Kesler itches to be back in fray

All-out style of play means need for caution about returning too soon By Ben Kuzma, The Province October 17, 2011

His teammates didn't skate Sunday, but Ryan Kesler did. Hard and fast for an hour.

It was another significant step following late July surgery on his left hip but the Vancouver

Canucks centre was also guarded in projecting a return to the lineup - even though he's entering

the 10-12-week recovery window with the procedure.

However, this is where it gets tricky. The Selke Trophy winner plays through people and not

around them. He willingly blocks shots, sets picks and screens and has the war wounds to show

for unselfishness that produced a career-high 41 goals last season.

And as much as Kesler wants to return as soon as possible knowing the spotty 2-2-1 Canucks

could use his two-way presence, caution is the calling card.

"Obviously, I'm a competitive guy and I don't like to see the team lose," said Kesler. "You think

about coming back sooner, but it wouldn't be smart for me. I have to keep reminding myself to

be patient and let my hip and body tell me when I'm ready and not my mind and my heart.

"It's smart for me to take my time now and let everything heal. I'm not a guy who plays on the

perimeter, I want to get in there and battle. I'm getting closer but obviously I still feel it [hip] at

times out there - just certain movements I don't feel comfortable doing yet. I'm not going to come

back until I feel comfortable or I'm 100 per cent."

Kesler has been skating with teammates since Oct. 5 and joined them on the four-game road trip

that concluded with a 4-3 win in Edmonton on Saturday. A strong stride would suggest that

Kesler is close to a return, but replicating timing and battle drills in practice is one thing. Doing

that in a game is completely different.

It wouldn't be a stretch to suggest that Kesler would prefer to get a couple of home games under

his belt - Oct. 26 against St. Louis and Oct. 28 against Washington - before a six-game road trip.

Then again, with Kesler you never know. He will practise Monday and didn't sound like

somebody who would push his recovery to face the New York Rangers on Tuesday.

"If there's a miracle I might," said Kesler. "I'd like to play in front of the home fans before that

[November] road trip, but who's to say if I will. It's day by day right now. Some days I feel good,

other days I don't feel that good. Lately, I've been stringing some practices together. It's a good

test to get some reps in with a couple guys I'll be playing with in the future."

The future can't come soon enough.

One player doesn't make a team, but the early sample size this season shows the Canucks waning

in areas they usually dominate with Kesler's contributions. They led the league in goals for, goals

against and power play last season and were third in penalty killing.

After five games, they're 11th in goals, 25th in goals against, eighth on the power play and 25th

in penalty killing. More importantly, they don't have much cohesion after the top line.

Cody Hodgson isn't Kesler but has admirably centred a revolving second line. Marco Sturm, who

had two knee surgeries the past three years, has been a bust with no points, two shots and a

minus-4 rating after five games. Mikael Samuelsson, who had adductor and sports hernia surgery

in May, has been marginally better with three points, but Chris Higgins has been the best second-

line left winger with four points.

When Kesler does return, Canucks coach Alain Vigneault will have options and he could move

the playmaking Hodgson to wing on the second line. Vigneault also knows that in Kesler he'll

have a dominant centre who leads by example, keeps a dressing room loose and hates to lose.

The Canucks need the guy who figured in 11 of 14 second-round playoff goals against Nashville

and the driven demon who scored the tying goal despite being injured in the deciding game of

the Western Conference. All that can't come soon enough.

"It's tough, especially at the stage I'm at now," added Kesler. "I need to get my wind back. I'm a

perfectionist out there and I've got to be patient with my game the first little bit and not get

frustrated. I've got to stay the course and I know it's going to come around. I expect big things

when I come back."

Kesler missed 10 weeks with hip surgery in 2007 and if anything, he's learned that bravado has

its place as long as he's totally healthy.

Kesler can't play at 90 per cent. He's not wired that way. It's why he didn't go into coast mode

last fall in the first year of a six-year $30-million-US contract extension.

It's why the 27-year-old Livonia, Mich., native annually tops polls as one of the league's most-

hated players because he also has the gift of gab and will throw the occasional jab.

He's the kind of guy who you want on your team but hate to play against. And he knows he'll be

in the crosshairs when he does return.

"I know I'm going to have to go through a preseason mode and I'm going to be behind the 8-ball

a bit when I play my first game.

"I've got to battle through that and I know it's going to be tough."

Not as tough as not playing. That's why he hopes to play before the end of this month.

"That's the goal of mine but we'll see," he summed up. "It's small victories right now, here and

there."

Salo’s pair erases Nuge’s hat

16 Oct 2011

The Province

Jason Botchford

Defenceman scores twice, including third-period winner

EDMONTON — The Canucks have seen the future and it moves fast.

It promises a considerable number of tremendous Oilers-Canucks games, too. And lots of Keith

Ballard hip checks.

Ballard’s hip was about the only thing the Canucks had that managed to upend the Oilers top

line, which is young, fiery and fast as a jailbreak.

There will be nights this year when the Oilers will run like a new toy without the batteries

against the Canucks. Saturday was not one of them. The Canucks are without Ryan Kesler,

structure, discipline, and, oh yeah, it’s October. They were primed to play pylon for the swift

Alberta team, and they did an excellent job of it for long stretches of the second period.

But despite a breakout performance by Ryan NugentHopkins, who supposedly had a hat trick,

and another pitiful second stanza, the Canucks cranked up the old Mustang V8 long enough to

take over the game, winning 4-3.

“We got one more goal than him, so I guess the Canucks beat Nugent-Hopkins 4-3,” Kevin

Bieksa said.

Sami Salo got the winner, unloading a rocket by Oilers’ Devan Dubynk for his second goal of

the game with 12:15 left.

“Obviously, we’re happy with the third periods, but overall I don’t think anyone is happy with

the way we’ve started some of the games, especially on this road trip,” Salo said. “It’s kind of

put us behind the 8-ball.

“But overall, that was one of our better games on this road trip.”

It wasn’t a predictable finish, not if you watched the second. The ice was flooded with hats as the

Rexall Place was going nuts for The Nuge after Nugent-Hopkins was credited with his third goal

of the game. It put the Oilers up 3-2.

“We’ve been there before, we have a lot of old guys — older guys I would say — and we never

panicked,” Alex Burrows said. “I didn’t see anyone on the bench swear, or freak out. We weren’t

disappointed. We just knew we had to play better.”

The Canucks needed something in response and they got it when a Daniel Sedin crosscrease pass

found Burrows’ stick and deflected into the net. Burrows didn’t see, but it didn’t matter.

“I know Danny likes to throw pucks in front of the net and I know where my stick has to go,”

Burrows said.

It tied the game 3-3 with 16 seconds left in the second and essentially erased the

momentumNugent-Hopkins’ third goal had generated.

That one came on the power play after Jannik Hansen took his second minor of the game. It

looked like Taylor Hall, who the Canucks inexplicably deserted behind the net, got it. But after

those hats covered the ice and there was a long delay, the Oilers official scorer appeared to side

with mythology over reality. Nugent-Hopkins had his hat trick.

The reality currently for the Canucks is that not a lot of players are going these days. What’s

more troubling is not a lot of them are thinking at times. Daniel took a couple of brutal penalties

to start the game. After the second, which was a lazy hook in the offensive zone, Nugent-

Hopkins scored his first. Roberto Luongo made a stunning initial save on him, going postto-post,

but the goalie leaned forward and ended up on his belly. Nugent-Hopkins pocketed the rebound.

It tied the game 1-1. Salo, back on the power play, opened the scoring by delivering a sweet

Cody Hodgson feed into the net.

For most of the first, the Canucks controlled the play and did a decent job of keeping the Oilers

to the outside. But an ill-advised Kevin Bieksa stretch pass was picked off by Hall late in the

first. It set up a premium Oilers scoring chance, one that Luongo smothered. But Edmonton won

the faceoff and NugentHopkins slickly tipped in a Hall blast by Luongo.

“When you win games, sometimes they aren’t masterpieces,” Bieksa said. “You just gut them

out and find ways to win. It’s been the difference in the first few games, against Pittsburgh,

Philly and Detroit. We just couldn’t find a way to win, to make play. We made it [last night]. We

scored the goal we needed.”

The Canucks juggled their lineup heading into the game, putting Ballard into the top four. He

struggled at times, but he pounded Hall. He had two big hip checks and a third period hit that left

Hall clutching his shoulder.

It seemed to slow down all that speed for a while.

“They’re a good line,” Ballard said. “They’re young, they’re skilled. They make plays. They’re

fast and they’re created. Edmonton is lucky, they have a few of these guys — young and real

good with the puck.

“We regrouped after the second. People think they’re the same old Oilers. They’re not. They are

a very good team.”

Is Ehrhoff the missing link?

16 Oct 2011

The Province

BY JASON BOTCHFORD

His absence is being felt more than expected

EDMONTON — It was disconcerting to hear the Canucks in training camp talk about how easy

it would be to carry on without Christian Ehrhoff.

Both on and off the record, players marginalized the $40-million man’s contributions. Henrik

Sedin said there were several players positioned to scoop up the 50 points Ehrhoff left scattered

behind. Kevin Bieksa pointed out he had a couple 40-point seasons when he was getting power

play time with the Sedins a couple of years ago.

But it always came off like they were speaking with a pinch of wishful thinking. Maybe even a

teaspoon or two of delusion.

It’s not that the players can’t be right. But it’s evidently going to take time. You don’t lose a

player like Ehrhoff and just shrug as if to say “How hard can it be?”

And it’s not just because he was great on the power play.

“He fell right into our style of game,” Dan Hamhuis said. “He was a big asset for us, such a good

fit. He was about quick puck movement, get it up to our forwards as quick as you can.

“He was really good at that last year. It’s something that all six of us can be better at this year.”

There have been stretches through the opening five games where it’s felt like something

significant was missing from the Canucks blueline. Like that second period against Detroit on

Thursday. The Canucks laboured to move the puck out of their end. They didn’t manage to have

an offensive zone faceoff the entire period.

Henrik Sedin put it this way after the game:

“We kept trying to rim the puck in our own end and they kept picking it off.”

They became easy to play against, and the Canucks defence when healthy was never that last

year.

You actually hope what’s been missing is not Ehrhoff. The Canucks can’t do anything about

him. They can, however, improve their communication, breakout passes and decision making.

