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.

Perhaps it was the fact that the Canucks outscored opponents by a 1.71 margin while earning 24 points, going 11-1-2 during December.  It might also have been Roberto Luongo’s hottest stretch of hockey in recent memory, averaging a paltry 2 goals a game and .924 GAA in that span.  Whatever the reasons, the Canucks find themselves someplace they haven’t been since the 1992 season:  Sitting atop the NHL standings.  Roberto Luongo spoke to the teams recent success, their 5th straight win, earned during a 2-1 win in Colorado Sunday.  ”We’ve got guys chipping in every night; it’s not always the same guys producing.  You need that over the course of an 82 game schedule.  It’s not always going to be the same line.”

Ryan Wilson of the Avalanche attempts to check Mason Raymond, who missed 10 games with a broken thumb

Perhaps what Canucks fans are witnessing is a more “coming of age” in the maturation process of the core players.  Ryan Kesler is possibly the embodiment of the theory.  Much has been made of his ‘less chirpy’ style of play, reserving his emotion for matters during the game, not between whistles.  The perennial Selke trophy threat has elevated his game, and is on pace to decimate his previous career best in goals (26), at a 42 goal clip.  Having honed his release, particularly his wrist-shot, he’s added elusive direction changes to the skill set, with very favorable returns.

Manny Malhotra as well has continued his emergence as one of the premier defensive forwards in the League.  He’s on pace for a career-best 15 goals and 41 points.  But size, speed, and a shutdown presence are what he’s most appreciated for.

Manny Malhotra works against former Shark teammate, Swede Niclas Wallin

Of course, there’s always the bonus of having possession of the puck 62.5% of the time after a faceoff.  Mikael Samuelsson on Malhotra’s leadership role with the club: “It comes with how you carry yourself, how you approach things.  He’s very serious and focused to do the right things all the time – he’s not just throwing words out there – but the things he says are usually right on.”

Jeff Tambellini has also been a very pleasant surprise.  The former 1st round draft pick has hockey sense galore, and is tied for the team lead in hits.  His takeaway percentage is also quite high, with the versatility to be inserted anywhere between the 2nd and 4th line.  His rocket, top shelf (glove side) wristers have become somewhat of a common occurrence.

Alex Burrows celebrates his go-ahead goal versus the San Jose Sharks Monday

The Canucks, now 25-8-5, have Calgary (18-19-3) up next Wednesday, and then complete the Western teams hosting Friday as they entertain the Edmonton Oilers at Roger’s Arena.  The Canucks put a six-game winning streak on the line against the Flames, who just had a four game winning streak snapped by the inexplicably hot New York Islanders (7-2-1  last 10).

In the next installment of The Canuck Way, focus shifts towards the Canucks new bread and butter: Special teams.

Manny Malholtra helps Raffi Torres celebrate his second of three goals versus the Oilers

Satisfied to come away with two points and their first road victory of the season, the Canucks edged out the Oilers 4-3.  After building a 3-0 lead, Edmonton kept chipping away, while the Canucks eased off the offensive throttle.  The young Oilers club hustled, and out-worked a Canucks club that has to continue to attack in order to be successful.  Certainly, having Roberto Luongo behind them minding the net adds a certain air of confidence to the team.   But because they are marginal in their own zone, they must learn to stay true to their attacking form.  They gave young Andrew Cogliano and Ales Hemsky room and space in the neutral zone, with poor results.  In Colorado tonight, if they afford Hejduk, Stastny, or Stewart that kind of room, they’ll find themselves on the wrong side of the score sheet.

Roberto Luongo has the puck bounce off his leg pads and then chest during the game with Edmonton

Perhaps Vancouver’s three straight penalty kills wound up being the difference in the game.  It was the fifth straight game that they’ve denied a powerplay goal, which moves their overall penalty kill to 10th best in the league.  Of interest, they are ranked 2nd at home, while their road penalty kill is ranked 28th.  Ryan Kesler weighed in on the teams’ efficiency while short a player.  ”I just think we’re playing as  a unit out there.  We’re taking short shifts and we’re rolling through really well.  We’ve got really good duos of forwards and we’re just getting the job done.  It’s good that we have a righty and a lefty (handed players) who can win draws consistently.  A big part is puck possession and clearance.”

Kesler’s reference to the faceoffs is noteworthy, because the addition of  Manny Malholtra has been a godsend.  As he’s prone to do, he leads the NHL in faceoff win percentage (64.6%) and has added a new element of speed and puck possession to the kill.  Alain Vigneault agrees.  ”That’s probably the important change in our PK right now.  Probably two out of three times, the puck is in the other end right off the bat.  Our first reflex right now in penalty killing is we’re going to get it down the ice and that changes the whole dynamics.”

Shawn Horcoff and Roberto Luongo keep a close eye on the puck Tuesday

Cory Schneider (0.86 GAA, .968 sv %) has had an excellent start to his first full season, will get the start against the Avalanche (6-4-1).  Two hundred feet away, Peter Budaj is Colorado’s incumbent starter after Craig Anderson tore his ACL during warm-up in their previous game against the Canucks.  Budaj has won two straight games since that encounter, and the Avalanche enjoyed a four day break.

Aaron Rome proves the Canucks know their success relies on being an attacking club

The return of Alex Burrows is encouraging on a number of fronts.  On the road, he’s a spark plug on the penalty kill, and will certainly improve Daniel and Henrik Sedin’s game.  ”I was surprised at how good he was,” said Henrik.  ”I thought he kept his shifts short.  We had a few shifts where we could feel the chemistry back.  It’s going to take a while.  he’s been missing a lot of games.  But it felt good right away.  The small plays we make with each other were there, so I’m happy.”

Burrows scrutinized himself a little more closely.  ”Not great, not right away.  I just wanted to stay composed and keep my shifts pretty short and simple.  It’s going to take a couple of games for me to come back to a good game but I’m looking forward to it.”

Ballard and Luongo battle through Colin Fraser’s screen

The Canucks defensive strength will definitely be tested in Denver.  Chris Stewart (a player Dave Nonis passed over with the #14 pick in 2006, and instead chose Michael Grabner) is tied for 2nd in the NHL for points.  He is also second behind Steven Stamkos for goals (9), and has a 26.47% shooting accuracy thus far.   Alain Vigneault feels special teams will factor heavily into tonight’s result.  ”Special teams, whether it’s getting a timely goal on the power play or getting a timely kill, is huge on the road for keeping momentum going.  I think that will go a long way for us.  We can be better than a game below .500 on the road and I think being better at killing penalties will help us do that.”    Mason Raymond and Ryan Kesler each had their 3rd goal of the season last time out against the Avalanche, with Jeff Tambellini and Peter Schaefer also tallying for the white, blue and teal.