canucks_df

A more aesthetically-pleasing (i.e. shots, shots, shots, shots, and goals, goals, goals goals) means some major updates to the Playoff Stats Pack compared to after the first round and the second round. Below are the updated numbers through the first three rounds of the playoffs. And of course, don't forget to read my Tale of the Tape Game Notes on the front page of Canucks.com on every game day and be sure to watch out for my Tale of the Tape Series Preview against either the Bruins or Lightning as soon as it becomes available. You can also find me on Twitter @daniel_fung or drop me a line at dfung_sports@hotmail.com. Canucks record when... Any defencemen scores: 7-3 Without Mikael Samuelsson in lineup: 6-1 Without Sami Salo in lineup: 3-1 Without Cody Hodgson in lineup: 3-3 Without Raffi Torres in lineup: 2-0 Without Andrew Alberts in lineup: 10-5 Without Keith Ballard in lineup: 5-4 Without Aaron Rome in lineup: 5-2 Without Tanner Glass in lineup: 1-1 Without Victor Oreskovich in lineup: 3-2 Without Christian Ehrhoff in lineup: 2-0 When Chris Higgins scores: 4-0 When Jannik Hansen scores: 2-0 When Daniel Sedin scores: 4-2 When Alex Edler scores: 2-0 When Christian Ehrhoff scores: 2-0 When Mikael Samuelsson scores: 1-0 When Sami Salo scores: 1-1 When Alex Burrows scores: 3-3 When Kevin Bieksa scores: 3-2 When Ryan Kesler scores: 4-1 When Henrik Sedin scores: 2-0 When Raffi Torres scores: 1-1 When Mason Raymond scores: 1-0 When Maxim Lapierre scores: 2-0 When Aaron Rome scores: 1-0 When Dan Hamhuis scores: 0-1 Scores two-or-more power play goals: 3-2 Surrender two-or-more power play goals: 2-3 Don't allow a 1st period goal: 7-1 (Only loss Game 2 NSH) Don't allow a 2nd period goal: 7-2 (Losses in Game 2 NSH & Game 3 SJS) Don't allow a 3rd period goal: 5-1 (Only loss Game 5 CHI) Have a 2-goal lead at any point in game: 6-0 Have a 3-goal lead at any point in game: 2-0 Have a 4-or-more goal lead at any point in game: 2-0 Score a goal in all three regulation periods: 3-0 Allow a goal in all three regulation periods: 0-3 Hold a third period lead: 11-2 (Losses in Game 6 CHI & Game 2 NSH) Surrender a shorthanded goal: 2-1 Don't allow a power play goal: 7-3 Score a shorthanded goal: 0-1 When getting more PP chances than opponent: 3-1 When getting fewer PP chances than opponent: 4-5 When getting equal PP chances as opponent: 5-0 Canucks list of third period goal scorers... Daniel Sedin, Kevin Bieksa, & Ryan Kesler: 3 each Chris Higgins, Henrik Sedin & Alex Burrows: 2 each Mikael Samuelsson, Aaron Rome, Mason Raymond and Dan Hamhuis: 1 each Canucks overall average...(bracketed number denotes average following Round 2) Shots on goal per game: 31.2 (31.5) Opponent shots on goal per game: 31.6 (29.2) Shot attempts blocked per game: 17.8 (17.2) Opponent shot attempts blocked per game: 14.5 (12.6) Missed shots per game: 12.4 (12) Opponent missed shots per game: 10.4 (9.8) Hits per game: 33.1 (33.5) Opponent hits per game: 28.6 (28.8) Giveaways per game: 7.2 (6.8) Opponent giveaways per game: 8.4 (7.9) Takeaways per game: 9.4 (9.5) Opponent takeaways per game: 8.2 (8.7) Blocked shots per game: 14.5 (12.6) Opponent blocked shots per game: 17.8 (17.2) Canucks average at home...(bracketed number denotes average following Round 2) Shots on goal per game: 34.1 (33) Opponent shots on goal per game: 32.1 (29.3) Shot attempts blocked per game: 19.6 (19.1) Opponent shot attempts blocked per game: 14.6 (13.4) Missed shots per game: 13.8 (12.7) Opponent missed shots per game: 10 (10) Hits per game: 37.2 (37.3) Opponent hits per game: 27.6 (25.4) Giveaways per game: 8.4 (8.6) Opponent giveaways per game: 5 (5.1) Takeaways per game: 12 (12.6) Opponent takeaways per game: 7.1 (7.1) Blocked shots per game: 14.6 (13.4) Opponent blocked shots per game: 19.6 (19.1) Canucks average on road...(bracketed number denotes average following Round 2) Shots on goal per game: 27.6 (29.7) Opponent shots on goal per game: 31 (29.2) Shot attempts blocked per game: 15.5 (14.8) Opponent shot attempts blocked per game: 14.4 (11.7) Missed shots per game: 10.8 (11.2) Opponent missed shots per game: 10.9 (9.5) Hits per game: 28 (29.2) Opponent hits per game: 29.8 (32.7) Giveaways per game: 5.8 (4.7) Opponent giveaways per game: 12.6 (11.2) Takeaways per game: 6.1 (5.8) Opponent takeaways per game: 9.6 (10.5) Blocked shots per game: 14.4 (11.7) Opponent blocked shots per game: 15.5 (14.8) HIGHS AND LOWS Canucks Most - One Period Goals: 4 - Game 2 SJS (3rd) Goals Allowed: 4 - Game 4 CHI (2nd) Shots: 16 - twice (Game 1 NSH 1st; Game 3 NSH 3rd) Shots Allowed: 17 - Game 4 SJS (3rd) Canucks Fewest - One Period Shots: 2 - Game 6 NSH (2nd) Shots Allowed: 3 - Game 6 CHI (3rd) Canucks Most - One Game Goals: 7 - Game 2 SJS Goals Allowed: 7 - Game 4 CHI Shots: 47 - Game 3 NSH Shots Allowed: 56 - Game 5 SJS Penalty Mins.: 61 - Game 4 CHI Penalty Mins, Opp.: 53 - Game 2 SJS Canucks Fewest - One Game Goals: 0 - Game 5 CHI Goals Allowed: 0 - twice Shots: 13 - Game 4 SJS Shots Allowed: 20 - Game 1 NSH Penalty Mins.: 4 (three times) - Game 2 CHI, Game 7 CHI & Game 1 SJS Penalty Mins, Opp.: 2 (twice) - Game 2 NSH & Game 5 SJS Canucks Largest - One Game Margin of victory: 4 - Game 2 SJS Margin of defeat: 5 (twice) - Game 4 CHI & Game 5 CHI Individual Most - One Game Goals: 2 (six times) - Daniel Sedin (Game 2 CHI), Alex Burrows (Game 7 CHI), Ryan Kesler (Game 3 NSH), Ryan Kesler (Game 5 NSH), Daniel Sedin (Game 2 SJS), Sami Salo (Game 4 SJS) Goals Allowed: 2 (seven times) - Ben Smith (Game 2 CHI), Patrick Sharp (Game 4 CHI), Duncan Keith (Game 5 CHI), Marian Hossa (Game 5 CHI), David Legwand (Game 5 NSH), Joel Ward (Game 5 NSH), Patrick Marleau (Game 3 SJS) Assists: 4 - Henrik Sedin (Game 4 SJS) Assists Allowed: 3 (twice) - Dave Bolland (Game 4 CHI), Joe Thornton (Game 3 SJS) Points: 4 - Henrik Sedin (Game 4 SJS) Points Allowed: 4 (twice) - Dave Bolland (Game 4 CHI), Duncan Keith (Game 5 CHI) Saves: 54 - Roberto Luongo (Game 5 SJS) Saves, Opponent: 44 - Pekka Rinne (Game 3 NSH)

Once again, for all you stats junkies, here's the Playoff Stats pack updated after the second round series against the Predators. For the stats pack after the end of Round One versus Chicago, click here. Don't forget to read my Tale of the Tape Game Notes on the front page of Canucks.com on every game day and watch out for my Tale of the Tape series preview against either the Sharks or Red Wings which will be up shortly. You can also find me on Twitter @daniel_fung or drop me a line at dfung_sports@hotmail.com. Canucks record when... Any defencemen scores: 3-2 Without Mikael Samuelsson in lineup: 2-0 Without Sami Salo in lineup: 3-1 Without Cody Hodgson in lineup: 3-2 Without Raffi Torres in lineup: 2-0 Without Andrew Alberts in lineup: 6-4 Without Keith Ballard in lineup: 3-3 Without Aaron Rome in lineup: 3-2 Without Tanner Glass in lineup: 0-1 Without Victor Oreskovich in lineup: 3-2 When Chris Higgins scores: 3-0 When Jannik Hansen scores: 2-0 When Daniel Sedin scores: 3-2 When Alex Edler scores: 2-0 When Christian Ehrhoff scores: 2-0 When Mikael Samuelsson scores: 1-0 When Sami Salo scores: 0-1 When Alex Burrows scores: 1-2 When Kevin Bieksa scores: 0-1 When Ryan Kesler scores: 2-1 When Henrik Sedin scores: 1-0 When Raffi Torres scores: 0-1 When Mason Raymond scores: 1-0 Score two-or-more power play goals: 1-1 Surrender two-or-more power play goals: 1-2 Don't allow a 1st period goal: 5-1 (only loss in Game 2 vs NSH) Don't allow a 2nd period goal: 5-1 (only loss in Game 2 vs NSH) Don't allow a 3rd period goal: 4-1 (only loss in Game 5 vs CHI) Have a 2-goal lead at any point in game: 4-0 Score a goal in all three regulation periods: 2-0 Allow a goal in all three regulation periods: 0-3 Hold a third period lead: 8-2 (only losses in Game 6 CHI & Game 2 NSH) Surrender a shorthanded goal: 2-1 Don't allow a power play goal: 6-3 When getting more power play chances than opponent: 1-1 When getting fewer power play chances than opponent: 3-4 When getting equal power play chances as opponent: 4-0 Canucks list of third period goal scorers... Daniel Sedin & Ryan Kesler: 2 each Mikael Samuelsson, Kevin Bieksa, Chris Higgins & Henrik Sedin: 1 each Canucks overall average... Shots on goal per game: 31.5 Opponent shots on goal per game: 29.2 Shot attempts blocked per game: 17.2 Opponent shot attempts blocked per game: 12.6 Missed shots per game: 12 Opponent missed shots per game: 9.8 Hits per game: 33.5 Opponent hits per game: 28.8 Giveaways per game: 6.8 Opponent giveaways per game: 7.9 Takeaways per game: 9.5 Opponent takeaways per game: 8.7 Blocked shots per game: 12.6 Opponent blocked shots per game: 17.2 Canucks average at home... Shots on goal per game: 33 Opponent shots on goal per game: 29.3 Shot attempts blocked per game: 19.1 Opponent shot attempts blocked per game: 13.4 Missed shots per game: 12.7 Opponent missed shots per game: 10 Hits per game: 37.3 Opponent hits per game: 25.4 Giveaways per game: 8.6 Opponent giveaways per game: 5.1 Takeaways per game: 12.6 Opponent takeaways per game: 7.1 Blocked shots per game: 13.4 Opponent blocked shots per game: 19.1 Canucks average on road... Shots on goal per game: 29.7 Opponent shots on goal per game: 29.2 Shot attempts blocked per game: 14.8 Opponent shot attempts blocked per game: 11.7 Missed shots per game: 11.2 Opponent missed shots per game: 9.5 Hits per game: 29.2 Opponent hits per game: 32.7 Giveaways per game: 4.7 Opponent giveaways per game: 11.2 Takeaways per game: 5.8 Opponent takeaways per game: 10.5 Blocked shots per game: 11.7 Opponent blocked shots per game: 14.8 HIGHS AND LOWS Canucks Most - One Period Goals: 2 - seven times Goals Allowed: 4 - Game 4 CHI (2nd) Shots: 16 - twice Shots Allowed: 16 - Game 3 CHI (1st) Canucks Fewest - One Period Shots: 2 - Game 6 NSH (2nd) Shots Allowed: 3 - Game 6 CHI (3rd) Canucks Most - One Game Goals: 4 - twice Goals Allowed: 7 - Game 4 CHI Shots: 47 - Game 3 NSH Shots Allowed: 46 - Game 2 NSH Penalty Mins.: 61 - Game 4 CHI Penalty Mins, Opp.: 37 - Game 4 CHI Canucks Fewest - One Game Goals: 0 - Game 5 CHI Goals Allowed: 0 - twice Shots: 19 - Game 6 NSH Shots Allowed: 20 - Game 1 NSH Penalty Mins.: 4 (twice) - Game 2 CHI & Game 7 CHI Penalty Mins, Opp.: 4 (three times) - Game 2 Chi, Game 3 CHI, Game 7 CHI Canucks Largest - One Game Margin of victory: 2 - twice Margin of defeat: 5 (twice) - Game 4 CHI & Game 5 CHI Individual Most - One Game Goals: 2 (four times) - Daniel Sedin (Game 2 CHI), Alex Burrows (Game 7 CHI), Ryan Kesler (Game 3 NSH), Ryan Kesler (Game 5 NSH) Goals Allowed: 2 (six times) - Ben Smith (Game 2 CHI), Patrick Sharp (Game 4 CHI), Duncan Keith (Game 5 CHI), & Marian Hossa (Game 5 CHI), David Legwand (Game 5 NSH), Joel Ward (Game 5 NSH) Assists: 2 (five times) - Henrik Sedin (Game 2 CHI), Christian Ehrhoff (Game 3 NSH), Christian Ehrhoff (Game 4 NSH), Ryan Kesler (Game 4 NSH), Henrik Sedin (Game 4 NSH) Assists Allowed: 3 - Dave Bolland (Game 4 CHI) Points: 3 (six times) - Daniel Sedin (Game 2 CHI), Alex Burrows (Game 6 CHI), Ryan Kesler (Game 3 NSH), Christian Ehrhoff (Game 4 NSH), Ryan Kesler (Game 4 NSH), Henrik Sedin (Game 4 NSH) Points Allowed: 4 (twice) - Dave Bolland (Game 4 CHI), Duncan Keith (Game 5 CHI) Saves: 44 - Roberto Luongo (Game 2 NSH) Saves, Opponent: 44 - Pekka Rinne (Game 3 NSH)

I got some pretty decent feedback when I posted my Stats Package at the end of the regular season so I thought I'd do it for the playoffs as well. Here's Vancouver's updated playoff statistics through the opening round. Don't forget to read my Tale of the Tape Game Notes on the front page of Canucks.com on every game day and also my Tale of the Tape Series Preview for the Canucks vs Predators. You can also find me on Twitter @daniel_fung or drop me a line at dfung_sports@hotmail.com. Canucks record when... Any defencemen scores: 2-2 Without Mikael Samuelsson in lineup: 1-0 Without Sami Salo in lineup: 1-0 Without Cody Hodgson in lineup: 2-1 Without Raffi Torres in lineup: 2-0 Without Andrew Alberts in lineup: 3-2 Without Keith Ballard in lineup: 0-2 Without Aaron Rome in lineup: 3-2 Without Tanner Glass in lineup: 0-1 Without Victor Oreskovich in lineup: 0-1 When Chris Higgins scores: 1-0 When Jannik Hansen scores: 2-0 When Daniel Sedin scores: 2-2 When Alex Edler scores: 1-0 When Christian Ehrhoff scores: 1-0 When Mikael Samuelsson scores: 1-0 When Sami Salo scores: 0-1 When Alex Burrows scores: 1-1 When Kevin Bieksa scores: 0-1 Score two-or-more power play goals: 0-1 Surrender two-or-more power play goals: 1-2 Don't allow a 1st period goal: 3-0 Don't allow a 2nd period goal: 2-0 Don't allow a 3rd period goal: 2-1 (only loss in Game 5 vs CHI) Have a 2-goal lead: 2-0 Score a goal in all three regulation periods: 1-0 Allow a goal in all three regulation periods: 0-2 Hold a third period lead: 4-1 (only loss in Game 6 @ CHI) Surrender a shorthanded goal: 1-0 Don't allow a power play goal: 3-1 When getting more power play chances than opponent: 0-0 When getting fewer power play chances than opponent: 2-3 When getting equal power play chances as opponent: 2-0 Canucks list of third period goal scorers... Daniel Sedin: 2 Mikael Samuelsson & Kevin Bieksa: 1 each Canucks overall average... Shots on goal per game: 31.1 Opponent shots on goal per game: 30.9 Shot attempts blocked per game: 16.4 Opponent shot attempts blocked per game: 10.6 Missed shots per game: 12.4 Opponent missed shots per game: 10 Hits per game: 40.1 Opponent hits per game: 29.6 Giveaways per game: 5.9 Opponent giveaways per game: 8 Takeaways per game: 9.1 Opponent takeaways per game: 9.7 Blocked shots per game: 10.6 Opponent blocked shots per game: 16.4 Canucks average at home... Shots on goal per game: 33.5 Opponent shots on goal per game: 29 Shot attempts blocked per game: 16.5 Opponent shot attempts blocked per game: 11.5 Missed shots per game: 12.3 Opponent missed shots per game: 10.3 Hits per game: 43.3 Opponent hits per game: 23 Giveaways per game: 7.8 Opponent giveaways per game: 6 Takeaways per game: 11 Opponent takeaways per game: 8 Blocked shots per game: 11.5 Opponent blocked shots per game: 16.5 Canucks average on road... Shots on goal per game: 28 Opponent shots on goal per game: 33.3 Shot attempts blocked per game: 16.3 Opponent shot attempts blocked per game: 9.3 Missed shots per game: 12.7 Opponent missed shots per game: 9.7 Hits per game: 36 Opponent hits per game: 38.3 Giveaways per game: 3.3 Opponent giveaways per game: 10.7 Takeaways per game: 6.7 Opponent takeaways per game: 12 Blocked shots per game: 9.3 Opponent blocked shots per game: 16.3 HIGHS AND LOWS Canucks Most - One Period Goals: 2 (four times) - Game 1 CHI (1st), Game 2 CHI (2nd), Game 3 CHI (2nd), Game 6 CHI (1st) Goals Allowed: 4 - Game 4 CHI (2nd) Shots: 15 (twice) - Game 5 CHI (3rd), Game 7 CHI (2nd) Shots Allowed: 16 - Game 3 CHI (1st) Canucks Fewest - One Period Shots: 6 (three times) - Game 1 CHI (1st), Game 4 CHI (2nd), Game 6 CHI (2nd) Shots Allowed: 3 - Game 6 CHI (3rd) Canucks Most - One Game Goals: 4 - Game 2 CHI Goals Allowed: 7 - Game 4 CHI Shots: 38 - Game 7 CHI Shots Allowed: 35 - Game 4 CHI Penalty Mins.: 61 - Game 4 CHI Penalty Mins, Opp.: 37 - Game 4 CHI Canucks Fewest - One Game Goals: 0 - Game 5 CHI Goals Allowed: 0 - Game 1 CHI Shots: 23 - Game 4 CHI Shots Allowed: 26 (twice) - Game 2 CHI & Game 5 CHI Penalty Mins.: 4 (twice) - Game 2 CHI & Game 7 CHI Penalty Mins, Opp.: 4 (three times) - Game 2 Chi, Game 3 CHI, Game 7 CHI Canucks Largest - One Game Margin of victory: 2 - Game 1 CHI Margin of defeat: 5 (twice) - Game 4 CHI & Game 5 CHI Individual Most - One Game Goals: 2 (twice) - Daniel Sedin (Game 2 CHI) & Alex Burrows (Game 7 CHI) Goals Allowed: 2 (four times) - Ben Smith (Game 2 CHI), Patrick Sharp (Game 4 CHI), Duncan Keith (Game 5 CHI), & Marian Hossa (Game 5 CHI) Assists: 2 - Henrik Sedin (Game 2 CHI) Assists Allowed: 3 - Dave Bolland (Game 4 CHI) Points: 3 (twice) - Daniel Sedin (Game 2 CHI), Alex Burrows (Game 6 CHI) Points Allowed: 4 (twice) - Dave Bolland (Game 4 CHI), Duncan Keith (Game 5 CHI) Saves: 32 - Roberto Luongo (Game 1 CHI) Saves, Opponent: 36 (twice) - Corey Crawford (Game 5 CHI, Game 7 CHI)

