Previous Ranking: 23 (-3)
Team Record: (5-8-1)
Player of the Week: F Daniel Sedin (4gp 2g 1a 3pts)
Special Teams
PP: 4-for-43 (9.3 percent) (29th)
PK: 6-for-40 (85.0 percent) (9th)
We sure took a lot of flack from Canucks fans following the first couple of weeks because we weren’t ranking them higher. There was a reason for that. Vancouver had 17 goals through their first 10 games. They’ve looked better of late scoring 10 goals in their last three, including five versus the Rangers on Tuesday.
The most promising takeaway from the last game was the top line. Loui Eriksson scored his first goal of the year, and things seemed to be clicking the way we had expected after signing that $36 million dollar deal in the offseason. They’ll need more than the Sedin twins and Eriksson going though if they hope to make a playoff push. Everyone wondered where the secondary scoring might come from beyond that top line. Guys like Bo Horvat and Brandon Sutter will need to step up to answer those questions.
If you’re an optimist, you can take comfort in the fact that both goalies are playing so well. Most teams would love to have one guy going, let alone two. This should create options for GM Jim Benning a little ways down the road. That Ryan Miller contract is a tough sell right now, but as a rental at the deadline at a cheaper price, it could fetch the Canucks a couple decent assets.