Five games in, it’s less clear than ever who is going to take Ehrhoff’s seat. Keith Ballard found

his way into the top four when Alain Vigneault shook up his lineup against Edmonton last night.

And that was after a pair of rather disappointing games Ballard had against Philadelphia and

Detroit. He was a minus-3.

There obviously continues to be high hopes for Chris Tanev’s development. But he’s struggled

some on this road trip and was scratched for last night’s game.

Then there’s Hamhuis. Since coming to Vancouver, Hamhuis has been the Canucks most

consistent defenceman. Smart, physical and able to move the puck, you know by now what he’s

great at. But Hamhuis’s best attribute may be he understands his limitations.

He’s such a smooth skater, often people expect much more from him offensively. It just looks

like there should be more potential there. But it’s not the cloth he was cut from in the NHL.

Hamhuis had most of his offensive desire slowly stripped from him in Nashville. In his second

year, he had 38 points. In his last year there, he had 24.

“Once they partnered me up with Shea Weber, things changed,” Hamhuis said. “They told us we

were going to play against the top lines and our sole responsibility was to shut them down.

“I was excited by it and still am. But it changes your mentality. I take a lot of pride in being

defensively responsible.”

Hamhuis’s mentality, going against top players, is focused on limiting mistakes, not taking risks.

“You make one against those guys and it’s in your net,” he said. “You have to save energy out

there for defensive responsibilities as opposed to jumping in on the play.”

It’s what made Ehrhoff such a great fit for the Canucks. Bieksa and Hamhuis could embrace that

shutdown role, while Alex Edler and Ehrhoff, on that second pairing could have a little more

licence to roam.

It’s not like Hamhuis can’t do more. The entire blue line can. But getting used to life without

Ehrhoff is going to take them some time.

Everyone take a breath

NHL must slow down rate of change, be sensible By Tony Gallagher, The Province October 16, 2011

It seems every night there is some new play or call or incident which causes more and more

people to call for more and more change in the NHL game.

In the case of Arron Asham Thursday night you have people wanting him to be suspended for

making a classless gesture after landing a right hand in a fight. You have those who insist that

the right to the head is a hit to the head and, given the ban on hits to the head, by definition

fighting should be removed from the game.

You have the case of Keith Ballard being called again for clipping in the game in Detroit for a

classic hip check, meaning now you can't hit somebody high and you can't hit them low and most

certainly not from behind.

Aaron Rome proved last year that, in the eyes of the NHL, you can't make an open ice hit if the

fellow doesn't have the courtesy to look at you when you're headed his way. That hit was of the

sort that put Scott Stevens in the Hall of Fame just a few short years ago, just as Tie Domi's

dusting off of his hands after a fight was cheerfully lauded in Toronto every time he made the

same classless gesture just a few years back.

Clearly the increase in concussions, with the accompanying howl from certain elements in the

media, is accelerating the pressure on the league to rewrite its rule book and is changing the

game drastically on a nightly basis.

There's some sort of howl every night driven by the nanny state mentality whereby every single

activity must be safe at all times or be legislated so.

And given that hockey is so high profile, they are the ones who are targets, while strangely it's

perfectly all right to have a sport like UFC in Montreal and Toronto with scarcely a whisper of

concern about the health of those athletes whose brains have yet to be donated for study of long

term affects. Fighters in both sports consent to pugilism, but only one sport gets the flak.

The advice from here to the NHL is this: Slow down the rate of change, tune out the paranoia

and go about doing the things you can do to make the game safer for the players that make sense,

and see if that helps.

It just might be you can make significant improvements without changing rules that will take the

game to where your fan base may not want it to go.

For starters, get together and insist that everyone wear safer, softer pads particularly on the

shoulders, elbows and anywhere else it makes sense. There may be some marginal loss in

protection until the manufacturers' technology catches up to your lead, but the company that

makes the softest, most protective equipment is going to get your business.

Bite the financial bullet and make the rink eight to 10 feet wider. You won't change the nature of

the game significantly, but that extra room gives players an extra fraction of a second to brace for

a hit, to protect himself or see a player in a vulnerable position and slow or amend the hit.

A classic example of this difference was Jarret Stoll's hit on Christian Ehrhoff in Germany when

the Kings met the Sabres in the second game of the season for both teams. It was a vicious

incoming forearm towards Ehrhoff's head but the extra width of the ice gave the former Canuck a

shade more time to see it coming and room to fall back from it. He left the ice but returned

unscathed and while there is no way to predict what would have been the outcome over here, it

may well have been different.

Suffice it to say there is nowhere near the paranoia in Europe over head injuries as there is here,

although granted there isn't as much hitting there and nobody wants the European game over

here. But it has to help, and if you have fewer obnoxious hits, you're going to have fewer fights.

To say it costs too much is absurd as it will have to be done anyway. Anyone expecting the

players to stop getting bigger and faster is nuts. Anyone expecting the equipment not to get

lighter, causing an even greater increase in speed, is similarly deluded. And if you keep having

bigger and faster players compete on the same size ice surface, not even a nerf puck, plastic

sticks and a gaggle of preschool teachers for on-ice officials are going to be able to keep the

game safe.

Rival GMs united in support of daughters

Gillis, Chiarelli cheer for field hockey team By Sean Fitz-Gerald, Postmedia News October 17, 2011

Four months after their teams battled through a Stanley Cup Final that left one city in ecstasy and

another in flames, the architects of the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks have been

united by the Pan American Games in Mexico, where both hockey executives will be the proud,

anxious fathers of Canadian athletes.

Kate Gillis, daughter of Canucks general manager Mike Gillis, is a member of Canada's women's

field hockey team.

Talia Chiarelli, daughter of Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli, is a member of the

gymnastics team, a 16-yearold with the ability to make her father far more stressed than anything

that happens inside a hockey arena.

"I love watching her compete, but I hate it at the same time, because I get really uptight," Peter

Chiarelli said.

The Bruins snapped a 39-year championship drought when they beat the Canucks 4-0 in Game 7

of the Stanley Cup Final in June. Rioters stormed the streets of Vancouver while revellers

celebrated in Boston, the city the Chiarelli family has called home since moving from Ottawa,

where Talia grew up, and where she grew to love gymnastics.

It has created a logistical headache for the family. She trains in Boston but competes for Canada.

Talia Chiarelli was due to arrive in Guadalajara this month after competing with her Canadian

teammates at an event in Tokyo.

"It's been tough going back and forth," her father said.

Kate Gillis, meanwhile, also might deserve some credit from her father for leading him to live in

the right city at the right time. The family moved to Vancouver from Kingston, Ont., to be closer

to Kate as she pursued her field hockey career on the West Coast.

They made the move before the Canucks hired Gillis as their general manager, in 2008.

"It's true," Kate Gillis said with a broad smile.

"I was actually in Grade 12 when the national team coach called me and asked me to come out

for a tryout. So yeah, you might have heard that my dad got the job because he was out there for

that ... it was all me."

She said her father might be able to squeeze in a trip to Mexico after women's field hockey opens

Wednesday.

"Sometimes he doesn't understand all the rules, because ice hockey and field hockey are very

different," she said.

"But he's good with encouragement and he likes effort, so whatever I show him on the field, he

can support me with his cheering."

She returned the favour last spring when the Canucks made their run to the final. She was in

Boston with her mother, and she was in Vancouver for the final game, when the team was shut

out on home ice.

"It was heartbreaking. I think, at that point, I'd finally convinced my dad that he couldn't do

anything else. He'd put the team together, put them on the ice and, at some point, you have to

remove yourself and let the boys do the work. He really wanted it, and I don't think he'll stop

being a GM until he gets the Cup."

Sedins scoff at idea they need protection

15 Oct 2011

The Vancouver Sun

IAIN MACINTYRE

‘ We can take a hit,’ Daniel says, and having other players step in to fight on

their behalf just interferes with their opportunities to score

It seems one of our biggest fears is that they are afraid. And they are afraid, Daniel and Henrik

Sedin. Each has young children, and like all parents they worry about their kids’ well-being and

happiness and what kind of people they will be and in what kind of world. They fear that their

National Hockey League careers could end without a Stanley Cup. And despite their Zen-like

veneer, the Sedins do fret a little about how others regard them as players.

So yes, the twins from Ornskoldsvik are basketcases like the rest of us.

But what they absolutely do not fear is Boston Bruin Brad Marchand punching Daniel in the

head like he did in the Stanley Cup or Columbus Blue Jacket Marc Methot running Henrik from

behind like he did this week or any other act of violence or intimidation the Sedins may suffer on

ice.

They are even a little offended that so many people think they need a babysitter to look after

them by punching Marchand or drilling Methot and taking retaliatory penalties to show you

shouldn’t mess with the Vancouver Canucks’ best players.

And, we admit, we are a little baffled by their position.

“ There’s always been that kind of talk: we’re European, we need protection,” Daniel said before

the Canucks travelled to Edmonton for tonight’s game against the Oilers.

“ I’ve never really understood that. I really don’t understand what they’re talking about. For us,

we can take a hit. That hit against Hank [ in Columbus on Monday], that’s going to happen in a

game. Why do we need guys to step in there and fight him right away? We’re going on the

power play and have a chance to score. That’s how you win games. We’re fine getting hit. It’s

hockey, not some other sport.”

Henrik said: “ I don’t know if it’s because we’re Swedes or what it is. I wouldn’t say it’s

insulting, but I think we’re past the point in this room where we need to talk about that stuff. I

thought we were past the point where we needed a tough guy to protect us.

“ Teams go after me and Danny the way they go after Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry [ in

Anaheim] or anyone else like that. The hit in Columbus was not a big deal. We had guys asking

their guys to fight, and they said no. That’s fine. I was really proud that the guys didn’t go after [

Methot] and take a penalty which would have cancelled our power play.”

Methot’s hit from behind on Henrik further fuelled what was already a raging issue among

Canucks followers.

After the Bruins battered the Canucks in the final, the Chicago Blackhawks added toughness this

summer and so did Vancouver’s Northwest Division rivals in Edmonton.

The Canucks may actually have less grit than a year ago, having lost Raffi Torres and walked

away from Tanner Glass, although new fourth liners Dale Weise and Aaron Volpatti haven’t had

time yet to forge an identity.

