"It was a great effort tonight," said goalie Roberto Luongo, who made a couple of big saves in the final minutes to preserve the victory. "We were in their zone most of the night. The guys played really well."

"This was his best game so far, without a doubt," Vigneault said. "He seemed more confident on the ice with and without the puck. He was making better decisions and it was good to see."

Jannik Hansen is the only Dane left with a chance of playing in the NHL when the season begins.

Veteran winger Kim Staal had to bow out in Nashville. And rising star Frans Nielsen couldn't make it in New York.

Now the pressure of becoming the first Dane to make a National Hockey League roster is squarely on the shoulder pads of Jannik Hansen.

No Dane has ever played in the NHL, except in pre-season and training games. Hansen hopes he can break the curse and be one of the Vancouver Canucks' final 23 players on opening day.

The right-winger is a crowd favourite in Vancouver, but pre-season cheers and success does not secure a place on the team - Staal scored two goals in four minutes in one game for Nashville.

It is a positive sign, however, that Hansen is travelling with the team for another game Tuesday night against the San José Sharks. Though he has played and trained all summer with the team, that one game may determine whether or not he makes Danish history.

Dave Nonis probably didn’t realize it at the time, but when the general manager of the Vancouver Canucks acquired Roberto Luongo in June, he didn’t just get a good goalie. He also gained a huge advantage on every opponent the Canucks will face this season and for years to come. That’s because Luongo, although just 27 years old and only six years into his NHL career, is already messing with the heads of other teams and other players.

“He’s very good,” says Rory Fitzpatrick, who signed with the Canucks as a free agent this summer after spending the past four years in Buffalo and getting to know Luongo well as an Eastern Conference foe. “Every time we’d go into Florida, that was the main topic: you know you’ve got to beat Roberto and you’re not going to beat him on your first shot. You have to get people in front, and it’s going to be a second or third shot that you’re going to score on. He’s a big guy and covers a lot of space, and he’s one of the top goalies in the league, and I think the people of Vancouver are really going to like watching him play. And I know as a defenceman, I’m loving that he’s here.”

Fitzpatrick—talking, along with other players and Canuck management, to the Georgia Straight recently at training camp in Vernon—surely won’t be alone, playing with added confidence knowing that one of the world’s best netminders is there to bail him out. And it’s not just the blueliners who will benefit from Luongo’s presence. With the departures of Todd Bertuzzi and Anson Carter, there are questions about the Vancouver hockey club’s ability to score goals this season. But simple math tells you that if your team isn’t getting scored on as often as it has in the past, you won’t need as many goals to win.

“I think it changes your mindset a little bit,” veteran centre Brendan Morrison says. “Clouts [Dan Cloutier] was an extremely competitive guy, and when he was on his game and playing his best, he gave us a chance to win every night. I think with Roberto that’s magnified just because he has the ability to steal a game every night, and there are few goalies who can do that. I think having him back there is going to provide the rest of the team with a little more confidence. He’s intimidating simply because when you look at him in the net, there isn’t a lot of net to shoot at. I think he gets in the head of opposing shooters and gives us a leg up right away.”

Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks Senior Vice-President and General Manager Dave Nonis announced today that the Canucks have reduced their roster by 10 players. The Vancouver Canucks roster is now at 25 players.

The following players have been assigned to the Manitoba Moose:

Bouck, Tyler Right Wing
Brown, Mike Right Wing
Edler, Alexander Defence
Goren, Lee Right Wing
MacIntyre, Drew Goaltender
McIver, Nathan Defence
Reid, Brandon Centre
Schultz, Jesse Right Wing
Tremblay, Yannick Defence

The following player has been assigned to his junior team:

Grabner, Michael Right Wing

Starting goalie, check.

Pure goal scorer with something to prove, check.

Consummate power forward who won’t hang his head while playing in his hometown, check.

Dynamic centre coming back from Europe who has been dominant at this level and longs to return to the NHL, check.

Potential No. 1 defenceman to run the power play, check.Stud rookie blue-liner and punishing sophomore defenceman, check and the odd cross-check if you happen to be standing in front of the Moose net.

It was a tough day for the psyche of several players assigned by the Vancouver Canucks to the Manitoba Moose but there’s no doubt the American Hockey League club improved exponentially yesterday.

Wednesday in New York, deputy commissioner Bill Daly and the NHL’s marketing team will be meeting with a number of high-profile agents to discuss its strategy on how to market the league’s star players.

