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Posted On Thursday, 01.01.2015 / 5:00 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Kings at Canucks

VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Canucks have started to turn around a poor record against teams from California, but the reversal won't be complete until they finally solve the Los Angeles Kings.

Vancouver was 2-9-3 against the three California teams last season, a big reason they missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in six seasons.

The Canucks already exceeded that point total against those teams this season at 3-1-2, including an overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks and a win over the San Jose Sharks on a road trip to start this week.

But the lone regulation loss was a 5-1 defeat in Los Angeles, and the Kings, who trail the Canucks by one point in the Pacific Division, have won five of the past six meetings.

"If you want to be in the playoffs now, especially with the new format, you have to beat those teams and they are three of the best teams in the NHL," forward Alexandre Burrows said. "You have to be .500 or better if you want to get in. We've done some good things, skated with the Sharks, beat Anaheim earlier in the year and now we have to beat these guys. They've had our number the last couple years."

Posted On Monday, 12.22.2014 / 8:21 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

Canucks forward Hansen won't play vs. Coyotes

VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Canucks forward Jannik Hansen will not play Monday against the Arizona Coyotes after briefly losing consciousness and collapsing on the bench Saturday in a game against the Calgary Flames.

After participating in the morning skate Monday, Hansen said he had been cleared to play against the Coyotes, but the Canucks later said he will not be permitted to play.

"In the process of reviewing Hansen's test results the Vancouver Canucks in consultation with specialists have determined that further evaluation is required before he is cleared to play," the Canucks said in a statement. "Despite all tests being reported as normal, additional tests were ordered in the best interests of Hansen's health and safety."


Posted On Monday, 12.22.2014 / 4:53 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Coyotes at Canucks

VANCOUVER -- Jannik Hansen doesn't remember passing out on the Vancouver Canucks bench Saturday, but he never thought he was unconscious long enough to believe something seriously was wrong.

Despite spending Saturday night in a hospital, Hansen confirmed he will play against the Arizona Coyotes on Monday after tests confirmed his scary collapse had nothing to with heart problems.

"I kind of lost my wind," Hansen said. "It happens from time to time. But I wasn't able to catch it quick enough and I took a quick nap on the bench. It's scary in the moment but I had an idea it wasn't anything with the heart. It was basically I couldn't breathe so I wasn't too worried. But you go through all the precautions to get checked and double-checked and triple-checked and get the OK sign."

Posted On Saturday, 12.20.2014 / 4:10 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Flames at Canucks

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames will try to end long slumps that are threatening to derail surprising starts when they face each other at Rogers Arena on Saturday.

Calgary’s 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Friday was its seventh straight in regulation, a skid that has dropped the Flames outside the Western Conference cutoff for the Stanley Cup Playoffs following an impressive, but unexpected, 17-8-2 start to the season.

Vancouver is winless in five games and facing a similar drop after an equally unforeseen 18-7-1 start and is two points ahead of the ninth-place Flames, though Calgary has played three more games.

Posted On Wednesday, 12.17.2014 / 5:25 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Stars at Canucks

VANCOUVER -- Dallas Stars coach Lindy Ruff wasn't surprised to hear the Vancouver Canucks talking about tightening their defense after a 5-1 loss against the New York Rangers on Saturday.

Ruff has expressed similar concerns this season about his Stars, who enter play Wednesday allowing 3.48 goals per game, most in the League, as they start a three-game road trip in Vancouver on Wednesday.

"I watched their last game so I think that's an obvious statement," Ruff said of the Canucks. "When you see 2-on-1s, 3-on-1s and sometimes when you get caught being too aggressive and you don't have the cover, it can look pretty bad. But I think they have made a living so far being really aggressive and having their [defensemen] involved."

The focus in Vancouver now is finding a better balance between that attacking style without also giving up the odd-man rushes that have plagued them during a season-worst four-game losing streak (0-3-1).

Posted On Saturday, 12.13.2014 / 3:57 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Rangers at Canucks

VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Canucks coach Willie Desjardins has been praised for his consistency throughout his first two months on the job, sticking with his lineup through slumps and mistakes.

