02/23/12. 2011/12: 62. Canucks@ Wings. 7:30 pm NHLN, FSND, 97.1 FM

**lordstanley** · 02-23-2012, 12:38 PM

Mighty Luongo Brings His Canucks To Town

Presents the following thread:

(38-16-6=82)

AT

(41-18-2=84)

This game is a presentation of:

Game 62
Location: Joe Louis Arena
Date: Thursday, February 23rd, 2012
Time: 7:30pm EST
Teams: Vancouver Canucks (Northwest) at Detroit Red Wings (Central)

Television Broadcast Provided by:

NHL Network (U.S.)

Fox Sports Detroit

Radio Broadcast Provided by:

97.1 FM

NHL.com Game Preview

Vancouver Canucks at Detroit Red Wings Game Preview - 02/23/2012

Last 10: Vancouver 7-1-2; Detroit 7-2-1.

Season Series: This is the fourth and final meeting between the clubs. The Wings have won two of the first three matchups, including a 4-3 shootout on Feb. 2 at Rogers Arena.

Big Story: The top two teams in the Western Conference collide in what is primed to be an epic showdown in Motown. Detroit enters Thursday's showdown just two points ahead of Vancouver, although the Canucks have a game in hand. Vancouver is faced with a remarkably tough task when you consider the Red Wings have won a League-record 23 consecutive games at Joe Louis Arena.

Team Scope:

Canucks: Vancouver was 9-0-3 in its last 12 games heading into Tuesday's match at Nashville. While the Canucks played a solid road game, they came up short against Pekka Rinne and the Predators in a 3-1 loss at Bridgestone Arena. It was Vancouver's first regulation loss since Jan. 15.

"I think anytime you lose it's frustrating, and when you play so well like that it's a little more frustrating," said Dale Weise, who had the Canucks' lone goal Tuesday. "(We're) back at it Thursday and tomorrow's another day and we'll get right back to work.

"I thought we played well. We had enough chances to win. Their goalie stood on his head and when we win so many games in a row like we did, we're bound to run into a game where you're not going to get the bounces and not going to score. Full credit to their team."

Red Wings: Detroit has been phenomenal at home, but it has been plagued by inconsistency on the road. Such was the case again Tuesday night, when the Red Wings suffered a 2-1 loss at Chicago. Jimmy Hayes scored the tying goal in the second period and set up Marcus Kruger's winning score in the third for the Blackhawks, who dropped Detroit's road record to 15-16-1.

"I thought we played about 10 good minutes to start the game and then I thought we were careless with the puck and made poor mental decisions," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "I didn't think we gave ourself much of chance."

Who's Hot: The line of Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin and Alexandre Burrows came up empty Tuesday night, but it combined for 16 points last weekend in victories against Edmonton and Toronto. … Valtteri Filppula scored Detroit's lone goal Tuesday night. He has points in four of his last five games.

Injury Report: Canucks winger Byron Bitz has missed back-to-back games due to a sore hip, while defenseman Keith Ballard is out with a neck injury. … Pavel Datsyuk is expected to miss a month after undergoing knee surgery, while Patrick Eaves is out due to post-concussion syndrome.

Stat Pack: Burrows appeared in his 500th NHL game Tuesday night. The 30-year-old was never drafted and spent his first two professional seasons in the ECHL. Since joining the Canucks, he has 133 goals and 125 assists.

Puck Drop: "Pav's been out before and he's a huge part of our team but we're going to need guys to step up. This is an opportunity for other guys now to play in a role maybe they're not used to playing in, maybe getting some more ice time, and they're going to find a way to get it done for us." -- Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard on Pavel Datsyuk's injury

**drownwithyou** · 02-23-2012, 12:43 PM

Quincey practiced with Ericsson.

I also thought that Kindl looked pretty good last game, sucks it took an acquisition to get it out of him.

**lordstanley** · 02-23-2012, 01:25 PM

I like that the Blues lost last night in regulation to Boston and start a 6-game roadtrip tonight. 13 of their next 16 are on the road. That SHOULD allow the Wings to ice the division.

**lordstanley** · 02-23-2012, 01:28 PM

Quincey fighting the Canucks' Laperierre earlier this season:

**Detroit Rock City** · 02-23-2012, 01:42 PM

Certainly will be tough to keep the streak alive tonight without Pavel out there. Adding Quincey has me excited that the 3rd line defensive pairing will be much improved since Kindl and Ericsson have struggled for awhile now.

**hail2mich** · 02-23-2012, 07:56 PM

Helm! Wings up 1-0!

**lordstanley** · 02-23-2012, 07:58 PM

Helm gives Wings the lead 11 minutes in.

**lordstanley** · 02-23-2012, 08:01 PM

Wings being outshot 14-4 but leading and going on the PP.

**hail2mich** · 02-23-2012, 08:06 PM

Howard keeping the Wings in it right now. Canucks are outplaying the Wings in the first period.

**hail2mich** · 02-23-2012, 08:13 PM

Wings have 4 shots on goal, and have had 3 PP opportunities this period.

**lordstanley** · 02-23-2012, 08:15 PM

Pretty brutal period. Wings outshot 17-5. 0 for 3 on PP, held shotless on 2 of those.

**Shelton** · 02-23-2012, 08:26 PM

Looking forward to the playoffs when I can figure out who the hell half of the wings players are.

I don't think I've watched a single game this year. I used to watch all 82.

Youth is wasted on the young.

**Detroit Rock City** · 02-23-2012, 08:26 PM

Not a good period at all and they are winning. Need to play with a little more energy and stop leaving Jimmy out to dry, whom is playing a fantastic game thus far

**hail2mich** · 02-23-2012, 08:38 PM

Quincey with an interference penalty. Sounds like that has been a problem with him

**hail2mich** · 02-23-2012, 08:47 PM

Another penalty on Quincey.

**lordstanley** · 02-23-2012, 08:51 PM

Much better half-period for the Wings. Have killed back to back penalties. In the 4 games the Canucks and Wings have played each other this season, so far they've combined for 28 PP attempts - but no powerplay goals!

**lordstanley** · 02-23-2012, 08:57 PM

What a blatant dive by Higgins. But Miller goes in the box.

**lordstanley** · 02-23-2012, 08:59 PM

Sedin ties it, darn.

**hail2mich** · 02-23-2012, 08:59 PM

Tie game

**lordstanley** · 02-23-2012, 09:00 PM

Great save Luongo on something approaching a 3 on 1.

**drownwithyou** · 02-23-2012, 09:14 PM

I'm awake!

I thought the Wings were going to get a goal right at the end there. Unfortunately I woke up right before the Sedin goal...

**lordstanley** · 02-23-2012, 09:16 PM

Wings do everything but score in the final 30 seconds of the 2nd. 1-1 after 2.

2nd period was reverse of the 1st. Wings badly outplay the Canucks, outshoot them 15-8, but give up the only goal. Maybe we want the Wings to suck in the 3rd period so they can win the game.