“They maintain they are creating a new direction,” said one agent who will take part in the two-hour meeting. “The players will not be hidden anymore. They’ll be front and center.”

It’s about time.

After the widely panned "Art of War" campaign that launched the new NHL, the league has come up with a new strategy with the league's star players as the focus.

Among the league's initiatives this season will be a series of 75 mini-features produced by NHL Productions that will be available to broadcasters across the NHL. Ed Horne, the president of NHL Enterprises, told ESPN.com that having re-established a relationship with the core fan across the NHL last season, the league is focused on expanding that bond to the casual fan.

The theory is simple, if fans are twigged to the stories of a player like Jarome Iginla or Joe Thornton or Evgeni Malkin, they might be curious enough to buy a ticket. And, so the theory goes, once the fan is inside the building, the game sells itself.

The NHL is also trying to push itself into the consciousness of the American public by insinuating its logos and brands into movies and television series via the league's ongoing talks with West Coast ad agencies. The FOX show "Bones", for instance, features NHL merchandise in office shots. And on Denis Leary's critically acclaimed "Rescue Me," seen on F/X in the United States, Phil Esposito did a nice turn as a firefighter in the past season.

The NHL is also pushing its major sponsors to use its players in their spots, as well, while hip magazine FHM will shortly unveil it's first hockey-themed preview issue.

Alain Vigneault still doesn't know the makeup of his first two lines, but the Canuck coach has a good idea who might play on his third.

Vigneault was full of praise for Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows following Wednesday night's 5-4 loss to the Oilers. He thinks the two complement one another and is now looking for a third forward to join them on what he thinks can be a very effective third line.

"Those two guys seem to be clicking well together," Vigneault said. "Now we need to find another forward to complement them. Those two tonight were as close as the Sedins have been."

Kesler had a goal and two assists and Burrows, who was at his agitating best, added a goal and one assist. They skated on a line with Danish rookie Jannik Hansen, who scored Vancouver's last goal.

One thing is certain in Vigneault's search for someone to complement Burrows and Kesler -- it won't be Jesse Schultz. After being trumpeted as a possible linemate for the Sedins following a 37-goal season in Manitoba, Schultz simply couldn't keep up, couldn't finish and was often too easily knocked off the puck.

"I don't know what happened," said Vigneault, who will cut eight to 10 players from his 35-man roster today. "I thought he had a chance, but just didn't play well enough.

"Sometimes with expectations, players have a tough time handling that pressure. I know he's a much better player than what he's shown so far."

(snip)

Schultz had company in the doghouse, where Chouinard has taken up residence. The Canucks are paying the former Minnesota Wild veteran $1.1 million US this year and next year.

After going 0-for-10 in the faceoff circle on Sunday against Anaheim, he was 6-for-11 on Wednesday but went shotless.

"Marginally better, but he's going to have to be a lot more effective than that ," said Vigneault.

Did Flaherty just punch his ticket for the Manitoba Moose?

"I didn't think he was really responsible, but being the individual he is, it was time to show him the respect he deserves," said Canucks coach Alain Vigneault, who went with Drew MacIntyre in the third period.

"Young-player mistakes in the first gave them Grade A chances and five goals against -- I thought it was enough."

With the 38-year-old Flaherty once again in the crosshairs as the can-he-cut-it backup candidate to starter Roberto Luongo, the jury is still out because nobody is rushing to judgment.

But that isn't making Flaherty comfortable. He knows there will be goalies available on the waiver wire.

"They haven't come out and said anything and they've got options, but who knows what they'll do?" said Flaherty.

"I can't worry about that."

It took three games, a couple worrisome goals and just a tablespoon of public consternation, but Roberto Luongo got his groove back.

And he knows exactly when it happened.

During Tuesday's second period, with the Sharks pressing, Luongo lost his stick in the midst of making one of his desperate, acrobatic plays. He never lost his composure, stopping a tipped shot and sliding across the crease to save another one with his elbow at the side of the net.

It was a play that made Luongo stand out like a beacon of hope on a team still labouring this preseason to find its identity.

It was a play that gave him confidence and left him feeling more comfortable than he's ever been in a Canucks uniform.

"Making those two big saves in a row really changed the momentum for me overall," Luongo said. "I was really solid after that and it led to my best game so far.

"The way I played after that is really where I want to be to start the season. It was a nice feeling to have. I really felt comfortable out there."

Luongo has long been billed as a guy who will give the Canucks, on almost every night, a chance to win. On Tuesday, on a team that didn't score, he lived up to his billing.