Henrik is correct that he and his brother aren’t abused any more than most other elite players.

But the difference between the Sedins and good ol’ Canadian boys Getzlaf and Perry, for

example, is that Getzlaf fights back and Perry wields his stick like a battle axe.

And that’s where this whole toughness issue gets very tricky.

In North American hockey, we’re conditioned to believe that never retaliating, that discipline

beyond a certain point, illustrates a kind of weakness and can be degrading for both the victim

and his team.

The Sedins believe the opposite. Daniel admits he has tried to understand the Canadian mindset,

but “ I’ve never really gotten that.”

He also points out that when he went cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs a couple of years ago and attacked

Chicago Blackhawk Dave Bolland in the playoffs, he was universally criticized for losing

composure.

His retaliation was reported as proof that Sedin, by “ not sticking to his game,” had been

outwitted and outplayed. So maybe we are hypocrites. “ We’re not going to stand up and fight

the guys who hit us,” Henrik said.

“ That’s not our game. We’re going to come back and score on the power play, hopefully. And

we don’t want guys on our team going after their guys and taking penalties.”

Well, at least there’s little chance of that.

“ It’s a physical game,” Daniel tried again to explain.

“ It’s the same as it has always been. I can’t tell any difference now than five years ago. Teams

are pretty scared of our power play; that’s how we punish teams that want to play us physical.

You’ve got to expect to get hit and once in a while those [ big] hits happen. It has always been

like that.”

One period after Methot’s body slam, Henrik Sedin helped set up the winning goal against the

Blue Jackets. He and Daniel have been easily the best Canucks so far. Even without a enforcer-

chaperone.

The twins, who have monopolized the Art Ross Trophy the last two years, are already among the

NHL’s leading scorers.

Daniel said this is the best he has felt at the start of a season, and a big hit or a dirty punch after

the whistle isn’t going to diminish his confidence.

The only thing the Sedins fear in Edmonton is not winning.

Playing catchup proves to be a losing cause

15 Oct 2011

The Vancouver Sun

BY Brad Ziemer

Vancouver was almost unbeatable when scoring first last season, but team has

lost three of four after giving up the first tally this season

EDMONTON — When the Vancouver Canucks scored the first goal in a game last season, the

opposition might as well have skated straight to the dressing room.

A 1-0 Canucks lead meant the game was pretty much over. Vancouver was an amazing 41-2-6

when scoring first last season.

This season? Well, we’re still waiting.

The Canucks have found themselves in the unfamiliar position of playing catchup and are

discovering it’s not nearly as much fun. They have surrendered the first goal in all four games

and lost three of them.

Coach Alain Vigneault hopes that can change tonight, when the Canucks visit the Edmonton

Oilers at Rexall Place.

“ It is real important and it is huge,” Vigneault said Friday of grabbing that early lead.

“ It’s a different beast when you’ve got the lead than when you’re chasing.

“ I am not exactly sure of the percentage that the team that scores first wins the game, but I’d

have to say it has to be above 75 per cent.”

That sounds about right because the Canucks have lost 75 per cent of theirs this season.

“ I think it makes a huge difference,” said Vancouver winger Alex Burrows.

“ We are a team that likes to play within our system and it makes it a lot easier when you are in

the lead.

“ When you are always trailing, you are forcing things, you’re forcing offence, you are forcing

things through the neutral zone, the other team is making you crack before you make them crack.

It is a huge part of the game and we’d like a better start, that’s for sure.”

The Canucks thought they had one Thursday night in Detroit, when they dominated the Wings in

the first period, but could not beat Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard.

“ You have momentum when you score first and usually scoring that first goal is indicative of

having a good start,” said defenceman Kevin Bieksa.

“ Last game we had a good start, a great first period, and we had a number of chances, but we

just couldn’t put it in. The previous games we didn’t have good starts. Getting that first one,

though, takes a lot of pressure off and usually puts the other team back on their heels. There are a

lot of positives about scoring the first goal.”

By Vigneault’s count, the Canucks “ outchanced” the Red Wings 12-2 in the first period.

“ The process was good, but we couldn’t finish on a goaltender that was on top of his game and

in the second period they just came at us in waves and we didn’t have a good enough response,”

Vigneault said.

But it goes beyond starts for the Canucks. Of course, they’d like a good one, but they also

recognize that they have only played well in spurts this season. They have not come close to

playing anything resembling a complete game.

“ We can obviously play better as a team, but right now it’s just coming down to the fact we are

not making the plays to win games,” Bieksa said.

“ We didn’t win every game last year clean and steamroll teams. We made the plays that we had

to, whether it be a penaltykill or scoring that goal at the end of the game and right now we are

just not making the plays.

“ We’re in every game and we’re close, but in the case of last night we just couldn’t score a goal.

We had a lot of chances, but couldn’t put the puck in the net. In Philly, we just couldn’t keep that

last goal out of our net. It’s all about making that play to win the game.”

Burrows thinks part of the problem is puck luck. He, in particular, hasn’t had much of it.

Burrows leads the team with 14 shots this season and has one goal. He figures he could easily

have five or six.

“ I am a little bit older now and I understand how it works,” he said.

“ Sometimes you get on streaks and the puck goes in, sometimes it doesn’t. As long as you are

getting the chances, that is the most important thing. Yesterday, again I had a breakaway and that

crossbar and it could have been two goals. Just stick with it and hopefully get one tomorrow

night.”

Vigneault confirmed Roberto Luongo, who has had two tough starts to begin his season, will be

in goal tonight against the Oilers.

“ I know in the two games that he has played there are some goals that he would like to have

back, but he is working on a daily basis with [ goalie coach] Rollie [ Melanson] on his game,”

Vigneault said.

“ He’s a competitor, he’s a battler ... He’ll come in tomorrow night and do a real good job for

us.”

Vigneault also was preaching patience regarding the slow start of winger Marco Sturm, who has

managed just one shot in the first four games and has seen his ice time reduced.

“ I think with Marco, we have to be fair to him,” Vigneault said. “ He is coming into a new

environment and he had been injury-plagued the last couple years. He did go through three teams

last year, so he is basically on his fourth team in a year. What we have to do right now is work

with him. He’s healthy finally, now it’s a matter of it takes a little bit of time to get your

conditioning to where it should be, your timing to where it should be, your awareness on the ice,

to be able to go into an area where you had success before and be confident that you are going to

make the right play at the right time.

“ I think there is a lot more there for him to give to the team, but I also see a young man whose

intentions are real good and right now he just wants to try and find ways to contribute. It’s a

tough situation for him, he’d like to be able to step in and contribute right away and do the right

things.”

ICE CHIPS: The Canucks’ charter flight out of Detroit was delayed at the gate for a few minutes

late Friday morning as Air Force One and U. S. President Barack Obama landed in the Motor

City ... The Canucks were 4-2 against the Oilers last season, but lost the last two meetings.

Some rust, some flaws, some wins

It's early, but satisfaction and complete games elude team fashioning 2-2-1

mark By Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun October 17, 2011

They have beaten the bad teams and lost to the good ones.

Five games into a new season, the Vancouver Canucks are, in the words of their coach, "a work

in progress."

"We're .500," Alain Vigneault said with a chuckle when asked to assess his team after the

Canucks' 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. "I think we're a work in progress and

we're going to get better. There are certain parts of our game that I like, other parts that we need

to focus on and improve. Every team goes through that and we're no different than anybody

else."

Saturday's game in Edmonton was much like the previous four for the Canucks, in that they at

times played quite well and at other times did not.

They remain in search of that elusive complete game.

"We're still a team that is trying to get it together for 60 minutes," said winger Daniel Sedin. "We

took too many dumb penalties, myself included, and that obviously hurt us. But I thought five-

on-five we played a lot better. We are on the right track."

Having opened the season with four of their first five games on the road, the Canucks now play

their next three games at home, beginning on Tuesday night against the New York Rangers.

It will be their latest chance to beat a team that made the playoffs last season. So far this season,

the Canucks are 0-2-1 in that department. They opened the season with a home-ice shootout loss

to the Pittsburgh Penguins and on their justcompleted road trip lost in Philadelphia and Detroit.

They did beat Columbus - but then, doesn't everybody? - and came from behind to defeat a

young Oiler team on Saturday night.

"We are happy with this last game," said defenceman Kevin Bieksa. "It wasn't a perfect game,

but much like last year, sometimes when you win games they aren't masterpieces, you gut them

out and you find a way to win and I think that has kind of been the difference in the first few

games.

"In Detroit, we just couldn't find a way to win, to make that play. We made it [Saturday], we

scored the goal that we needed and made some big defensive plays at the end, too."

Far from a masterpiece, it's been more of a paint-by-numbers start to the season for the Canucks,

who are now 2-2-1.

"I don't think anyone is really happy in this locker-room," said defenceman Sami Salo, who

scored two goals, including the game-winner 7: 47 into the third period against the Oilers.

"It was a big win, but overall I think we know there's another step that we can obviously take to

put a 60-minute game out there and that is what we are looking for in the next game."

"We all know we can play some better hockey, that goes without saying," added goalie Roberto

Luongo. "We'll take the .500 road trip and try to build off of that, head home and try and win

some games."

For that to happen, the Canucks must improve in some key areas. For starters, they are not

getting much secondary scoring from their second, third and fourth lines.

On Saturday, the Sedin line chipped in with two goals and Salo, of course, gave them some

much-needed production from the back end.

With the departure of Christian Ehrhoff and his 50 points, it's imperative that the Canucks get

more of that from the likes of Alex Edler, Bieksa and Dan Hamhuis.

"I think all our Ds take pride in trying to produce a little more with one of the biggest offensive

assets from last year gone," Salo said. "All of the six guys out there are obviously trying to help

the team."

Defensively, the Canucks have lacked cohesiveness.

Vigneault, who has regularly shuffled his bottom three forward lines this season, also shook up

two of his three defensive pairings before the Edmonton game.

He had Salo with Andrew Alberts and Edler skated with Keith Ballard.

After two sub-par outings, Luongo was better Saturday, but still at times does not look

completely comfortable.

"I thought he played well, especially in that second period, he kept us in, made some really big

saves and gave us a chance to come back in the third," Vigneault said of Luongo.

Consistency, or lack thereof, remains one of the team's biggest bugaboos this season. After

surrendering the first goal in their first four games, the Canucks finally struck first against the

Oilers.

