Stuck in five-game losing streak, Canucks shakeup lines
Posted November 21, 2013 1:12 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The Vancouver Canucks have lost five straight and currently sit ninth in the Western Conference. During the losing streak, they have only scored six goals.
In an effort to boost production and get the offence firing again, Coach John Tortorella has shuffled the lines.
Daniel and Henrik Sedin have been split up. Daniel was skating with Mike Santorelli and Ryan Kesler; his brother was centring Chris Higgins and Jannik Hansen.
Tortorella explained why he split up his two top scorers. “Although Daniel is filling the sheet with shots, it just hasn’t worked of late. So we’ll split them up and see what we go with.”
He adds while it was a tough call to split the twins, he was more torn about splitting up two members of his second line.
“One thing I know that works is Mike Santorelli and Chris Higgins. They play very well together, but we haven’t scored, so we’ll throw it against the wall and see what sticks. I’m not sure where it goes or for how long it goes and we’ll see if we can find our way.”
Santorelli’s great play has earned him the first line promotion, and he says he is ecstatic to play alongside to Olympians.
“They are two great players and I am excited to play with them. I am excited to learn from them. I want to go out there, play hard, play to my assets and help those two in anyway I can.”
While Santorelli earned a promotion, Alex Burrows has been demoted to the third line. He hasn’t scored in 11 games this season. He will be on the wing, playing with Zack Kassian and Brad Richardson.
Dale Weise, Jeremy Welsh and Tom Sestito remain on the fourth line, so it appears David Booth will be a healthy scratch again tomorrow when the Canucks play the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Puck drop is at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Rogers Arena.