"That's what you want from your goaltender," coach Alain Vigneault said. "In the third period he had three huge saves to make and he made them. He gave us a chance to be in that game. He did his part."

Playing with Daniel and Henrik Sedin would be good for Markus Naslund. You could plant a cactus in the slot and the succulent would score 15 this season with the twins. The question: Is playing Naslund with the twins good for the Vancouver Canucks?

The Swedish three owned the puck on many shifts Tuesday but did not score against the San Jose Sharks. The Canucks, therefore, lost because nobody else scored either. Nobody else looked even in danger of scoring while Vancouver's best three forwards were pooled in one unit.

The coach, Alain Vigneault, said he'll audition Jan Bulis with the twins sometime during the Canucks' last three pre-season games, and also give Brendan Morrison and Naslund another chance to play together.

But he made it clear he does not believe playing Naslund with the twins necessarily makes the Canuck attack one-dimensional.

"I expect us to get better," Vigneault said. "I talk about us getting balanced scoring; I don't want us to be a one-line team. We should be able to generate chances throughout our forward lineup."

Morrison, Bertuzzi and Naslund once formed Vancouver's most dangerous offensive line, nicknamed the West Coast Express. That changed somewhat last season, when the Sedins and Carter emerged as genuine threats.

Now, with a new coaching staff and a remake of half the roster, no one's sure of the line combos before the NHL regular season begins Oct. 5.

The only certainty is the Sedins will play together.

Vigneault has gone so far as to experiment with Naslund alongside the twins, leaving Morrison the odd man out at times.

In the interest of expanding horizons and trying something new, I accepted an invitation from the crazy fun, blogging and podcasting Bollwitts, John (audihertz.net) and Rebecca (miss604.com), to participate in my first ever podcast last night.

John and Rebecca are great. Some of you have probably already heard their regular Radio Zoom podcasts, and if you have, then you know just how good they are at what they do. They made me feel comfortable during the recording and made the experience a lot of fun.

• Click here to go to the podcast.

It's hard to overlook Taylor Pyatt at practice when the new winger for the Vancouver Canucks swoops toward the net during a line rush.

The hulking player is a robust 6 foot 4 and 220 pounds, with wide shoulders and size 12 skates on his surprisingly quick feet.

He's hopeful the Canucks will provide him with an opportunity to succeed after he was found wanting by his previous National Hockey League clubs, the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres.

The Canucks obtained Pyatt this summer in a trade with Buffalo, hoping the 25-year-old from Thunder Bay might be a late developer, just as forward Todd Bertuzzi was a few years back.

...is not the next Todd Bertuzzi. He's not a leader or an agitator and he really doesn't have much of an 'on' switch, you know, the kind that makes Bertuzzi both great and terrible all at the same time. But, that said, he is a solid checking forward, if not overly physical. He must be paired with someone who plays with intensity. Pyatt played his best hockey in an Angry Goat Head when centered by Paul Gaustad, a guy who never takes a shift off. That's what I mean by his being a follower. Get those Bert comparisons out of your head and you'll see a solid, if unspectacular guy who has better tools than aggression. Pencil him in for 10-12 minutes of PK/Checking duties.

Soft-spoken Taylor Pyatt has often been labelled "Taylor Quiet" by critics who wonder why the big winger's play has seldom matched his imposing size.

Those doubts may be disappearing.

Pyatt turned in a solid two-way performance Sunday during a 4-3 preseason shootout victory over the Anaheim Ducks at GM Place.

On a line with Brendan Morrison and Jan Bulis, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound left-winger forechecked aggressively, created shooting lanes and screens. He had an assist and four shots on goal and the trio combined for eight shots.

"We created quite a few good opportunities and it was only my second game and my first chance to play with Brendan and Jan," said Pyatt, who finished a plus-1 in 14:40 of playing time. "I thought we had a pretty solid game."

(snip)

On Sunday, there was nothing hurting in Pyatt's game. In the first period, he wheeled out of the corner and feathered a soft backhand pass to Bulis, who scored to give the Canucks a 2-1 edge at 10:32.

In a second-period sequence, Pyatt fought off checks to set up his linemates. And on a power play, he created an effective screen and nearly deflected a Mattias Ohlund point shot home.

In the third period, Pyatt spun off defenders down low for another good scoring chance. He then brushed off a check by Travis Green to set up Bulis before firing a good wrister to force Ilya Bryzgalov to make a stellar glove save with the game tied 3-3.

