(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?

Raymond celebrates his goal on Friday (Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

The Vancouver Canucks are not expected to make any changes to their lineup when they take on the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night following a 5-0 shellacking of the Anaheim Ducks.

Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault told the media following Saturday’s practice it was “likely” no changes will be made.

AV: With our performance last night, we’ll likely stay with the same lineup against San Jose.

— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) January 26, 2013

This means veteran centre Manny Malhotra will sit out the game as a healthy scratch and Andrew Ebbett will play right wing on the fourth line if Maxim Lapierre is fit to play. Malhotra did not play on Friday and was in Vancouver to be with his wife and newborn son. He rejoined the team on Saturday in San Jose.

Lapierre missed his second practice in three days as he battles a strained groin. He missed practice last Thursday as well, but was able to play Friday against the Ducks.

AV: Lapierre has been given the day off. Will skate tomorrow morning and see how he feels.

— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) January 26, 2013

One player to keep an eye on Sunday is Sharks left winger Patrick Marleau, who has a league-leading eight goals. He is the first player in 95 years to start a season with four consecutive multi-goal games. The only other player to accomplish this feat was Cy Denneny, who did it in 1917-18 with the original Ottawa Senators.

Sunday will be goaltender Cory Schneider‘s third consecutive start, but with the team playing three games in four nights, expect Roberto Luongo to start on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings.

Projected lines for Sunday’s game:

Daniel Sedin – Henrik Sedin – Zack Kassian
Chris Higgins – Alexandre Burrows – Jannik Hansen
Mason Raymond – Jordan Schroeder – Dale Weise
Aaron Volpatti – Maxim Lapierre – Andrew Ebbett

Jason Garrison – Alexander Edler
Dan Hamhuis – Kevin Bieksa
Keith Ballard – Chris Tanev

Cory Schneider
Roberto Luongo

Photo: Faceoff.com

December is now here which means we are getting closer and closer to Christmas. Last Christmas I wished for the Vancouver Canucks to win the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately, Santa decided to only give me 93.7% of that gift leaving myself and Vancouver one game short of our biggest dream. Instead when I got home after that very heartbreaking night, I found a small piece of coal underneath my Canuck pillow. At first I thought the tooth fairy was playing some kind of sick trick on me. Then slowly I realised that maybe, just maybe it could be Santa signalling to me that I was just placed on his naughty list. I guess me flashing the cameras at the penalty box was “naughty” – just kidding.

With Christmas just around the corner, which NHLers will be on Santa’s naughty list? Here I bring you the top ten naughtiest players and why. (more…)