But they then played a dreadful second period, which was saved only when Alex Burrows scored

with 15.5 seconds remaining to tie the game 3-3 heading into the third.

The third period has been a bright spot for the Canucks in the early days.

They have outscored the opposition 5-1 in the third period so far this season.

"We have always been a good third-period team," Luongo said.

"For a few years now, whether we are ahead or behind or tied, we find ways to win games.

There's just that comfort level the guys have going into the third, whatever the score is we know

that we can win."

The goal for the Canucks now is to start winning more consistently.

NEXT GAME

Tuesday vs New York Rangers

7 p.m. at Rogers Arena

TSN/TEAM 1040

Sturm's knees are fine, but his nerves are

frayed

Free-agent signing will use the upcoming three-game homestand to 'hopefully'

shake offensive slump By Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun October 17, 2011

He has played 895 NHL games and scored 239 goals, so Marco Sturm is wondering why he feels

a little like a rookie.

Sturm, the Canucks' top offseason free-agent signing, has struggled in the team's first five

regular-season games. And the 33-year-old winger thinks the pressure he is putting on himself to

succeed has played a part in his sluggish start. At times, he's felt like a nervous wreck.

"It's frustrating, of course," he said after the Canucks' 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. "I want

to impress everyone and myself, too, and I maybe put too much pressure on myself."

Sturm's stats speak to his struggles. He is minus-four and despite some power-play time has

managed just two shots on goal. Both of those numbers are team-lows among Canucks forwards.

"I know I can play a lot better," he said. "And I will. I just have to relax a little bit and have some

fun. I think that's the biggest part."

When Mike Gillis signed Sturm to a one-year deal worth $2.25 million on July 1, the Canucks

general manager acknowledged he was taking a gamble. Sturm has had major surgery on both

knees over the past three years. Last season, he played for three different teams. The Canucks

were hoping he might find a home on their second line and deliver his eighth 20-goal season in

the NHL.

That is beginning to look like a pipe dream. Sturm has struggled to keep up and has seen his ice

time reduced by coach Alain Vigneault. But he insists he is feeling fine physically.

"Yeah, the knees feel fine, everything feels good, so I just have to get it out of my head," he said.

"I've got nothing to lose and I've just got to show what I've got."

Sturm plans on using the upcoming three-game homestand as a fresh start to his season.

"My season starts, I guess, tomorrow," he said. "I am really looking forward to the homestand. I

am very excited and, hopefully, I am going to get a new start."

GETTING CLOSE: Centre Ryan Kesler continues to play coy about his return to the lineup from

off-season hip surgery. Kesler said on the weekend that "it's possible" he could return this week,

but then added once again that he is not going to come back until he is completely ready.

"I still feel it a little bit," said Kesler, who has been practising with the team for more than a

week now. "It's a process, I don't want to come back too soon. It's something I have to keep

reminding myself."

The fact that Kesler hasn't missed a day of practice suggests his return is imminent.

The Canucks miss more than Kesler's 41 goals. It's probably not a coincidence that Vancouver's

penalty-kill is struggling without him, too. Last season, the Canucks' penalty-kill was tied for

second in the NHL at 85.6 per cent. Through five games this season, it stands 25th with a kill

rate of just 76 per cent. The Oilers scored two of their three goals Saturday night on the power

play.

RAVES FOR ROOKIE: The play of Oilers' rookie Ryan Nugent-Hopkins drew plenty of praise

from the Canucks. The 18-year-old from Burnaby was credited with a hat trick - although nearly

everyone in the building thought Edmonton's third goal was scored by Taylor Hall - and now has

four goals in the Oilers' first three games.

The line of Nugent-Hopkins, Hall and Jordan Eberle, labelled the Brat Pack by the Edmonton

media, were terrific in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Canucks.

"I didn't like the way we played in the second period, but that being said, you have to give credit

to the Oilers and especially their young line," Vigneault said.

"They were all over the place. It was a phenomenal period by three young kids that all have a

great skill set and a lot of speed and a lot of competitiveness."

Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa delivered the best line on Nugent-Hopkins: "We got one

more goal than he did tonight. So I guess the Canucks beat Nugent-Hopkins 4-3."

ICE CHIPS: The Canucks had Sunday off and return to practise today ... Their threegame

homestand includes visits by the New York Rangers on Tuesday, Nashville (Thursday) and

Minnesota (Saturday) ... Winger Chris Higgins picked up his 200th NHL point when he assisted

on Sami Salo's game-winner ... Oilers winger and former Canuck Darcy Hordichuk's ice time

was limited to five seconds. He hurt his right knee in a first-period collision with Keith Ballard.

Sleeping giant pries open Canucks' eyes MATTHEW SEKERES | Columnist profile

VANCOUVER— From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Published Friday, Oct. 14, 2011 8:25PM EDT

Last updated Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011 12:36AM EDT

On Sunday, Vancouver scientist Pat Byrne will head to Rogers Arena, home of the Canucks, and

begin setting the NHL team's travel plan for the remainder of the season.

By that time he will know the score of a Rugby World Cup semi-final match between New

Zealand's All Blacks and Australia's Wallabies. Byrne doesn't really follow rugby, but both sides

are clients.

So is a premier NFL team that Byrne won't name because the organization demands that their

relationship remain confidential. All he will say is that the franchise is a recent Super Bowl

winner.

From hockey to rugby to football, the 58-year-old from Langley, B.C., is becoming a player in

the world of big-league sports as franchises look for every edge to help their competitiveness.

More and more, teams are calling on Byrne, the so-called “sleep doctor” for the Vancouver

Canucks.

He says that sports account for just 15 to 20 per cent of his business, but the co-founder and vice-

president of business development for Fatigue Science, a Hawaii-based firm that helps

businesses assess and mitigate fatigue-related risk, believes that an avalanche of interest is

coming.

“Industry understands the link between sleep and accident risk, but sports people confuse how

they feel with how they actually perform,” Byrne said.

“Athletes who say they feel fine have terrible reaction time because there is chronic sleep

restriction. They get used to [poor sleep].

“So full credit to [Canucks general manager] Mike Gillis when he came in because he realized

that they had a problem with travel,” Byrne added. “It was very exciting for me because if you

are a scientist, you want to tackle your hardest problem first, and the Canucks were the hardest

problem because of their location. If you could solve their travel and sleep and fatigue problems,

then you could fix anybody's problem.”

Byrne, who holds degrees in biology, chemistry and a master's in biochemistry from Western

Washington University, began working with the Canucks four years ago when he was granted a

30-minute audience by Gillis. He walked into a Rogers Arena conference room and saw every

relevant member of the Canucks' staff, including head coach Alain Vigneault, team doctors,

trainers, etc. Ninety minutes later, Gillis turned to him and said: “When can you start?”

Byrne's work culminated last year when Vancouver posted the NHL's best road record, 27-10-4,

which was nothing short of remarkable given that the city is the most northwest outpost in the

league and that the team bears a heavier travel burden than its competitors.

Byrne's annual project begins in earnest after the first road trip of the season. The Canucks

complete a four-game road swing Saturday in Edmonton, at which point the players will return

home and turn in their ReadiBands.

The computerized bracelets monitor the players' sleep patterns, so Byrne gets a handle on who

sleeps well on the road, who sleeps on the plane, who takes an afternoon nap, and how often they

awake. From there, he aggregates the data, seizes up the road schedule, and gives the Canucks a

travel plan through the use of a software program that turns sleep data into performance data.

Byrne bought the technology from the U.S. military and owns a third of the company. His

investors include Brett Conrad and Darrell Kopke of lululemon.

Mostly, Fatigue Science works with industry, such as mining companies and airlines, where

sleep deprivation is more a life-and-death question than an issue of wins and losses. But as the

Canucks story has spread, and as more athletes Down Under, specifically the Australian Institute

of Sport, have come on board, Byrne has been receiving more interest from sports organizations.

Oilers fall short against Canucks despite Nugent-Hopkins' hat trick

Edmonton — The Associated Press

Published Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011 12:50AM EDT

Last updated Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011 10:41AM EDT

The Nuge was huge for Edmonton, and it still wasn't enough. Sami Salo scored twice and the

Vancouver Canucks overcame a hat trick by rookie sensation Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to beat the

Oilers 4-3 on Saturday night.

Henrik Sedin and Alexandre Burrows each added a goal for the Canucks, who improved to 2-2-1

after losing to Boston in the Stanley Cup final last season.

More related to this story

NHL Box Score: Canucks 4, Oilers 3 Coyotes pick apart desperate Jets Saturday NHL Roundup: Taveres scores hat trick in ‘Isles win

“We find ways to win games,” said Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, who stopped 23 shots.

“It's just that comfort level I think the guys have. Going into the third, no matter what the score

is, we feel we can win.”

With the score tied 3-all, Salo capitalized on a turnover in the Oilers zone midway through the

third period and ripped a wrist shot from the high slot under the stick-side arm of goalie Devan

Dubnyk.

The victory spoiled a breakout performance by the 18-year-old Nugent-Hopkins, the No. 1 pick

in last summer's entry draft.

With the Oilers down 1-0, Nugent-Hopkins took a pass from Jordan Eberle at the side of the

crease and got three whacks at the puck against Luongo. Nugent-Hopkins knocked it out of the

air on the third try to put it in for his second goal of the season at 13:44.

He gave the Oilers the lead with half a minute to go in the period.

Edmonton defenseman Tom Gilbert wristed the puck from the point and Nugent-Hopkins

redirected the shot on the backhand from the faceoff dot past Luongo.

His third goal came on a wrist shot from in close through a jumble of players in front of Luongo

on a power play late in the second period. The replay suggested teammate Taylor Hall finally

knocked the puck over the goal line, but the officials awarded the goal to Nugent-Hopkins.

“The message from the coaches was to go hard into the blue paint and I've been trying to do

that,” he said.

When the goal was announced a minute later, the referees were forced to stop play as fans

showered the ice with hats.

“I definitely didn't expect to have that kind of a start. I just want to keep it going,” Nugent-

Hopkins said.

After his third goal, the euphoria was short-lived.

With 15 seconds left in the second period, Vancouver's Daniel Sedin swooped around the back

of the net and passed to Burrows in front for a tip-in goal to make it 3-3.