It was a snapshot performance of what the Canucks hope will be a full-length feature this season

"That's my style to get in on the forecheck and be physical by finishing my checks and be able to protect the puck around the net and in the corners," said Pyatt. "And I've got to make plays and I had some pretty good opportunities.

"I thought our line had some pretty good chemistry."

Finding a replacement for Anson Carter and his team-leading 33 goals is a priority as the Canucks head down the final stretch drive of the pre-season. The way the twins played Sunday night, they just might make anyone look good.

Daniel, in particular, was flying all night. He gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead at 3:13 of the first period when he converted a goalmouth pass from Henrik on a power play. Naslund picked up the second assist on the goal.

The Sedins are in the process of again reshaping themselves. They vow they'll be shooting more, especially Henrik. They promise they'll be more obvious leaders. They want to score 90-plus points. And to help make it all happen, they've brought some new tricks to the show.

Henrik's shootout goal was a backhanded top-corner beauty, the likes of which he's never attempted before in the NHL.

"I've been working on that for two years and I've never taken the chance to use it before," Henrik said. "It felt nice to score like that."

The Sedins have combined for four goals and four first assists in two games. That's half of the Canucks' eight preseason goals even though they've only played in two games.

"We've been able to create a lot of chances," Henrik said. "I really think we should have three or four more goals.

"I think we should have taken more shots [Sunday]. We made some extra passes."

On the Sedin goals, the second assists have gone to Yannick Tremblay, Alexander Edler, Naslund and Sami Salo.

Compared to the beginning of last year, the Sedins have made a quantum leap in almost every conceivable way.

"We've taken another big step like I think we've done every year," Henrik said. "Last season gave us a lot of confidence and we have brought that here. Now, we know we can score whenever we're on the ice. That's a huge difference, especially from our first year here when we went on the ice basically trying not to get scored on."

Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks Senior Vice-President and General Manager Dave Nonis announced today that the Canucks have reduced their roster by seven players. The Vancouver Canucks roster is now at 35 players.

The following players have been assigned to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL:

Bernier, Marc-Andre Right Wing
Ellis, Julien Goal
Moran, Brad Centre
Rullier, Joe Defence
Ryan, Prestin Defence

The following players have released:

Dwyer, Gordie Wing
Kutny, Vladimir Wing

"It's kind of frustrating, but I don't think it's a big deal," Rypien said Sunday. "I just have to watch it and get back as soon as I can. Hopefully it's not too long, a week or under.

"My goal is to play some more exhibition games. There's still a long way to go yet before the regular season starts."

Even if Rypien doesn't get another pre-season sniff, he may yet survive the final cutdown. Canuck head coach Alain Vigneault indicated that Rypien has made the big club based on his performance to date.

"If the season would start tomorrow, he would be on this team," Vigneault declared. "I'm not quite sure where we're going to go with that because of the injury but, if I was a betting man, I'd bet we'll give him a chance to get healthy and then he might be with this team."

The Vancouver Canucks had a defensive performance dreadful enough to make Luongo long for the good 'ol days in Florida in a 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. The Canucks are 0-3 in the pre-season and looked seriously overmatched against the Ducks.

Anaheim led 2-0 after 51/2 minutes, outshot the Canucks 28-8 through 40 minutes and played as if they were in a league above the Canucks. They may be. But Vancouver, under new coach Alain Vigneault and with Luongo in goal, is never supposed to be out of games.

The Canucks are supposed to be nothing if not relentless. So Friday, for two periods, they were nothing.

• Select a roster made up of 20 NHL players (forwards/defensemen, no goalies).
• Collect 1 point for each goal, assist, short-handed goal, and game-winning goal - most points at the end of the regular season wins.
• There are no trades or roster changes allowed when the season starts.
• The tie-breaker (in order): 1) total goals, 2) total game-winning goals, 3) total shorthanded goals.
• If there is still a tie after the tie-breakers, I'm going to put their names in a basket and hold a draw to determine the winner.
• Please folks - only one team per person.

• Go to the following URL: http://thecommonfan.com/pools/canuckshockeyblog/.
• Sign-in or register if you don't have a TCF account yet. (Registration is free.)
• Click "Join this Pool now!"
• Choose your players.

"You know, there were some nerves out there and I had to get the butterflies out," said Luongo, who admitted to feeling some rust as well. "It was my first game since April and here I am with my new team. I really wanted to make an impression. Obviously, there's been a lot of stuff going on for me. I'm trying to get all the kinks out of the way."

