Preview: Los Angeles at Vancouver
When: 10:30 PM ET, Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
Purchase Kings Vs Cannucks Tickets for tonights game at Rogers Arena.
THE STORY: The status of Daniel Sedin remains the burning topic surrounding the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks as they begin their Western Conference quarterfinal series against the Los Angeles Kings. The 2011 Art Ross Trophy winner missed Vancouver’s last nine regular-season games with a concussion but joined the team for practice on Monday. However, Sedin skated with the Canucks’ extras and other injured players following Tuesday’s practice, leaving his status for Game One up in the air.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC, RDS, KCOP-13 (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE LA KINGS (40-27-15): Los Angeles also hopes to have one of its ailing stars ready for the series opener as Jeff Carter practiced with the club for the second straight day on Tuesday as he recovers from an ankle injury. “I feel like I’m getting better and I feel like I can contribute,” Carter said. The Kings will be without Brad Richardson, as the center underwent an emergency appendectomy Tuesday night and is out indefinitely. “We won’t have him for a while,” coach Darryl Sutter said. Andrei Loktionov was recalled from Manchester of the American Hockey League to replace Richardson on the roster. Los Angeles has the upper hand in goal as Jonathan Quick led the league with 10 shutouts, finished second with a 1.95 goals-against average and was fifth in both victories (35) and save percentage (.929).
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (51-22-9): Coach Alain Vigneault refused to tip his hand regarding Sedin’s availability for the series opener. “It’s a unique injury and he will continue the protocol, and when he’s ready to play, he’ll address (the media),” Vigneault said. Vancouver went 8-1-0 after Sedin went down with a concussion but was just 4 for 39 on the power play in his absence. Although Roberto Luongo will start Game One, the Canucks’ stronger goaltender this season was backup Cory Schneider, who was second in the league with a .937 save percentage and third with a 1.96 GAA. Rookie Zack Kassian is hoping to be in the lineup after missing the final two regular-season contests with an upper-body injury. “I’m going to talk to the trainers, and they have the final say,” he said.
OVERTIME:
1. The Kings have lost eight of their last 11 visits to Rogers Arena.
2. The teams split their four regular-season meetings and combined for a total of 15 goals, with half of Los Angeles’ eight tallies coming in one game.
3. Vancouver has won eight consecutive series openers overall and 10 straight at home.
PREDICTION: Kings 3, Canucks 1.