Vancouver opened the scoring at 8:49 of the first period. With Oilers forward Ryan Smyth in the

penalty box for tripping, Salo took advantage of a scramble in front of the net to tee up the puck

in the high slot and hammer it low past the glove of Dubnyk.

The Canucks tied the game early in the second period with two Oilers in the penalty box.

On a scramble in front of Dubnyk, Henrik Sedin whacked the puck out of the air and just over

the goal line for the Swede's second goal of the season.

NOTES: It was a tough night for Oilers wing Darcy Hordichuk. Before the game, the former

Canucks tough guy told his teammates to keep their heads up. Instead, it was Hordichuk who got

knocked out early in the first period with a knee injury when he tried to run over Keith Ballard

but ended up flying over Ballard's outstretched hip.

Oilers forward Linus Omark went down in the third period after a slap shot from teammate Andy

Sutton off the face.

Oilers wing Ales Hemsky did not dress, awaiting results on an MRI for a sore shoulder.

The Oilers play eight games in the next two weeks.

Early-season ramblings

Dan Murphy | October 14, 2011, 12:19 pm

The Roberto Luongo vs. Cory Schneider debate will be one that no doubt rages on all season --

especially after Schneider was given two of the first four starts of the season.

I will say that Schneider has looked more confident than Luongo thus far but that shouldn't be

too much of a concern because Luongo has always been a slow starter.

Luongo's numbers since 2007 October Nov-April

Record 18-21-3 128-59-25

Goals-agaisnt average 2.95 2.26

Save percentage .901 .922

* This season: 0-1-1, 3.89 GAA, .855 SV%

I do find it humorous though that people are willing to overlook some of Schneider's "bad goals"

because he isn't, well, Luongo. If it had been Luongo in net in Detroit Thursday, folks would

have been calling for his head after the Justin Abdelkader and Valtteri Filppula goals.

In my opinion, they are both very good goalies but just because Schneider hasn't so called

"failed" on the biggest stage doesn't mean he's better than Luongo. The Canucks would be crazy

to trade either one this season because they are going to need them both.

Missing Torres?

Does anyone else kind of miss Raffi Torres? I never thought I'd say it but I do.

Sure, Torres would make some bone-headed decisions on the ice and, yes, he could disappear

offensively for stretches. But when he was on the ice there was always the possibility he would

absolutely blow someone up with a hit.

He tried to walk a fine line with his physical play and would sometimes cross that line. Perhaps

it’s barbaric of me to say, but I don't mind that quality in a player. There has to be a little "crazy"

in every physical player; guys that hit to hurt. And with Torres gone, I don't believe the Canucks

have that type of player right now and opposing teams are breathing a sigh of relief.

Separated at birth?

Everyday Ryan Fitzpatrick (Bills QB) and playoff Christopher Higgins (Canucks forward).

When it was mentioned to Higgins he said, "Really? He's that ugly?"

Maybe it's just the beard.

Hips don't lie

You have to think opposing NHL teams are telling the refs to watch out for hip checks thrown by

Keith Ballard and Dan Hamhuis. Why else would Wes McCauley immediately call Ballard for

clipping on what looked to be a perfectly good hip check Thursday night in Detroit?

Ballard threw one on Logan Couture in the pre-season as well and was immediately challenged

by Ryan Clowe. Later in the game, Ballard fought Jamie McGinn when the Sharks forward went

looking for a scrap. I'm assuming McGinn was still seeing red after Ballard delivered one of the

highlights of the playoffs when he sent McGinn fin over tea kettle.

After the pre-season game, I told Ballard that clearly McGinn didn't like being hip checked. To

which Ballard replied with a smile, "Well, I don't like getting beat up so I guess we're even".

Hat-trick hero falls short

Sportsnet.ca

October 16, 2011, 12:44 am

EDMONTON -- The Nuge was huge, but the Vancouver Canucks got the last laugh.

Sami Salo scored two goals as the Canucks overcame a hat-trick from Edmonton Oiler rookie

sensation Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to win 4-3 in NHL action Saturday.

The Finnish defenceman scored twice while Henrik Sedin and Alexandre Burrows added one

goal each.

Vancouver, trying to break out of an early season slump, is now 2-2-1 on the year. The Oilers

fell to 1-1-1.

"We find ways to win games," said Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo, who stopped 23 of 26

shots.

"It's just that comfort level I think the guys have. Going into the third no matter what the score is

we feel we can win."

Salo capitalized on a turnover in the Oilers zone midway through the third period to rip a wrist

shot from the high slot that zipped under the stick-side arm of goalie Devan Dubnyk.

That broke a 3-3 tie in a game that saw the Oilers take the play to Vancouver and outshoot them

30-26.

The win also overshadowed a breakout performance from Nugent-Hopkins, the No. 1 pick

overall in last summer's entry draft.

The 18-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., took charge early.

With the Oilers down 1-0, Nugent-Hopkins took a pass from Jordan Eberle at the side of the

crease and got three whacks at the puck on Luongo. He knocked it out of the air on the third try

to put it in for his second goal of the season at 13:44.

He gave the Oilers the lead with half a minute to go in the period.

Defenceman Tom Gilbert wristed the puck from the point and Nugent-Hopkins redirected the

shot on the backhand from the face off dot past Luongo.

His third goal came on a wrist shot form in close through a jumble of players in front of Luongo

on a power play late in the second period.

The replay suggested teammate Taylor Hall finally knocked the puck over the goal line, but the

referees awarded the goal to Nugent-Hopkins.

When the goal was announced a minute later, the referees were forced to whistle the play dead as

delirious fans showered the ice with hats.

"I definitely didn't expect to have that kind of a start. I just want to keep it going," said Nugent-

Hopkins.

His goal, he said, has been to crash the net and see what happens.

"The message from the coaches was to go hard into the blue paint and I've been trying to do

that," he said.

After his third goal, the euphoria was short lived.

With just 15 seconds left in the second period, Vancouver forward Daniel Sedin swooped around

the back of the net and passed it to Burrows in front for tip-in goal to make it 3-3 and set the

stage for the third period winner.

Vancouver opened the scoring at 8:49 of the first period.

With Oiler forward Ryan Smyth in the penalty box for tripping, Salo took advantage of a

scramble in front of the Oilers net to tee up the puck in the high slot and hammer it low past the

glove of Dubnyk.

The Canucks tied the game early in the second period with two Oilers in the penalty box.

On a scramble in front of Dubnyk, Henrik Sedin whacked the puck out of the air and then hit it

just over the goal-line just past Dubnyk's outstretched left goal pad for the Swede's second goal

of the year.

Notes: It was a tough night for Oiler winger Darcy Hordichuk. Prior to the game, the former

Canuck tough guy told his teammates to keep their heads up. Instead it was Hordichuk who got

knocked out early in the first period with knee injury when he tried to run over Keith Ballard but

ended up getting knocked flying over Ballard's outstretched hip ... Oiler forward Linus Omark

went down in the third period after he took a slapshot from teammate Andy Sutton off the face ...

Oilers winger Ales Hemsky did not suit up for the game, awaiting results on an MRI for a sore

shoulder ..... The schedule heats up now for the Oilers. They'll play eight games in the next two

weeks.

Canucks' Hodgson having solid rookie season By DEREK VAN DIEST, QMI Agency

EDMONTON - Cody Hodgson has never felt healthier or been as fit.

The Vancouver Canucks centre is hoping a strict off-season training regimen translates into a

solid rookie season.

It’s what the Canucks envisioned when they selected Hodgson with the 10th overall pick in the

2008 NHL Entry Draft.

“He’s been good,” said Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault. “He came to camp with a real

strong focus and a real strong attitude, and everyday he’s been getting better. We’re real happy

with his progression. We only see upside there.”

Hodgson, 21, had a goal in four games heading into Saturday’s contest against the Edmonton

Oilers.

He’s trying to become a mainstay on the club this season and is off to a strong start.

“I put in a lot of work over the summer,” Hodgson said. “And it was a great experience being

here for the playoffs last year. All that contributes to how I’m playing and I think it’s only going

to get better. I just want to continue to work on my game every day.” Hodgson prepared for the

season by training with former NHLer Gary Roberts in Toronto this summer.

He arrived at Canucks training camp determined to earn a spot on the roster after being cut on

three previous occasions.

“I think everything is better having trained with him, just overall strength,” Hodgson said. “The

stuff he focuses on is all hockey, too. It’s specific to what we need to do to get better.

“You see all the guys that trained with him this summer, (Steven) Stamkos, (Jeff) Skinner,

(James) Neal, there are tons of guys that work with him.

“This is probably the healthiest I’ve felt ever. I feel great.”

A back injury limited Hodgson the previous two years, setting back his development with the

Canucks.

He was twice sent back to his junior team in Brampton before being assigned to play with the

Manitoba Moose last season where he scored 17 goals and 13 assists in 52 games.

With his injury issues behind him, however, Hodgson was able to focus on his off-season

workouts while at the same time trying to keep up to Roberts, who is still as fit as any of his

clients.

“He’s unbelievable,” Hodgson said. “We were in the gym at 7 a.m. every day and he was

finishing his workout. He lives further away than most guys. I was getting up at 5:30 every day,

he was getting up at 4:30 everyday to work out. And then he trains guys the rest of the day. He’s

in incredible shape still.”

With Ryan Kesler still out of the Canucks lineup recovering from off-season hip surgery,

Hodgson is currently centring the team’s second line between Chris Higgins and Jannik Hansen.

Hodgson is trying to make the most of the opportunity.

“I’m trying to enjoy it as much as possible,” Hodgson said. “I’m always excited to play every

game and I’m getting a great opportunity.

“It’s been great so far, we just need to capitalize on our opportunities. We’ve been getting some

great chances and eventually we know those chances will start going in for us.”

Canucks defeat Oilers By Robert Tychkowski, QMI Agency

EDMONTON - Get a place, kid.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins took the decision out of management’s hands on Saturday night at Rexall

Place.

On a Hockey Night In Canada centre stage against the Western Conference champion Vancouver

Canucks, the 18-year-old rookie guaranteed he’ll spend the season with the Edmonton Oilers,

scoring his second, third and fourth goals of the season in a history-making natural hat-trick

performance.

The team still needs work, though, losing 4-3, but Nugent-Hopkins ended the junior debate.

