Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks up for an exciting game – NHL Preview
Detroit Red Wings have won 23 straight games on their home ice to set the National Hockey League (NHL) record and are currently leading the Western Conference.
The most favourable unit to end that winning run is the last year’s NHL Presidents’ Trophy winners, Vancouver Canucks, who are ranked just below the Red Wings in the same conference.
Both teams are set to play each other in unarguably one of the most thrilling fixtures on Thursday, February 23, 2012, at Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan.
Here’s a look at both these teams.
Red Wings
Red Wings have 84 points after 61 games.
Their impressive run on home has stunned everyone, but they are still not as strong on road as they are on home.
However, they should not be bothered about that at the moment as the next game is scheduled at their home.
Out of 10 games this month, Red Wings have won seven with the last defeat coming against Chicago Blackhawks, who ended the former’s six-game winning run.
Red Wings’ leading goal scorer, Pavel Datsyuk, did not play against Blackhawks.
Goaltender, Jimmy Howard, said after the game:
"Pav's been out before and he's a huge part of our team but we're going to need guys to step up. This is an opportunity for other guys now to play in a role maybe they're not used to playing in, maybe getting some more ice time, and they're going to find
a way to get it done for us."
Canucks
Like Red Wings, Canucks have also won seven out of their 10 games played this month.
Their four-game winning run was recently snapped by Nashville Predators, who scored three goals in the game while allowing only one.
Canucks are ranked at second spot in the Western Conference with 82 points after 60 games and they are excited on getting an opportunity to play against the Red Wings.
Canucks’ goalie, Roberto Luongo, said of the game:
"They're on quite a bit of a roll. I think that's what makes this game so exciting for our team. We've been hoping they would still be undefeated by the time we got there.”
Predictions
While keeping the fingers crossed, Red Wings can be favoured.
The sum of goals scored by both the teams might exceed six.
In case of Canucks’ victory, the winning margin will be less than two goals.
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