Canucks vs. Blue Jackets in Columbus 4PM PST SNET-P

[coco_canuck]

The Canucks look to make it a 5 game winning streak, and 10 wins in their last 11 games. Columbus on the other hand is trying to avoid its third straight loss.

Andrew Alberts draws back into the line-up...as a winger. Billy Sweatt has been dispatched back to Chicago.

Expected Canucks line-up:

Sedin Sedin Burrows
Higgins Kesler Hansen
Lapierre Hodgson Raymond
Alberts Malhotra Weise

Hamhuis Bieksa
Edler Salo
Rome Ballard

Luongo

The Jackets expect to look like this:

Nash Carter Prospal
Vermette Brassard Johansen
Dorsett Umberger Pahlsson
Boll Letestu Mackenzie

Nikitin Tyutin
Methot Wisniewski
Moore Clitsome

Looks like Steve Mason will start in goal.


Arneil is serving up a perfect opportunity to get fired after tonight's game by putting Mason in goal. It's Mason's first start in a month, and hasn't played in 12 games.

Good luck to the Jackets and happy trails to Scott Arneil.

[Potatoe1]

Arneil is serving up a perfect opportunity to get fired after tonight's game by putting Mason in goal. It's Mason's first start in a month, and hasn't played in 12 games.

Kind of an odd move to dress Mason.

Perhaps it's because we have owned the Jackets so much over the past 2 years that Arneil thinks he might as well just roll the dice here.

If they get decent but not great goaltending the Canucks win. If they get bad goaltending the canucks win. If they get spectacular goaltending they have a decent chance.

I think he is betting on the long shot.

I also expect the Jackets to play the same style as the Sens, again because they might see it as their only chance.

[coco_canuck]

I think he is betting on the long shot.

I also expect the Jackets to play the same style as the Sens, again because they might see it as their only chance.

Yup, a big gamble. I get that he has to give Sanford a rest, but is tonight the night to do it?

It makes sense to save your good goalie against a team you likely have no chance of beating, but it can't be great for the team' and Mason's already fragile psyche to get throttled on home ice.

Although this could be the perfect type of trap game, the way the Canucks are playing, with the same professionalism we saw last year, it's going to be really hard to limit the Canucks chances.

Like you said, Mason will have to stand on his head to give the Jackets any chance of winning. To say that's expecting a lot is an understatement since Mason has had trouble just keeping his head above water, let alone standing on it.

[rats19]

Why overwork number 1 in a losing battle. The bjs are rolling over on this one...

[ukcanuck]

Lets hope the Canucks aren't thinking the same thing and try to mail in a effort and Mason pulls a Georges imitation and stones the boys in the third when they are trying to come back from a goal deficit in the third...I've seen that story before

[rats19]

I thought the same thing as I typed it....but our work ethic has not been an issue so I didn't edit anything...

[old calamari]

i wonder if the nhl has ever asked clitsome to change his name?

[clem]

Columbus played the Canucks less physical/chippy on Nov 29 than on Oct 10, and lost 4-1 instead of 3-2. Over the two games, the Canucks PP got one goal and gave up a SHG. That message isn't good for the Canucks.

Time to bear down and show why it's a bad idea to take penalties against the Canucks.

PS - Henrik will remember the Methot hit from Oct 10.

[dhabums]

Arneil is serving up a perfect opportunity to get fired after tonight's game by putting Mason in goal. It's Mason's first start in a month, and hasn't played in 12 games.

Quitting means he doesn't get paid.

With all of the Mason-bashing over the last couple of days, he is probably due a shut out.

[dhabums]

i wonder if the nhl has ever asked clitsome to change his name?

Clitmore?

I hope his lame hockey nickname is clitty.

[Uncle dans leg]

i wonder if the nhl has ever asked clitsome to change his name?

Clitmore?

I hope his lame hockey nickname is clitty.

I wonder if he's ever found himself standing up in a canoe and seen the irony of it all...

[dhabums]

i wonder if the nhl has ever asked clitsome to change his name?

Clitmore?

I hope his lame hockey nickname is clitty.

I wonder if he's ever found himself standing up in a canoe and seen the irony of it all...

The young girl from the city? What a pity.

[Corb]

I was listening to the radio the other day and they were expounding on how poorly Carter and Richard's teams have done since Philly dispatched them.

I also like watching Nash play, mainly because he is lazy.

Maybe Arneil figures he'd have a shot at the LA job is Mason gets him canned tonight.

Rome(r) on the wing by the way, Alberts on D.

[clem]

Rome(r) on the wing by the way, Alberts on D.

Alberts point coverage was memorable.

[Jovocop]

I was listening to the radio the other day and they were expounding on how poorly Carter and Richard's teams have done since Philly dispatched them.

I also like watching Nash play, mainly because he is lazy.

Maybe Arneil figures he'd have a shot at the LA job is Mason gets him canned tonight.

Rome(r) on the wing by the way, Alberts on D.

It is funny how small players need to play 110% all the time to keep their job in the NHL while big players can float 90% of the time...