Phoenix Coyotes Hockey on AZ Vibe

Coyotes vs. Vancouver Canucks
General Motors Place – Vancouver, British Columbia
Puck Drops at 8:00PM Arizona Time
TV: FSN AZ – RADIO: XTRA 910

Last five games:
Canucks: 4 – 0 – 1
Coyotes: 2 – 1 – 2
Last ten games:
Canucks: 7 – 2 – 1
Coyotes: 6 – 2 – 2

Two of the top teams not only in the Western Conference but in the NHL will do battle tonight as the Phoenix Coyotes travel to Vancouver to take on the Canucks. This will be the second of four meetings between the two teams this season.  Both teams last met December 29th at the Job where Phoenix won in the shootout 3-2.

The Canucks are backed by two solid scoring lines led by NHL scoring leader Henrik Sedin who along with his brother Daniel have finally blossomed as first line forwards.

The Sedin twins have, throughout their careers,  always had a reputation for being secondary scoring threats that give opposing coaches headaches when making game plans.  However, for the first time in their careers they have given Vancouver one of the most feared primary scoring lines since the days of the West Coast Express  (Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi, and Brendan Morrison). One of the main reasons for their success this season is that the twins are backed by a extremely solid secondary scoring line anchored by Ryan Kesler.

The Coyotes looked good in their game Tuesday night against Edmonton.  That was until an opposing team’s player got in the face and head of Ilya Bryzgalov and seemed to start a chain of events that unraveled the normally sound Coyotes defense.

The Coyotes have proven they can go toe to toe with the best in the NHL but they play the Canucks in one of the toughest buildings in the league.  Winning at GM Place would just add to the mystique of what the Coyotes are accomplishing this season.

As strong as the Canucks have been offensively their main weakness over the course of the first part of the season has to be their play in their defensive zone.  The Canucks lacked the defensive discipline to keep opponents off the score board.  They have been playing solid hockey since the Christmas break (the Canucks are 6-0-1 since the end of the Christmas break).  However, the majority of the teams they have played (with the exception of the Coyotes) since the break are at middle or the bottom of the pack in the their divisions/conferences.

Should be a good game tonight!

Things to keep an eye on:

The NHL Officials – If you haven’t noticed by now, with the exception of one linesman, the officiating crew that blew call after call from the Oilers game on Tuesday will be calling tonight’s Coyotes/Canucks game.

Canucks Scoring Depth – What the Canucks have now in terms of forward scoring depth across multiple lines is what the Coyotes are going to need to go REALLY deep in the playoffs.   The Canucks have so many offensive scoring weapons that it can give teams like the Coyotes fits on who to cover.

Keys to the game:

Keep opponents out of Bryzgalov’s face:  http://bit.ly/7hz4Fy

Discipline – The Canucks have one of the deepest and most potent offense in the league and the Coyotes need to bring their ‘A’ game once again tonight.  This Canucks team is talented, experienced  and smart enough to capitalize on any small mistake that the Coyotes may make tonight.

Keep the Canucks PP off the ice – The Canucks have the #4 power play in the NHL and the #1 power play in the NHL on home ice.  The Coyotes can’t afford to gamble on stupid penalties (like getting suckered into fights) with the talent on this Canucks roster

Game Notes:

- According to the Coyotes website Martin Hanzal took part in the morning skate and is expected to play.

- Todd Walsh of Fox Sports Arizona reported that Daniel Winnik will be in the lineup tonight for the Coyotes.

Injuries:

Canucks: Pavol Demitra, Ryan Johnson, Kevin Bieksa

Coyotes: Kurt Sauer, Scottie Upshall

Officials:

Referees: Stephen Walkom (24), Ian Walsh (29)
Linesmen: Shane Heyer (55), Lyle Seitz (51)