First RoundCanucks series will go the distance
By Tim Wharnsby
Posted: Sunday, April 8, 2012 | 10:10 AM
Categories: First Round, VAN VS LA
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Dustin Brown #23 of the Los Angeles Kings and Dan Hamhuis #2 of the Vancouver Canucks get their sticks crossed, it's the type of play that may dominate the first round Stanley Cup playoff series. (Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
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No. 1 Vancouver (50-22-9--109 pts) vs. No. 8 Los Angeles (40-27-14--94 pts)
Three storylines
1. When will Canucks sniper Daniel Sedin return from his concussion? A couple weeks ago Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis proclaimed that Sedin would be back in time for the start of the playoffs. But in the past few days the Canucks have been quiet and there apparently was no truth that Sedin had been skating on his own. Vancouver did go 8-1-0 after Sedin suffered his head injury, but eight of those games were against non-playoff teams.
2. All eyes will be on Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo. His detractors may be a vocal minority, but it will be interesting to see how Vancouver head coach Alain Vigneault reacts if Luongo has a poor performance and whether the Canucks are willing to ride the capable Cory Schneider if Luongo falters.
3. Can Mike Richards get under the skin of Henrik Sedin and his brother if he is healthy enough to play? Richards is at his best when championships are on the line. He's already won a Memorial Cup, world junior gold, a Calder Cup, Olympic gold and lost in the Stanley Cup final with the Philadelphia Flyers in the past nine years.
Season series - Canucks 2-1-1.
Nov. 10 - Canucks 3-2 at Los Angeles
Dec. 31 - Kings 4-1 at Los Angeles
Jan. 17 - Kings 3-2 (OT) at Vancouver
March 26 - Canucks 1-0 at Vancouver
Prediction - Canucks in seven.
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About the Author
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.
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