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INDEPTH: NHL 2006 | After the break
Vancouver Canucks
By Malcolm Kelly, CBC Sports Online | Last updated Feb. 28, 2006
The Canucks' Sedin twins are paying dividends this year as part of a two-way second unit that's amassed almost 150 goals so far.
(CP File Photo)
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Record: 33-21-5 (71 points)
Fifth in the Western Conference
Second in the Northwest Division
Home record: 20-5-3
Away record: 13-16-2
Goals for/against: 198-180
Power play: 19 per cent (eighth overall)
Penalty kill: 81.2 per cent (18th overall)
Top scorers: Markus Naslund (26g, 34a, 60p - 18th overall in the NHL); Henrik Sedin (14g, 43a, 57p - 27th overall); Todd Bertuzzi (20g, 33a, 53p).
Top defenders: Henrik Sedin, forward (+14); Daniel Sedin, forward (+11); Nolan Baumgartner, defence (+11); Bryan Allan, defence (+11).
Key trades: Steve McCarthy, defence, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks for a third round pick in 2007 (Aug. 21).
Season recap: Dan Cloutier was off to a happy start to the year when the Canucks went to Anaheim on Nov. 20. The veteran was 8-3-1 and, despite a 3.17 average in the suddenly goal-happy NHL, things looked bright. Until he went down with a knee injury that has likely ended his season.
Alex Auld, who had only played 14 games in three previous seasons with the Canucks, was 5-3-1 at that point, and suddenly the load fell on his back. At the break, he was 25-16-3, with a solid 2.86 goals against.
All of which goes a long way to explaining why the confusing Canucks were able to stay in the race for first in the Northwest Division.
Vancouver started 16-8-2, which was handy since from the first of December the club began to level off (17-13-3), and began to play with their fans' emotions. Such as by losing three times to the lousy St. Louis Blues since the New Year, by a combined 12-3.
Or by struggling on the penalty kill. Or having an overwhelming power play on one night and a lousy one the next. Or that they can't win in their own division (9-16). And so on.
Marc Crawford's top line of Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison and Todd Bertuzzi would make their head coach feel a lot better if they would play a little defence. Together they have 155 goals and are a combined -15. Meanwhile, the two-way second unit of Henrik and Daniel Sedin and Anson Carter have 146 goals and are a combined +31.
And still, there the Canucks sit. Right on Calgary's tail.
Key injuries: Nolan Baumgartner (foot), will return after the Olympic break. Wade Brookbank (concussion), Ed Jovanovski (abdominal surgery) and Rick Rypien (broken ankle) are out indefinitely. Dan Cloutier (goal) is likely out for the year.
Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if there's a trade for a goaltender right off the bat.
Vancouver has only eight road games remaining in their final 21, and given how strong the Canucks are at GM Place, that in itself might be enough for punters to lean their way for the division title. And, only eight of the 21 are in the division, which is also cause for optimism because of how bad they've been against Northwest opponents.
The Canucks also play nine of their final 12 at home.
Time to set the parade route, no?
But for the pessimistic among you Vancouver supporters, if you add the number of times the Canucks play teams above them in the standings (nine, including two with Calgary), to the number they play in their division (six, minus the Flames), you get 15.
Which means only six games you might consider a free pass.
Oh, and one of those half-dozen is against those pesky St. Louis Blues.
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