For those of you who aren't familiar with what I do, I write the Game Notes for Canucks.com (aka Tale of the Tape) which you can read every game day at canucks.com/gamenotes. Of course a big part of Tale of the Tape is statistics. Some of them are easy to find (Canucks.com and NHL.com), some I get from researching the official game notes packages sent out by the various media relations department around the league, but the majority of them are ones that I keep track of myself throughout the season. To show everyone who reads Tale of the Tape that I don't just make this stuff up, I am sharing my master list of compiled statistics throughout the year. The stats I usually try and track are ones that media relations departments don't normally provide - which explains why I'll keep track of something such as Vancouver's record when they allow two-or-more power play goals and not their record when they allow a power play goal. Of course, if there are any other stats junkie out there that finds an error with anything, please feel free to let me know at dfung_sports[at]hotmail.com. You can follow me on Twitter as well at @daniel_fung. Enjoy! Canucks record when... Any defenceman scores: 27-5-5 Christian Ehrhoff scores: 10-3-1 Daniel Sedin scores: 24-5-5 Raffi Torres scores: 9-1-0 Mason Raymond scores: 11-0-0 Mikael Samuelsson scores: 11-2-2 Ryan Kesler scores: 26-1-2 Manny Malhotra scores: 6-1-1 Jeff Tambellini scores: 8-0-1 Henrik Sedin scores: 13-2-3 Jannik Hansen scores: 7-2-0 Alex Edler scores: 4-0-3 Alex Burrows scores: 22-2-0 Tanner Glass scores: 2-1-0 Dan Hamhuis scores: 4-1-0 Kevin Bieksa scores: 5-1-0 Keith Ballard scores: 1-0-1 Alex Bolduc scores: 2-0-0 Sami Salo scores: 3-0-0 Andrew Alberts, Mario Bliznak, Aaron Volpatti, Lee Sweatt, Cody Hodgson, Maxim Lapierre, Chris Higgins, or Aaron Rome scores: 1-0-0 Alex Burrows does not play: 5-3-2 Sami Salo does not play: 33-11-9 Keith Ballard does not play: 8-7-2 Dan Hamhuis does not play: 12-5-1 Kevin Bieksa does not play: 11-5-0 Mason Raymond does not play: 9-1-2 Andrew Alberts does not play: 27-9-4 Alex Edler does not play: 22-9-0 Manny Malhotra does not play: 7-3-0 Tanner Glass does not play: 8-1-0 Mikael Samuelsson does not play: 6-1-0 Christian Ehrhoff does not play: 2-0-1 Playing on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada: 7-3-4 Playing on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific: 32-10-3 Playing on Rogers Sportsnet Vancouver Hockey: 9-4-0 Playing on TSN: 6-2-2 Score two-or-more power play goals: 17-2-4 Allow two-or-more power play goals: 2-6-2 (wins came vs ANA on Dec 8 and CGY on Apr 9) Don't allow 1st period goal: 39-8-3 Don't allow 2nd period goal: 25-4-4 Don't allow 3rd period goal: 28-6-5 Have a two-goal lead at any point in game: 41-0-0 Have a three-goal lead at any point in game: 25-0-0 Have a four-or-more goal lead at any point in game: 12-0-0 Score a goal in the 1st minute of a game: 2-1-0 (Oct 19 MIN, Nov 11 OTT, Mar 6 ANA) Score a goal in all three regulation periods: 27-0-2 Allow a goal in all three regulation periods: 2-5-1 Hold a lead at any point in the third period: 50-1-3 Surrender a shorthanded goal: 0-2-0 (Nov 17 PIT and Jan 16 MIN) Don't allow a power play goal: 37-8-3 Score a shorthanded goal: 4-0-1 (Nov 6 DET, Dec 1 CGY, Jan 22 CGY, Feb 1 DAL, Mar 25 ATL) When getting more power play chances than opponent: 17-7-2 When getting fewer power play chances than opponent: 25-7-4 When getting equal power play chances as opponent: 12-5-3 Playing the first game on a back-to-back night: 5-4-2 Playing the second game on a back-to-back night: 8-1-2 Playing an opponent that had to play the night before: 8-3-3 Canucks list of third period goal scorers... Alex Burrows & Ryan Kesler: 15 each Daniel Sedin: 12 Henrik Sedin: 9 Mason Raymond: 7 Mikael Samuelsson: 6 Raffi Torres, Jeff Tambellini, Manny Malhotra, Christian Ehrhoff: 4 each Dan Hamhuis, Alex Edler, Jannik Hansen: 3 each Chris Higgins, Kevin Bieksa, Keith Ballard: 2 each Aaron Rome, Lee Sweatt, Mario Bliznak, Tanner Glass, Peter Schaefer: 1 each Canucks overall average... Shots on goal per game: 32 Opponent shots on goal per game: 30.1 Shot attempts blocked per game: 15.3 Opponent shot attempts blocked per game: 13.1 Missed shots per game: 12.5 Opponent missed shots per game: 10.9 Hits per game: 21.7 Opponent hits per game: 22.7 Giveaways per game: 6.8 Opponent giveaways per game: 7.7 Takeaways per game: 7.3 Opponent takeaways per game: 7.2 Blocked shots per game: 13.1 Opponent blocked shots per game: 15.3 Canucks average at home... Shots on goal per game: 32.2 Opponent shots on goal per game: 30.2 Shot attempts blocked per game: 17 Opponent shot attempts blocked per game: 13.4 Missed shots per game: 12.3 Opponent missed shots per game: 10 Hits per game: 22 Opponent hits per game: 21 Giveaways per game: 6.2 Opponent giveaways per game: 4 Takeaways per game: 8.4 Opponent takeaways per game: 6 Blocked shots per game: 13.4 Opponent blocked shots per game: 17 Canucks average on road... Shots on goal per game: 31.8 Opponent shots on goal per game: 30 Shot attempts blocked per game: 13.6 Opponent shot attempts blocked per game: 12.7 Missed shots per game: 12.6 Opponent missed shots per game: 11.8 Hits per game: 21.7 Opponent hits per game: 24.4 Giveaways per game: 7.3 Opponent giveaways per game: 11.4 Takeaways per game: 6.1 Opponent takeaways per game: 8.5 Blocked shots per game: 12.7 Opponent blocked shots per game: 13.6 SEASON HIGHS AND LOWS Canucks Most - One Period Goals: 4 (twice) - Nov 11 OTT (3rd) & Dec 1 CGY (3rd) Goals Allowed: 4 - Nov 20 CHI (2nd) Shots: 23 - Nov 6 DET (3rd) Shots Allowed: 25 - Jan 20 SJS (2nd) Canucks Fewest - One Period Shots: 1 - Feb 15 MIN (3rd) Shots Allowed: 0 - Mar 31 LAK (3rd) Canucks Most - One Game Goals: 7 (three times) - Dec 1 CGY, Dec 23 CBJ, Jan 24 DAL Goals Allowed: 7 - Nov 20 CHI Shots: 51 - Jan 11 NYI Shots Allowed: 48 - Mar 10 SJS Penalty Minutes: 34 - Apr 5 EDM Penalty Minutes Opp: 36 - Dec 1 CGY Canucks Fewest - One Game Goals: 0 (five times) - Nov 9 MTL, Jan 13 NYR, Jan 16 MIN, Mar 3 NSH, Apr 5 EDM Goals Allowed: 0 (five times) - Nov 1 NJD, Dec 3 CHI, Feb 2 DAL, Mar 6 ANA, Apr 7 MIN Shots: 14 - Feb 15 MIN Shots Allowed: 12 - Dec 12 EDM Penalty Minutes: 2 (twice) - Nov 26 SJS, Mar 16 COL Penalty Minutes: 0 (twice) - Oct 11 FLA, Nov 21 PHX Canucks Largest - One Game Margin of victory: 6 (twice) - Jan 24 DAL, Feb 2 PHX Margin of defeat: 6 - Nov 20 CHI Individual Most - One Game Goals: 3 (five times) - Raffi Torres, Mason Raymond, Ryan Kesler x3 Goals allowed: 2 (seven times) - Dustin Brown (LAK), Niklas Kronwall (DET), Fernando Pisani (CHI), Taylor Pyatt (PHX), Henrik Zetterberg (DET), David Jones (COL), Bobby Ryan (ANA) Assists: 3 (10 times) - Kevin Bieksa, Ryan Kesler, Daniel Sedin, Christian Ehrhoff, Mason Raymond x2, Henrik Sedin x4 Assists allowed: 3 (three times) - Ryan Getzlaf (ANA), Marian Hossa (CHI), Brian Rafalski (DET) Points: 4 (twice) - Mason Raymond (Dec 1 CGY) & Henrik Sedin (Dec 23 CBJ) Points Allowed: 4 - Ryan Getzlaf (Oct 13 ANA) Saves: 45 - Roberto Luongo (Jan 20 SJS) Saves, Opponent: Kevin Poulin (Jan 11 NYI)

It's been a while since I've blogged in this space. Hope I still remember how. Thought I'd share my thoughts on what I think the All-Star Game format should be. <img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/05/may0310_hawks19_t.jpg" class="imageFloatLeftFramed">So the NHL is changing their All-Star Game format to let captains pick out their teams. I like it. It's novel, it's unique, and as far as I know no other league has tried it before. But what I'd really like to see is for the NHL to go back to the day when it used to be the Stanley Cup Champions taking on a group of All-Stars. <img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/05/van_chi_050710_salo_t.jpg" class="imageFloatRightFramed">Now at this point you may ask what the appeal of watching the Blackhawks, to use this year as an example, play in a meaningless contest when you have 82 other games with something on the line to choose from. Well, for one thing, the Blackhawks wouldn't be the same watered down version of the team that is on the ice this season. I'm talking about using the actual Cup winning team, which would mean seeing the likes of Kris Versteeg, Dustin Byfuglien and Brent Sopel, to name a few, reunite with their old club for one night only. <img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/05/051110_CHI_VAN_205j.jpg" class="imageFloatLeftFramed">In an era now where teams inevitably will break up because of the salary cap, seeing the old gang back together for one night would make for an interesting spectacle even if there's nothing on the line in the game itself. The champions could even tie-in their ring presentation ceremony on that same weekend so the whole team can be together for the occasion instead of having certain players randomly receive their rings at different points int he season. Having a ring presentation ceremony might even draw some extra media attention from the folks already covering the All-Star festivities. <img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/05/051110_CHI_VAN_205a.jpg" class="imageFloatRightFramed">I'm even in favor of a bit of revisionist history if there's a case where they just can't get a guy back because he's injured, playing in another league, or retired (although I think the fans would get a kick out of seeing a retired player - if he's high profile enough - return for one game). Replacement players could be voted in by the fans out of the pool of players (outside of the champions) that are taking part in the game. How would Alex Ovechkin look streaking down the left side on a line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane? Or how much would Canucks fans cringe to see Henrik Sedin centering a unit with Marian Hossa on his left and Patrick Sharp on his right? This idea isn't perfect by any stretch. It may be a tough sell if, god forbid, it were the Florida Panthers or the Phoenix Coyotes versus the NHL All-Stars. But hey, it's a thought and it can't be that much worse than what's been done before.

Two of the most dynamic offensive superstars in the National Hockey League. Two young, All-Star defencemen patrolling the blue-line. A relatively unknown starting netminder but one who has shown an ability to stand on his head from time to time. A coach who is considered one of the best hockey minds in the League. All together on a team that just a few short years ago was immersed in a period best described as the franchise's Dark Age. <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/bc/images/images/inbydate05/dec2105/canada_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Sound familiar? The 2010 Stanley Cup Champions Chicago Blackhawks? Perhaps, but no. Rather, the description is of a team much nearer and dearer to the hearts of hockey fans in British Columbia: the 2002-03 Vancouver Canucks. A team captained by then four-time NHL All-Star Markus Naslund, who by season's end would become a two-time First Team All-Star and the recipient of the Lester B. Pearson Award. A team that featured a dominant power forward in Todd Bertuzzi, who posted a career-best 97 points during that year's regular season and would join his best friend Naslund as a First Team All-Star at the end of the 2003 season. A team that had two former first round picks on their back end in Mattias Ohlund and Ed Jovanovski, the latter a Canadian Olympic Gold medalist. A team whose number one goaltender, Dan Cloutier, was coming off a career-high 33 wins in the regular season and beginning to build a reputation as bona fide starting netminder. A team led by former Jack Adams Award and Stanley Cup winner Marc Crawford, who would go on to become the franchise's all-time wins leader behind the bench. A team that had missed the post-season for four consecutive seasons from 1996-97 to 1999-00 and saw attendance figures plummet to a franchise low in their new home of General Motors Place in 1990-00 but by 2002-03 would be playing to near sell-out crowds every night. A team that featured arguably the most talented group ever assembled under the Vancouver Canucks banner and would surely deliver the Stanley Cup to the city of Vancouver. A team that had the third-year Minnesota Wild on the ropes in their 2003 Western Conference Semi-Final series - leading the series three games to one at one point and later holding a 2-0 lead in Game 7 - and was ready to make flight plans to Anaheim for the Western Conference Final against the Mighty Ducks. <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/bc/images/images/inbydate05/dec0705/nazzy_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">A championship team... ...that never came to be. A team torn apart by a violent, on-ice incident the following year that would scar both city and sport and a team that would be only a shell of its former self when the NHL reinvented itself in time for the 2005-06 season. A team that would eventually see three of its members going on to kiss the Stanley Cup - Brad May, Matt Cooke and Brent Sopel - but none of them together and none of them in Vancouver. A team that, though now mostly disbanded, undoubtedly watched on Wednesday as the Stanley Cup was paraded around the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia by the Blackhawks and had just one thought flowing through their collective minds: There, but for the bounce of a puck, goes us.

A win in Game 5 at the United Center keeps the Canucks' hopes of re-writing history alive as their quest to avoid having a similar fate this year against the Blackhawks as they did in 2009 continues for at least one more game. And since this year's theme for the playoffs is History Will Be Made, Number Crunching explores some of that history that has already been re-written so far in the 2010 playoffs for the Canucks. SPEED KILLS <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/05/may0510_flying_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">To say the Canucks' start to Game 4 on Friday was their worst ever start in a playoff game is no exaggeration. Brent Seabrook's goal just 18 seconds into Game 4 set a new record by a Canucks' opponent for fastest goal to start a playoff game. The previous fastest goal to start a playoff game by a Canucks' opponent came from Jeff Halpern of the Dallas Stars back on April 13, 2007. Halpern scored 24 seconds into Game 2 of the Stars' Quarter-Final series against the Canucks that year. Seabrook's tally, however, was nowhere close to the all-time Blackhawks record for fastest goal to start a playoff game. That record belonged to forward Ken Wharram who set the mark way back on April 13, 1967 with a goal nine seconds into a playoff contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The NHL's all-time record for fastest goal from the start of a playoff game belongs to Don Kozak of the Los Angeles Kings who tallied six seconds into a contest against the Boston Bruins on April 17, 1977. OVERPOWERED <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/05/may0910_hawks08_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">The four power play goals surrendered by the Canucks in Game 4 on Friday not only was a high for the Canucks in the 2010 post-season, it established a new dubious franchise record for most power play goals against in a single playoff game. Vancouver's previous record for most power play goals surrendered in a single playoff game was three - something they had fallen victim to eight previous times most recently in Game 3 of their opening round series against the Kings. Three of the Blackhawks' power play goals on Friday came off the stick of Jonathan Toews, who incidentally tied an NHL record for most power play goals in a single game. Toews became just the 11th different NHL player (12th time overall) to score three power play goals in a single NHL playoff game. The record was initially set by Red Wings' forward Syd Howe (no relation to Gordie) on March 23, 1939 in a game against the Montreal Canadiens. The most recent player to accomplish the feat prior to Toews was Valeri Kamensky of the Colorado Avalanche. Kamensky notched the feat, coincidentally, in a 7-0 win on April 24, 1997 over the Chicago Blackhawks. The other players who have tallied three power play goals in one playoff contest are: Sid Smith (DET), Phil Esposito (BOS), John Bucyk (BOS), Denis Potvin (NYI), Tim Kerr (PHI), Jari Kurri (EDM), Mark Johnson (NJD), and Dino Ciccarelli (x2, DET). FIRST-MINUTEMEN <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/05/may0910_hawks10_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Goals coming in the opening minute of a game involving the Canucks were a rarity during the regular season so it was a bit unusual to see it happen this week in back-to-back games. During the 2009.10 regular season, the Canucks were involved in just five games where a goal had been scored in the opening minute. While it may seem like a huge advantage to have a lead less than one minute into a game, it didn't quite work out that way in the regular season at least as far as games involving the Canucks were concerned. Teams that scored one minute or less into a regular season contest involving Vancouver this season won just two of the five games where it occurred although in the playoffs they are a perfect 2-0. The following is a list of the first minute scorers in games involving Vancouver this season: October 27 vs DET - Henrik Sedin @ 0:30 - 5-4 Red Wings November 10 @ STL - Andy McDonald @ 0:18 - 6-1 Blues January 30 @ TOR - Phil Kessel @ 0:52 - 5-3 Canucks February 12 @ CBJ - Rick Nash @ 0:22 - 4-3 Canucks March 30 vs PHX - Alex Burrows @ 0:37 - 4-1 Canucks *May 7 vs CHI (Game 4) - Brent Seabrook @ 0:18 - 7-4 Blackhawks *May 9 @ Chi (Game 5) - Christian Ehrhoff @ 0:59 - 4-1 Canucks *Denotes playoff game. A MESSAGE TO THE BOYS FOR GAME 6 Statistics and other information appearing in this blog are for entertainment purposes only and a sense of humour is recommended when reading. E-mail the author here or follow him on Twitter.

