Line Combinations May Be Juggled

After an 0 - 2 start to the 2009-2010 season that not many people predicted, the Canucks and Alain Vigneault are looking to get their season on track Monday night in their home opener as they host the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Craig Anderson and the Avalanche stymied the Canucks and a shakeup in the top two lines could be exactly what the doctor ordered...or at least what the coach is pondering. Alain Vigneault is contemplating the idea of shuffling his top 6 forwards. Keep and eye out for the possibility of Mikeal Samuelsson (one of the few bright spots so far this season) to be promoted to top line duty with Daniel and Henrik, while Alex Burrows may rejoin his agitating partner in crime Ryan Kesler, with shifty youngster Sergei Shirokov.

Kyle Wellwood, Steve Bernier and Mason Raymond should continue to stay in tact for the time being, as they have generated chances and been the Canucks most hard working line so far this season. It remains to be seen if Vigneault will pull the trigger on these line changes for Monday night, or if he'll give his current lineup 1 more game to try and get things on track.

Our Take: I would leave the lines as is. I don't think it's a matter of line combinations that is causing the slow start for this group, it's simply just timing and work ethic. The Canucks simply just haven't looked in synch so far, you can attritbute that to never playing a pre-season game with their full squad, or just having trouble re-gaining chemistry they found with one another last season. Whatever the reason, the Canucks should be boosted by the home crowd at the garage, and should come out with some energy in their home opener. Hopefully that energy is enough to produce some fluidity to their game.