NHL Saturday Give and Go: Questioning the Canucks

Saturday’s NHL Preview, Odds and Picks

Since we’re closing in on the midway point of the NHL season, we figured it was high time we get a weekly column together. Frank will check in on a handful of Saturday’s games, giving his picks. What you go do with those picks are entirely up to you.

If there’s one thing you can count on when it comes to the Vancouver Canucks, it is questions – and lots of them. Questions about the goaltending, coaching, trades, toughness, more about the goaltending – it’s been a continuous barrage of twisted punctuation marks over the past couple of years.

This year is no different. While the team has played reasonably well all season, the Canucks are really in deep right now. They figured the luxury of having two No. 1 goalies on the roster would be that they could avoid slumps in the crease. Well, so much for that. Roberto Luongo gave up eight to Detroit in his last start and Cory Schneider has allowed at least three goals in each of his last four starts.

To make matters worse, Ryan Kesler is on the shelf again with a fractured foot and no forward on the team outside of the Sedin line has 10 points. Plus, defenseman Kevin Bieksa is battling a groin issue that may keep him out of Saturday’s matchup with the Los Angeles Kings.

It’s a bad time to be hosting the reigning Stanley Cup Champs, too. After a terrible start, the Kings are rounding into form with seven wins in their last eight games, allowing more than one goal just twice over that span. The Canucks (-160) will be looking for revenge after L.A. dumped them in the playoffs last year, but these are two teams heading in opposite directions. Final score: Los Angeles 3, Vancouver 1.

Pittsburgh at Montreal (-125, 5.5)

It’s always a party when Sidney Crosby comes to Montreal. He’s finally hitting his stride this year with 14 points in his last eight games and always brings it when he’s up against the Habs. The Pens have dropped consecutive games to begin their road trip, making this one especially important. The Bell Centre has been very good to the Habs, but Pittsburgh gets back on track here. Final score: Pittsburgh 4, Montreal 3.

Anaheim at Phoenix (-125, 5)

You would be hearing a lot more about the Anaheim Ducks if it weren’t for the Chicago Blackhawks’ amazing start. The Ducks are 14-3-0-1 to start the year and own the league’s top power play (29.3 percent) and the No. 2 overall offence (3.3 goals per game). But this is tough spot for Anaheim in the second half of a back-to-back. Phoenix will be the rested team and is desperate need of a win after dropping three of its last four. Final score: Phoenix 2, Anaheim 1.