With just one Canucks playoff game to dissect this week, Number Crunching takes a page out of the playbook of our road warriors and gives Game 1 the full court press with the best stats from the Round 2 series opener. And because we're just so darned nice out here on the West Coast, we decide to give a shout out to a long-lost friend who just couldn't be here with us. BALANCING ACT <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/05/may0110_hawks24_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">By combining on Vancouver's fifth and final goal of Game 1 against the Blackhawks, Michael Grabner and Rick Rypien became the 17th and 18th players, respectively, to tally a point during the 2010 playoff run for the Canucks - giving the Canucks the same number of players with a point they had in their entire 2009 playoff run. Through all Game 1's played in second round (i.e. excluding games played on Sunday), Vancouver not only leads all currently active playoff teams in goals with 30 (tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins) but their 18 players with a point also leads all teams still in the post-season. The Sharks and the Canadiens are right behind the Canucks with 17 players each with a point so far in the 2010 post-season, while the Blackhawks bring up the rear with just 14 players to have recorded a point. The Canucks also saw Kyle Wellwood and Michael Grabner become the 13th and 14th players, respectively, to tally a goal for them in this year's playoffs - giving them the lead among all active playoff teams in that category as well. The Red Wings and Penguins have the next highest total with 13 goal scorers each while the Flyers have the fewest among teams still alive with only eight different goal scorers. Last season, the 2009 Stanley Cup Champions Pittsburgh Penguins finished the playoffs with 16 different goal scorers and 20 different skaters who recorded at least one point. PLAYING KEEP-AWAY <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/05/may0110_hawks09_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">A big reason the Canucks managed to keep the Blackhawks' potent offense largely in check during Game 1 was because of their puck control. The Canucks committed just four giveaways in Saturday's contest - the fewest so far for them in the 2010 post-season. The low number of giveaways was actually a trend for the Canucks during the regular season at the United Center as well. In their two regular season contests played in Chicago, the Canucks combined for just five total giveaways. Vancouver's record during the regular season when they committed five-or-fewer giveaways in a game was 19-8-2. During their first round series against the Kings, the Canucks committed an average of 10.7 giveaways per game - the most being 16 (Game 6) and the least being seven (Game 5). ONE AND DONE <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/05/may0110_hawks08_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Roberto Luongo had one streak entering Game 1 on Saturday that he was more than happy to see come to an end. Luongo gave up just a single goal to the Blackhawks in the series opener snapping a streak of 10 consecutive games where he had given up multiple goals-per-game dating back to April 1 in the regular season. The streak of 10 games where he had personally given up two-or-more goals was the third longest single season streak for the netminder since he joined the Canucks in the 2006.07 season. Luongo's longest streak as a Canuck where he gave up multiple goals each game was 14 games from January 15, 2009 to February 24, 2009. Followers of the Canucks will remember that span took place upon Luongo's return from missing 24 games with a groin injury. His second longest streak was 11 games from January 8, 2008 to February 5, 2008. Luongo's longest streak of multiple goal games surrendered during the 2009.10 regular season was six games. He suffered through two such streaks during the regular campaign - first from January 9 to January 21 and again from January 25 to February 9. ON THIS DAY IN STANLEY CUP HISTORY (MAY 2) <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/205x115_3_13010.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Number Crunching is a fully fledged member of Canucks Nation but that doesn't mean we don't welcome fans from across the NHL to read this blog. Today, we offer this little shout out to any Number Crunching fans reading this from Toronto. We know your beloved blue-and-white was not invited to this year's playoff party (your invitation must have been accidentally sent to Boston) but here's something that will turn that frown upside down: 1967: With the oldest lineup in Final history, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-1 in Game Six to win the 1967 Stanley Cup. The Leafs' roster included 42-year-old goalie Johnny Bower and 41-year-old defenseman Allan Stanley as well as seven others at least 30 years old. Toronto center Red Kelly played his 65th game in Final competition, setting a Stanley Cup record later tied by Montreal's Henri Richard. (Courtesy of Total Stanley Cup - NHL 2010 Playoff Media Guide) Statistics and other information appearing in this blog are for entertainment purposes only and a sense of humour is recommended when reading. E-mail the author here or follow him on Twitter.

We're doing the happy dance at Number Crunching this week after the Canucks completed a successful 4-2 first round series victory over the Los Angeles Kings but before we talk about Vancouver's next dance partner, we take a look back at the best numbers from round one in the Canucks/Kings series and in the NHL. NO EARLY BIRD SPECIAL <img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr2310_quick_t.jpg" class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Conventional wisdom and statistics suggest that teams scoring the first goal in a game will win more often than not but if the Canucks/Kings series was any indication, then perhaps scoring the opening goal isn't all that it's cracked up to be. In the six-game series between the Canucks and Kings, the team scoring first accounted for just one victory - that was Vancouver's 7-2 win in Game 5 at GM Place - while the team trailing first won five of the six games. It certainly isn't a statistic backed up by the rest of the teams so far in the playoffs. Through playoff games played on Sunday in the first round, if you take out games from the Canucks/Kings series, teams that trail first in a game have a record of only 14-24 (19-25 if you add the Canucks/Kings series results). The Canucks are a perfect 3-0 when trailing first in a game and are tied atop that category in wins with the Boston Bruins (3-2) through Sunday. While it's not a statistic the Canucks will want to tempt fate with in the next series, it should be noted that last year the Pittsburgh Penguins led all playoff teams with six victories (6-4) when trailing first and they went on to capture the Stanley Cup. SHORT-COMINGS <img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr2510_kings07_t.jpg" class="imageFloatRightFramed">The Canucks set or equaled plenty of positive team records during their first round series against the Kings but one they'd like to forget about is the number of goals surrendered on the penalty kill. The 10 goals surrendered by Vancouver's PK not only leads all playoffs teams through Sunday's games but equaled a record for most power play goals surrendered by the Canucks in a single playoff series. That mark was initially set back in 1989 in Vancouver's Division Semi-Final series against the Calgary Flames. The Canucks are now already half way to the franchise mark for most power play goals ever surrendered in an entire playoff season. That mark of 20 was set back in 1994 during the Canucks run to the Stanley Cup. During the 2009 playoffs, Vancouver surrendered just a total of nine power play goals in 10 playoff games played. PREVENTION IS KEY <img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr2110_kings16_t.jpg" class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Observers of the Canucks/Kings series might note that Roberto Luongo was not as big a reason the Canucks won the series as perhaps in other playoff series in the past but that may have had more to do with the fact his team was much better this year at preventing the number of shots he faced. The Canucks surrendered 166 shots in six games to the Kings during their first round playoff series, an average of 27.7 shots per game. That total is the fewest average number of shots per game in a playoff series since Roberto Luongo joined the Canucks. The following is a breakdown of the average shots against in each playoff series the Canucks have played in since Luongo joined the team. Note, however, that some of the numbers may be skewed because of lengthy overtime games in certain series. 2010 WQF vs Los Angeles: 166 shots against in six games - 27.7 average shots against per game 2009 WSF vs Chicago: 175 shots against in six games - 29.2 average shots against per game 2009 WQF vs St. Louis: 131 shots against in four games - 32.8 average shots against per game 2007 WSF vs Anaheim: 198 shots against in five games - 39.6 average shots against per game 2007 WQF vs Dallas: 240 shots against in seven games - 34.3 average shots against per game NUMBER CRUNCHING PLAYOFF PERFORMER OF ROUND ONE <img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr1510_happy_t.jpg" class="imageFloatRightFramed">Mikael Samuelsson: Seven goals and 11 points in six games played. What more is there to say about Mikael Samuelsson that hasn't already been said? Samuelsson was Mr. Fantastic and Mr. Consistency in round one for the Canucks and came just shy of setting several new individual player records as a Canuck in the process. He tied Pavel Bure's record for most goals in a single playoff series with seven (set back in 1995 vs St. Louis) and his consecutive streak of goals in five straight games from Game 1 to 5 tied for the longest playoff goal streak in Canucks history initially set by Cliff Ronning in 1991. Samuelsson finished one point shy of a team record for most points in a single playoff series (record is 12 by Pavel Bure in 1995 vs St. Louis) and his 28 shots in the series were just two shy of Bure's record for most shots in a single playoff series (record is 30 by Pavel Bure in 1995 vs St. Louis). (Note: The 1995 playoff series versus St. Louis where Bure set those team records took seven games to complete). Samuelsson's 11 points and counting is already one point more than any Canucks player had all of last year in the playoffs. Henrik and Daniel Sedin shared the team lead in playoff points in 2009 with 10 each. PLAYOFFS SUPER STATS PACK (UPDATED THROUGH ROUND ONE) Spewing statistics can make anybody sound smart (I wouldn't write this blog if it didn't!). As a gift to Number Crunching's loyal fans (yes, all three of you out there) here are some stats you can share with your friends to make you sound like an expert too: The Canucks' record when... <img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr2310_edler_t.jpg" class="imageFloatLeftFramed">A defenceman scores: 3-0 Mikael Samuelsson scores: 3-2 Daniel Sedin scores: 3-1 Pavol Demitra scores: 2-0 Steve Bernier scores: 2-1 They score two-or-more power play goals: 1-0 They surrender two-or-more power play goals: 2-2 They don’t allow a 1st period goal: 1-1 They don’t allow a 3rd period goal: 2-1 Don’t allow a power play goal: 1-0 When getting more power play chances than opponent: 2-1 When getting fewer power play chances than opponent: 1-1 When getting equal power play chances than opponent: 1-0 Highs and Lows... <img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr2510_kings13_t.jpg" class="imageFloatRightFramed">Canucks Most - One Period Goals: 4 (APR.21.10 at LAK, third period) Goals allowed: 3 (APR.19.10 at LAK, second period) Shots: 17 (twice - most recent APR.21.10 at LAK, third period) Shots Allowed: 16 (APR.25.10 at LAK, first period) Canucks Fewest - One Period Shots: 4 (APR.17.10 vs LAK, first period) Shots Allowed: 2 (APR.15.10 vs LAK, third period) Canucks Most - One Game Goals: 7 (APR.23.10 vs LAK) Goals Allowed: 5 (APR.19.10 at LAK) Shots: 44 (APR.15.10 vs LAK) Shots Allowed: 32 (APR.25.10 at LAK) Penalty Minutes: 22 (APR.23.10 vs LAK) Penalty Minutes Opp: APR.23.10 vs LAK) Canucks Fewest - One Game Goals: 2 (APR.17.10 vs LAK) Goals Allowed: 2 (three times - most recent APR.25.10 at LAK) Shots: 22 (APR.25.10 at LAK) Shots Allowed: 26 (twice - most recent APR.23.10 vs LAK) Penalty Minutes: 6 (APR.19.10 at LAK) Penalty Minutes Opp: 6 (APR.25.10 at LAK) Canucks Largest - One Game Margin of victory: 5 (APR.23.10 vs LAK. 7-2) Margin of defeat: 2 (APR.19.10 at LAK, 3-5) <img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr2310_ryp_t.jpg" class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Individual Most - One Game Goals: 2 (three times - Mikael Samuelsson 2x, Steve Bernier) Goals Allowed: 2 (Michal Handzus - APR.19.10 at LAK) Assists: 3 (Daniel Sedin - APR.21.10 at LAK) Assists Allowed: 3 (twice - Jack Johnson, Drew Doughty) Points: 3 (three times - Daniel Sedin, Mikael Samuelsson, Pavol Demitra) Points Allowed: 4 (Drew Doughty - APR.19.10 at LAK) Saves: 30 (Roberto Luongo - APR.25.10 at LAK) Saves, Opp.: 41 (Jonathan Quick - APR.15.10 vs LAK)

This week's inaugural playoff edition of Number Crunching explores the statistical oddities from the first week of action in the NHL post-season and looks into the wacky tacky officiating from the first two games of the Canucks/Kings series that leads us to wonder out loud if in fact the NHL really does have a bias against the Canucks. FLYING SAUCERS? OR JUST ZEBRAS ON THE SAUCE? <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr1710_lui2_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Now, we're not saying there's some sort of conspiracy theory going on with the officiating in the Canucks/Kings first round series...oh wait, actually that's precisely what we're saying and we've got the numbers to back it up. Through the first two games of every 2010 playoff series (with the exception of the Nashville/Chicago series that had played just one game as of this writing on Sunday morning), the Canucks lead the League when it comes to penalty minutes with 31 in two games - an average of 16.5 per game. That's three more penalty minutes per game higher than the next highest penalized teams in the NHL playoffs - the Buffalo Sabres and the Boston Bruins who are tied for second place with an average of 13.0 penalty minutes per game. The Kings, meanwhile, have the second lowest average penalty minutes per game at just 9.0 - one minute on average more than the San Jose Sharks who bring up the rear after two games played with 8.0 penalty minutes per game. The Canucks/Kings series, through two games played, also has the highest differential in average penalty minute accessed to the two teams. Below is a breakdown of the penalty minute discrepancy in each series (minus the NSH/CHI series) after the first two games: MTL (9.5) vs WSH (9.5) = 0.0 BOS (13.0) vs BUF (13.0) = 0.0 DET (9.0) vs PHX (10.0) = 1.0 OTT (11.5) vs PIT (9.5) = 2.0 COL (11.0) vs SJS (8.0) = 3.0 PHI (10.0) vs NJD (13.0) = 3.0 LAK (9.0) vs VAN (16.5) = 7.5 *Bracketed numbers indicate respective team's average penalty minute per game through two games played Gary and Colin, Canucks Nation awaits your rebuttal. OH CANADA <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr1510_smythlui_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">With the Senators, Canadiens and Canucks all winning their opening playoff games this season, it marked the first time since the 1998 playoffs that every Canadian team in the post-season all won their opening playoff games. That year all three Canadian entrants - the Senators, Canadiens, and Oilers - entered the post-season as heavy underdogs (the Senators were an eighth seed in the East while the Canadiens and Oilers were seventh seeds in their respective conferences) but all managed to pull off Game 1 upsets in a manor resembling how this year's playoffs began for the Canadian teams. All three of those respective 1998 opening games involving Canadian teams were decided by one goal (just like this year) and two of the three contests were decided by overtime (also just like this year). The Senators knocked off the Devils 2-1 in overtime, the Canadiens knocked off the Penguins 3-2 in overtime, and the Oilers took a 3-2 regulation victory over the Avalanche. And how's this for an omen? That year, all three Canadian teams managed to win their series and advance to the second round. In fact, 1998 is the last time that all Canadian entrants in the playoffs managed to advance to Round 2. Unfortunately, all three would meet their demise by the second round that post-season. OPENING NIGHT OVERTIME CURSE? <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr1510_obburr_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">For the superstitious types, you may want to ignore this entry. Thursday marked the 13th time in Canucks team history that they have opened a playoff series with an overtime game. Historically, the Canucks haven't fared well in playoff series that have opened with a game requiring extra time. Win or lose in that first game, Vancouver's all-time record in series where Game 1 has gone to overtime is just 3-9. The numbers aren't much better even if the Canucks open the series with an overtime victory in Game 1 although it is slightly less troubling than what the aforementioned overall mark is. The Canucks are 2-4 in series when they win Game 1 in overtime. The last time the Canucks opened a series with an overtime game was back in 2007 with that memorable quadruple overtime game against the Dallas Stars. The Canucks prevailed 5-4 that night thanks to a 72-save effort by Roberto Luongo who was making his NHL playoff debut. The Canucks would go on to win the series four games to three. NUMBER CRUNCHING PLAYOFF PERFORMER OF THE WEEK <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr1510_happy_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Mikael Samuelsson: Three goals in two games played. The Canucks brought in Mikael Samuelsson to be a key performer come playoff time and he certainly has lived up to that billing in the first two games of the series. Samuelsson scored twice on opening night, including the overtime winner in Game 1, and added his third goal of these young playoffs in Game 2 in a losing effort. Samuelsson's three goals is already more than halfway to his entire goal output from the 2009 playoffs when he recorded five goals in 23 games in the Red Wings Stanley Cup run that ended with a Game 7 loss to Pittsburgh Penguins in the Finals. Samuelsson is also halfway to establishing a new personal points record in a single series. His previous high was six points (0-6-6) set during the 2007 Western Conference Final against the Anaheim Ducks. Statistics and other information appearing in this blog are for entertainment purposes only and a sense of humour is recommended when reading. E-mail the author here or follow him on Twitter.

