Vancouver (6-6-0) at Los Angeles (8-4-1)

  • Game info: 10:30 pm EDT Thu Oct 29, 2009
  • TV: CPPV, FSW

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO, STATS Writer Oct 29, 2:46 am EDT

Preview | Box Score | Recap | Highlights
  • Print

Injuries are mounting for the Vancouver Canucks, and losing goaltender Roberto Luongo(notes) for at least two games might be the biggest blow. Facing the surprising Los Angeles Kings won’t help either.

The Canucks look to withstand a growing list of absences Thursday night when they visit Los Angeles.

Vancouver (6-6-0) has eight players out with injuries, including Luongo, who will miss at least the next two games due to a hairline fracture in one of his ribs.

The All-Star suffered the injury during Saturday’s 3-1 win over Toronto, when a shot from the corner caught him through a soft spot in his padding. He played through the injury, making 27 saves in a 2-0 win over Edmonton the following night, but aggravated it Tuesday while facing 42 shots and giving up five third-period goals in a 5-4 loss to Detroit.

“I am stubborn so I don’t know,” Luongo said about the possibility of an early return. “Thankfully, I dealt with this a couple of years ago. It’s almost the same injury and I know more or less what the timeline is and how you feel on a day-to-day basis.

“There is no definite timeline because it’s really about the amount of pain that you’ve got there. I’m definitely not playing the next two games, so we’ll see after that.”

The Canucks, who visit Anaheim on Friday, certainly didn’t fare well without Luongo last season, going 12-14-3 as he missed most of those games with a groin injury.

Backup Andrew Raycroft(notes), who has allowed one goal in 52 minutes over two games when Luongo was pulled by coach Alain Vigneault, will get his first start Thursday. The Canucks also recalled Cory Schneider(notes) from their AHL affiliate to serve as the backup.

Raycroft went 12-16-0 with a 3.14 goals-against average in 31 games with Colorado last season before signing with Vancouver in July. He’s lost his last three games against the Kings (8-4-1), posting a 6.86 GAA.

The Canucks’ injuries took a scary turn in the second period Tuesday when center Ryan Johnson(notes) was carried off the ice on a stretcher after sliding headfirst into the end boards. He was taken to a hospital for further observation, though a team spokesperson said he was alert and had full movement.

Johnson was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, joining left wing Daniel Sedin(notes) (foot), defenseman Sami Salo(notes) (knee), right wing Jannik Hansen(notes) (hand) and center Pavol Demitra(notes) (rotator cuff) on IR. Centers Kyle Wellwood(notes) (toe) and Rick Rypien(notes) (groin) are both considered day-to-day.

The Canucks took three of four meetings from the Kings last season, splitting two games at Staples Center.

Los Angeles is looking to rebound from Wednesday’s 2-1 shootout loss at San Jose that snapped a four-game winning streak.

“When you get to the shootout it’s like a lottery and you saw that (Wednesday),” said center Anze Kopitar(notes), who didn’t factor in the scoring against the Sharks and failed to convert in the tiebreaker. “We had our chances to put it away but everybody seemed to be bobbling the puck and couldn’t put it in.”

Despite that loss, the Kings are tied with San Jose - the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winner - for first place in the Pacific Division. That’s a vast improvement after Los Angeles finished tied with Phoenix at the bottom of the division last season.

Kopitar leads the NHL with 21 points and his 10 goals tie him for second with San Jose’s Patrick Marleau(notes) and Marian Gaborik(notes) of the New York Rangers, one back of Washington’s Alex Ovechkin(notes).

Kopitar has one goal and three assists in his last six games against Vancouver.

Updated Oct 29, 2:46 am EDT
digg del.icio.us
more

Team Comparison

Team G W L OTL Pts Standings GF GA Road/Home
Vancouver 23 12 11 0 24 3rd, Northwest 67 60 4-8-0 Road
Los Angeles 24 13 9 2 28 3rd, Pacific 73 75 5-4-1 Home

Notes

The Canucks avoided an embarrassing loss Thursday, scoring with 73 seconds remaining in the third period to snap a 3-3 tie after entering the session with a 3-0 lead. ... Vancouver was 1-for-7 on the power play. ... C Ryan Kesler and RW Pavol Demitra each registered a game-high five shots on goal. ... C Kyle Wellwood won all seven of his faceoffs.

May 1, 12:38 am EDT

The Kings finished 34-37-11 on the season. ... The Kings finished with 79 points this season, eight more than last season and 11 more than 2006-07. ... RW Anze Kopitar finished as Los Angeles' leading scorer for second straight season with 66 points. ... Captain C Dustin Brown won the Bill Libby Memorial Award as the team's MVP. ... Rookie D Drew Doughty won the Mark Bavis Memorial Award as the team's best newcomer, and the Oustanding Defenseman award.

