Finally, welcome back hockey
Posted January 18, 2013 7:20 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It’s been a long wait and, despite a few hard feelings and a lot of grumbling from some fans, Vancouver Canucks hockey will get a big welcome back this weekend in Vancouver.
The club’s shortened-season opener is Saturday night at Rogers Arena against the Anaheim Ducks.
“The most notable change fans will see will be in the crease,” says News1130 Sports Director Ann Schmaltz. “Cory Schneider has been anointed the starter so he will get the majority of the workload. All signs point to Roberto Luongo starting the season in Vancouver. I’m not sure how the coaching staff plans to split the games between the two goalies, but Roberto will have to spell Cory off given the demands of the condensed schedule. Don’t count Luongo out just yet.”
That could be as early as Sunday against the Edmonton Oilers, because the Canucks have back-to-back games this weekend and they’ll be getting used to a very busy schedule.
“Because this is a shortened season and the team will be playing pretty close to every other night, I think the intensity will suffer. Sure the first few games will have a high tempo because the players are itching to get back at it but I’m expecting there will be a lull as fatigue sets in and there just won’t be enough time for rest and recovery,” says Schmaltz.
And you can expect some mistakes as the team shakes the rust off. Remember, the last time you watched a real Canucks game, it was April.