Throughout the Canucks' first round series versus the Kings, your truly will be sharing some news and tidbits regarding the Kings courtesy of Los Angeles Kings Examiner Jonathan Moncrief. Moncrief is an accredited reporter who follows the Kings and provides feature stories, game summaries and opinion pieces on his site. He also serves as a Featured Contributor on the fan-interactive portion of the LAKings.com website called "Hockeywood, L.A." and is the sports radio talk show host on the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. Here is Moncrief's latest lineup update following Kings practice on Tuesday: Terry Murray moved Brad Richardson up from 4th line center to 3rd line right wing, joining Wayne Simmonds and Michal Handzus. He also had Raitis Ivanans skating on the 4th line with Fredrik Modin (down from the 3rd line) and Jeff Halpern. Right now, [Murray] looks like he wants a little more speed with Simmonds and Handzus, and likes the grit and size of the 4th line. About the projected 4th line, [Murray] said: "We know [Vancouver is] a pretty gritty hockey club. They've got some heavyweights. They have a team that plays pretty hard, and Raitis is a player who - I don't know about neutralize it - he can respond to those situations that are coming our way. He's well-respected. He has his presence established around the league. Everybody knows what his role is on the hockey club." The Kings practiced again in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning before boarding a 1 p.m. flight for Vancouver. Read Moncrief's preview of the Canucks/Kings series here. And of course, read the Canucks.com Tale of the Tape Series Preview written by yours truly here.

@D-Money It doesn't, not really anyways. You're right. I was just playing devil's advocate with myself. Though the point I tried to make was that Art Ross Trophy winners had not won Stanley Cups in consecutive seasons since 1984 and 1985. It just so happened Gretzky was the same person both of those years. Of course, last year Malkin won the Art Ross and went on to win the Cup so if the Canucks were to win the Cup this season, it would be the first time in 25 years that the Art Ross Trophy winner had won consecutive Stanley Cups. Thanks to all of you for reading and leaving comments!

It's celebration week for Number Crunching as we, along with the rest of Canucks Nation, congratulate Henrik Sedin for becoming the first ever Vancouver Canuck to capture the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading point scorer. In honour of Henrik's achievement, we crunch the numbers on some Art Ross history and make a case for why Hank is better than Sid and Ovie. And as a wrap-up to the regular season, we present the Number Crunching Super Stats Pack. TODAY THE ART ROSS, TOMORROW THE WORLD? <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr1010_twins_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Henrik Sedin became the first Canucks player to capture an Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer with his 112-point season (29-83-112) but his greatest challenge is yet to come as he looks to be just the 11th Art Ross Trophy winner in the last 39 NHL seasons to lead his team to a Stanley Cup victory. Since the Canucks' inaugural season in 1970.71, the Art Ross Trophy winner has advanced to 12 different Stanley Cup Finals while winning it 10 times. Working against Henrik, as far as history goes, will be the fact that an Art Ross Trophy winner has not won back-to-back Stanley Cups since 1984 and 1985 when Wayne Gretzky captured the award in both seasons while also winning the Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers both years. Last season, Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin captured the Art Ross Trophy and went on to win the Stanley Cup with the Penguins. Below is a complete list of Art Ross Trophy winners that have gone on to win the Stanley Cup since the 1970.71 season: 1972 - Phil Esposito - Boston Bruins 1976 - Guy Lafleur - Montreal Canadiens 1977 - Guy Lafleur - Montreal Canadiens 1978 - Guy Lafleur - Montreal Canadiens 1984 - Wayne Gretzky - Edmonton Oilers 1985 - Wayne Gretzky - Edmonton Oilers 1987 - Wayne Gretzky - Edmonton Oilers 1992 - Mario Lemieux - Pittsburgh Penguins 2004 - Martin St. Louis - Tampa Bay Lightning 2009 - Evgeni Malkin - Pittsburgh Penguins The other two Art Ross Trophy winners that appeared in the Stanley Cup Final the same season but did not win the ultimate prize were: 1974 - Phil Esposito - Boston Bruins (lost to Philadelphia Flyers) 1983 - Wayne Gretzky - Edmonton Oilers (lost to New York Islanders) NO TIME TO SPARE <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr1010_ehrhoff_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">While some critics during the race for the Art Ross Trophy have pointed out that both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin played fewer games than Henrik Sedin, one thing that no one can dispute is that Henrik has gotten more accomplished while getting much less average ice-time per game. Henrik finished the season averaging 19:41 of ice-time - over two full minutes fewer on average per game compared to Sidney Crosby (21:57) and Alex Ovechkin (21:47). In fact, out of the top-10 leading scorers in the NHL, only Chicago's Patrick Kane had a less ice-time on average (Kane finished the season with 88 points in 82 games). Henrik is the first player since Peter Forsberg in 2002.03 to capture the Art Ross Trophy despite having fewer than 20-minutes of average ice-time per game. That season, Forsberg finished with an average per-game ice-time of 19:19 - the lowest average ice-time out of the top-13 scorers that season. On an interesting side note, former Canucks' captain Markus Naslund - who finished second to Forsberg in that year's race for the Art Ross Trophy - had an average ice-time of 19:54. As far as how Henrik measures up in points versus total ice-time over the season compared to Sid and Ovie, Henrik finished the season averaging one point for every 14.414 minutes of ice-time. He finished well-ahead of Crosby in that category (one point for every 16.315 minutes) and was only slightly edged out by Ovechkin (one point for every 14.398 minutes of ice-time) ON A HIGH NOTE <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr1010_puckup_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">For just the third time in team history, the Canucks ended their regular season tallying seven-plus goals in their final contest. Vancouver's 7-3 win over the Flames on Saturday night was the most goals they have scored in a regular season finale since they lit up the Los Angeles Kings for eight goals back on April 15, 1993 - an 8-6 win at The Forum. That season, the Canucks finished in first place in the Smythe Division and knocked off the Winnipeg Jets (4-2) in their first round playoff series before falling in their second round series to those same Kings (2-4). The first and only other time the Canucks tallied seven-or-more goals in their regular finale was back on April 4, 1982 which also came against the Kings - a 7-4 at the Pacific Coliseum. That 1982 Canucks team, which finished second place in the Smythe Division, went on to become the first Canucks team to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals knocking off the Flames (3-0), Kings (4-1) and Blackhawks (4-1) before eventually falling to the New York Islanders (0-4). NUMBER CRUNCHING SUPER STATS PACK Number Crunching took the liberty of compiling some interesting statistics throughout the 2009.10 season. Here's a look at some of the best numbers from the regular season: <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr0810_sharks04_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">The Canucks' record when... A defenceman scores: 24-5-2 Daniel Sedin scores: 17-3-3 Henrik Sedin scores: 19-4-1 Mikael Samuelsson scores: 18-5-3 Alex Burrows scores: 22-7-0 Ryan Kesler scores: 18-6-0 Mason Raymond scores: 14-5-1 Jannik Hansen scores: 7-2-0 Kyle Wellwood scores: 7-4-2 Sami Salo scores: 9-0-0 Alex Edler scores: 5-0-0 Sami Salo is not in the lineup: 9-4-1 Kevin Bieksa is not in the lineup: 18-7-2 Willie Mitchell is not in the lineup: 21-9-2 Mikael Samuelsson is not in the lineup: 4-3-1 <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr0610_grabs_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">They score two-or-more power play goals: 13-4-0 They surrender two-or-more power play goals: 4-9-0 They don't allow a 1st period goal: 22-4-2 They don't allow a 3rd period goal: 32-5-4 Score a short-handed goal: 9-0-0 Surrender a short-handed goal: 1-4-1 Don't allow a power play goal: 30-5-4 When getting more power play chances than opponent: 27-12-1 When getting fewer power play chances than opponent: 19-13-1 When getting equal power play chances as opponent: 3-3-3 They play on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada: 11-2-2 They play on Rogers Sportsnet: 22-21-1 They play on TSN: 8-1-1 They play on Canucks TV Pay-Per-View: 8-3-1 Highs and Lows... <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr0410_happy_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Canucks Most - One Period Goals: 5 (NOV.28.09 vs Edmonton, first period) Goals Allowed: 5 (MAR.05.10 at Chicago, first period) Shots: 22 (OCT.30.09 at Anaheim, third period) Shots allowed: 22 (NOV.06.09 at Dallas, first period) Canucks Fewest - One Period Shots: 0 (MAR.14.10 vs Calgary, third period) Shots Allowed: 2 (MAR.13.10 vs Ottawa, first period) Canucks Most - One Game Goals: 8 (NOV.14.09 at Colorado) Goals Allowed: 8 (APR.01.10 at Los Angeles) Shots: 47 (FEB.02.10 at Montreal) Shots Allowed: 54 (MAR.20.10 vs Detroit) Penalty Minutes: 68 (NOV.10.09 at St. Louis) Penalty Minutes Opposition: 58 (APR.08.10 at San Jose) Canucks Fewest - One Game Goals: 0 (twice - most recent NOV.22.09 vs Chicago) Goals Allowed: 0 (five times - most recent FEB.11.10 at Florida) Shots: 15 (OCT.29.09 at Los Angeles) Shots Allowed: 14 (MAR.13.10 vs Ottawa) Penalty Minutes: 2 (JAN.25.10 vs Buffalo) Penalty Minutes Opposition: 4 (three times - most recent MAR.20.10 vs Detroit) Canucks Largest - One Game Margin of victory: 6 (twice - most recent NOV.14.09 at Colorado, 8-2) Margin of defeat: 5 (three times - most recent APR.01.10 at Los Angeles, 3-8) <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr0410_spray_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Individual Most - One Game Goals: 3 (eight times - Daniel Sedin x2, Alex Burrows x2, Henrik Sedin, Mason Raymond, Mikael Samuelsson, Michael Grabner) Goals Allowed: 3 (four times - David Perron, Erik Cole, Martin Erat, Dustin Brown) Assists: 4 (Henrik Sedin - APR.10.10 vs Calgary) Assists Allowed: 3 (six times - Rick Nash, James Wisniewski, Brad Boyes, Daniel Alfredsson, John Tavares, Patrick Marleau) Points: 4 (five times - Henrik Sedin x2, Alex Burrows, Mikael Samuelsson, Daniel Sedin) Points Allowed: 5 (John Tavares - MAR.16.10 vs New York Islanders) Saves: 50 (Roberto Luongo - MAR.20.10 vs Detroit) Saves, Opponent: 45 (Jaroslav Halak - FEB.02.10 at Montreal) Statistics and other information appearing in this blog are for entertainment purposes only and a sense of humour is recommended when reading. E-mail the author here or follow him on Twitter.

It is a contemplative week for Number Crunching as we look towards the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs for the 2010 Northwest Division Champions Vancouver Canucks. As part of our reflection, we take a trip down memory lane and revisit our mid-season award predictions and give our final thoughts on which Canucks should walk away this season with some hardware. WHAT IF DANIEL SEDIN DID NOT MISS 19 GAMES THIS SEASON DUE TO INJURY? <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar2410_burtwin_rr.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Henrik Sedin had a bad sense of déjà vu this past Thursday in Los Angeles (in addition to the bad taste left in his mouth from an 8-3 shellacking at the hands of the Kings) when - for the first time since mid-November - he looked over to his left winger and didn't see the familiar face of brother Daniel starring back at him. Despite playing in a career-high 19 games without Daniel this season (Daniel's previous career-high for most regular season games missed in a single year was seven while Henrik's is six), Henrik has managed to hold his own as evidenced by him challenging for the Art Ross Trophy this season as the NHL's leading point scorer. So just where would Henrik be had Daniel been by his side for all 79 games and counting this season? Henrik has been a point-a-game player so far this with Daniel out of the lineup scoring 10 goals and 19 points in 19 games with his brother on the shelf and while that pace would have been enough to match his previous career-high already, with brother Daniel in the lineup Henrik has been (naturally) even more dynamic. Through 60 games with Daniel in the lineup, Henrik is averaging 1.45 points-per-game with 19 goals and 87 points. If he managed to keep that pace for an entire 82-game season, Henrik would have finished this season with roughly 119 points. In that alternate reality, only three post-lockout players would have had more points in a single season than Henrik: Joe Thornton (125 points in 2005.06), Jaromir Jagr (123 points in 2005.06) and Sidney Crosby (120 points in 2006.07). WHAT IF THE CANUCKS DON'T WIN ON THURSDAY IN SAN JOSE? <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar2710_clowe_fps.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">If the Canucks don't secure at least a single point against the Sharks on Thursday in their final road game of the season, it will mark the first time since the 2000.01 season that the Canucks will qualify for the playoffs despite having a losing road record during the regular season. Having a sub-.500 record away from home heading into the playoffs is nothing new for the organization however. Out of the previous 22 times the Canucks have qualified for the post-season, only nine times have they had a .500 or better road record heading into the playoffs. So how has a positive road record during the regular season translated into success away from the home in the playoffs? In years where Vancouver's regular season road record is at .500 or better (1991.92, 1992.93, 1993.94, 1995.96, 2001.02 2002.03, 2003.04, 2006.07 and 2008.09), Vancouver's combined road record in the playoffs is 26-24. In years where Vancouver's regular season road record is below .500, Vancouver's combined road record in the playoffs is 12-24. WHAT IF THE CANUCKS HAD NOT BEEN BLOWN OUT BY THE KINGS ON THURSDAY? <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr0110_lak_kopitar_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">With the Canucks being pounded on the scoreboard on Thursday in Los Angeles, they opted to take a small measure of revenge out on their opponents by dishing out 32 hits versus just 15 delivered by the Kings that night. The 17-hit differential in favour of the Canucks marked a season-high for Vancouver surpassing the 16-hit positive differential they had way back on October 5, 2009 in their home opener - a 5-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Overall, it was just the third time this season Vancouver has out-hit an opponent by double digits and good thing too considering the Canucks are 0-3-0 in those three games. Conversely, the Canucks' record this season when out-hit by double digits is 7-5-1. NUMBER CRUNCHING PLAYER OF THE WEEK <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/04/apr0210_ducks08_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Michael Grabner: Three goals and five points in four games played. After just one point in his first five games back in the NHL, Michael Grabner finally found his game this past week recording a three-game point streak from March 30 - April 2, highlighted by his first-career NHL hat trick on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. There may have been grumblings about Grabner being slotted right away onto the second line upon his return to the NHL - ahead of a 20-goal scorer such as Mason Raymond - but Grabner quickly put his critics to rest by having the best week of his NHL career to date. Grabner's emergence and the respective returns of Pavol Demitra and Mikael Samuelsson to the Canucks lineup now gives the Canucks three solid scoring lines heading into the playoffs. With Steve Bernier inching closer towards a return to the lineup as well, the Canucks could arguably be the deepest team at the forward position compared to all other NHL playoff-bound clubs. CRUNCHED BY THE NUMBERS <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar3010_juice_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Kevin Bieksa: One goal...err, almost, in four games played. In the immortal words of Dr. Evil: "Throwing me a frickin' bone here!" After not finding the back of the net since Vancouver's season opener back on October 1, 2009, Kevin Bieksa looked to have finally bumped the goal slump on Sunday when he was credited with a goal against the Minnesota Wild in the second period of that contest...or so he thought. Unfortunately, 17 minutes worth of intermission time and the work of some overzealous off-ice officials at GM Place on Sunday took away what would have been Bieksa's second goal of the season and gave it to Kyle Wellwood. (Remember when fans booed Tanner Glass earlier in the season for being credited with a goal that was initially thought to be Wellwood's? Ah memories.) To his credit, Bieksa still finished the week off with two assists (should have been a goal and an assist...just saying) and now has 18 helpers on the season. A LOOK BACK AT NUMBER CRUNCHING'S MID-SEASON AWARDS Back in late December - when this blog was in still in its infancy - we came out with our Special Mid-Season Awards Edition where we gave you our picks for the Canucks award winners had the season ended at the same time the 2009 calendar year did. Here's a look back at those picks and what our final thoughts are now: <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar3010_burbieksa_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Most Exciting Player Mid-season pick: Mason Raymond Year-end pick: Alex Burrows Analysis: After 39 games gone by in the season, only one player - Henrik Sedin - had more goals on the team than Mason Raymond who had already shattered his previous career-high with 17 tallies. Raymond's production has dropped since then with just seven goals in his last 40 games. But even with that said, it is clear Alex Burrows is the runaway pick for this award. His back-to-back hat tricks just a week after that blog was published was a sign of things to come for the Pincourt, QC native who looks poised to finish the season with the most goals on the team. <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/032410_VAN_ANA_205d.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Fred J. Hume Award for Unsung Hero Mid-season pick: Willie Mitchell Year-end pick: Andrew Raycroft Analysis: Perhaps this award should still go to Willie Mitchell considering Vancouver's struggles at the defensive end of the ice since his absence. Number Crunching is good, but not good enough to predict Willie would last just over two more weeks after that blog was published before being shut down (we assume) for the rest of the season due to a concussion. However, it's hard to argue with what Raycroft has done in the second half of the season. Since that blog was published, Raycroft's highlights include stepping into a 3-0 deficit in Toronto and helping the Canucks pull out a 5-3 win back on January 30 and clinching a playoff spot for the boys on April 2 in Anaheim with a 5-4 shootout victory. His nine wins (and counting) this season are the most by a Canucks back-up in the Roberto Luongo era. <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar2710_scrappy_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Babe Pratt Trophy for Most Outstanding Defenceman Mid-season pick: Christian Ehrhoff Year-end pick: Christian Ehrhoff Analysis: He's been Mr. Consistency on the back-end all season. His 14 goals and 43 points lead all Canucks defencemen in those categories while he also has an eye-popping plus-33 rating. The Canucks can only hope his tweaked knee at the end of Sunday's win over the Wild at GM Place is nothing serious. <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar2710_face_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Cyclone Taylor Trophy as Canucks MVP Mid-season pick: Henrik Sedin Year-end pick: Henrik Sedin Analysis: We figured he would runaway with the team's scoring lead, but we never thought he'd be close to running away for the NHL's scoring title as well. Henrik is not only a shoe-in for the team MVP, he deserves serious consideration for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP as well (Ken Campbell...I'm looking at you). <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar2710_luclowe_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Molson Cup Winner Mid-season pick: Roberto Luongo Year-end pick: Henrik Sedin Analysis: Somewhere between our Mid-Season Awards blogand now, the Canucks official Media Game Notes package stopped listing the full points standings for the Molson Cup - which is given the player with the most three-star selections at the end of the season. What we can tell you is that Henrik has won the monthly award three times (October, November, March), Luongo twice (January and February) and Kesler once (December). Our initial thought when picking Luongo mid-season (even though Henrik actually led the standings at the time of that blog) was we felt as good as Henrik had performed to that point, Luongo would be a difference most nights for Vancouver down the stretch. Let's just say we were right about that...but not so much in the way we thought it would work out. Statistics and other information appearing in this blog are for entertainment purposes only and a sense of humour is recommended. E-mail the author here or follow him on Twitter.