So it’s probably not a coincidence his first significant line juggling comes after the first three-game losing streak of the season.

Coming off a 0-2-1 finish to a seven-game road trip, Desjardins is dropping Radim Vrbata from the top line with Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin, and moving him down to a struggling second line centered by Nick Bonino. Rather than re-uniting Alexandre Burrows with the Sedins, however, Desjardins is moving Jannik Hansen up from the fourth line to the first, and dropping Chris Higgins from the second to fourth.

With Shawn Matthias playing on the third line after missing the past two games with a head injury, all four Vancouver lines will have a new look against the New York Rangers on Saturday night.

"I don’t think it's shocking," captain Henrik Sedin said. "I wouldn't call it a wake-up call either. I don’t think the changes are major. It’s moving one player off each line pretty much and that’s no problem. It’s when you see changes after one period in each and every game and you never get any familiarity with guys, that’s when it's tough."

Posted On Tuesday, 11.25.2014 / 5:15 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Devils at Canucks

VANCOUVER -- The timing of the announcement wasn't lost on 19-year-old Vancouver Canucks rookie center Bo Horvat.

As Horvat prepared to play his ninth NHL game against the goaltender he was traded for, Canucks coach Willie Desjardins told the team Horvat was staying for the season.

Desjardins came into the locker room before the morning skate and showed one bad clip featuring Horvat followed by a good one, and then asked Horvat which player he was going to be.

"I thankfully said the right one and he said, 'Well welcome to the NHL,'" Horvat said. "It was a special moment, something I'll never forget."

Posted On Sunday, 11.23.2014 / 7:55 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Blackhawks at Canucks

VANCOUVER – Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin never envisioned playing 1,000 games in the NHL, let alone on the same team and with twin brother Henrik Sedin as a linemate.

It wasn't long after being picked second and third in the 1999 NHL Draft that the Sedin twins wondered if they would last more than a couple years. Their speed and strength were questioned and criticized their first few seasons, which Daniel said will make game 1,000 on Sunday night against the Chicago Blackhawks feel that much sweeter.

"Early on it was tough for sure," Daniel said, "But looking back both me and Henrik are happy we went through those tough times because it makes you enjoy things a little more now."

Henrik played his 1,000th game in March, while Daniel was out with a leg injury. They will be in the lineup together at Rogers Arena on Sunday, when Daniel joins Henrik and former teammate Trevor Linden, who is now the team president, as the only three to play 1,000 games for the Canucks.

Posted On Thursday, 11.20.2014 / 5:33 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Ducks at Canucks

VANCOUVER – Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler is in the spotlight as he returns to play against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday for the first time since forcing a trade to Anaheim over the summer.

The Ducks, however, are more focused on the return of other players from illness and injury, and a return to winning on the ice.

While Vancouver fans prepare to welcome Kesler back with a likely mix of cheers and jeers, Anaheim welcomes defenseman Francois Beauchemin back after missing five games with the mumps and forward Devante Smith-Pelly, out three with an upper-body injury.

The Ducks, who also got top goal scorer Corey Perry back from the mumps two games ago, have picked up at least a point in six of the past seven games but only have one win (1-1-5).

Posted On Friday, 11.14.2014 / 5:16 PM

By Kevin Woodley -  NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - 2014-2015 At the Rink blog

At the Rink: Coyotes at Canucks

VANCOUVER -- First-year Vancouver Canucks right wing Radim Vrbata will return to the top line and power-play unit just in time to face his old team, the Arizona Coyotes, on Friday.

Vrbata said he never wanted to leave Arizona, but is more concerned with his own game than his old team.

"It's not so much about me proving something to them," said Vrbata, who missed the past two games with an undisclosed lower-body injury. "I left them on good terms."

Vrbata made it clear he preferred not to leave at all, saying he and the Coyotes talked about a contract extension before and during last season. He even circled back after becoming a free agent this summer before signing a two-year, $10-million contract with the Canucks.

"I was looking for the next best choice and it was Vancouver," he said.

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