In the third, Vigneault finally gave up on Jesse Shultz, who was regularly knocked out of the play, and put Ryan Kesler with the twins. Kesler hit everything and cleared out lots of space. It led to two third-period goals, one by Daniel and one by Henrik, which tied the game at 3-3.

"In the third we started forechecking really good and we were able to get some pucks on turnovers and get some good chances," Daniel said. "I like playing with [Kesler], he's a really good player."

Try putting http://meta.insinc.com/team1040/live.asx into your Windows Media Player. That's the direct link and I've been told it works well for people.

Like all good goalies, Roberto Luongo keeps a book on the National Hockey League's top shooters. Actually, it's not really a book.

"My black book is right up here," Luongo said Wednesday, pointing to his head. "Once I play against a guy or I see something on him, I always remember. I just have a tendency to remember these things."

The trouble is, Luongo's 'book' contains some blank pages when it comes to the NHL's Western Conference. Until now, his entire NHL career has been spent in the Eastern Conference. Ask him about Jaromir Jagr or Alexander Ovechkin and Luongo will tell you where they like to shoot from and whether they prefer to go top shelf or five-hole. Ask him about some of the West's top guns and Luongo is not so sure.

"Apart from a couple of guys who moved from East to West there's not many guys I know real well out here," Luongo said. "Obviously I have played with a few guys, but when you only play against them once every couple years you don't really tend to remember where they like to shoot or where they tend to go on the ice."

(snip)

Luongo said he doesn't think there's a huge difference in the shooters between the East and West (although it should be noted that eight of the nine top goal-scorers in the NHL last season played for Eastern teams).

"I haven't really played in a western type game, but from what I've heard the pace is faster so I'll find out tomorrow if the game is different or not," he said. "But as far as shooters are concerned, I'm sure everyone has their tendencies and it's only a matter of getting to know them."

If this first exhibition game Tuesday was all about discovery for new Vancouver Canuck head coach Alain Vigneault, here's what he discovered:

Wade Flaherty can still play goal at age 38;

Brandon Reid can still make things happen after two years digesting European hockey culture;

Teenage blueliner Luc Bourdon will be just fine if he resists the temptation for risky business and self-analysis;

Lightweight Rick Rypien isn't afraid of anybody, even hombres as scary and tough as Flame super sophomore Dion Phaneuf.

Anybody else, coach?

"I loved Kevin Bieksa's game," said Vigneault after the Canucks dropped a 3-1 decision to the Flames in Vancouver's first of eight pre-season outings. "I thought he was really solid, he moved the puck well and had a good shot from the point. It was a good start for him. And, up front, Josh Green caught my attention."

Flaherty was perfect in his 30 minutes of work, turning away 11 shots, and looking very capable of handling a light workload behind all-world starter Roberto Luongo.

"It's early, it's the first exhibition game but I felt good and I felt comfortable," said the Langley resident. "It was a good start."

Solid #7 guy who can play the right side. Limited mobility, but physical and has a huge heart. Apparently he was really well-liked in the Sabres room and would be more valuable in the pre-lockout NHL than the new one. He's a guy whose effort you'll respect but who just doesn't quite have the tools to be anything more than a warm body in case of injury.

Has big upside, but hasn't shown anything yet. Had a hat trick in game 1 last year and I thought he was becoming the scorer the Wild desperately needed, but only scored 11 more in the remaining 81 games. Disappears for stretches of games and was an occassional healthy scratch. Good face off man...in a new system could become a decent 3rd line center.

We need heroes. But heroes need villains. They can't operate without `em.

In the ongoing Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames' melodrama, one heightened by over-familiarity and that visceral seven-game playoff series three springtimes ago, hockey fans in this city have regrettably lost four men they gleefully cast in the role of black hats.

And, to be honest, with the Canucks in town and doing a pretty fair impression of the Manitoba Moose, it just doesn't seem the same.

Jarkko Ruutu (Boo!) defected to Pittsburgh. Ed Jovanovski (Hiss!) wound up in that sun-soaked hockey boneyard that is the Arizona desert. Coach Marc Crawford (Boo!) walked a short plank, packed up the hair gel (but not in his carry-on) and left for L.A. And Todd Bertuzzi (Hissssssss!) was jettisoned to Florida, away from prying eyes, happily prepared for early retirement.

Canucks that people here loved to hate.

These were the men who, from a Calgary perspective, helped transform Vancouver into a nastier, more absorbing rival than even the Edmonton Oilers. Games to look forward to. A rivalry that helped make the dull nights somehow bearable.

Come back, guys. All is forgiven.