A 7-2-1 run in their last ten games is just what the doctor ordered, as the red-hot Canucks have one more home game in January before setting off on a grueling road trip that will not have them back home until March 13! Vancouver is currently in second place (tied for first in points with Colorado) in the Northwest Division with 66 points based on their 32-18-2 record, which is also good enough to tie them for 3rd place in the Western Conference, while placing them in a tie for 7th within the entire NHL.

Vancouver is not only one of the better teams in the league, but they are led by the NHL’s leading scorer, Henrik Sedin, who has 76 points on 24 goals (9th in NHL) and 52 assists (4th in NHL) at just past the halfway mark of the season. But the firepower does not stop there, as the Canucks also boast a few more above average point producers – Henrik’s leftwing brother Daniel (48 points – 14 goals, 34 assists, in only 34 games), leftwing Alex Burrows (45 points – 23 goals, 22 assists), center Ryan Kesler (44 points – 13 goals, 31 assists), leftwing Mason Raymond (36 points, 18 goals/assists), and rightwing Mikael Samuelsson (35 points – 18 goals, 17 assists), just to name the few scoring above thirty points.

At the other end of the ice the Canucks have the seemingly unfair advantage of seasoned goaltender Roberto Luongo guarding the goal. Luongo (28-14-2, 2.27 GAA, .921 save %) is solid and reliable, while also ranked highly amongst the top NHL goalies – 3rd in the wins column, 9th in goals against average, and 11th in save percentage. Someone like Luongo can take a team to, and through, the playoffs, especially if he gets hot.

After coming up from the cellar to win their division last season, Vancouver is proving once again to be a serious contender, with another division crown well within reach in 2009-2010. This is a team that cannot be ignored over the course of the second half of the season, or when the playoffs begin. Get tickets now and be there for all the excitement as the Canucks continue to shake things up across the league.