“It definitely is exciting,” said the 2011 first pick overall, who has sniped four of Edmonton’s

five goals on the season.

“I definitely didn’t expect to have this kind of start. I just want to keep it going, hopefully.”

Brilliant

In one brilliant evening, The Nuge made 16,839 fans scream their lungs out, while at the same

time shutting the mouths of those who thought he should spend this season with the Red Deer

Rebels.

Linemate and fellow No.1 pick Taylor Hall knew Hopkins was good — but he didn’t expect him

to be this good, this fast.

“It’s definitely a better introduction than I had last year,” Hall said.

“It took me eight games to score my first ... and he has four in his first three.

“It’s a big jump for our team to have that extra centreman in there to really push the pace. For me

and Ebs to play with him has been a lot of fun.”

Jordan Eberle, who completed a Kid Line that took ownership of the hockey club right before

Edmonton’s eyes — registering seven points and posting 14 of Edmonton’s 30 shots in the loss

— is equally amazed.

“If you ask him, he’ll say he’s probably nervous ... but he doesn’t look it at all out there,” said

Eberle.

“He plays with a lot of poise and that’s great, that’s what you need when you’re a young kid.

That’s his biggest strength, his ability to slow the game down and make plays.

“He’s going to continue to do that and continue to get better.”

That’s a scary thought, given how good he is right now.

And the impressive part is that Nugent-Hopkins goes to the tough areas to find his goals.

“A key message from the coaches is always go hard into the blue paint,” he said. “I’ve been

trying to do that, and so far it’s paying off.”

“He’s found a nice little spot in front of the net to bang away at goals,” said Hall.

“When you’re around the net and you have good timing and you get those chances at pucks,

you’re going to get a lot of goals.

“He’s highly regarded as a passer, but it’s nice to see him get goals.”

Nugent-Hopkins scored twice in the first period: once on his own rebound and once on a long

deflection that only he and Stephen Hawking had the vision to see.

He added his third goal late in the second frame, a shot that found its way through traffic and

crossed the line a millisecond — according the NHL reviews — before Hall poked away at it.

“I really didn’t know, and Taylor said he didn’t really know either,” said Nugent-Hopkns.

Excited

“Either way, it went in and we were both really excited.”

“It’s probably better that they gave it to him,” said Hall.

“It’s his third NHL game, he got a hat-trick against his home town team and Luongo, against

guys he’s watched for a long time.

“It’s great to see.”

The rink, of course, went ballistic.

Unsure of who actually scored, the Oilers faithful held on to their hats until the announcement —

then showered the ice in the middle of the next shift, forcing play to be blown dead so they could

properly mark the historic occasion.

“That definitely took me by surprise,” said Nugent-Hopkins.

LATE HITS: Ales Hemsky has a sprained shoulder and will be out for about two weeks ... Darcy

Hordichuk hurt his knee five seconds into his first shift. They’re saying anywhere between 10

days and four weeks ... Next action for the Oilers in Monday night, when they host the Nashville

Predators.

The van provies nightly awards

By Jason Botchford, The Province October 16, 2011

BEST THREAT

"It's great when I get into a game like this because (the Sedins) are the guys you want to try to

abuse on the ice. We'll see how they respond."

- Darcy Hordichuk, who also compared himself to the Hells Angels.

BEST TWEET

"Hordichuk to Canucks: 'I'm going to abuse the Sedins.' Canucks to Hordichuk: 'Promise to be

on the ice when the Sedins are out there?' - twitter.com/

BEST SHIFT

Hordichuk charged after Keith Ballard on his first shift of the game. He missed, crumpled to the

ice and never returned with a self-inflicted knee injury. Unfortunately, Hordichuk tweaked his

right knee and is expected to miss one-to-four weeks.

BEST QUOTE

"I just moved a little bit. I saw him coming, just in time to move. He was coming hard and you

knew he wanted to make a statement. I just moved my upper body a bit. Sometimes, that's the

best way to prevent those."

- Keith Ballard

BEST STAT

Hordichuk TOI: 00: 05. Oh, and a minus-1 in the hits deparment (via Twitter)

BEST SUMMARY

Hordichuk said he was like a Hells Angel, vowed to abuse the twins, took a shift, comedy

ensued. Exit stage left.

Lions show strength in comeback victory

By Ed Willes, The Province October 17, 2011

With the World Series about to start, here's our own version of the Fall Classic, the Monday

morning musings and meditations on the world of sports.

- During their remarkable eight-game winning streak, the B.C. Lions have demonstrated many

admirable qualities. On Sunday, they demonstrated something that might ultimately separate

them from the other teams in the West.

This was a game where virtually nothing came easy for the Leos, but down by six in the fourth

quarter in a hostile environment, they found a way to win. They did it by being tougher than the

Roughriders. They did it by being more resilient and resourceful. And they did it when they

weren't at their best.

We haven't seen a lot of that during the streak because the Lions have usually been playing with

a lead. But watching the defence bend without breaking, watching Travis Lulay battle when he

wasn't at his sharpest, watching the team overcome a series of injuries was as impressive as

anything they've done in the past two months.

With three games left on their schedule, the Lions still have the hammer in the West, and it will

likely come down to their penultimate game of the season against Edmonton at home. This was

always a talented team. But they'll have to be more than that to be a championship team.

- We'll concede Roberto Luongo has been a slow starter throughout his career with the Canucks.

We'll also concede his track record buys him the benefit of the doubt, that he's just as likely to go

on a 10-game unbeaten streak beginning this week as stay in a slump.

But there's also something about Luongo's play to date that isn't as easy to write off, and it's not

just the numbers. It's the flopping. It's the struggle to get back to his feet. It's that horrendous

belly-on-the-ice, legs-splayed position that leaves him vulnerable in scrambles and on rebounds.

In short, it's the lack of athleticism. Luongo turns 33 late this season. This is also his 12th year in

the NHL - and he's played 60 or more games in seven of them. Some Hall of Fame goalies have

played into their late 30s and beyond without losing a thing. Some very good goalies have lost

their effectiveness in their mid-30s.

The Canucks have wagered a lot of money that Luongo is in the former camp. If they're wrong,

they've got a huge problem on their hands.

- Shane Doan was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets, played with them as an 18-year-old rookie and

has spent his entire career with the same franchise. Yet, on Saturday, he played against the

Winnipeg Jets, the team that became the Phoenix Coyotes, which also happens to be Doan's

team.

Sorry, did John Woo direct this? Did anyone else feel a tremor in the time-space continuum?

- On a related note, Matthew Hulsizer, the man who was supposed to buy the Coyotes, is

reportedly close to buying the St. Louis Blues. The price is thought to be $190 million, but that

figure includes the Peoria Rivermen, the Scottrade Center lease and, of course, the Peabody

Opera House in St. Louis.

Gary Bettman has always been able to keep the support of the board of governors by preserving

the value of the league's franchises. A number of those franchises have maintained or increased

their value over the years. A comparable number have not.

- Interesting quote from Cal Clutterbuck, the Minnesota Wild forward who led the NHL in hits in

each of his first three seasons, who says players are intentionally facing the glass in an attempt to

draw a power play or avoid getting hit.

"Guys are abusing the rule in the wrong kind of way and purposely putting themselves in

vulnerable positions," Clutterbuck said. "You should never turn your back when you know

someone's coming to hit you. It's the stupidest thing you could ever do. The league's got to look

at this."

Last week in Ottawa, the Sens' Milan Michalek turned his back into Clutterbuck, which

precipitated a confrontation.

"He turned right into the glass," Clutterbuck said, fuming. "I'm not going to take a chance if a

guy's going to put his numbers at me."

- Finally, Don Cherry did the right thing by apologizing for his now famous diatribe against Stu

Grimson, Chris Nilan and Jim Thomson.

You just hope Cherry made the apology because he now understands many of things he said

about the three former tough guys were just plain wrong and not because he was afraid of a

lawsuit.

Burnaby kid was never big on Canucks

15 Oct 2011

The Vancouver Sun

BY BRAD ZIEMER

Ryan Nugent- Hopkins excited to face the team that had a few players he liked

EDMONTON — He hails from Burnaby, but Ryan NugentHopkins claims he never really was a

big fan of the Vancouver Canucks. And certainly isn’t now. “ I liked them a little bit when it was

Naslund, Bertuzzi and Morrison playing together and stuff, but for the most part I never really

was a big fan,” Nugent-Hopkins said after the Edmonton Oilers practised Friday at Rexall Place.

“ I didn’t really have one favourite team. I liked Ottawa quite a bit and when I was younger I

liked Anaheim, San Jose and those kind of teams. I was more of a player kind of guy.”

But the 18-year-old centre, who was the first pick in this past summer’s draft, did acknowledge

that tonight’s game against the Canucks has a little bit of special meaning to it.

“ It will be pretty cool, it’s the first chance I will have to play against them in the regular season.

We know they are a very good team. I have grown up watching them, so it is kind of cool to get

a chance to play against them and being from Vancouver I have obviously seen a ton of their

games.”

Nugent-Hopkins impressed in the pre-season and scored in his first regular-season game against

the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has not looked out of place and right now, at least, the betting is that

the Oilers will keep him and not send him back to his Red Deer junior team.

The only area where the youngster has been exposed is in the faceoff circle, where he has won

only three of 23 draws in the first two games.

Nugent-Hopkins acknowledged he has a lot of work to do in that area.

“ Coming into the NHL I knew it was going to be a huge jump, obviously the guys are so much

stronger than in junior,” he said. “ So I knew it would be a big jump and I have been working on

it and stuff. I just need to keep working on it.”

He knows he is not going to outmuscle many opposing centres at this stage of his career, so he

must rely on quickness.

“ The good faceoff guys in this league have both strength and quickness. You really have to bear

down and you really have to get in there fast. For me, I’m not going to outpower a lot of guys, so

I need to get in there quick and try to win a clean draw.”

He has been picking the brains of Oiler centres Eric Belanger and Shawn Horcoff.

“ I have talked to Belanger and I have talked to Horcoff quite a bit about it. I am just trying to get

a good feel for it and getting some good tips from them.”

Edmonton coach Tom Renney acknowledged that NugentHopkins’ struggles in the circle could

hurt the Oilers against a puck-possession team like the Canucks.

