(Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports)

Vancouver Canucks continue to surge up the Western Conference standings with another solid performance in front of the home crowd at the Roger’s Arena against the Calgary Flames.

The game started with fast paced action from both clubs. Mason Raymond caught an errand puck in the face and had to go to the dressing room for repairs, but returned later in the period.

Flames forward Lee Stempniak opened scoring at 18:18 of the first period. He beat Corey Schneider with a wrist shot, assisted by Matt Stajan and Blake Comeau. Flames goalie Leland Irving played excellent in the first to give the Flames a 1-0 lead at the end of the period.

The first part of the second period was dominated by the Flames even while on he penalty kill. That was until Alexandre Burrows scored with a wrist shot set up by both Henrik and Daniel Sedin at 8:34 of the second. Only seconds later at 9:01 Jordan Schroeder posted his first NHL goal set up by Alexander Edler and Burrows. Schroeder tipped a shot from the point neatly between the legs of Irving to give the Canucks their first lead of the game. Kevin Bieksa‘s slapshot from the point gave the Canucks a 3-1 lead and Bieksa his second goal of the year, assisted by the Sedin twins.

The third started with an early tally by Chris Higgins assisted by Maxim Lapierre and Kevin Bieksa. The Canucks looked in mid-season form outplaying the Flames for the rest of the game. To make the night even more memorable for the rookie Schroeder, he added a second goal at 15:41 of the third to seal the deal at 5-1.

Both goalies did play well—33 stops for Schneider and 26 for Irving. The Canucks were just a much better team on this night. The two goalies for Vancouver are making their coach and his coin tossing ability look good. The Canucks have now won 5 straight games they now await the Minnesota Wild coming to town on Tuesday night. Will the Wild avenge their loss to these same Canucks who beat them 4-1 last Thursday night? Which mask will Alain Vigneault’s coin land on this time with the trouble Roberto Luongo has had with the Wild in the past?

Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Vancouver Canucks will look to redeem themselves on Monday after losing a close one against the young Edmonton Oilers in their home opener.

After struggling in the first new games, Cory Schneider‘s apparent backup, Roberto Luongo has made a real statement in his last few performances. The Canucks management and coaching staff have a “problem” that any coach and team would love and hate to have. It is great having the option of two great puck stoppers, but it can cause dissension in the dressing room and become a distraction with the constant media attention.

The bottom line is the Canucks have to put a winning team on the ice. Fans will love whoever gets them the wins and instead of focusing on all the politics off the ice, they need to worry about the next win.

On Monday night, they are in tough against a young Oilers team that has tons of young talent. If you give them the opportunity, they will beat you.

The key to this game is to come out with the jump they had last game against the Chicago Blackhawks. If the Canucks come out flat like earlier starts, it will be over very quickly.

On Sunday morning, Alain Vigneault announced goaltender Roberto Luongo will start the game in Oil Country. You cannot really blame him for this decision. If it isn’t broke you don’t fix it. His recent play has made it an easy decision for the coaching staff and the chant of “Lou” at Rogers Arena on Thursday probably made the decision that much easier.

For now, there is no goaltending controversy—it’s Luongo’s job to lews.

There is more good news for fans as centre Ryan Kesler will travel with the team, but he won’t be playing just yet. News that Kesler is with the team and participating in full contact practices suggest he will return to the lineup soon.

Mason Raymond had a strong game for the Canucks, scoring and adding an assist (photo thanks to Mike Stone, REUTERS)

All the talk in Vancouver over the past 48 hours has been reaction to Chicago Blackhawks’ Duncan Keith, and his calculated,  head-targeting blind side elbow to Daniel Sedin.  TSN’s Bob McKenzie has followed the situation closely, and his tweets initially indicated that Keith would have a phone-in hearing, which would indicated Keith would receive 5 games or less as a punishment.  But subsequent tweets say that the league now wants to have an in-person hearing, meaning the suspension could be 6 games or more.  At this stage, it is unknown if Keith will waive his right to an in-person hearing, but the league’s intentions should be known later this morning.

Meanwhile, reaction to the incident from head coach Alain Vigneault highlighted the teams’ frustration with the illegal hit.

I expected a major, and I got a minor, so we’ll let the league deal with it.  You saw the hit, you didn’t see a puck near the hit, you guys make the judgement call on that and the league will do what they have to do.  Everybody saw the headshot there, so (Sedin will be) re-evaluated tomorrow and I’ll know more from there.    [It was] deliberate, principal point of contact, everything you’re trying to take out of the game. (more…)