Vancouver Canucks Week #16 Outlook, Predictions: Bo vs. East

@ New York Rangers (24-15-5) Tuesday, January 19th

Leading scorer: Mats Zuccarello (16 goals, 32 points)

Keys to the game

1. Crack King Henrik
2. Time to spread the scoring
3. Etem’s homecoming

Although the Canucks only play the Rangers twice a year, everyone knows King Henrik Lundquist.

Lundquist is not having the greatest of seasons, but he is still among the elite of the East. Playing behind a healthy corps of defencemen will do that for you. It is the Canucks’ job to crack King Henrik open. Also, if you thought that Islanders and their fifth-best home record was something, here are their rival Rangers with the fourth-best home record.

To crack King Henrik, Horvat will not be enough. The last time these two met, it was Daniel Sedin getting it done. The Sedins have cooled off somewhat lately, and it is time that Hank and Dank come to Horvat’s aid in putting pucks in the net. Why not give Emerson Etem a shot with the twins or with Bo? After all, it is his homecoming.

And you know what that means. If the Canucks can capture emotion and dictate the flow of the game, they will be able to repeat their winning performance from last week’s match against the Florida Panthers and when Eddie Lack started for the Carolina Hurricanes in Vancouver. Etem must play hard and stick it to old coach Alain Vigneault and the Canucks should follow in his steps.

On that note, there is another storyline to watch. Dan Hamhuis. Hamhuis went down with facial fracture the last time these two played. Win it for Hammer, because he will be watching. Of course, no need to run over any Rangers for accidentally shooting a puck into Hamhuis’s jaw.

Our Predictions

David Joun:

The Canucks are going to push and push, but Lundquivst will keep things out for his club and some timely scoring spread around by NYR will result in a 3-2 loss for Vancouver that feels as if they deserve a point. Perhaps OT?

Sarah Laug:

Janik Beichler:

Next: at Boston