Roberto Luongo has allowed seven goals in two games for Vancouver, but has hardly been the main reason the Canucks are in a hole heading to Los Angeles. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
VANCOUVER - Alain Vigneault measured his words carefully. The Vancouver Canucks head coach was asked about a tweet from former team employee Kristin Reid, who stated that Daniel Sedin would not play against the Kings in the next two games in Los Angeles and would not be available to play in the rest of the series.
Of course, the way this first-round series has gone, the back-to-back Presidents' Trophy winners may only have two games left in their season. The Canucks find themselves down 2-0 after successive 4-2 losses to the Kings at Rogers Arena.
"He's not flying with us today and nothing has changed," Vigneault said. "There's no timeline in these injuries. I can't tell you more than he's not skating with the team and he's not coming to L.A."
Game 3 is on Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. PT on Hockey Night in Canada. Game 4 isn't until Wednesday.
Vigneault's words left open the possibility that Sedin could join his twin brother Henrik and the rest of the Canucks on Monday or Tuesday and suit up for the fourth game of the series.
But even a Daniel return for Wednesday appears unlikely when you consider the timeline since his concussion occurred last month.
"He hasn't been around, so were not expecting to have him," Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo said on Saturday.
The Canucks clearly miss their leading goal scorer. Their power play has been terrible at 0-for-10 in the series and it has surrendered two short-handed goals to boot.
But if Daniel's return is not imminent, what can Vigneault do to shake up his struggling team?
Would he start backup goaltender Cory Schneider, even though Luongo has been the best Canuck player in the first two games?
Vigneault remarked that he has decided on his starter for Game 3, but because he hasn't informed either netminder of his decision the Canucks head coach would not divulge his goalie game plan.
"Our reality is we have to win the next game," Vigneault said. "It's not about winning four games, it's about winning the game that is in front of us."
In Schneider, the Canucks have a backup goalie that went an impressive 20-8-1 in the regular season and finished with the league's second best save percentage at .937 and third best goals-against-average at 1.96.
When Luongo stumbled in the playoffs last spring, Schneider came in and played well in five appearances.
"I don't want to speculate, Schneider said. "But I'd feel comfortable."
Luongo, however, acted as if he will be the Canucks starter on Sunday.
"Right now, I'm preparing as if I'm playing tomorrow."
Tim Wharnsby
Tim's worked the sports beat at The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Sun, specializing in Canada's one true sporting obsession - hockey. He knows the players, the coaches, the backroom boys and most importantly, the fans. That's what he brings to his stories. Knowledge, fairness and understanding are trademarks of a Wharnsby story. That's what you will get here as he writes for CBCSports.ca.
