Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Canucks/Ducks Game Day

The Canucks (34-23-8) prepare for their third meeting of the season against the Anaheim Ducks (31-30-6). The Canucks were 7-6 shoot-out winners in Anaheim on Oct.31 before posting a 4-3 win at GM Place Dec. 22. Steve Bernier (2g,2a), Kevin Bieksa (1g,2a), and Mason Raymond (1g,2a) lead the Canucks in head-to-head scoring while Corey Perry (1g,6a), Teemu Selanne (2g,2a), and Scott Niedermeyer (2g,2a) lead Anaheim. Vancouver has gone a combined 4-for-13 on the power play while Anaheim has gone 5-for-14. The Canucks have won five of their last six meetings against the Ducks.

The Canucks are looking to bounce back from a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings Monday night. The Canucks are now 14-17 in one-goal games this season and are currently riding a two-game road losing streak. Daniel Sedin has points in four straight games (4a) but has not scored a goal in seven straight. Ryan Kesler had a four-game point scoring streak snapped against the Kings (1g,4a).

The Ducks are struggling to keep their playoff hopes alive. Having lost three straight games by a single goal, Anaheim has also lost four in a row on home ice. Their leading scorer is Ryan Getzlaf (20g,51a). However he has gone seven games without a goal and has just two assists in his last six.

This game also marks the first time former Canucks forward Mike Brown will play his former teammates. Traded to Anaheim earlier this season, Brown is getting plenty of opportunity to play here under Head Coach Randy Carlye. In the Ducks 3-2 loss to Minnesota on Sunday night, Brown had a career high 17:59 in ice time.

Here are the expected line-ups for both teams for tonight's match-up at the Honda Center:

Canucks:

D. Sedin - H. Sedin - Burrows
Demitra - Sundin - Kesler
Pyatt - Wellwood - Bernier
Hordichuk - Johnson - Raymond

Mitchell - Salo
Ohlund - Edler
Bieksa - O'Brien

Luongo
LaBarbera

Ducks:

Eric Christensen - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry
Bobby Ryan - Andrew Ebbett - Teemu Selanne
Rob Neidermeyer - Todd Marchant - Mike Brown
George Parros - Ryan Carter - Petteri Nokelaine

Scott Neidermeyer - James Wisniewski
Ryan Whitney - Chris Pronger
Brett Festerling - Sheldon Brookbank

Jonas Hiller
Jean-Sebastien Giguere

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