Game Day: Blues at Canucks

In an attempt to fix his power play -- which is currently so impotent it needs Viagra more than a good set-up man -- Alain Vigneault has turned to Jeff Cowan.

Why not? In the last two weeks, Cowan has fixed the team's second line, fixed its toughness issue and, above all, fixed sagging brassiere sales in the Lower Mainland. All things considered, resuscitating the Canucks' comatose power play should be a piece of cake for Cowan.

"He's on a roll," head coach Alain Vigneault said with a shrug. "As a coach, you have to play the guys who are on a roll."

"For some reason, Pyatt's game has slipped and not just in his execution but in his physical implications, whereas Jeff's game has picked up," said Vigneault.

"Our power play right now is not performing and we're going to try Jeff there. He's been our hottest player and Pyatt has not played to his potential.

"Cowan and Pyatt on the power play pretty much have the same role in screening the goaltender and tipping pucks."

Translation: As much as Cowan has been justly rewarded for going boldly to the net and collecting eight points in his last seven games, Vigneault is sending Pyatt a message to be more of a presence. Big bodies who play big are a postseason bonus, especially on the power play. And Pyatt does have nine power-play goals.

• Louie is looking forward to his first NHL playoff action. So are we. - Jason Botchford (Vancouver Province)
• Bryan and Nazzy ain't the same as Bert and Nazzy, but AV says it's getting there. - Brad Ziemer (Vancouver Sun)
• The gushing over Gaborik continues. - Grant Kerr (Globe and Mail)

Labels: Blues, Cowan, game day preview, Pyatt