Canucks clash with Sabres
Posted March 23, 2014 10:00 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The latest must-win game for the Vancouver Canucks gets going tonight at Rogers Arena, as the Buffalo Sabres make their only visit of the season.
It’s another chance for the Canucks to win consecutive games for the first time since the middle of January. Vancouver remains five points out of a playoff spot with just ten games remaining.
The team will also recieve a boost, with Daniel Sedin returning to the lineup after a three-week absence. Sedin was hurt in the Heritage Classic.
Alex Burrows will not play after taking a slash on the hand from Nashville’s Shea Weber on Tuesday. There’s no word as of yet on Ryan Kesler’ the two-way star took a knee-on-knee hit in Winnipeg on March 12th.
Vancouver’s Niklas Jensen will look to continue a recent tear. Jensen has put up three goals and five points over seven games. Naturally, Jensen’s quick rise to the top line — along with the return of Buffalo’s Cody Hodgson – – has led to questions about Zack Kassian for head coach John Tortorella.
“It’s a matter of consistency.” Tortorella said yesterday.
“Sometimes he really whets your appetite, as far as what you see in him. And then, you can’t find him.” Tortorella added.
Kassian was acquired from Buffalo for Hodgson at the 2012 deadline. Hodgson is currently second on the Sabres in scoring, amassing 16 goals and 36 points.
For all the troubles the Canucks have had this season, no team in the NHL is worse than the Sabres. Buffalo sits dead last in the league with a record of 20-42-8. Just eight of those wins have come on the road.
The Sabres have lost eight of their last ten games. As ripe an opponent as any for the Canucks to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Puck drop is 5 p.m.
