Travel schedule rough
The Canucks have a brutal travel schedule heading into Minneapolis. They charter out of Edmonton following tonight's game and don't land until 2:30 a.m. local time. That means not getting to their hotel until 3:30 to 4 a.m.
Salo can smile
Injured defenceman Sami Salo (facial surgery) is making the trip, but is a longshot to play in any of the three games. Asked if he was close to playing as the team boarded the plane on Monday, Salo smiled and said, "We'll see."
What everyone will be talking about: Whether the Canucks can put pucks past expected starter Mathieu Garon, who stoned them at GM Place last Wednesday, earning a shutout in a 1-0 shootout win. The Canucks have scored 10 times in two games since so, at least on paper, should be able to net a few against one of the league's worst defences.
What lines will start: Expect the shutdown line of C Ryan Kesler, LW Taylor Pyatt and RW Brad Isbister to be out against RW Ales Hemsky and (as of Monday's practice) LW Robert Nilsson and C Shawn Horcoff.
Oilers update: Edmonton has lost two straight since beating Vancouver. Head coach Craig MacTavish did some further shuffling at Monday's practice, promoting enforcer RW Zack Stortini to the top checking line with C Jarret Stoll and LW Raffi Torres -- who will see a lot of Daniel and Henrik Sedin. LW Dustin Penner joins C Andrew Cogliano and RW Sam Gagner.
Who's hurting: Canucks -- D Sami Salo (facial surgery, one week); D Kevin Bieksa (lacerated calf, indefinite); D Mattias Ohlund (suspended, four games); C Rick Rypien (fractured finger, two weeks). Oilers -- D Sheldon Souray (shoulder, week-to-week); D Mathieu Roy (shoulder, out); D Joni Pitkanen (knee, day-to-day); D Matt Greene (ankle, out); LW Ethan Moreau (ankle, out).
The Canucks have a brutal travel schedule heading into Minneapolis. They charter out of Edmonton following tonight's game and don't land until 2:30 a.m. local time. That means not getting to their hotel until 3:30 to 4 a.m.
Salo can smile
Injured defenceman Sami Salo (facial surgery) is making the trip, but is a longshot to play in any of the three games. Asked if he was close to playing as the team boarded the plane on Monday, Salo smiled and said, "We'll see."
What everyone will be talking about: Whether the Canucks can put pucks past expected starter Mathieu Garon, who stoned them at GM Place last Wednesday, earning a shutout in a 1-0 shootout win. The Canucks have scored 10 times in two games since so, at least on paper, should be able to net a few against one of the league's worst defences.
What lines will start: Expect the shutdown line of C Ryan Kesler, LW Taylor Pyatt and RW Brad Isbister to be out against RW Ales Hemsky and (as of Monday's practice) LW Robert Nilsson and C Shawn Horcoff.
Oilers update: Edmonton has lost two straight since beating Vancouver. Head coach Craig MacTavish did some further shuffling at Monday's practice, promoting enforcer RW Zack Stortini to the top checking line with C Jarret Stoll and LW Raffi Torres -- who will see a lot of Daniel and Henrik Sedin. LW Dustin Penner joins C Andrew Cogliano and RW Sam Gagner.
Who's hurting: Canucks -- D Sami Salo (facial surgery, one week); D Kevin Bieksa (lacerated calf, indefinite); D Mattias Ohlund (suspended, four games); C Rick Rypien (fractured finger, two weeks). Oilers -- D Sheldon Souray (shoulder, week-to-week); D Mathieu Roy (shoulder, out); D Joni Pitkanen (knee, day-to-day); D Matt Greene (ankle, out); LW Ethan Moreau (ankle, out).
