PRE GAME: Canucks @ Chicago

After a crappy start to the game in Buffalo Friday night the Canucks actually didn't play that bad, but having already spotted the Sabres a 3 goal lead it was too much for them to overcome. This afternoon they take on a Chicago Blackhawks team that was expected by many to be a lock for a playoff spot, but have already fired their coach 4 games into the season. Who ever said don't kick a man when he's down, never saw a hockey game.

It's early in the season, but this one could be the 1st must win game of the year. The situation seems to be set for a Canucks win, facing a team struggling, looking for an identity with a new coach, lacking confidence and having blown a 3rd period lead with less than a minute to go, the night before to lose in the shootout.

Roberto Luongo has many people scratching their heads right now. After opening the year with a shutout over Calgary, he has gone 2-1 and given up 12 goals in those 3 games. It's a given that he will need a strong effort today to help the Canucks right the ship and avoid losing 2 straight. But that's not the only issue facing the Canucks. The PP, which looked impressive in the preseason, is chugging along at 8%, while the PK has slumped to 77.8%. They will have their hands full again on the PP, as Chicago is ranked 6th on PK, but their PP is nearly as bad as the Canucks. They must start playing better on the special teams if they wish to keep pace with Minnesota and Edmonton, who are both off to great starts so far this season.

Chicago seems on paper at least to have something to build on. They have some incredible young talent up front and on the back end, and 2 quality veteran goalies. So is it just the coaching that has them floundering to start the year? Can the Canucks catch a team in an early season tail-spin and get back in the win column? Here's the keys to the game:

1- Dominate early- The Canucks downfall this season has come in the first period. They have been able to come back from getting behind, but in the NHL the team that scores first usually wins. The Canucks need to come charging out of the gate like they did in Detroit Thursday using their speed and size and take a team already struggling with confidence, and their fans, out of it early.

2- Top line must show up- After a great start against Calgary, the Sedin/Sedin/Bernier line, while not playing bad has been rather silent. The young defence of the Hawks could be just the thing they need to get back in the swing of things.

3- Discipline and tightening up the back end- Ok so that makes 4 but they are both important. The Canucks have spent way too much time in the box lately, and will need to make sure they don't find themselves shorthanded too often. After a game against Buffalo which saw usually rock steady Dman Willie Mitchell play one of his worst as a Canuck, the D needs to step up and ensure that shots don't get through to Roberto Luongo and that anyone who attempts to go to the net pays a price for it.

We will touch on this game a little more after a recap of last night's events:
-Dallas continues to struggle as Colorado got two from Milan Hejduk in a 5-4 win in Dallas, Fabian Brunnstrom scored again for Dallas, giving the rookie 4 in 3 games,

-Montreal continued to roll as Alex Tanguay had 2 in their 4-1 win over Phoenix at the Bell Center

-The Bruins got a pair from Phil Kessel en route to a 4-2 over the Sens in Ottawa last night. Daniel Alfredsson had one for the Sens.

-Sidney Crosby was one of 4 goal scorers for the Penguins in their 4-1 romp over the Leafs

-Zach Parise had the shootout winner as the Devils came from behind to beat the Capitals 4-3. Alexander Semin had 2 for the Caps to continue his strong play.

-It took a shootout to do it, but Slava Koslov got the skills competition winner to lift the Thrashers to a 3-2 win over the Sabres last night. Thomas Vanek and jason Pminville scored for Buffalo, while Ilya Kovalchuk and Bryan Little replied for Atlanta.

-Rick Dipietro may be back but that didnt help the Islanders as they were shutout 2-0 by the Panthers who got goals from Nick Boynton and Cory Stillman, Tomas Vokoun with the SO.

-Aaron Voros had 2 for the Rangers but it was Marian Hossa with his first as a Red Wing as Detroit took down NY 5-4 in OT.

-Minnesota remained perfect to start the year as Annti Miettinen got the shootout winner to defeat Tampa Bay 1-0
Nick Backstrom and Mike Smith were both credited with shutouts.

-Nashville got 2 from Martin Erat as they stomped Columbus 6-3

-St. Louis needed a shootout goal from rookie TJ Oshie as the Blues came from behind to beat the Blackhawks 4-3, The blues had tied tied it with under 14 seconds left. Keith Tkachuk got his 6th of the season in that one, making me wonder if his contract expires this season...

-Miikka Kiprusoff gave up 3 goals in just under 4 minutes in the 2nd, blowing a 2-0 lead as the Oilers swept the Flames in the back end of their home and home series 3-2. Kiprusoff has now allowed 19 goals in 5 games and has a save percentage of .843 in the first 4. Todd Bertuzzi had a goal for the Flames in a losing cause

-The Sarah Palin curse continues for the Flyers as they lost 5-4 in OT to the Sharks. Dan Boyle with the winner and Daniel Briere had 2 for the winless Flyers.

The Canucks are in game 5 of this 6 game road trip, and though there have been ups and downs, a win today in Chicago and Tuesday in Columbus will certainly help them . They return home and have 3 days rest before a big game against the Oilers Saturday, then a visit from the Bruins next Tuesday. They wrap up October with a jaunt to Southern California to take on the Kings and the struggling Ducks.

We will have complete post-game wrap up and a preview of the last game of this 6 game road trip in our next podcast for you Tuesday. The game today of course is PPV, and can be heard on the air and online at team1040.ca.