against the Flyers.