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(Gdt) Canucks Vs Avs - March 28Th, 2012 @ 7:00 Pm


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200px-Vancouver_Canucks_logo.svg.png vs 64.gif

Time: 7:00 pm

Where: travel_rogers_arena_288.jpg

Projected starting Line ups:

Vancouver:

Mason Raymond - Henrik Sedin - Zack Kassian

David Booth - Ryan Kesler - Alex Burrows

Chris Higgins - Samuel Pahlsson - Jannik Hansen

Manny Malhotra - Maxim Lapierre - Dale Weise

Alexander Edler - Kevin Bieksa

Dan Hamhuis - Chris Tanev

Marc-Andre Gragnani - Sami Salo

Cory Schneider

Colorado:

Jamie - McGuinn - Paul Stastny - David Jones

Steve Downie - Ryan O'Reilly - Gabriel Landeskog

Mark Olver - Matt Duchene - Milan Hejduk

Cody Mcleod - Jay McClement - Chuck Kobasew

Jan Hejda - Ryan O'Byrne

Shane O'Brien - Erik Johnson

Matt Hunwick - Ryan Wilson

Semyon Varlamov

Game Notes:

In the last three games of the season series, the Avs have been able to prove to themselves that they can in fact score against the Canucks (they had been shutout in the first two meetings). What they haven't been able to do, however, is find a way to come up with that offense late when the games are on the line. Colorado has scored five combined goals in their last three meetings versus Vancouver but none have come in third periods while just two have come after the midway mark of regulation. The Canucks, on the other hand, have scored eight combined goals in the last three season series outings with half of them coming in the third period or overtime. The third period offensive woes for the Avs are somewhat surprising considering the final frame has actually been the most productive for them this season. They've scored 67 of their 192 goals (34.9 percent) in the third period while they are also one of the league-leaders in overtime goals this season with seven.

While the Avs are undoubtedly disappointed with how their game against the Canucks ended four nights ago and may lament their lack of late offense, they have to be happy with the fact they were able to jump out to the start that they did going up by two goals. It's something they haven't managed to do much of in recent games. In their last seven outings, the game against the Canucks is the only one they;ve managed to open the scoring in (they also had one game that was a scoreless draw through regulation and overtime). The Avs, like most teams, are significantly better this season when opening the scoring in a game going 22-7-4 in those outings as opposed to just 18-25-2 when falling behind first. Prior to the game against the Canucks, the Avs had not led a game 2-0 since March 6 when they jumped out to a 5-0 lead versus Minnesota en route to a 7-1 win.

The Vancouver Canucks (46-21-9) will try to make it a perfect two-for-two on their current five-game home stand when they play host to the slumping Colorado Avalanche (40-32-6) for the final time this season on a night they will celebrate the 400th consecutive sellout for Canucks hockey at Rogers Arena.

The Canucks might not have much left to accomplish as far the regular season is concerned but they certainly aren't playing like they have nothing on the line.

After going nearly an entire calendar month without managing to string together back-to-back victories, the Canucks now come into tonight's contest riding a three-game win streak and are looking to make it four straight tonight for the first time since mid-February. The latest team to fall victim to the suddenly resurgent Canucks was the Kings who saw their playoff hopes take a hit after being dealt a 1-0 loss by Vancouver on Monday.

Monday's win over the Kings guaranteed the Canucks at least the second seed in the Western Conference heading into the playoffs. They'll look to continue their pursuit of first overall tonight when they face the Avalanche for the second time in five days and the final time this season.

Despite the fact Roberto Luongo is coming off his fourth shutout of the season with his 38-save performance against the Kings, the Canucks will give Cory Schneider the start versus the Avs. Kevin Bieksa was absent from practice yesterday but is expected to play tonight. Injured players Keith Ballard and Andrew Ebbett joined the team for full practice yesterday but neither are ready yet to make their respective returns to the lineup.

The Avalanche are still mathematically in the hunt for a playoff berth although, barring a minor miracle, it seems only a matter of time before they go quietly into the night.

Their current three-game winless streak (0-2-1) - with two of those losses coming against teams they're currently battling with for a spot in the Coyotes and Sharks, respectively - has all-but-sealed their fate in that regard. The Avs, who will play the second game of their three-game trip tonight, opened their road swing with a 5-1 loss in San Jose on Monday.

The Avalanche will not only be seeking a win tonight to try and give themselves a semblance of hope of still being able to qualify for the post-season but to also try to avoid being swept in the season series by the Canucks. Vancouver has won all five previous head-to-head meetings including the two encounters to date at Rogers Arena where they've out-scored Colorado by a combined 9-1 count.

The Canucks will continue their five-game home stand on Friday when they play the first of two games in two days hosting the Dallas Stars. The Avalanche will close out their three-game road trip that same night in Calgary.

We're 2-0 when I make the GDT. So I'll say we push our win streak to 4 games with a solid 5-1 win. Go Canucks Go!

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