The Vancouver Canucks were thrilled to edge their Western Canadian rivals the other night as they bested the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in regulation. The win in itself brought the team to a five hundred record in the early season, but the true thrill of the organization and its’ loyal fans is the fact that star forward Ryan Kessler will be playing tonight. Kesler has missed the first five games of the season to due an offseason hip surgery.
"My hip's 100 percent," Kesler said. "I'm definitely not going out there to limp into the lineup."
The reigning Selke Award winner had a career year last season as he tallied 41 goals and 32 assists for 73 points in the regular season, followed by 7 goals and 19 points in the post season as the Canucks ran all the way to a game 7 showdown for Lord Stanley’s Cup in a losing effort. He tied forward Daniel Sedin for most goals on the team, and cam third behind the twins in most points. The 27 year-old’s contribution to the team is no secret.
Kesler has spent his seven year NHL career as a Canuck, drafted in 2003 23rd overall, and has registered 131 goals and 157 assists for 288 points in 484 games.
The news isn’t so great for New York Rangers fans, as the Rangers visit Vancouver in hopes of winning in that city for the first time in 14 years. The last victory for the Rangers came on October 11, 1997 in the city of Vancouver. The Canucks have bested the Rangers 9 of the last 11 times the two clubs have met up.
The Rangers’ sluggish start has heated the collar of fiery head coach John Tortorella as the Rangers still search for their first win. The club opened up the season in Eaurope, falling twice in the shootout to the Kings and Ducks respectively. Their defeat by the Islanders did the team no favors. Now, they search for victory on a four-game road swing in Western Canada as they play the Canucks, Flames, Oilers, and Jets to wrap up their seven game road trip to start the year off.
"Don't go there. There's no excuses here. We lost a hockey game. That team played better than us," Tortorella said in regards to the loss suffered against the Islanders on Saturday night. "They were more disciplined than us. I don't want to hear about Europe. I don't want to hear is it a penalty or not a penalty. We're not disciplined enough and Europe has nothing to do with tonight's game."
The hockey world will sit and wait to see what Ryan Kesler has to do with tonight’s game, as his full intention is to make New York wait longer for their first win of the season.
- Kendall Grubbs
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