Apr 11, 9:39 pm EDT
NHL

17 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. Andrew
    17. Posted by Andrew Fri Oct 30 4:50pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I don't like the red wheel but they are a good team it's too early in the season to say the red wings are done. Hey good luck kings talented team. Nice shot in the shootout by Ryan Kesler,and former red wing Mikael Samuelsson.
  2. BigBadBills
    16. Posted by BigBadBills Fri Oct 30 4:32pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Raycroft has only played behind one decent team before, Boston (before they traded Thorton), and he won the Calder. I expect him to do well behind a good team like Vancouver... I'm a (realistic) Leafs fan and there's no way I blame Rayzor for how things went in Toronto. How bout the team just wasn't any good.
  3. dropthegloves
    15. Posted by dropthegloves Fri Oct 30 12:59pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    60. Posted by dropthegloves Fri Oct 30 12:24pm EDT Report Abuse
    Oilers are Wings clipper. Oilers beat injuries depleted Red Wings. They don't win that many road games any more. At least not this year. Red Wings are Cup contender this year? I don't think so! Osgood is getting old. Pretty soon Lidstrom has to retire. He's getting old too. I'll give Osgood two more years and after 2 years he must retire. Babcock will be fired in a year or 2. That's is my prediction. They end their cycle of success. They are not an elite team, not this year. I am a King fan. Detroit always have our numbers, but not this year. Kings will make it to the playoffs this year. Mark my words. They lost a tough game last night. Back-to-bakck games. They got the same scores on both. They lost 2-1 in the shootout to San Jose on Wed. night and 2-1 shoutout lost to Vancouver on Thu. night. They are still on top of the Pacific Division. I can't wait until the Red Wings come to town. Go Kings!
  4. PJG.
    14. Posted by PJG. Fri Oct 30 11:54am EDT

    Report Abuse

    hey Budaj has swine flu man. that's not right
    vVvVvV
  5. <i>krew_or_die</i>
    13. Posted by krew_or_die Fri Oct 30 10:58am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Raycroft is a solid backup goaltender but he's just not meant to be a starting guy. As an Avs fan, I'm sort of disappointed we keep that god awful wreck Budaj instead of Raycroft as a backup. But then again Anderson is amazing so I'm not going to complain. I hope Raycroft does well in Vancouver!
  6. the critic
    12. Posted by the critic Fri Oct 30 10:50am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Boring game thanks to those lousey cancucks...Kings we have to let those 2 games go... We out played those 2 teams... everybody knows we shouldve won... buts thats the NHL.. Hey were in first place...Good work Team...
  7. Mike L
    11. Posted by Mike L Fri Oct 30 4:05am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Sammuelson gets the tying (and only Canucks') goal, and the winner in the shootout, and he doesn't get a star? WTH!
  8. Guy F
    10. Posted by Guy F Fri Oct 30 3:10am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Hopefully, Luongo's out longer than a week...

    Ryan Kesler should be wearing the "C" in Luongo's absence (actually, he should be wearing it ALL THE TIME)

    This night belonged to AR, not AK

    @ BC Caps : I realize your question was rhetorical, however, the answer is that Raycroft makes 6.67% of Luongo's salary. Another way of looking at it, Louie makes 15 times what Andrew does.
    Interesting, considering this was the most impressive performance by a Canuck goaltender so far this season...
  9. 88
    9. Posted by 88 Fri Oct 30 2:55am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Oh, I forgot. Colorado does not miss the Razor either. I hope you can resurrect your career in Vancouver Andrew. I couldn't believe Gillis gave you yet another chance to play in the NHL. Thought for sure you were KHL bound or perhaps off to France, Switzerland, the U.K. etc.....
  10. 88
    8. Posted by 88 Fri Oct 30 2:48am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Congratulations to The Razor! Wow! I am impressed, very very impressed. First star and 30 saves. Keep it up Andrew. We don't miss you in Toronto at all, neither does Boston but we hope for good things for you and the Canucks. Well done.
  11. BC Caps
    7. Posted by BC Caps Fri Oct 30 1:43am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Way to go, Raycroft. You make how much?
  12. <i>j.yandeau@...</i>
    6. Posted by j.yandeau@... Fri Oct 30 1:27am EDT

    Report Abuse

    I believe the Canucks won :)
  13. <i>nelson95</i>
    5. Posted by nelson95 Fri Oct 30 1:14am EDT

    Report Abuse

    boo Canooks get the sissy point nd visiting fans act like the jerks they are
    boo
  14. PJG.
    4. Posted by PJG. Thu Oct 29 10:02pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Let's get this W.
  15. ChefMetaL
    3. Posted by ChefMetaL Thu Oct 29 7:54pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Good game last night but the fish got off the hook. As for tonights menu Cunuk rymes with peanut sooo add oil,salt, and sugar blend well,and spread them all over the rink.GO KINGS GO!!!!!!
  16. teachher
    2. Posted by teachher Thu Oct 29 5:20pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Kopitar has 21 points already! He only had 66 all of last season. Great start. Hey, who would have thought the Kings would be in 1st Place (granted, tied) after 13 games into the season? Keep up the good work, Kings! Make us proud by making the playoffs this year.
  17. the critic
    1. Posted by the critic Thu Oct 29 10:29am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Tough loss last night wouldve shouldve won But today is a new day and Vancover comes in with an injured Roberto Lougo....GO KINGS.... Keep play ing well Frolov and Kops me thinks your going to have a high scoring night.
Sign in to post a comment, or sign up for a free account

Team Stat Leaders

Goals
Assists
Points
Plus/Minus

Scoreboard

Thursday, Oct 29
Watch Live Hockey Online with GameCenter Live™

YAHOO! SPORTS

ALSO ON YAHOO!

THINGS YOU CAN DO

- Site Map

Copyright © 2009 2009 STATS LLC and The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the STATS/AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of STATS LLC and The Associated Press.