It was a Debbie Downer sort of week in Canucks Nation with just one victory in three games to celebrate and Number Crunching continues with the theme by presenting the stats you'd least like to hear about. But of course we do have one bright spot and that's our Number Crunching Player of the Week Award, which figures to be a Ray of sunshine in an otherwise dreary week in Canuckland. THE 100-POINT CURSE? <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar2410_burtwin_rr.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Henrik Sedin became the first player in the NHL this season to reach the 100-point mark on Saturday and while it is a very significant individual accomplishment, is it really one worth rejoicing? Since the NHL lockout and coming into this season, the NHL has seen 18 100-point performances (Henrik became the 19th on Saturday and Alex Ovechkin became the 20th on Sunday). Of those 18 performances, 13 of them were players who belonged to teams that were bounced from the NHL playoffs by the second round while only three of them managed to taste the ultimate glory at the end of the season. The following list shows the team success for the 18 respective 100-plus point performers since the NHL lockout: Three failed to qualify for the playoffs: Alex Ovechkin (WSH) and Sidney Crosby (PIT) in 2005.06; and Joe Sakic (COL) in 2006.07. Five were eliminated in round one: Jaromir Jagr (NYR) in 2005.06; Sidney Crosby (PIT), Vincent Lecavalier (STL) and Martin St. Louis (STL) in 2006.07; and Alex Ovechkin (WSH) in 2007.08. Five were eliminated in round two: Joe Thornton (SJS), Dany Heatley (OTT) and Daniel Alfredsson (OTT) in 2005.06; Joe Thornton (SJS) in 2006.07; and Alex Ovechkin (WSH) in 2008.09. Two lost in the Stanley Cup Final: Dany Heatley (OTT) in 2006.07 and Evgeni Malkin (PIT) in 2007.08. Three won the Stanley Cup: Eric Staal (CAR) in 2005.06; and Evgeni Malkin (PIT) and Sidney Crosby (PIT) in 2008.09. Here is how the Canucks' team success has fared over the years when they have had a 100-point performer on their roster in the regular season: 1992.93 Pavel Bure (110 points) - Advanced to second round 1993.94 Pavel Bure (107 points) - Advanced to Stanley Cup Final 1995.96 Alex Mogilny (107 points) - Qualified for playoffs 2002.03 Markus Naslund (104 points) - Advanced to second round HOUSE OF HORRORS <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar2710_scrappy_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">The Canucks will not publicly admit it, but if there is one team they would like to avoid in a playoff match-up it would be the San Jose Sharks considering their lack of success playing at the HP Pavilion at San Jose as evidenced on Saturday when they dropped their fifth straight game at the Shark Tank dating back to 2007.08. The five-game winless streak (0-4-1) at the Shark Tank is the longest active losing streak for the Canucks in any building in the NHL. Their second longest winless streak in an opposition building is at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona - home of the Phoenix Coyotes. Vancouver's winless streak at the Jobing.com Arena is three games (0-1-2). Below is a list of some of the other buildings around the NHL where the Canucks currently have a multi-game winless streak: Honda Center (Anaheim): 0-1-1 HSBC Arena (Buffalo): 0-1-1 RBC Center (Carolina): 0-2-0 Bell Centre (Montreal): 0-2-0 St. Pete Times Forum (Tampa Bay): 0-2-0 FIRST THE WORST <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar2710_face_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Perhaps the best statistic in the Canucks favours this week was that after surrendering two first period goals to the Oilers to open the week on Tuesday, the Canucks were perfect in opening frames defensively to close out the week. So far this season, the first period has clearly been the worst for the Canucks. Among all teams currently in a playoff position, the Canucks have surrendered more first period goals than any other club with 77 in 75 games played (averaging more than one first period goal per game). The overall leader for most first period goals against this season are the Atlanta Thrashers, who have given up 82 in the same number of games played as the Canucks (for the week ending Sunday, March 28). It is a stark reversal from last season when the Canucks were one of the better first period teams in the NHL giving up just 65 total first period tallies during the 82-game regular season. The 77 (and counting) first period goals surrendered by the Canucks this season are the most in the Roberto Luongo era and the most they have surrendered since giving up 82 first period tallies during the 2005.06 season. Last season, the San Jose Sharks led all playoff-bound teams giving up 79 first period goals during the regular season. Also of note in 2008.09, the top four playoff-bound teams that surrendered the most first period goals (namely the Sharks, Canadiens, Flames and Flyers) all ended up being knocked out of the playoffs in round one. NUMBER CRUNCHING PLAYER OF THE WEEK <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/032410_VAN_ANA_205d.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Andrew Raycroft: 30 saves on 31 shots on Wednesday against Anaheim. It is not often a player that appears in just one game gets singled out for a weekly honour but in Andrew Raycroft's case we are willing to make an exception. Raycroft led the Canucks to their only victory of the week and looked very good doing it, even getting the crowd to chant his name on Wednesday at GM Place. The victory was the eighth of the season for Raycroft marking the most wins for a single Canucks backup netminder in the Luongo-era. Raycroft's eight victories on the season are also the second most in the NHL among netminders who have played 20 games-or-fewer (Raycroft has appeared in 19 games this season). Only Washington's Michal Neuvirth (17 games played in) has more victories among goaltenders in that category with nine. Honourable mentions go to Daniel Sedin, who finished the week with three goals and five points and extended his overall goal streak to four games entering the week, and Henrik Sedin, who had six assists in three games and not only surpassed the 100-point mark for the first time in his career but also established a new career-high in assists with his 73rd helper and counting. CRUNCHED BY THE NUMBERS <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar2010_muddle_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Sami Salo: Zero points and two shots on goal in three games played. For a player that possesses arguably the most dangerous shot on the team, Salo's lack of pucks thrown on net in recent contests has to be a cause for concern. Salo managed just one shot each against the Oilers and Ducks on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, and then was held without a shot for just the 10th time this season on Saturday against the Sharks. He also had a particular tough outing on the defensive end on Saturday as he was caught on the ice for three of the four Sharks goals on the evening and had an especially embarrassing gaffe at the end of the game where he misplayed the puck after an icing call had been waived off leading to a Sharks' empty-net goal. Salo enters this week with no points in his last seven games - his longest streak without a point since an 11-game slump from November 3 - 29, 2009.

It was a good week in Canuck Nation if your name was Ryan and appropriately in this week's edition of Number Crunching, we pay tribute to the Ryans as we look back at the best and worst statistics in the week that was. Read on to find out who takes home this week's Number Crunching Player of the Week Award...could it very well be Ryan's for the taking? THE BEST OF KES <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/van6_031410.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">The big news of the week for the Canucks came off the ice on Friday when Ryan Kesler officially put his name on a brand new contract extension that will see him remain in Vancouver colours until 2015.16. In honour of Kesler's new deal, Number Crunching presents the top six Ryan Kesler stats of 2009.10: 1. When Kesler scores, Canucks win. Vancouver's record this season when Ryan Kesler tallies a goal is 15-5-0. 2. When Kesler has been held point-less this season, Vancouver's record is only 8-13-2. 3. Through 72 games played, Kesler leads all Canucks in power play goals with 12 - four more than second place Mason Raymond who has eight. The 12 PPGs are a career-high for Kesler, besting the 10 PPGs he had in 2008.09. Coming into this season, he had scored just 15 total career power play goals. Incidentally, Vancouver's record when Kesler scores a PPG this season is 8-4-0. 4. Kesler's 13-game point streak from February 6 to March 14 shattered his previous career-high entering this season which was five games. Earlier this season, Kesler tied his previous career-best point streak twice. During his 13-game run, he tallied six goals and 15 points. 5. Through 72 games played, no other Canuck forward has had more average ice-time than Ryan Kesler's 19:51 per game. In terms of overall ice-time through the whole season, Kesler sits behind only Christian Ehrhoff (1,652:54) and Alex Edler (1,472:28) with 1,429:53. 6. No stat better describes Kesler's desire to have the puck than his 74 takeaways this season through 72 games played - leading all Canuck players. Alex Burrows has the next highest number of takeaways this season with 63 while Henrik Sedin is in a distant third place with 38. Kesler had 74 takeaways in all of last season. He has been the Canucks' leader in takeaways for the past two consecutive seasons and is on his way to making it three straight. OH JOHNNY BOY <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/032010Canucks205.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Kesler wasn't the only Ryan who had reason to celebrate this week as Ryan Johnson was all smiles after breaking an 82-game goal-less drought on Thursday against San Jose. Johnson entered that game as Vancouver's leader for longest goal drought. With Johnson finally getting the goal monkey off his back the new Canucks' leader in the category is defenceman Aaron Rome, who following Saturday's game against Detroit is now at the half-century mark in games played without a goal. The goal against the Sharks was also the fourth career game-winner for Johnson. Two of his three goals as a Canuck have been game-winners. He scored the GWG against the New York Rangers back on November 19, 2008 - his first career goal as a member of the Canucks. Johnson now has a game-winning goal in three consecutive seasons. BLINK AND YOU'LL MISS IT <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar2010_muddle_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">The Canucks have seen plenty of team and personal records fall this season but they probably were not too thrilled with the mark that bit the dust on Saturday against the Red Wings. Red Wings goals scored five seconds apart by Todd Bertuzzi at 12:34 of the second period and Pavel Datsyuk at 12:39 of the second period during Vancouver's 4-3 overtime loss on Saturday set a new franchise mark for fastest two goals by a Canucks' opponent. The previous record was seven seconds, initially set back on October 19, 1976 in the first period of a game against the New York Islanders when Bob Nystrom scored twice in seven seconds - 8:34 and 8:41 - in what ended up as a 6-1 Islanders victory. Over 14 years later, the mark was tied when the Flames' Joe Mullen and Doug Gilmour scored seven seconds apart in the first period in a 5-1 Calgary win on March 3, 1990. Just less than five years after that, the feat was once again repeated by the Rangers' Pat Verbeek and Niklas Sundstrom, who also scored seven seconds apart in the first period against the Canucks in a 5-2 Rangers victory on October 24, 1995. It seems safe to suggest that the all-time NHL mark for fastest two goals will never be surpassed, if it is even ever repeated. A pair of ex-Canucks had a hand in setting that record as members of the Minnesota Wild. Jim Dowd and Richard Park scored three seconds apart (19:44 and 19:47 of the third period) in a 4-2 victory by the Wild over the Chicago Blackhawks on January 21, 2004. FLORIDA FLASHBACKS <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar2010_freeze_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">For the first time since becoming a Vancouver Canuck, Roberto Luongo reached the half-century mark in saves in a single regular season game when he recorded 50 stops on 54 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Red Wings on Saturday. Luongo's previous high for saves as a Canuck in a regular season game was 49 - set back on February 21, 2008 in a 3-2 shootout win for the Canucks over the Nashville Predators. Prior to Saturday, the last time Luongo was forced to make 50-or-more saves in a single regular season game was over four years ago on December 18, 2005. On that night, Luongo's Florida Panthers were out-shot 55-34 by the Washington Capitals but Luongo stopped all-but-two shots in a 3-2 victory. Incidentally, the 54 shots surrendered by the Canucks to the Red Wings overall on Saturday not only marked the most shots they have given up this season but also the first time they have surrendered over 50 shots in a single regular season game since the aforementioned game on February 21, 2008 against the Predators (they surrendered 51 shots that night). Vancouver's all-time record for most shots against in a single regular season game is 60. That was set back on February 25, 1971 against the Boston Bruins during the Canucks' inaugural NHL season. Vancouver lost that game 8-3. NUMBER CRUNCHING PLAYER OF THE WEEK <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar1810_wellhappy_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Kyle Wellwood: Two goals and three points in four games played. Kyle Wellwood has taken his fair share of shots for his lack of offensive production particularly near the start of the season so now that he's playing some of his best hockey of the year it seems only fair to give him his share of praise. The 26-year-old has not only found the net with more regularity since the second half of the season began, but his newly-formed line with Mason Raymond and Jannik Hansen has given the Canucks a legitimate third-line scoring threat - something Vancouver really has not had much of on a consistent basis throughout the whole season. Wellwood's two-point (1-1-2) outing against the Red Wings on Saturday was his fourth multi-point game of the season - double what he had all of last year. With 22 points (11-11-22) on the season and 10 more games left on the schedule, he would need to average one point every two games to equal the 27 points he had last year in his first season as a Canuck. CRUNCHED BY THE NUMBERS <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/dec2009_ehrhoff_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Shane O'Brien: One goal and three points in two games played. First, let me preface this by saying Shane O'Brien (rhymes with Ryan) being tagged with this dubious distinction actually has absolutely nothing to do with his play this week. By all accounts, O'Brien was fantastic in his return to the lineup not only finishing with a plus-two rating but chipping in with three points and a rare goal as well. If the Canucks had their way however, they might just ask Shane to stick with piling up the assists rather than netting any goals himself. If there are two things Canuck observers have been able to surmise from watching O'Brien the last two seasons it's that: 1. O'Brien can only score against Central Division opponents. Counting his playoff goal versus Chicago last season, O'Brien has also scored against St. Louis and Detroit. 2. When O'Brien scores, the Canucks don't win. Canucks lost 7-5 in Game 6 against Chicago in the Western Conference Semi-Final and also lost 3-1 to the Blues back on December 20th of this season prior to Saturday's overtime loss to the Red Wings. The O'Brien curse, as it were, only began after Shane joined the Canucks. Prior to coming to Vancouver, O'Brien's previous teams (Anaheim and Tampa Bay) were not only 3-1-0 in games where he had scored, but O'Brien personally notched the game-winning goals in each of those three wins. The best news for Shane and the Canucks? Vancouver will not see another Central Division opponent the rest of this season barring a playoff match-up.

The Canucks are on a high after picking up seven out of a possible eight points (3-0-1) but Number Crunching is going to take a page from Flo Rida's book and tell you about the "low, low, low, low, low, low" from this past week of Canucks hockey. But one thing that's definitely not low is the recipient of this week's Number Crunching Player of the Week Award, who will be revealed if you read on. THE BIG O <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar1410_bieksa_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault suggested on Sunday that, after playing their eighth game in 13 days, his team ran out of gas towards the end of game against the Flames and no statistic proves that better than the big goose egg sitting in the third period shot column. According the Canucks Media Guide, it is the fifth time in team history that the Canucks have failed to register at least a single shot in an entire regulation period. The last time that happened was over two years ago on October 21, 2007 in the second period of a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Canucks did go on to win that game versus Columbus by a final score of 4-1 despite being out-shot 36-19 overall that evening. Oddly enough, in the same Sunday game against the Flames, the Canucks also had one of their best periods as far as shots-on-goal are concerned. Their 20 shots in the first period were just shy of their season-high of 22 in a single period set back on October 30, 2009 against the Anaheim Ducks when they notched the feat in the third period of a 7-2 loss. OPEN SEASON ON RAZOR <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/02/feb0410_sens25_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">On Thursday in Phoenix, the Canucks saw goaltender Andrew Raycroft turn in one of his best performances of the season despite a shootout loss - even more impressive considering the lack of support they gave him in the form of blocked shots. Statisticians at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale credited the Canucks with just three blocked shots in that contest, marking a season-low for Vancouver in that category. The previous season-low was five blocked shots, which the Canucks had recorded three previous times this season (Dec 10 vs ATL; Dec 14 vs LAK; Jan 7 vs PHX). The Canucks have failed to record double digits in blocked shots just 17 times this season through 69 games played posting a record of 9-7-1 in those games. Through 69 games this season, the Canucks have blocked a total of 841 shots - an average of 12.2 per game. You didn't really think this whole blog could make it through without looking at some of the highs from this week, did you? KES MAKES IT FIVE <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/van6_031410.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Ryan Kesler certainly provided a big high this week when he became the fifth Canuck to tally his 20th goal of the season joining Alex Burrows, Mikael Samuelsson, Henrik Sedin, and Mason Raymond. The five 20-plus goal scorers matches last year's total when the Canucks saw both Sedin brothers, Kesler, Burrows, and Demitra all reach the 20-goal plateau. With Daniel Sedin sitting at 19 goals this season, it is a matter of when and not if they will have at least six 20-goal scorers this season which would mark the most 20-goal scorers that Canucks have had in a single season since 1995.96. In 1995.96, the Canucks had seven 20-goal scorers in Alex Mogilny, Trevor Linden, Martin Gelinas, Russ Courtnall, Cliff Ronning, Markus Naslund and Jesse Belanger. Naslund and Belanger, however, joined the Canucks part-way through the season and scored the majority of their respective goals with their previous team. The last time the Canucks had six-or-more players score 20-plus goals all for the Canucks was in 1992.93 when they got 20-plus goals from seven players: Pavel Bure, Petr Nedved, Trevor Linden, Geoff Courtnall, Cliff Ronning, Greg Adams and Dixon Ward. They also had an eighth 20-goal scorer on the roster in Murray Craven although all of his 25 goals that season came with the Hartford Whalers before he was dealt to Vancouver. The most 20-goal scorers the Canucks have had in a single season is eight: 1980.81 and 1984.85. (Canucks goals only). TOP OF THE HEAP <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar1410_hank_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Congratulations this week goes out to Henrik Sedin who recorded career assist no. 416, all with the Canucks, and in the process became the franchise's most prolific assists man surpassing the record held since 2008 by Trevor Linden. What is even more impressive is Henrik's rapid pace at scaling the assists mountain. His 416th assist came in his 715th game with the Canucks. Trevor Linden recorded his final assist as a Canuck in his 1,138th game with the team on April 1, 2008. For trivia fans, Linden's final assist as a Canuck came on a goal by Willie Mitchell against the Colorado Avalanche. NUMBER CRUNCHING PLAYER OF THE WEEK <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/02/feb0410_sens19_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Mikael Samuelsson: Six goals and 10 points in four games played. If you close your eyes and listen real carefully, you can still hear the faint sound of sobbing coming from Swedish Olympic hockey coach Bengt-Ake Gustafsson. Samuelsson, who was snubbed by the Swedish Olympic team apparently because Mattias Weinhandl was going to be a better fit playing with Daniel and Henrik Sedin, finally got his chance to play on a regular basis with the twins this week and he definitely delivered the goods. Samuelsson opened the week with his first career hat-trick against the Avalanche on March 9 and by the end of the week had new career-high marks in goals (30) and points (53). The worst thing to happen to Samuelsson this week is he saw his career-high six-game goal streak come to an end on Sunday against the Flames although he continued his point streak with an assist in that contest giving him points in seven straight games to end the week. The seven-game point streak not only matched a season-high previously set from December 27, 2009 to January 9, 2010 but gives him another shot at going for a career-high eight game point streak when he faces the Islanders on Tuesday. CRUNCHED BY THE NUMBERS <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/031010_VAN_PHX_bench205.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Mason Raymond: 0 points and a minus-four rating in four games played. He had a rough start to the week in Colorado on March 9 when Coach V decided to bench him after he made terrible giveaway in his own zone resulting in a goal against in the game against the Avalanche (he had a season-low 8:06 of ice-time that night) and the week did not get much better for the third-year pro after that. A healthy Demitra and a red hot Samuelsson meant no room for Raymond among the top-six forwards and, consequently, the 24-year-old was dropped down to the third line playing alongside Kyle Wellwood and Jannik Hansen. His four-game point drought this week marks the third time he has gone four-or-more games without a point. His season-long point slump is five games set from November 29, 2009 to December 8, 2009.