“ Yeah, but it’s a healthy concern if that makes any sense at all,” Renney said. “ He’s got to try,

he’s got to find a way and maybe go through the experience of having some difficulty with it

initially ... as I said many times, it’s not just up to him, it’s up to the wingers and sometimes even

the defence to help out there.

“ We have had good conversations about how he feels in the faceoff circle in the NHL as

opposed to the Western Hockey League. It’s pretty enlightening, but he’ll find a way.”

With the advantage of last change tonight, look for Renney to try to avoid having Nugent-

Hopkins go head-tohead against Canuck faceoff specialist Manny Malhotra.

With winger Ales Hemsky nursing a sore shoulder, Renney had Nugent-Hopkins skating with

fellow youngsters Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall in Friday’s practice. Renney indicated that if

Hemsky can’t go tonight, he might use his kid line against the Canucks.

Renney would not say who he will start in goal tonight. Devan Dubnyk and Nikolai Khabibulin

have alternated the first two games and both played well.

“ Our goaltending looks solid and it’s going to have to be,” Renney said. “ I think it’s a healthy

competition and there’s a real respect there for each other.”

INJURY-DEPLETED RANGERS RECALL DEFENCEMAN BELL FROM AHL

ASSOCIATED PRESS

10/16/2011 9:05:04 PM

NEW YORK -- The injury-depleted New York Rangers have recalled defenceman Brendan Bell

from the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League.

The Rangers made the move Sunday, one day after playing without leading defencemen

Marc Staal (concussion) and Michael Sauer (sprained right shoulder) in a 4-2 loss to the New

York Islanders.

The Rangers are 0-1-2 in the midst of a season-opening, seven-game road trip that will take them

to Western Canada for four games before they return for the home opener on Oct. 27.

Bell posted one assist in two games with Connecticut after being sent down by New York on

Oct. 9. He was with the Rangers for their two season-opening games in Sweden but didn't play.

In 101 career NHL games with Toronto, Phoenix and Ottawa, Bell has seven goals and 21

assists.

TAVARES HAT TRICK HELPS ISLES BEAT RANGERS IN NABOKOV DEBUT

ASSOCIATED PRESS

10/15/2011 10:43:51 PM

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- If John Tavares scores four points a night, it won't matter much who is in

goal for the New York Islanders.

For the second straight game -- after being pointless for two games -- Tavares broke out with

four points.

This time he did it with his third NHL hat trick, including the winning goal and an empty-netter

in the Islanders' 4-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday night.

Evgeni Nabokov made 29 saves in his Islanders debut and earned his first regular-season NHL

win since beating Phoenix on April 10, 2010, with San Jose.

But this night belonged to the 21-year-old Tavares, who is showing what the Islanders were

looking for when they chose him with the No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft.

"You're not going to say no to production like that," Tavares said. "It's nice to produce, it's what I

do best."

The Islanders have won three straight following an opening-night loss and they have Tavares to

thank for that.

After he had two goals and two assists in the first period of New York's 5-1 victory over Tampa

Bay on Thursday, Tavares roared back with a pair of go-ahead, power-play goals and an assist in

front of a sellout crowd that traded cheers for both teams.

The second goal was a precision tip-in of captain Mark Streit's shot from the blue line 3:30 into

the third, completing a play that started when he won a faceoff. Linemate Matt Moulson also

scored for the Islanders, who will hit the road for the first time when they play at Tampa Bay on

Thursday.

"We're probably ready for a good trip," Tavares said. "It's always a great way to develop

chemistry. It was a huge start for us, and other than the first night we took full advantage of it."

The Rangers had a game for the first time since going 0-0-2 in Sweden, playing for the first time

in a week, and the rust showed early. The Rangers will play four games in Western Canada

before their home opener at renovated Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27.

Marian Gaborik and Brandon Prust both scored tying goals in the second period for the Rangers,

who were outshot 34-31. New York put itself in trouble all night by taking eight penalties.

"There is no excuses here," agitated coach John Tortorella said. "We lost a hockey game. That

team played better than us, they were more disciplined than us. I don't want to hear about

Europe, I don't want to hear about if it's a penalty or not a penalty. We're not disciplined enough,

and Europe has nothing to do with tonight's game."

The Rangers were mostly happy with their 5-on-5 play. There just wasn't enough of it.

"There were a couple of times where we kind of took over the game, but unfortunately we took a

few penalties and it kind of killed that momentum that we had," goalie Henrik Lundqvist said.

"We have to work even harder to be more disciplined out there."

Al Montoya started the Islanders' first three games in goal, and Nabokov got the nod against the

Rangers one day after goalie Rick DiPietro was diagnosed with a concussion.

Nabokov finally suited up for the Islanders after declining to join the team last season after being

claimed on waivers following a stint in Russia's KHL.

"It was a boost to play in front of a packed house," Nabokov said.

The momentum the Islanders generated in the first shifted to the Rangers just over 6 minutes into

the second when they turned a giveaway in the neutral zone into a goal. Brad Richards, the

Rangers' prized free-agent acquisition, fired a pass from his blue line to streaking linemate

Gaborik deep in the Islanders' end.

Gaborik was all alone when he took the puck on his tape and smoothly put it past Nabokov for

his second goal this season at 6:23.

Richards was given a lucrative deal from the Rangers with the hope that his playmaking skills

would mesh with Gaborik's touch. So far, so good, as Richards has assisted on both of Gaborik's

goals.

But the good fortune didn't last for long as the Rangers couldn't get undisciplined play out of

their game.

With 56 seconds in a power play, that came shortly after the tying goal, captain Ryan Callahan

was called for goalie interference.

While the Rangers were killing off that penalty, Brian Boyle went off for delay of game as he

tried to keep the puck under him down in the corner.

That gave the Islanders 44 seconds of a two-man advantage, an edge they turned into the go-

ahead goal while skating 5-on-4.

Tavares was denied by Lundqvist at the right post when his jam shot in tight was deflected over

the glass, but he wouldn't be kept at bay. Less than a minute later, Tavares got to a rebound and

made it 2-1 at 11:47.

NOTES: The Islanders were 1 for 6 on the power play in the first 40 minutes. ... Islanders LW

Trevor Gillies (groin) was activated from the injured list. ... D Jeff Woywitka made his debut

with the Rangers in place of D Michael Sauer, who sat out because of a sprained right shoulder.

NHL roundup: Tavares nets hat trick against Rangers By SPORTS NETWORK

Final Score: NY Islanders 4, NY Rangers 2

Uniondale, NY (Sports Network) - John Tavares continued his offensive showcase, registering

his third career hat trick, including the go-ahead power-play goal early in the third period, as the

Islanders took down the Rangers, 4-2, at Nassau Coliseum. Tavares had two goals and a pair of

assists in a 5-1 win over Tampa Bay on Thursday. Two nights later, he had a four-point night and

led the Isles to their third straight win to conclude a four-game season-opening homestand. P.A.

Parenteau tallied three assists. Evgeni Nabokov made his first start in an Islanders uniform and

had 29 saves. The 36-year-old Nabokov, who was suspended by the Isles last spring for refusing

to report to the team after being claimed off waivers, played part of last season in Russia's KHL.

He was then signed by Detroit as a free agent in January 2011 before being claimed on waivers

by the Isles two days later. Brandon Prust and Marian Gaborik scored for the Rangers in their

first game back in North America. They lost to Los Angeles in overtime and to Anaheim in a

shootout - both in Stockholm. Henrik Lundqvist made 30 stops in defeat.

Final Score: Buffalo 3, Pittsburgh 2

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Nathan Gerbe scored and set up Drew Stafford's decisive goal

in the third period, helping the Sabres hold on for a 3-2 victory over the Penguins. Jhonas Enroth

made 30 saves for Buffalo, which rebounded from Friday's home loss against Carolina. Enroth

stopped 13 shots in the third period and held steady in a pressure-packed final few minutes.

James Neal and Jordan Staal had the goals for Pittsburgh, which swept the four-game series

against Buffalo last season. The Penguins hadn't lost to the Sabres at home since December 8,

2008, when they were still playing at Mellon Arena. Marc-Andre Fleury gave up three goals on

28 shots in the loss, and was beaten by Stafford 8:06 into the third period at the end of a Sabres

rush.

Final Score: Los Angeles 3, Philadelphia 2 (OT)

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Mike Richards' return to Philadelphia was a successful one,

as he set up Jack Johnson's goal in overtime and the Los Angeles Kings handed the Flyers their

first loss of the season, 3-2, at Wells Fargo Center. Skating on a power play in the extra session,

Richards used a slap pass from the high slot to get the puck down to the inside left circle, where

Johnson redirected it behind Ilya Bryzgalov 1:39 in for the win. Richards, 26, had spent his

entire career in Philadelphia and was the captain of the team before a surprise trade in the

offseason shipped him west for forwards Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn, as well as a

second-round draft pick in 2012. Justin Williams, another former Flyer, scored twice in

regulation while Jonathan Quick stopped 32 shots for the Kings, who had dropped their previous

two. Danny Briere and Matt Carle each scored for the Flyers, who had won their first three

games of the season. Bryzgalov stopped 23 shots in the loss.

Final Score: Florida 3, Tampa Bay 2 (SO)

Sunrise, FL (Sports Network) - Marcel Goc was the only successful shootout participant, giving

the Panthers a 3-2 win in the opener of a home-and-home series against the Lightning. Ed

Jovanovski and Kris Versteeg each scored in regulation for Florida, which won its home opener

after splitting its first two games on the road. Jose Theodore stopped 28 shots, including five in

overtime, while Mathieu Garon made 36 saves in defeat. Marc-Andre Bergeron lit the lamp

twice in the third period for the Lightning, who finished a 1-2-2 road trip to start the season.

Tampa Bay will open its home slate on Monday against its intra-state and Southeast Division

rival.

Final Score: Detroit 3, Minnesota 2 (OT)

St. Paul, MN (Sports Network) - Johan Franzen's power-play goal late in overtime lifted the

Detroit Red Wings over the Minnesota Wild, 3-2. Franzen and Ian White each had a goal and an

assist for the Red Wings, who are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since the 1997-98 season,

when they went 5-0 with a tie. Jiri Hudler had a goal for Detroit, which got 12 saves from Jimmy

Howard. Cal Clutterbuck and Greg Zanon lit the lamp for the Wild, who have lost three of four

since opening the year with a win over the Blue Jackets. Josh Harding stopped 38-of-41 shots in

defeat.

