The Vancouver Canucks announced Friday that they have recalled forward Rick Rypien from the Manitoba Moose. Rypien is expected to take Ryan Shannon’s roster spot and will dress on the fourth line. Rypien’s presence will bring more tenacity, grit and perhaps fisticuffs for tonight’s first affair between the Oil and Canucks.
You know, I find it VERY interesting that the Canucks recalled Rypien of all people. I find it interesting because most of you will remember Rypien last played against Edmonton in an exhibition game where he crushed Marc-Andre Roy into the boards with a hit from behind. Rypien of course did not face any disciplinary action, nor should he have because it was clean, clean I tell you!
Nonetheless, tonight’s game should be an easy one for the Canucks (Yeah, I said it!). If they’re not fired up for this game then they don’t deserve to be playing. A wake-up call from the Philadelphia Flyers at home, seeing Ryan Shannon victimized by the numbers game and a picture of Roberto Luongo on that bench should be motivation aplenty for a Canucks team which hasn’t quite lived up to expectations in the first three games of the season and desperately needs a pick-me-up against a vulnerable Edmonton Oilers squad who they’ve got a home-and-home series against.
Two wins will go a long way for the Canucks if they manage to secure both. It would help offset the embarrassment they suffered at the hands of the Flyers. However, two losses will get some people jumping off bandwagons and coaches starting to question the performances of their players.
If the Sedins take advantage of Sheldon Souray like they did when he played with the Canadiens last year, this should be a multi-point effort from the twins. Having Jason Smith out of the Edmonton lineup will make things so much more easier for the twins to skate by an older, slower Steve Staios.
Puck drop is at 7PM.