It is not quite the same as winning a Gold medal but a 3-1-0 record for the Canucks in their first week back is definitely reason for celebration in Canucks Nation. And another reason to celebrate is because Number Crunching returns for edition No. 12 as we look back at the best stats from the week that was in Canucks hockey. As always, find out who earns this week's honour as the Number Crunching Player of the Week. THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/jan3010_leafs10_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">If the Canucks manage to finish this season with a record above .500 on the road, it will be by far the most difficult path the Canucks have ever taken in franchise history to secure a better than .500 record away from their home arena. This season, the Canucks moved above the .500 mark on the road for the first time in their 32nd road game this past week after their 6-3 win in Detroit gave them a record of 16-15-1 on the road at the time (they ended the week with an overall record of 17-16-1 on the road). Out of the seven previous times the Canucks have finished a season with a record above .500 on the road, the longest it had ever taken them to initially move above .500 was six games. That mark was set in 2003.04 after the Canucks opened their road season 0-2-1 before winning their next three straight games away from GM Place to move above the bar for the first time that year. They would end up finishing that season with a 22-11-8 record on the road. In addition to 2003.04, the Canucks have also finished with above .500 road records in the following seasons: 1991.92, 1992.93, 1995.96, 2002.03, 2006.07 and 2008.09. FIRST TO 40 <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar0710_preds01_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">The Canucks recorded their 40th victory of the season on Sunday afternoon in Nashville and in the process set a new franchise record for being the quickest Canucks team to reach the 40-win mark. This year's team, which recorded the 40th victory in their 65th game of the season, narrowly beat out the 2006.07 team that recorded win No. 40 in game No. 67 that season. The 2006.07 team still holds the franchise record for most victories in a single season with 49 although this year's squad figures to give them a good run for that mark as they have 17 games remaining to try and net 10-or-more wins to break the old record. The following is a list of 40-plus win Canuck teams with the number in the brackets indicating the game in which they reached the 40th win of the season, respectively: 1991.92: 42 wins (71)* 1992.93: 46 wins (76)** 1993.94: 41 wins (81)** 2001.02: 42 wins (80) 2002.03: 45 wins (70) 2003.04: 43 wins (79) 2005.06: 42 wins (74) 2006.07: 49 wins (67) 2008.09: 45 wins (74) 2009.10: 40 wins and counting (65) *denotes 80-game season *denotes 84-game season THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar0310_well_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">The Detroit Red Wings typically offer a tough test for the Canucks each time the two teams meet but if you thought Wednesday's game in Motown was a bit of a cakewalk for the visitors, there is one key statistic that would back up that assertion. The Red Wings, who saw starting netminder Jimmy Howard yanked in the contest, did little to support either of their two goaltenders in that game blocking just three shots in the entire contest. The three blocked shots marked the fewest blocked shots by by a Canucks opponent this season. Prior to Wednesday's game, the fewest blocked shots a Canucks opponent had this season in a single game was six which had happened twice: San Jose (November 29, 2009) and New Jersey (December 2, 2009). Up to and including Vancouver's contest against Nashville on Sunday, the Canucks have had an average of 13.1 shots blocked per game. The Canucks, meanwhile, have averaged 12.3 blocked shots per game this season through 65 games played. The Canucks have a record of 7-6-0 this season in games where they have had fewer than 10 shots blocked. 149 TO 100 <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/03022010_van_cbj_raycroft2_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Congratulations to Canucks' netminder Andrew Raycroft for picking up his 100th career NHL victory this past week on Tuesday with a 4-3 overtime win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Raycroft became the 149th all-time netminder to 100 NHL victories and joins the likes of currently active goaltenders such as Phoenix's Ilya Bryzgalov, Minnesota's Niklas Backstrom, St. Louis' Chris Mason and Columbus' Mathieu Garon to have recorded their 100th NHL victory during the 2009.10 NHL season. NUMBER CRUNCHING PLAYER OF THE WEEK <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar0310_kes_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Ryan Kesler: Three goals and five points in four games played. If Ryan Kesler carried any frustration with him after narrowly missing out on an Olympic Gold medal in Vancouver just over a week ago, he clearly decided to take out some of that out against his NHL opponents. The Livonia, MI native was a one-man wrecking crew at times leading the Canucks in goals and points this week while in the process extending his career-high point streak to nine games (five games prior to the Olympic break and four games after). Honourable mentions include Alex Burrows, who proved two weeks off wasn't enough time to cool down his hot stick as he also had three goals this week, and Mikael Samuelsson, whose "demotion" to the third line didn't stop his goal scoring abilities as he also finished with three goals this week. CRUNCHED BY THE NUMBERS <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/03/mar0510_hawks01_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Roberto Luongo: 2-1-0 record with a 4.29 GAA and a .875 save percentage. Call it an Olympic hangover but there were times this week when the man protecting the Canucks' net looked quite dissimilar to the man who led Canada to an Olympic Gold medal just over a week ago in Vancouver. The Canucks' captain started his week off with a decent outing in Detroit stopping 28 of 31 shots in a 6-3 win but proceeded to have arguably his worst outing since Game 6 of last season's Western Conference Semi-Final on Wednesday in Chicago. Luongo was yanked after giving up five goals on just 14 shots to the Blackhawks in the first period - the third time in his last nine games that he has been taken out of a game for performance reasons. Discounting his performance at the Olympic Winter Games, Luongo has not managed to record wins in consecutive starts since a six-game win streak from January 16 to January 27. He has a chance to bump that slump this upcoming week after ending last week off on a high note making 33 saves on 35 shots in a come-from-behind 4-2 win over the Predators on Sunday afternoon.

Canada captured an Olympic Winter Games record of 14 Gold medals in Vancouver and in honour of the Canadian Olympic Team, Number Crunching tries for a Gold medal performance in this first blog back since the Olympic break where we look back at the best of the Men's Ice Hockey tournament as well as ahead to the NHL's Trade Deadline on Wednesday. And of course, find out who takes home the Gold as the Number Crunching Player of the 2010 Winter Games. MEDAL HAUL <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/02/FEb2810_gold_rr.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Canada came away with a record medal haul at the 2010 Winter Games, but the Canucks didn't do too shabbily either with three players returning to the team each with a medal of their own. Roberto Luongo (Canada - Gold), Ryan Kesler (USA - Silver), and Sami Salo (Finland - Bronze) will each have something to show off to their teammates when they re-join the team in Columbus. Their respective performances marked the first time since the NHL allowed players to participate in the Olympics that the Canucks have had players return to the team with medals in all three colours. However, the three medals is not a Canucks record for most medals won at a single Olympic Winter Games. That count is five which was set in 2006 in Torino when Mattias Ohlund along with Daniel and Henrik Sedin returned with Gold medals while Sami Salo and Jarkko Ruutu returned with Silver medals. Overall, the three medals from the 2010 Winter Games brings the Canucks total medal count to 11. Below is a list of Canucks Olympic medalists since 1998: Roberto Luongo (CAN): 2010 - Gold Ryan Kesler (USA): 2010 - Silver Sami Salo (FIN): 2010 - Bronze Mattias Ohlund (SWE): 2006 - Gold Daniel Sedin (SWE): 2006 - Gold Henrik Sedin (SWE): 2006 - Gold Sami Salo (FIN): 2006 - Silver Jarkko Ruutu (FIN): 2006 - Silver Ed Jovanovski (CAN): 2002 - Gold Pavel Bure (RUS): 1998 - Silver Jyrki Lumme (FIN): 1998 - Bronze DEMO-NSTRATION OF SKILL <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/02/Feb2710_demo_rr.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Slovakia may have come up short of medaling in the Men's Ice Hockey tournament but as far as individual performances go, they certainly did own the podium in terms of points scored led by the Canucks' own Pavol Demitra. Demitra led the tournament with 10 points (3-7-10) while teammate and Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa finished second with nine points (3-6-9). Team USA and New Jersey Devils forward Zach Parise finished third with eight points (4-4-8). Prior to Demitra, the last time a Slovak player led the tournament in scoring was in 1994 at the Lillehammer Winter Games. In fact, the top three scorers from that tournament were all Slovaks with Zigmund Palffy leading the way with 10 points (3-7-10) followed by Miroslav Satan (9-0-0) and Peter Stastny (5-4-9). That year, however, the Slovaks came in a disappointing sixth place despite winning their pool in the preliminary round. Demitra also became the first Canucks player since the NHL began participating in the Olympics in 1998 to lead the Men's Ice Hockey tournament in points. The only other Canuck to ever reach a top-three finish in points was Pavel Bure in 1998 when he notched nine goals in six games played helping Russia capture a Silver medal in Nagano. Bure finished one point shy of tying the tournament lead in points behind Bronze medalists Teemu Selanne (4-6-10) and Saku Koivu (2-8-10). SO LONG, FAREWELL? <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/10/oct0809_hans02_rr.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">With the NHL trade deadline coming at noon PT on Wednesday, March 3, there will be plenty of anxious Canucks players wondering if they will suiting up to face the Red Wings that night or hopping on a flight to parts currently unknown. While getting dealt is usually a shock to the system, there are five current Canucks on the active roster who knows what it's like to be moved on deadline day. Below is the list of current Canucks who have been involved in a deadline day deal: Ryan Johnson: Traded on deadline day 2000 from the Florida Panthers to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Mike Sillinger. Darcy Hordichuk: Traded on deadline day 2002 from the Atlanta Thrashers to the Phoenix Coyotes for a package including Kirill Safronov and the rights to Ruslan Zainullin. Brad Lukowich: Traded on deadline day 2006 from the New York Islanders to the New Jersey Devils for a third round draft pick. Willie Mitchell: Traded on deadline day 2006 from the Minnesota Wild to the Dallas Stars for Martin Skoula and Shawn Belle. Steve Bernier: Traded on deadline day 2008 from the San Jose Sharks to the Buffalo Sabres for Brian Campbell. As far as the Canucks as a team goes, since 1980 they have made 43 deals on trade deadline day although one was later nullified after the late Peter Zezel refused to report to Anaheim following a trade on deadline day 1999. The Canucks last made a trade on deadline day in 2008 when former GM Dave Nonis shipped Matt Cooke to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Matt Pettinger. NUMBER CRUNCHING PLAYER OF THE 2010 WINTER GAMES <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/02/feb1710_luongo_rr.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Roberto Luongo: 5-0 record with a 1.76 GAA and a .927 save percentage. Pavol Demitra received strong consideration after his tournament leading 10 points but it's hard to argue against Roberto Luongo who in the end was the lone Canuck to leave the Vancouver Games with a Gold medal around his neck. Luongo opened the tournament with an 8-0 shutout over an out-matched Norway team and at the time, the general belief was that the win against Norway would be the only action Luongo would receive in the tournament. That quickly changed after Canada opted to ride Luongo heading into the elimination portion of the tournament. Luongo posted an 8-2 win over Christian Ehrhoff and Team Germany in the Qualification Playoff game and then recorded a 7-3 win over a powerful Russian team the next night in the Quarterfinal. From there, he made some crucial late saves in a 3-2 win over Pavol Demitra and the Slovaks in the Semifinal before coming up with a clutch performance in an overtime victory over Ryan Kesler and the Americans in the Gold medal game in what was undoubtedly the biggest game of his career. CRUNCHED BY THE NUMBERS <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/02/feb1910_twins_rr.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Daniel and Henrik Sedin: Combined one goal and five points in four games played A fifth place finish in Vancouver after winning the Gold medal in 2006 in Torino was definitely not what the Swedes had expected coming into the tournament and a less than stellar tournament for Daniel and Henrik probably contributed to their disappointing result. The trio of the twins and Mattias Weinhandl combined for just one goal in the tournament, that belonging to Daniel Sedin in a game against Belarus. In fact, out of the twins' five total points in the tournament, four of them came in that preliminary round game against Belarus. Both of Henrik's two assists in the tournament came in that game against Belarus while Daniel Sedin had one goal and one assist in that same game. Daniel also added an assist in Sweden's 3-0 win over Finland in their final preliminary game. Both Daniel and Henrik were shutout of the point column in Sweden's shocking 4-3 loss to Slovakia in the Quarterfinal game.

