Preview: Flyers @ Canucks - Oct. 10
Philadelphia Flyers (1-1-0) @ Vancouver Canucks (1-1-0)
Location: GM Place, Vancouver
TV: Canucks PPV
Time: 7:30pm/PST
With it being so early into the season, it isn’t surprising that the leading storyline heading into tonights game between the Canucks and Flyers is the fact that these two teams haven’t met in Vancouver in six years. It used to be to a mainstay that the Canucks and Flyers always played around Halloween or New Years, but now one is would be fooling to bet on when they will meet next. Although the schedule is an interesting debate, there is much more to talk about leading in to tonight’s match-up.
Both the Canucks and the Flyers have gone over significant team changes over the last couple of years. The Canucks, last season, when through a large roster change and a change in the team philosophy. The Flyers are trying to do the same this year after a very disappointing and disheartening season last year. The Canucks had success after their acquisition of superstar goalie Roberto Luongo and the Flyers are looking to do the same after they acquired Daniel Briere, Jason Smith, Kimmo Timmonen, Joffrey Lupul, Scott Upshall, Scott Hartnell and Martin Biron over the last year.
By the looks of it the Flyers are dedicating themselves to a strong defensive system while inherently having the offensive skill to produce. The Canucks have an inherent defensive strength with arguably the best defensive core and goaltender in the league, but they are struggling to find two lines that will consistently put up an offensive threat. Both teams in somewhat of the same situation, both with a lot to prove. The Canucks are looking to make it deep into the playoffs, while the Flyers are looking to regain a birth in the post-season. However with such turnover in their roster and the incredible offensive upside, the expectations are already high for a Flyers team that missed the playoffs last year.
