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Feb 03, 07
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nucks @ flamers 7:00
   GAME: Vancouver Canucks (29-19-4) vs. Calgary Flames (27-17-6). The Canucks have taken points in 15 of their past 16 games. Simply put, they’re hot. Roberto Luongo is showing Hart Trophy form, the power play has climbed all the way to 13th, and Thursday night against the Oilers they improved their divisional record to 10-10-2. Considering they were 2-8-1 earlier in the season, clawing back to .500 is an impressive feat – especially in an ultra-tight Northwest where a paltry eight points separate first and last. The Canucks get a chance to finally push their way past the tipping point Saturday when they take on the Flames. With 29 games left, every match inside the conference from here on in is crucial. “You can’t emphasize enough how important these games are,” said Canucks captain Markus Naslund. “It’s a playoff atmosphere, and it’s going to be like that down to the wire.” Vancouver has averaged 3.5 goals per game since Christmas and posted a 12-1-3 record over that stretch, though they’ve won just two games in the past five (they’ve lost once in overtime and twice in a shootout). Goals haven’t been the trouble, it’s been defence. Despite some heroic efforts from their goaltender, the Canucks have struggled to keep the puck out of the net at critical times. The Kings scored in overtime, the Blue Jackets beat Luongo just 18 seconds in, and The Oilers scored twice in the final three minutes of Tuesday’s win before Jan Bulis finally silenced Northern Alberta with an empty netter. Getting Willie Mitchell back will certainly help. The rugged B.C. boy logged his first real game minutes for the first time in almost a month when suited up against the Oilers. “He made a huge difference,” said coach Alain Vigneault. “Just by him being in the other team’s face, talking back, and having a good stick – obviously we’re a better defensive team when we have him with the group.” And the Canucks will need him. The Calgary Flames have been much better than expected without captain and leading scorer Jarome Iginla. They’ve coming off back-to-back wins over Anaheim and Edmonton in which they scored a total of seven goals. Forwards Kristian Huselius, Daymond Langkow and Tanguay have led the way offensively for the Flames without Iginla. Huselius has six goals and eight assists during a 10-game point streak. Langkow has five goals and eight assists in his last 12 contests while Tanguay has three goals and four assists in his past five games. Getting one of the league's top players back should make them even more formidable. Iginla will likely return to the Calgary lineup for the first time in nearly a month Friday as the Flames try to win their seventh straight at home in a matchup with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Iginla was on pace for a career-best 111 points, with 23 goals and 30 assists, before suffering a sprained knee Jan. 4 against Florida. The Flames (27-17-6), though, hardly missed their best player, going 7-2-2 in his absence and remaining near the top of the tight Northwest Division. When Iginla does return, he will see a very familiar face as a new teammate. Craig Conroy, acquired Monday from Los Angeles, paid immediate dividends with two goals Tuesday in a 4-1 victory over the Kings. "It surpassed all expectations," said Conroy, an instrumental part of Calgary's run to the Stanley Cup finals in 2004. "It gave me goose bumps being out there on the ice. It was a lot of emotion for me." The suddenly high-octane Flames should prove even tougher given that Saturday’s game will be played in Alberta. Calgary leads the NHL with 20 home victories and has outscored opponents 22-10 during a six-game win streak at the Pengrowth Saddledome. The Canucks have won the past three meetings, and the Flames will be itching for a little revenge. Oh yeah, the winner Saturday will take top spot in the Northwest. 3-2 nucks. 
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@Flamers
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Feb 03, 07
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A hard fought 5-1 nucks.... the dice have spoken!
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