Game #20 - vs Vancouver Canucks

Game 20

Canucks (10-4-3, 23 points) at Penguins (9-8-2, 17 points)

Why does it matter?
The Canucks are a tough foe from the Western Conference. It's a game where the Pens can let it all hang out without fear of giving points to an opponent in their division or conference.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Just coming off of improved play, but a miserable loss on Monday to the Rangers.
• Canucks - The fellows from Vancouver are wrapping up a five game road trip against the Eastern Conference.

Questions to be answered

• Can the Pens slow down the Canucks high-powered offense? If the Canucks score 3 or more, their record is 9-1-1. If they score less than three, they are 1-3-2.
• Can the Pens slow down the Canucks power play? They have SEVEN multi-goal games on the PP so far this year. That's an amazing number.
• Do the Canucks have an Achilles Heel? This might be the best team the Pens have played so far.

Keys to the game

• Keep them under three goals.
• Get traffic around Luongo. He's used to seeing a fair number of shots. The Pens have been doing a good job of getting bodies in front lately. That will have to continue.
• Score first. You don't want to get behind to this team and have to start pressing.
• Stay out of the box! The Canucks are over 30% on the power play over their last 10 games.