People of Fanzone: After a week-long negotiation with CDC, Number Crunching is officially being put on hiatus until post-Olympics after this final blog (our settlement, unlike Conan's, was only worth 32 cents and a Churro). When it returns, Jay Leno will be taking over as your new Number Crunching blogger. Okay, so I kid...but Number Crunching is going on an Olympic break after this blog but before we go dark, we review the best and unusual statistics from the week that was in Canucks hockey in this record-breaking edition and as always, we have this week's Number Crunching Player of the Week Award to dole out. STREAKING INTO THE RECORD BOOKS <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/012110_VAN_DAL_burrows205.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">There are certain individuals in the media (whose names shall remain anonymous) who will have you believe that Alex Burrows is no more than your typical agitator or pest. But Number Crunching challenges all the uninformed members of the fourth estate to show us when the last time the likes of Steve Ott or Sean Avery or Daniel Carcillo had a point streak of ten-or-more games at the NHL level as Burrows managed to achieve this past week on Thursday with a goal against the Dallas Stars (he since extended it to 11 games on Saturday with three assists versus the Blackhawks). In the process, Burrows became the first Canuck in just under two weeks (okay, so it would have been more impressive if we said nearly seven years but Henrik Sedin beat him to the punch) to record a double digit streak. Burrows also joined a rare list of only 13 all-time Canucks (including himself) to have recorded a point streak of 10-or-more games. Below is a list of the players that have achieved that mark in Canuck franchise history: Petr Nedved: once - 15 games* (15-9-24) Todd Bertuzzi: twice - longest 15 games* (7-12-19) Darcy Rota: once - 14 games (15-15-30) Stan Smyl: twice - longest 13 games (8-19-27) Pavel Bure: four times - longest 13 games (12-10-22) Thomas Gradin: once - 12 games (10-16-26) Anatoli Semenov: once - 12 games (1-16-17) Alex Burrows: once - 11 games** (13-5-18) Tony Tanti: once - 11 games (13-10-23) Dennis Kearns: once - 11 games (1-19-20) Alex Mogilny: twice - longest 11 games (9-8-17) Jiri Bubla: once - 11 games (1-11-12) Henrik Sedin: once - 10 games (5-15-20) *denotes franchise record **denotes currently active streak Burrows' current 11-game point streak is now tied for 12th place on the all-time franchise list for longest point streak. Excluding games played on Sunday, it is also tied for the third longest point streak this season behind only Anaheim's Corey Perry (19 games) and Buffalo's Tim Connolly (15 games) and is the second longest active point streak behind Connolly's aforementioned 15-game streak. PLAYING KEEP AWAY <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/jan2110_hit_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Canucks fans who bore witness to the Marc Crawford era in Vancouver know that Crow is a coach who likes to employ a wide-open style of hockey which can lend itself to more error-prone play at times. It probably surprised many on Thursday then when Crow's Stars battled the Canucks in a game that featured more goals than turnovers between the two teams combined. In fact, according to the statisticians at GM Place, the Stars gave the puck away just once in the course of the 60-minute contest marking a season-low by a Canucks opponent. The previous low was two giveaways, a feat accomplished four previous times by a Canucks opponent most recently by the Flames on January 9th. What may be most surprising is the fact that the combined four giveaways in that game between the Canucks and Stars (which is a far cry from the 39 giveaways the Canucks and Oilers combined for just the night before) is not the fewest in a game involving the Canucks this season. That honour belongs to Vancouver's October 7th tilt with the Montreal Canadiens at GM Place when the two teams combined to give the puck away just three times (once by the Canucks, twice by the Habs). So how do the Canucks fare in games where puck possession is taken far too seriously? Vancouver has a record of 6-2-2 in games that feature ten-or-fewer giveaways by both teams combined. #1 GOING ON 40 <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/jan2310_glovesave_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Roberto Luongo often suggests that he tends to play better the more work he's subjected to so perhaps the Chicago Blackhawks employed the wrong strategy on Saturday night when they pelted the Canucks' captain with 44 shots only to watch him turn aside a personal season-high 43 of them. It was the first time since April 7th of last year that Luongo had been called on to make more than 40 saves in a single game and as far as it being his busiest night save-wise in a Canuck uniform, it ranked only in a tie for fourth place for most saves he has made in a single regular season game since becoming a Canuck. Since becoming a Canuck, Luongo has posted a record of 4-1-3 in games where he has been called on to make 40-or-more saves. Below is a list of Roberto's 40-plus regular season save nights since becoming a Canuck: 49 saves - February 21.08 - 3-2 SO win at Nashville 47 saves - January 17.08 - 2-3 SO loss at Detroit 46 saves - April 07.09 - 4-1 win vs. Calgary 43 saves - January 23.10 - 5-1 win vs. Chicago 43 saves - March 13.08 - 0-2 loss at Phoenix 40 saves - February 01.08 - 3-4 SO loss at Florida 40 saves - January 26.07 - 2-3 SO loss vs. Los Angeles 40 saves - December 02.06 - 2-1 win vs. Colorado Luongo was just two saves shy on Saturday of tying a season-high in saves by a Canucks netminder. That mark still belongs to Cory Schneider who made 45 saves in a 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars back on November 6th. THE 400-CLUB <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/jan2010_hankhappy_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Henrik Sedin opened the week with a three-assist effort against the Oilers on Wednesday but none of his three helpers were more important than the last because not only did that one set up the overtime winner by brother Daniel but it marked the 400th assist in his Canucks and NHL career. As far as franchise records go, assist No. 400 put him into a very exclusive club that previously consisted of only three other members: Trevor Linden, Stan Smyl and Markus Naslund. With 402 career assists and counting, it seems only a formality before Henrik takes his place as the Assists King in Canucks franchise history. He is just 13 helpers away from tying Trevor Linden atop the leaderboard with 415 assists as a Canuck. Stan Smyl and Markus Naslund sit second and third place on the franchise list with 411 and 410 assists, respectively. NUMBER CRUNCHING PLAYER OF THE WEEK Henrik Sedin: Two goals and seven points in three games played <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/jan2310_sedin_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">We could easily have gone with co-winners along with brother Daniel or perhaps even named that entire top line with Alex Burrows all as Players of the Week but we give Henrik the sole honour for this week after he notched his 23rd goal of the season on Saturday night and in the process set a new career-high for goals in a single season. Henrik's previous career-high was set last season when he tallied 22 goals and it did take him all 82 games to hit that mark as his last tally of the year came in overtime of the final regular season game of the season. Henrik's 22nd and 23rd goals, respectively, this season came in Game 51. Last year after 51 games, Henrik had eight goals. Henrik will begin the new week with a four point advantage on Washington's Alex Ovechkin atop the NHL leader board and should reach another major milestone later this coming week barring the unforeseen. Henrik is expected to suit up in his 700th career NHL game on Saturday in Toronto - ironically, the same city that he and his brother were rumoured to be headed to during this past off-season when the two were unrestricted free agents. Talk about a close call. CRUNCHED BY THE NUMBERS Nolan Baumgartner: 29 games <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/bc/images/images/inbydate06/apr1506/baumer_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">It's important to point out that we aren't picking on the man they call 'Bomber' for no apparent reason. After all in his lone game played during the week he finished with a very solid plus-one rating in 15:18 of ice-time against the Blackhawks. But for those who haven't figured what the significance of what the aforementioned 29 games is - that is the number of man-games lost combined between Vancouver's top six blue-liners this season. That number is actually higher for those who wish to include Mathieu Schneider's injured games at the start of the season though for our purposes, our top-six consists of Kevin Bieksa, Alex Edler, Willie Mitchell, Sami Salo, Christian Ehrhoff and Shane O'Brien. This season, Ehrhoff and O'Brien are the only Canuck defencemen who have yet to miss a game due to injury (knock on wood). Baumgartner, who became a bit of a poster-boy this week for Vancouver's injury woes on the back end this season, became the 11th different defenceman to suit up for the Canucks this season - two more blue-liners than the Canucks had to employ all of last season. This is officially Baumgartner's third stint with the Canucks although it may not seem that way for many since Bomber has been around the Canucks since 2002.03. He was briefly claimed off waivers by the Penguins in 2003.04 before returning to Vancouver via waivers later that season. Prior to Saturday, he last played for the Canucks in 2005.06 when he appeared in a career-high 70 games and actually led all Canucks defencemen in points with 34 (5-29-34). In 2006.07, he signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Flyers but played just six games with them before being dispatched to the minors. He was claimed off re-entry waivers later that season by the Dallas Stars then spent the following season in Iowa with the Stars' farm club. He signed as a free agent with the Canucks in the summer of 2008 and spent all of last season in Manitoba. Well folks, that brings this week's blog to a conclusion. While we don't have the resources to end it off with a big celebrity guest or a big musical number, if we did you can imagine it would look a little something like this: <iframe width="480" height="289" frameborder="0" src="http://canucks.nhl.tv/team/embed.jsp?catid=6&id=57642"></iframe> Thanks for reading. See you after the Olympics. Enjoy the Games.

Between Ref-gate, Fight-gate and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (whoops, wrong forum), there was certainly no shortage of controversial topics this past week. Here on Number Crunching, we certainly don't shy away from controversy as we take a look at the best and worst statistics from the week that was in Canucks hockey and answer that burning question of just whether the refs really do hold a grudge against the boys in blue. And as always, read on to find out who takes home this week's coveted Number Crunching Player of the Week Award. ZEBRA WATCH <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/jan0910_ryptwo_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">We can't imagine Alex Burrows or many others in Canuck Nation are too thrilled with the crew in stripes this week particularly in light of everything that happened last Monday against the Nashville Predators. In fairness to the zebras, however, up until this recent week Canuck Nation was probably pretty happy with the way things had gone with the officiating overall on the season. Including the games from this past week's games, the Canucks have earned more power play opportunities versus their opponents in exactly half of the 48 games they have played this season. In five of the 48 games played, the Canucks have had an equal amount of power play chances as their opponents and in the remaining 19, the Canucks have had fewer power play opportunities compared to the other team. Here are Vancouver's respective records this season in each of the three scenarios: When getting more PP chances than opponent: 15-9-0 When getting fewer PP chances than opponent: 10-8-1 When getting equal PP chances as opponent: 3-1-1 Interestingly, until Saturday's contest against the Penguins, the Canucks had not received more power play opportunities in a game compared to their opponents since the turn of the calendar to 2010. ALL GIVE AND NO TAKE <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/jan1310_wild02_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Without a doubt Vancouver's worst showing of the week came in Minnesota on Wednesday as they took one on the chin in a 5-2 loss to the Wild, which was about the only thing they managed to take away in that game. For the first time all season, the Canucks were completely shutout in the takeaways column as they were credited with a grand total of zero. Vancouver's previous low for takeaways this season came way back on October 19th in Edmonton when they were credited with a measly two takeaways in a 2-1 loss to the Oilers. Through 48 games this season, the Canucks are averaging 7.375 takeaways per game. Their best night as far as takeaways are concerned came about two weeks ago on January 7th against the Coyotes when they recorded a season-high 12 takeaways. Those looking for a correlation between takeaways and wins will probably be a little bit underwhelmed going solely by Vancouver's numbers this season. In the 11 games where the Canucks have recorded ten-or-more takeaways as a team, their record is 6-4-1. As far as best "takers" on the team, Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows are the runaway leaders with 54 and 43, respectively, this season. Behind them in a distant third place tie are Mikael Samuelsson and Henrik Sedin, who each have 25 takeaways each so far this season. THE BEST OF DEMO <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/12/122808_hankpavol_tt.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Without a doubt, the best part of the week for the Canucks had to be seeing jersey No. 38 out on the ice in a game for the first time since last May so in honour of Pavol Demitra's triumphant return to the Vancouver lineup, Number Crunching presents the following "Best of Demo" stats: Canucks record in 2008.09 when Demitra scores a goal (regular season): 14-3-1 Canucks record in 2008.09 with Demitra out of lineup (regular season): 6-4-3 Longest goal streak by Demitra as a Canuck: 4 games (Nov. 17 - 22, 2008) Longest point streak by Demitra as a Canuck: 6 games (5-5-10 from Nov. 15 - 24, 2008) MILESTONES <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/jan0510_twins_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Number Crunching congratulates Daniel Sedin on reaching his 500th career NHL point on Saturday against Pittsburgh with his first assist of the game on brother Henrik Sedin's goal. Daniel became the second player this season to reach 500 points as a Canuck joining brother Henrik and officially became the sixth player to do so in all-time franchise history joining Markus Naslund (756), Trevor Linden (733), Stan Smyl (673), Thomas Gradin (550) and Henrik Sedin (527+). In honour of Daniel's latest achievement, here is a rundown of some of Daniel's more memorable career moments (courtesy of the Canucks Media Guide): First career NHL game: October 5, 2000 at Philadelphia Flyers First career NHL goal (and point): October 8, 2000 at Tampa Bay Lightning 100th career NHL game: November 23, 2001 at Boston Bruins 100th career NHL point: October 18, 2003 at Minnesota Wild 500th career NHL game: November 23, 2007 at St. Louis Blues 500th career NHL point: January 16, 2010 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins NUMBER CRUNCHING PLAYER OF THE WEEK <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/canucks3_205x115_011110.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Alex Burrows: Four goals in three games If there are any Timex executives currently reading this blog, we'd like to give you some free advice and suggest that you contact Alex Burrows immediately and offer him an endorsement deal because here is a player who clearly can take a licking and keep on ticking. In Burrows' case, the licking came first from referee Stephane Auger on Monday, followed by NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell on Tuesday in the form of a $2500 fine and then again on Saturday by Ron MacLean on Hockey Night in Canada in a segment that had about as much integrity as a house of cards. For his part, the 28-year old Burrows didn't seem to be phased much by the off-ice distractions this week as he continued his red hot streak by netting goals in all three games of the week and extending his season-high and career-high point streak to eight games dating back to December 31st (11-2-13). He enters action this week riding his third three-game goal streak of the season and will have an opportunity on Wednesday in Edmonton to match a career-high if he can find the back of the net against the Oilers. His last four-game goal streak came last season from March 9th to 15th. His current eight-game point streak is already double his previous career-high of four games. CRUNCHED BY THE NUMBERS <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/jan1310_wild08_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Alex Bolduc: 6'8", 258 lbs. For those who follow the Canucks closely, you will know that the measurements listed above do not belong to Alex Bolduc. Rather, they belong to Minnesota Wild tough guy John Scott - who the 6'3", 200 lbs. Bolduc decided was a good idea to challenge to a scrap on Wednesday in Minnesota in what was a lost cause with the Canucks down 5-2 in the third period to the Wild with less than half a period to go. While you can't help but applaud the courage of the 24-year old Bolduc, one has to question whether it was the bright idea in light of the fact Bolduc had just recently returned from a shoulder injury. As it turns out, Bolduc was literally crunched by the intimidating physical numbers of John Scott and ended up re-aggravating the shoulder injury and is now out of the lineup indefinitely. Bolduc was averaging less than 10 minutes per game but was a key component on the Canucks penalty kill - particularly with Ryan Johnson also out of the lineup. Bolduc was also one of Vancouver's best players in the faceoff circle. Among Canucks who have played 10-or-more games this season, Bolduc ranked third on the team with a faceoff win rate of 54 percent - behind only Ryan Kesler (55.8) and Kyle Wellwood (54.3)

In the Canucks locker room, they ought to be calling Alex Burrows "The Joker" after all the tricks he played last week. But here on Number Crunching, we're not joking around when we dedicate this week's blog to the hat trick hero himself. Read on to find out who takes home this week's coveted Number Crunching Player of the Week Award (as if you didn't already know). TWO IS AS GOOD AS THREE... <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/jan0710_bur2_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">If you asked Alex Burrows, he'd tell you good things come in threes - except when they happen twice, then two is just as good as three. Three was certainly the magic number for Burrows this week after a pair of hat tricks in back-to-back games gave him a total of three career hat-tricks at the NHL level and made him just the third Canuck all-time to score hat tricks in back-to-back games joining Bobby Schmautz and Petri Skriko. He is also the first NHL player to accomplish that feat since Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk scored back-to-back hat tricks on November 1st and 3rd, 2007 against the Senators and Lightning, respectively. (Special thanks to the Canucks Media Relations Department for these tidbits). Burrows also became the first Canuck to record multiple hat tricks in a single season since Todd Bertuzzi back in 2005.06 (Big Bert notched a hat trick on Detroit's Manny Legace on November 13th and another against the Islanders' tandem of Rick DiPietro and Wade Dubielewicz on January 14th). Burrows still has a ways to go if he'd like to catch up to the all-time team record for most hat tricks in a single season. That belongs to Petri Skriko who tallied four in the 1986.87 season. And here's the Numbers part of this week's blog...what do you get when you add three plus two? Five...as in five times in team history that the Canucks have had hat tricks in back-to-back games: 1972.73 November 17th: Bobby Schmautz vs. Los Angeles November 19th: Bobby Schmautz (4) vs. Buffalo 1975.76 November 8th: Ron Sedlbauer vs. Boston November 11th: John Gould vs. Toronto 1986.87 November 18th: Petri Skriko vs. Calgary November 21st: Petri Skriko (4) vs. NY Rangers 1995.96 March 6th: Russ Courtnall vs. Buffalo March 9th: Trevor Linden vs. Colorado 2009.10 January 5th: Alex Burrows vs. Columbus January 7th: Alex Burrows vs. Phoenix ...OH BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE... <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/dec2209_burr2_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">In true Alex Burrows fashion, he was quick to praise the work of his teammates in helping his capture a piece of Canucks history so, of course, Number Crunching looks at the effect of Burrows' double hat trick and their significance as far as the Canucks record books are concerned. With his first hat trick of the week against the Blue Jackets, Burrows became the fourth different Canuck to net a hat trick this season marking the first time that four different Canucks have tallied hat tricks in a single season since 2000.01. That year, the Canucks got hat tricks from Andrew Cassels (Anaheim), Harold Druken (San Jose), Todd Bertuzzi (San Jose) and Markus Naslund (Calgary). It also marked the eighth time in team history that at least four different Canucks have had hat tricks in the same season. Vancouver's all-time record for most hat tricks by different players in a single season is five. That was set back in the 1995.96 season when Alex Mogilny led the way with a hat trick of hat tricks while Cliff Ronning, Russ Courtnall, Trevor Linden and Markus Naslund all chipped in with singles. ...AND WITH ONE HAND BEHIND MY BACK TOO! <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/dec1209_burrows_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Style points count here at Number Crunching, so we're giving the nod to Burrows' first hat trick of the week as the more impressive one simply because one of the three tallies in that game came short-handed. For Burrows, it was the ninth short-handed goal of his Canucks and NHL career and moved him into sole possession of fifth place on the Canucks' all-time list of most short-handed goals - one ahead of Matt Cooke and two behind fourth-place Petri Skriko (there's that name again!). Burrows' short-handed tally was just the second of the season for the Canucks. Their first came back on November 5th in Minnesota courtesy of Henrik Sedin. The Canucks are 2-0-0 this season when scoring a short-handed goal. THE BIG FIVE-O <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/jan0510_spray_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">There's no truth to the rumour that Roberto Luongo was belting out the words to Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer after his shutout performance over the Coyotes on Thursday - specifically the part that goes "ohhhh...we're halfway there" - but that's about roughly where he is now compared to the all-time shutout king Martin Brodeur after he picked up his 50th career goose egg this past week. Luongo became just the 24th all-time NHL netminder to hit the 50-shutout mark joining an exclusive list that includes the likes of the aforementioned Brodeur, Terry Sawchuk, Dominik Hasek and Patrick Roy. Luongo is now just the third active NHL netminder who has 50-plus NHL shutouts joining Brodeur and Chris Osgood (also 50 career shutouts), sitting one shutout ahead of San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov. MILESTONES <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/010510Canucks205.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Number Crunching congratulates the following players for reaching their respective milestones this week and we honour them by providing each player with a "best of" statistic: Willie Mitchell 100th career NHL assist vs. Coyotes on 01/07 Canucks record this season when Mitchell gets a point: 7-3-0 Mikael Samuelsson 100th career NHL goal vs. Coyotes on 01/07 Canucks record this season when Samuelsson scores: 10-2-2 Steve Bernier 300th career NHL game vs. Coyotes on 01/07 Canucks all-time record when Bernier scores: 13-6-2 (5-4-0 this season) Kyle Wellwood 300th career NHL game vs. Coyotes on 01/07 Canucks all-time record when Wellwood scores: 9-8-4 (2-1-1 this season) NUMBER CRUNCHING PLAYER OF THE WEEK <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/dec1409_luongo_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Alex Burrows: Six goals and seven points in three games What more can be said about Burrows that we haven't already covered? How about the fact that if he can manage to have as good a second half as he did last season, he could become the first Canuck not named Daniel Sedin to score 30 goals in a season for the Canucks since Markus Naslund (32) and Anson Carter (33) did back in 2005.06? Last season, Burrows didn't score his 17th goal of the season until March 3rd when he scored goals 17 and 18 of the season in a game against the Minnesota Wild. That game was Vancouver's 63rd game of the season. Burrows managed to score his 17th this season in game no. 44 - 19 games ahead of last year's pace. 18 of Burrows' 28 goals last season came after January 28th, or in other words, in the final 34 games of the regular season. As of this writing, the Canucks have 37 games left in the 2009.10 regular season. CRUNCHED BY THE NUMBERS <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/121209_VAN_MIN_raymond205.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Mason Raymond: One assist in three games Every player goes through their ups and downs throughout the course of the season so we aren't trying to be overly critical of the 24-year old Raymond who, by all accounts, has been having a fantastic season so far already having set new career-highs in every offensive category. However, Raymond's been uncharacteristically quiet over the last couple of weeks since his hat trick performance in Calgary back on December 27th. For the second straight week, all Raymond has to show for on the scoresheet has been a single assist. The lack of points stands out more than perhaps it normally would because his regular linemates haven't seen a slowdown in their production. Ryan Kesler managed four assists while Mikael Samuelsson had three goals this past week. It was a similar story the previous week when Kesler (1-2-3) and Samuelsson (2-1-3) both tallied three points each compared to just a single helper for Raymond. Raymond enters this week having not scored in his last six straight games - his longest goal drought of the season.