Final Score: New Jersey 3, Nashville 2 (SO)

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Ilya Kovalchuk's goal in the first round of a shootout was

enough for the New Jersey Devils to take a 3-2 comeback victory over the Nashville Predators.

Nashville held a two-goal lead entering the final period, but goals by Kovalchuk and David

Clarkson sent the game into overtime. Zach Parise added a goal in the second round of the

shootout, while both Cal O'Reilly and Matt Halischuk failed to get the puck past Johan Hedberg.

Hedberg stopped 29 shots for New Jersey in relief of the injured Martin Brodeur. Brodeur left

Thursday's game with an injured right shoulder and did not suit up for Saturday's contest. Jerred

Smithson and Colin Wilson recorded goals for Nashville. Pekka Rinne allowed two goals on 41

shots.

Final Score: Dallas 4, Columbus 2

Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Veteran defenseman Sheldon Souray scored the game-winning

goal 1:36 into the final period, leading the Dallas Stars to a 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue

Jackets from American Airlines Center. Brenden Morrow had a goal and an assist, while Loui

Eriksson and Michael Ryder netted the other goals for Dallas, which was coming off a 3-2 win

over St. Louis on Thursday. Mike Ribeiro chipped in with three assists, while Kari Lehtonen

stopped 13 of 15 shots. Vinny Prospal and Alexandre Giroux tallied for Columbus, which

remained winless on the young season at 0-4-1. Steve Mason turned away 29 of the 33 shots he

faced.

Final Score: Boston 3, Chicago 2 (SO)

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Tyler Seguin scored the game-winner in the shootout to give the

Boston Bruins a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. Seguin scored with

a wrist shot through the five-hole of Corey Crawford and Tim Thomas helped it stand up with

saves on Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp. Chris Kelly and Nathan Horton scored in regulation

while Thomas made 27 stops for the Bruins, who snapped a two-game slide. Bryan Bickell and

Kane each had a goal and Crawford saved 35 shots for the Blackhawks, who had won their

previous two. This game featured the previous two Stanley Cup winners as the Bruins defeated

the Canucks this past season while the Blackhawks downed the Flyers in 2010.

583418 New York Rangers

NY Rangers coach John Tortorella makes no excuses for Blueshirts' winless start as road trip starts

By Peter Botte

The October odyssey moves on yet again for the Rangers, who packed everything into their hockey bags Sunday and headed for Western Canada.

Everything, that is, except for their elusive first victory of the season.

The Rangers, who are 0-1-2 after playing twice in Sweden two weekends ago and losing in regulation Saturday night on Long Island, are facing four road games over seven days beginning Tuesday in Vancouver. The trip concludes a week from Monday in Winnipeg, before the Blueshirts finally return for their home opener at renovated Madison Square Garden against Toronto on Oct. 27.

Despite the grueling schedule, John Tortorella refuses to blame his team's frequent-flyer travel itinerary for the sluggish start, particularly after a string of penalties and John Tavares' hat trick sent them to a 4-2 loss Saturday against the Islanders.

"I know about the long western trip. Don't go there," the coach said, cutting off a questioner after the game. "There (are) no excuses here.

"We lost a hockey game. That team played better than us. They were more disciplined than us, so I don't want to hear about Europe. I don't want to hear about if it's a penalty or not a penalty. We're not disciplined enough, and Europe has nothing to do with (it)."

Tortorella liked how his team played in 5-on-5 situations Saturday - and Marian Gaborik went so far as to suggest the Rangers "dominated" at even strength.

But eight minor penalties led to two power-play goals for Tavares, even if Ryan Callahan and Brian Boyle questioned the validity of calls made against them.

"Listen, we're not going to sit here and pick apart penalties. We were in the box too much," Tortorella said. "I thought at times our 5-on-5 play was real good. We just didn't have enough of it.

"You end up losing momentum, and I thought when they scored their third goal, we couldn't generate anything 5-on-5 after that, which was a little disappointing. We've got some work to do, and we're going to get at it."

In addition to center Kris Newbury replacing demoted winger Mats Zuccarello, who had zero points in three games of fourth-line ice time, the Rangers also called up defenseman Brendan Bell as insurance for the road trip after Mike Sauer sat out Saturday's game with a right shoulder injury.

New York Daily News LOADED: 10.17.2011

583419 New York Rangers

Rangers still winless after loss to Islanders

By LARRY BROOKS

So here it is, three games into the season -- three winless games into the season -- and the grand plan already has been altered following a 4-2 loss to the Islanders on Saturday in which the Rangers established they will continue to lose if they can't find the way to spend less time in the penalty box and more time with the puck at both ends of the ice.

Mats Zuccarello, lost on a mismatched fourth line, is on his way to the AHL Whale after getting 7:55 of ice that included a 24-second shift in the third period. Up in his place comes Kris Newbury to add some muscle (or to perhaps sit as a scratch once Wojtek Wolski rejoins the lineup) as the 0-1-2 Rangers go west for games in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg before finally getting to the Garden on Oct. 27.

By then, perhaps the Rangers will have found a way to stop the parade to the penalty box that has left the team shorthanded 19 times overall, eight times last night when John Tavares scored a pair of power-play goals before sealing his hat trick and his team's victory with an empty netter at Nassau Coliseum.

By then, perhaps the Rangers will have found the way to get to the puck more quickly while being more decisive with it in their own end while controlling play off the forecheck with a down-low ground game that's basically been non-existent through the opening three matches.

"We definitely want to have more control of the puck to make plays with it in our end," said Dan Girardi, who played 26:50 but took an interference penalty at 3:23 of the third for the power play on which Tavares scored what proved to be the winner seven seconds later. "And in their end, we're definitely at our best when we win the puck, hang onto it, and get into a cycle game."

The fact is, the defense appears rather slow-footed and deliberate. Michael Del Zotto, who is neither, is struggling to defend. Fact, too, is that the club hasn't been able to generate a consistent attack where one shift rolls into the next.

New York Post LOADED: 10.17.2011

583420 New York Rangers

Rangers going back to basics for rest of long road trip

By ANDREW GROSS

Print | The well-traveled Rangers departed Sunday for a 10-day, four-game hike through Western Canada, hoping to find the consistent, penalty-free play that eluded them in Europe and on Long Island.

The Rangers (0-1-2) have allowed three power-play goals on 19 chances while their own power play is 0-for-12.

"With the way we need to start playing, just getting pucks in and start working down low and getting harder on the forecheck, that's an easy thing to do on the road," captain Ryan Callahan said. "So us going on the road trip is going to be a good chance for us to get back to the way we need to play and the way we were successful last year."

The Rangers, who won't play in the renovated Madison Square Garden until Oct. 27, face the defending Western Conference champion Canucks on Tuesday before stops in Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg.

The Rangers opened the season with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Kings and a 2-1 shootout loss to the Ducks in Stockholm, Sweden, before the Islanders went 2-for-8 on the power play and beat them, 4-2, Saturday night.

The Rangers' two loser points mark their fewest points through three games since they started 2007-08 with a 1-2-0 record and a defeat in Vancouver would leave the Rangers winless through four games for the first time since 2003-04.

"In this league, special teams is going to be huge," said goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who likely will sit for at least one of the next four games to allow backup Marty Biron his first start of the season. "Every game is so tight. If you take five, six, seven penalties, it's going to be tough."

The Canucks, at 2-2-1, have gotten off to the best start of the four Canadian opponents but no game figures to be easy. The Flames still have Jarome Iginla and goalie Miikka Kiprusoff and ex-Rangers coach Tom Renney is building a talented young Oilers squad around Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the top overall picks in the past two drafts.

The game against the Jets, who went 3-0-1 against the Rangers last season as the Atlanta Thrashers, will mark the Rangers' first game in Winnipeg since a 6-3 loss to the old Jets on Nov. 17, 1995. That franchise moved to Phoenix for the 1996-97 season.

"Having hockey there and back in Canada, it's always a good atmosphere," said defenseman Jeff Woywitka, who was born in Vermilion, Alberta. "It's so exciting, just remembering what the Jets used to be like."

BRIEF: The Rangers recalled defenseman Brendan Bell from Connecticut (AHL) as insurance against further injuries. It's also likely an indication the team is concerned with how quickly Mike Sauer can return from a sprained right shoulder after he missed Saturday's game.

Bergen Record LOADED: 10.17.2011

583421 New York Rangers

Newbury, Bell called up from minors

By STEVE ZIPAY

Time to panic after going winless in three games? That would be an overreaction to a small sample.

But before the Rangers (0-1-2) left Sunday for a four-game trip to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, their longest of the season, they added two players from the minors, center Kris Newbury and defenseman Brendan Bell.

Newbury, a journeyman with snarl who had a very good training camp and was 4-4-8 in four games in the AHL, is expected to slide into the pivot on the fourth line. Bell, who played in the Swiss league last season, was reassigned while the Rangers were in Europe and was recalled as a seventh defenseman. Michael Sauer (right shoulder) did not practice with the team last week.

To make room, winger Mats Zuccarello, who played less than eight minutes in the Rangers' 4-2 loss to the Islanders on Saturday, was demoted. He didn't have to clear waivers to be assigned to the AHL.

With two points in three games, the Rangers are nestled in the bottom fifth of the NHL standings. And no wonder: They are playing one full period per game shorthanded. The Blueshirts lead the league in penalty minutes per game at 20.7. It is coach John Tortorella's biggest concern. Under the constant pressure, the penalty kill has allowed three goals in 19 chances, an 84.2 rate, which ranks 16th in the NHL.

The No. 1 line of Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik and Derek Stepan looked good in the loss to the Islanders, but the lower trios and third defensive pair didn't. The Rangers are averaging 1.67 goals per game, just above the league floor with Edmonton and Winnipeg. And the power play hasn't clicked. Even with Richards, the Rangers haven't scored in 12 chances. Only Anaheim and Winnipeg are worse at 0-for-13.

From 3,000 miles away, the crowd at Madison Square Garden may never look so appealing. But there's a long way to go before the home opener Oct. 27 against the Maple Leafs. If the Rangers don't steady the ship before then, the homecoming audience will be mighty grumpy.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 10.17.2011