Canucks forward Radim Vrbata returns to the lineup to face his former team tonight
Posted November 14, 2014 1:59 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The Canucks are back on the ice tonight playing the Arizona Coyotes in a Pacific Division battle. The desert dogs are last in the division, while the Canucks trail Anaheim by one point for first place. Radim Vrbata returns to the lineup to face his former team after missing the last two games with a lower body injury.
“It will be special in a way, but you don’t want to over hype it and you don’t want to be too hyped up for the game I guess. I would rather treat it as a normal game and keep my emotions under control.”
Vrbata is fourth on the Coyotes all-time scoring list. Coach Willie Desjardins says Vrbata and his team will be ready for Arizona.
“When they came in here in preseason they outplayed us pretty good. I thought they had a good game. I didn’t think we played great. They are a little different in that their goaltender handles the puck really well so we have to be aware of that.”
Under the coaching of Dave Tippett, the Coyotes are notorious for playing a shut down, trap-style game. Kevin Bieksa says its important the Canucks get pucks deep and create opportunities.
“I think you still expect a well-coached team. A team that is going to keep things tight through the neutral zone. They will trap a lot and be very good defensively, regardless of what their stats are saying. They always seem to play good against us, and they have one of the best goalies in the league. They are a team you can’t take lightly.”
It will be a milestone night for Canucks Equipment Manager Pat O’Neill. He will work his 2500th NHL regular season game. Chris Higgins says he is the best in the business.
“The guys have a lot of respect for him and he has been here a long time. He has worked with a lot of great players, so we are all happy for him and it is a great night for him.”
O’Neill joined the Canucks in 1988 and is in his 25th season with the club.
The puck drops at 7 p.m.. You can watch it on Sportsnet Pacific. Listen to News1130 for game updates every 10 minutes on the fives.