The turn of the calendar provides an opportunity for some reflection so this week's column (our seventh edition for those keeping count...ever wonder why I never numbered them before? Seems a bit silly) looks back on the best of December, reveals the true meaning of a New Year's Bash, and counts down a list of those we have forgotten over the past decade. Also, read on to find out who takes home this week's coveted Number Crunching Player of the Week Award. (Published Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 - despite what the Entry Date may suggest). 10-4 ON ONE GREAT DECEMBER <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/dec2009_ehrhoff_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Thursday's improbable come-from-behind win over the St. Louis Blues not only ended 2009 in style for the Vancouver Canucks, it also helped the Canucks to close out the calendar year with a record-setting month. With the victory, the Canucks finished the month of December with an impressive 10-4-1 record marking the first time in team history the Canucks have ever reached double digits in the wins column in December. Their previous best December came during the 1992.93 season when they went 9-1-1 during the final month of the calendar year. It also marked the first time the Canucks have hit a double digit win total in a single month since March 2009. Last season, Vancouver's record during the month of December was 6-7-1. A VERY "GOD JUL" FOR THE TWINS <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/dec1509_hank_2_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">December was not only a record-setting month for the Canucks as a team, it was one to remember for both Daniel and Henrik Sedin who each set new personal career-highs for points in a single month. Daniel netted 22 points (9-13-22) in 15 contests during December surpassing his previous career-high of 20 points in a single month (also 15 games) which he set back in March 2007. The only Canuck to record even greater numbers in December was Henrik who amassed a staggering 25 points (5-20-25) in 15 games tying him for fifth spot for most productive month in Canucks history with Alex Mogilny who also had 25 points (12-13-25) back in February 1996 (albeit Mogilny played in two less games). Henrik's previous high for most points in a single month was 19 (7-12-19) recorded back in the 15 games he played in March 2009. The record for most points in a single month by a Canuck is still held by Stan Smyl, who netted 31 points (10-21-31) in 16 games played during March 1983. NEW YEAR'S BASH INDEED <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/jan0210_richardsbur_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Nashville may be Music City, but apparently the best hits these days emanate from Dallas. According to the stats trackers at the American Airlines Center, the Canucks nailed their opponents with a season-high 40 hits (their previous high was 27 achieved twice earlier this season) in their first game of 2010 on Saturday afternoon only to be out-done by the hometown Stars who responded by hitting the Canucks back 49 times - marking the most hits a Canucks opponent has netted this season (eight more than Carolina's 41 back on December 5th). The 89 combined hits between the Canucks and Stars also marked a season-high in a single game for the Canucks this season. The previous high for most combined hits in a single game for Vancouver this season was 63. Guess where that game took place? Dallas (November 6th). THE BEST OF HORDI <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2010/01/jan0210_hordibarch_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Number Crunching would like to congratulate forward Darcy Hordichuk who appeared in his 400th career NHL game earlier this week on Tuesday in Phoenix. In honour of the 29-year old's milestone mark, Number Crunching presents the top four Hordi stats of the season: 1. Canucks record when Hordichuk records a point: 2-0-0 (that one was easy!) 2. Canucks record with Hordichuk in the lineup: 17-9-1 3. Canucks record when Hordichuk gets into a fight: 3-3-0 4. Canucks record when Hordichuk records a shot on goal: 3-1-1 WE HARDLY KNEW YE <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/10/oct25_schneider_rr.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Inspired (or perhaps uninspired) by Mathieu Schneider's short-lived career as a Vancouver Canuck - which unofficially came to an end this past week after just 17 games and five points - Number Crunching goes through the history books to pick out this past decade's top five We Hardly Knew Ye Canucks: <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/dec0809_Osweden2_rr.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">5. Magnus Arvedson: 8-7-15 in 41 GP, 2003.04 After six seasons playing with the Ottawa Senators which included a Selke Trophy nomination in 1998.99, GM Brian Burke managed to lure the then-32 year old free agent away from our nation's capital and to the West Coast proclaiming him to be not only a great defensive forward but also a solid secondary scorer as well. Things didn't quite work out that way for Arvedson. He struggled early to put up points and just when he started to look more comfortable with his new team, he suffered a knee injury in a game against the Washington Capitals that proved to be career-ending. <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/bc/images/images/inbydate06/oct1706/chouinardgame_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">4. Marc Chouinard: 2-2-4 in 42 GP / Tommi Santala: 1-5-6 in 30 GP, 2006.07 A pair of Dave Nonis acquisitions from the 2006.07 season share the fourth spot on our list. First, there was Marc Chouinard who had just come off a career-high 30 point season with the Wild and was supposed to be the answer to all of Vancouver's third line worries. He managed just two goals and four points before being placed on waivers and banished to the AHL. He hasn't been back in the NHL since. At last report, he was plying his trade with the Cologne Sharks in Germany. At the same time, there was Tommi Santala - heralded as the best fourth line centre money could buy. A combination of healthy scratches, injuries and time spent in the minors limited Santala to just 30 regular season games with the Canucks. He somehow did manage to crack the lineup for one playoff game that season. After 2006.07, Santala went home to Finland. <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/02/feb1809_ottawa24_tt.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">3. Mats Sundin: 9-19-28 in 41 GP, 2008.09 Well we all knew this was coming didn't we? It's not that Sundin's stint as a Canuck was terrible but for the former Maple Leaf, the buzz was bigger than his bite. It took until mid-December before Sundin officially put his name on the dotted line but it took even longer for the player the Canucks thought they would be getting to finally show up. Sundin looked slow and sluggish to begin his Canuck career and when he finally did find his game in the playoffs (eight points in eight games), he wasn't able to help extend Vancouver's season beyond the second round. After a brief flirtation this past summer, Sundin officially announced his retirement prior to the start of the 2009.10 season. His time in Vancouver may have been short-lived but he did set one unofficial record for selling the most number of jerseys with a shelf-life of less than four months. <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/bc/images/images/inbydate05/oct0305/mccarthy_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">2. Steve McCarthy: 2-4-6 in 51 GP, 2005.06 It had all the makings of a great story: local boy returns to play for his hometown team. What could go wrong? Everything as it turns out for Steve McCarthy. The Trail, BC native was a point producing defenceman during his days in junior playing with the Edmonton (later Kootenay) Ice but never did seem to find that part of his game in his first five NHL seasons in Chicago. The Canucks hoped bringing him back to his home province would spark a resurgence of that offensive flair but that would not be the case. McCarthy lasted just 51 games in a Canucks uniform before being dealt to the Thrashers. Upon his departure, he made some less than kind remarks about the Canucks organization mostly concerning the relationship between team captain Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi. McCarthy spent the 2008.09 season in the KHL before returning to North America this season where he is currently playing with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/bc/images/images/inbydate05/nov1505/clouts_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">1. Martin Brochu: 0-3-0 record with a 4.17 GAA in 6 GPI, 2001.02 After opting not to re-sign veteran netminder Bob Essensa during the off-season, GM Brian Burke decided in the early part of the season that the best backup to pair with the still relatively fresh-faced Dan Cloutier was the immortal Martin Brochu, who had all of two NHL games worth of experience prior to joining the Canucks. Needless to say, the Brochu era in Vancouver didn't last very long. The Anjou, Quebec native made just six appearances in a Canucks uniform (clearly he didn't last long on most nights as he racked up just 216 overall minutes) and had a .856 save percentage. He was soon after replaced by Peter Skudra, who lasted parts of two seasons with the Canucks. After his short Canuck stint, Brochu played just 32 more total minutes in the NHL. NUMBER CRUNCHING PLAYER OF THE WEEK <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/10/oct15_samuelsson_rr.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Mikael Samuelsson: Two goals and three points in three games The week did not start off very well for the veteran Swede who learned last Sunday that he won't be participating in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in February after being left off Team Sweden. The snub was clearly taken personally by Samuelsson who made some rather off-colour, although very straight-from-the-heart remarks regarding not being selected. Team Sweden's loss was the Canucks' gain, however, as Samuelsson seemed to use the disappointment from being left behind as motivation. He snapped a 14-game goal drought with his tally against the Coyotes on Tuesday (his first goal since November 28th versus Edmonton) and added another marker on Thursday helping his team recover from a 3-0 deficit for a win in St. Louis. Samuelsson ended the week riding a four-game point streak - his longest since a five-game streak back in late October. CRUNCHED BY THE NUMBERS <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/10/SHARKS_CANUCKS_PRE_11_tt.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Rick Rypien: Zero points and 15 penalty minutes in three games Ignore the zeroes in the respective points columns because we all know Rick Rypien's primary focus isn't to provide offence, but the feisty forward from Coleman, Alberta nets the dubious distinction this week for his match penalty on New Year's Eve in St. Louis. We figure Rick's to blame for the whole hand-taping incident since referees never make mistakes, right? For the record, the 15 minutes worth of penalties in that contest for Rypien marked a regular season career-high in a single game for Rypien. Last season in the playoffs, he did manage to rack up 24 penalty minutes in a single game on May 2nd - Game 2 of Vancouver's Western Conference Semi-Final series against the Chicago Blackhawks in which his team lost 6-3. On that night, Rypien earned a 10-minute misconduct just over six minutes into the game and then earned another 10-minute misconduct in the final frame to go with a pair of minor penalties.

There was certainly plenty of holiday cheer in Canucks Nation this week with the team sweeping all three games during the week. In the spirit of the holidays and with the official halfway point of the season about to be reached, Number Crunching gets into the giving mood by presenting the unofficial mid-season awards. Be sure to bookmark this blog (Ctrl + D) to see how many of the predictions pan out at the end of the 2009.10 season. And of course, feel free to share your thoughts on who you would choose as your mid-season bests. MOST EXCITING PLAYER <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/dec2709_flames02_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Mason Raymond: 17 goals and 29 points in 39 games played Alex Burrows has taken this award home for the past two seasons but the speedy Raymond figures to have the inside track for this year's honour. Not only has the 24-year old shattered his previous career-high with 17 goals so far this season (just one behind Henrik Sedin for the team lead), but the third-year pro has a newfound confidence with the puck and it has clearly shown with his increasing repertoire of moves and his highlight-reel tallies so far this season. He'll face tough competition from the likes of Ryan Kesler and Roberto Luongo in the second half of the season but assuming he continues to do what he has been so far, he'll have a chance to take home his first ever piece of Canucks hardware. 2008.09 winner: Alex Burrows FRED J. HUME AWARD FOR UNSUNG HERO <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/dec2709_flames15_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Willie Mitchell: Three goals and 10 points in 39 games played Unsung hero is usually one of the most difficult awards to pick a winner because it's one of those honours that can simultaneously seem like there are too many and too few candidates. But so far this year, Willie Mitchell is the runaway winner of this award. Mitchell's contributions don't often show up on the scoresheets but there is no Canuck who is counted on more than Willie game-in, game-out. The Port McNeill native leads all players on the team averaging 22:22 of ice-time per game, as well as leading the team in even-strength ice-time (18:13 average) and short-handed ice-time (3:57 average). Despite seeing the best of the best on the opposition nightly, he has still managed to rack up a plus-nine rating on the season. Mitchell will also warrant consideration for the Babe Pratt Trophy (he's won the past two years) but if he doesn't walk away with that honour, he should at least be recognized as an Unsung Hero. Other candidates include Tanner Glass (gone from being pegged to be a farmhand in the pre-season to solid third-line contributor with career-high numbers this season), Steve Bernier (quietly on pace to set career-highs in goals and points), Jannik Hansen (solid penalty killer who can play anywhere from the second to fourth line), and Rick Rypien (Mr. Energy who is showing he is more than just about the fisticuffs). 2008.09 winner: Steve Bernier BABE PRATT TROPHY FOR MOST OUTSTANDING DEFENCEMAN <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/dec2009_ehrhoff_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Christian Ehrhoff: Eight goals and 21 points in 39 games As mentioned earlier, this is an award that Mitchell should be given consideration for but very likely the engraving on the trophy already bears Ehrhoff's name. The former San Jose Shark has been very impressive in his first season as a Canuck and has turned into what the Canucks had originally hoped Mathieu Schneider would be - a dependable puck-moving, power play quarterback. Ehrhoff is tied for the lead among all team defencemen with 21 points while he leads all blue-liners with eight goals. Last season, the highest scoring Canucks defenceman was Alex Edler who had seven goals. 2008.09 winner: Willie Mitchell CYCLONE TAYLOR TROPHY AS CANUCKS MVP <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/205x115_4_121609.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Henrik Sedin: 18 goals and 50 points in 39 games It's hard to imagine where the Canucks would be had Henrik struggled while his brother Daniel was on the shelf for 18 games. Henrik, however, has shown that he's not only a great player in his own right, he is one of the NHL's elite players even if he does go about his business in a quiet way on most nights. Through games played on Sunday, only one player in the entire NHL had more points than Henrik's 50 - that being San Jose's Joe Thornton who currently leads the League with 54 points. Henrik has also shown this season that he's more than just a one-dimensional offensive threat. His 18 goals on the season not only lead the team but put him in the same company among the likes of Patrick Kane (15), Rick Nash (19), Jarome Iginla (20) and Ilya Kovalchuk (22) - not too shabby for a guy who's known to pass first. Henrik will get a run for his money from perennial MVP contender Roberto Luongo as well as the likes of Mason Raymond, Ryan Kesler and his brother Daniel Sedin but barring the unforeseen, you can consider this award signed, sealed, and delivered. 2008.09 winner: Ryan Kesler Henrik also has a 17-point lead on second place Ryan Kesler in the race for the Cyrus H. McLean Trophy which is given annually to the Canucks leading point scorer at the end of the season. In 2008.09, Henrik along with Daniel were co-winners of the points award. MOLSON CUP WINNER <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/10/oct2509_luongosave_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Here are the current standings for the Molson Cup which is awarded annually to the player who receives the most game star selections. Each star selection is worth five points with tie-breakers being settled by most first star selections followed by most second star selections, and so on. Henrik Sedin - 55 points Roberto Luongo - 50 points Ryan Kesler - 35 points Mason Raymond - 30 points Daniel Sedin - 20 points Andrew Raycroft - 15 points Christian Ehrhoff - 15 points Alex Edler - 15 points Michael Grabner - 10 points Mikael Samuelsson - 10 points Alex Burrows - 10 points Shane O'Brien - 10 points Kyle Wellwood - 10 points Willie Mitchell - 10 points Cory Schneider - 5 points Jannik Hansen - 5 points Steve Bernier - 5 points Number Crunching's official prediction is that Roberto Luongo will capture his fourth consecutive Molson Cup by season's end. 2008.09 winner: Roberto Luongo BEST STAT OF THE FIRST HALF <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/dec1409_luongo_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">It goes without saying that getting off to a good start in a game goes a long way in securing two points at the end of the night and so far this season, few teams have gotten off to more good starts than the Canucks. Through games played on Sunday, only two teams in the entire NHL had held a lead after the first period more times than Vancouver's 17 - the Washington Capitals (24) and the Colorado Avalanche (18) - while only the Capitals (49) have scored more first period goals than the Canucks' 45. Vancouver's 14 wins this season when leading after the first period is tied for second most in the NHL. Only the Blackhawks, with 15 wins, have more victories when leading after the first period. What the Canucks would like to improve on in the second half of the season is their defensive game in first periods. While the Canucks are one of the best teams offensively in first periods, they've been one of the worst defensively having surrendered 35 goals in first periods this season - the most among all their periods this season. The Canucks have a record of 11-3-0 this season when they don't give up a first period goal. WORST STAT OF THE FIRST HALF <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/dec2209_lu_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">It has gotten much better in recent games, but the penalty killing was clearly a major thorn in the paw for the Canucks throughout the first half of the season. The Canucks have given up at least one power play goal in 21 of the 39 games they have played so far this season and the results haven't been pretty when they do give up a goal while short-handed. Vancouver's record this season in games where they surrendered a power play goal is 7-14-0, much more devastating than last season when they managed to finish with a .500 record in games when giving up a man-advantage goal (20-20-8). It gets even worse when they give up more than one power play goal to the opposition as they are just 2-6-0 in those games. Through games played on Sunday, Vancouver's power play sat right smack in the middle of the NHL pack at number 15 with a success rate of 80.5 percent having allowed 29 goals on 149 times shorthanded. NUMBER CRUNCHING PLAYER OF THE WEEK The holidays are a time for giving so Number Crunching is doling out two POTW awards this week. <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/dec2209_sedin_t.jpg class="imageFloatRightFramed">Daniel Sedin: Two goals and seven points in three games It was a banner week for the 29-year old forward who was looking to rebound after ending the previous week with no points in the final two games. Daniel began the week with a three-point night (1-2-3) against the Predators and followed that up with another three-point night (1-2-3) on Boxing Day versus the Oilers. After finding out officially on Sunday morning that he would be representing Sweden at the 2010 Winter Olympics, Daniel celebrated the news by extending his point streak to three games with an assist against the Flames. The point against Calgary also marked Daniel's 20th point in December tying his personal best for most points recorded in a single month (March 2007). <img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/12/dec1409_bieksa_t.jpg class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Mason Raymond: Three goals and four points in three games There is no better place than home to spend the holidays and Mason Raymond would definitely attest to that. The Alberta native, playing in front of family and friends at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary on Sunday, netted his first career hat trick to close out the week in a 5-1 win for the Canucks. Included in the three-goal outing for the 24-year old was also his team-leading eighth power play goal of the season - double his entire total from all of last season. It's going to be all gravy for the left winger from this point out in terms of single-season career totals. He has already set new highs in goals (17) and points (29) and his next assist will give him a new career-high in the helpers category as well. His next major milestone will be his 100th career NHL point. He's currently sitting at 76 career points (40-36-76) but given his current pace, it's not a stretch of the imagination to think that he'll be able to reach that mark before the end of the 2009.10 regular season. In the spirit of the holiday season, there will be no Crunched By The Numbers player this week. And while I have this opportunity, I would like to wish every member of the Canucks Community a very happy and prosperous New Year! Thanks for reading and see you all in 2010.

It's always good to know there's at least one person reading. Either that or you clicked the link by accident lol Merry Christmas Pinhead.