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Hamhuis set to return to line up


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http://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/preview?id=2014020655&navid=nhl:topheads

Was very happy to see this today.

Projected D Line Ups:

Alexander Edler - Christopher Tanev

Dan Hamhuis - Kevin Bieksa

Luca Sbisa - Ryan Stanton

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis will return to the lineup Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes after missing 22 games with a serious hip injury.

"We've been testing it in practice for the last month and with the team the last week, so I feel really confident," Hamhuis said. "I'm just going to approach the game with a simple focus. I've been out for a while but I have full confidence in my legs."

Hamhuis sustained the injury Nov. 20 against the Anaheim Ducks when his skate caught a rut, and his abductor muscle tore away from the hip. After a difficult rehab the veteran defenseman has made a point of attending meetings and participating with the team to stay sharp.

"Developing the physical part is one thing; being sharp mentally is another part that's probably just as important or more important," Hamhuis said.

The Canucks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0 on Thursday, ending a three-game losing streak. Vancouver, which scored two goals during the skid, saw several forwards break out of dry spells.

When Nick Bonino scored the opening goal on a pretty spin move in the slot, it was his third goal in 28 games. Henrik Sedin followed by re-directing Daniel Sedin's shot for his third goal in 19 games. Jannik Hansen scored Vancouver's fourth goal on a breakaway for his second in 20 games. Goalie Ryan Miller made 30 saves for his fourth shutout of the season.

The Hurricanes are 14-24-5, but with a 4-1-1 in January, they hope to build some momentum in the second half of the season. After scoring one goal or less in 17 losses this season, Carolina has scored 18 goals in its past six games.

"Whenever you start winning hockey games there's a little less stress in the room. Everyone's a little happier," defenseman Tim Gleason said. "I know it's frustrating that it's in the middle of the year, but sometimes it takes a little longer than others. I know we're a ways out of it, but from a team standpoint we're playing a lot better."

Hurricanes forward Andrej Nestrasil will return to the lineup after a three-game conditioning assignment with the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League. Nestrasil has been out of the lineup since Dec. 8 because of an upper-body injury.

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Murphy hinted these combos actually:

Edler-Tanev

Hammer-Corrado

Stanton-Bieksa

Sbisa scratched

@sportsnetmurph: I'm guessing Sbisa is one scratch on D and I wouldn't be surprised if Hamhuis/Corrado were a pairing tonight. #canucks

Fair enough. I think lu deserves the scratch. I still support him but he's having such a tough time exiting the zone.

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Murphy hinted these combos actually:

Edler-Tanev

Hammer-Corrado

Stanton-Bieksa

Sbisa scratched

@sportsnetmurph: I'm guessing Sbisa is one scratch on D and I wouldn't be surprised if Hamhuis/Corrado were a pairing tonight. #canucks

Wouldn't mind seeing those pairings. I had just put what was on the NHL.com article. :)

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Murphy hinted these combos actually:

Edler-Tanev

Hammer-Corrado

Stanton-Bieksa

Sbisa scratched

@sportsnetmurph: I'm guessing Sbisa is one scratch on D and I wouldn't be surprised if Hamhuis/Corrado were a pairing tonight. #canucks

Hamhuis-Corrado would be an interesting pairing to look out for.

I disagree with Stanton over Sbisa though. Stanton can never make a pass out of the zone nor can he skate the puck out. You use Stanton over Weber and Sbisa only if you want to be defending and a guy who gets the puck out. Sbisa makes more mistakes in the d-zone but he can do other things better.

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Damn. If Corrado manages to out-play Sbisa, we got some serious depth on D if Sbisa is our 7th and Weber 8th..

And with Biega/Sangs in the minors.. Nice

Hamhuis-Corrado would be an interesting pairing to look out for.

I disagree with Stanton over Sbisa though. Stanton can never make a pass out of the zone nor can he skate the puck out. You use Stanton over Weber and Sbisa only if you want to be defending and a guy who gets the puck out. Sbisa makes more mistakes in the d-zone but he can do other things better.

I'd actually disagree on that one. Sbisa and Bieksa are both notorious for making stupid decisions in the d-zone. The reason Stanton is great with Bieksa is because Stanton provides some sort of stability for Juice (when he's not taking a billion penalties lmao). Sbisa - Bieksa would probably be a disaster in our own zone. But yeah, i do agree that Sbisa is a better player overall, but you can't scratch Bieksa, and Stanton makes more sense.

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This probably isn't true but it's fun to speculate. What if Corrado is getting his shot with the big club to see if he can compete at this level so that managment can package one of our other defenders in a deadline deal. The timing would seem right.

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Murphy hinted these combos actually:

Edler-Tanev

Hammer-Corrado

Stanton-Bieksa

Sbisa scratched

@sportsnetmurph: I'm guessing Sbisa is one scratch on D and I wouldn't be surprised if Hamhuis/Corrado were a pairing tonight. #canucks

I'd like those. Edler/Tanev is set, Corrado could get a chance to learn from and play with a Team Canada defenseman, much like Tanev last season, and Stanton & Bieksa although struggling as the 2nd pair should be able to face easier competition and less ice time with Hamhuis back and hopefully thrive as an above average 3rd pairing, with Bieksa getting more PP and PK time.

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