Ninth place Phoenix visits Vancouver tonight looking to pick up some points in the west.
Expect the same linup as against Calgary.
Kesler skated this morning on a line with Raymond and Kassian...hmmmm. AV doesn't usually skate injured players with healthy players unless they are going to return.
Tanev did not skate, which is weird, because I thought he was immune to injury.
Heard Ballard did skate, but he'll probably be a healthy scratch anyway so who the hell cares.
Phoenix is a desperate team that has won three games in a row. The Canucks need to show up tonight.
Edit: CONFIRMED that Kesler is playing tonight!
AV says that they will play him limited minutes to get him back into shape.
herb wrote: Kesler skated this morning on a line with Raymond and Kassian...hmmmm. AV doesn't usually skate injured players with healthy players unless they are going to return.
Kesler with Raymond and Kassian?
And AV says Kesler isn't playing on PP/PK tonight.
Last edited by CFP! on Mon Apr 08, 2013 11:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
Nice (& strange) to be strong @ centre now, but that third D pairing could be an adventure.
Tanev is day to day with a leg injury. Doesn't sound serious. Tanev has quickly become an integral part of our defense, and his absence will be felt.
Unfortunately any time we lose a RH defenseman it's going to be an issue. Hopefully Tanev needs a few maintenance days from some bumps and bruises and that's all.
Excited to see our forward lines now that Kesler is back!
Aaronp18 wrote: Kesler back = huge!!
Seriously, that is awesome, I hope he takes a few shifts with Roy too just to see the mix...(yes, it will no doubt be on the powerplay but a guy can ice-dream can't he?!).
herb wrote: Tanev is day to day with a leg injury. Doesn't sound serious. Tanev has quickly become an integral part of our defense, and his absence will be felt.
Arachnid wrote: Seriously, that is awesome, I hope he takes a few shifts with Roy too just to see the mix...(yes, it will no doubt be on the powerplay but a guy can ice-dream can't he?!).
Veenyo said he won't be using him on special teams, but hopefully that means no PK time and not the PP.
We can definitely use his shot and net presence on the powerplay.
Vader's right, Tanev does get rocked from time to time and will need to change something up so he's not just absorbing all of those big hits because he's bound to get more than bumps and bruises if this continues.
Stoked to have Kesler back. Looks like a pretty damn sturdy lineup now. Fingers and toes are crossed that we are healthy from here on out.
herb wrote: Vader's right, Tanev does get rocked from time to time and will need to change something up so he's not just absorbing all of those big hits because he's bound to get more than bumps and bruises if this continues.
Except for the D, Tanev plays big minutes...who the hell do we put back there? That Forward Ballard?
Good to see Kesler back. I like seeing him on the 3rd line as that is where he belongs. He is, IMO, second only to Datsuyk when it comes being a fore-checking, back-checking, defensively responsible center who can force turnovers and generate chances. He belongs on both special team units as well.