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Flames-Canucks Preview
Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks
- The Flames lost, 5-4, to the Ducks on Monday and are now 0-2-0 for the second consecutive year. The last time Calgary dropped three straight regulation games to begin a season was 2000-01.
- Vancouver lost, 3-2, to the Oilers in a shootout on Sunday and at 0-1-1, is off to its worst start since losing the first three games of the 2009-10 campaign. The Canucks' penalty-kill percentage is just 42.9 -- tied with the Ducks for worst in the NHL.
- These two clubs played six times last season and each won three of those contests. Calgary was just 1-for-22 (4.5 percent) with the man-advantage vs. the Canucks in 2011-12.
- Curtis Glencross had two goals and an assist in Monday's setback -- his 10th career 3+ point game. Glencross was on the ice vs. the Canucks five times last season and tallied three points (2g, 1a) in those games.
- Alex Elder has lit the lamp in each of the first two games of 2012-13 -- the first Vancouver defenseman to score a goal in the first two games of any season all-time. Elder has nine points (3g, 6a) in his last eight skates vs. the Flames.
- Jay Bouwmeester has played in 590 consecutive games -- the longest active streak in the NHL. Henrik Sedin has played in 583 consecutive games -- the second-longest active streak in the league.
By JORDAN GARRETSON
(AP) -- Cory Schneider's first season as a No. 1 goalie in the NHL didn't get off to an ideal start.
He'll get a chance to bounce back along with the rest of the winless Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night against the visiting Calgary Flames, who are still seeking their first point.
Schneider started Vancouver's season opener Saturday against Anaheim, but was pulled after allowing five goals on 14 shots and replaced by Roberto Luongo in a 7-3 defeat. Luongo got the nod the next day in a 3-2 shootout loss to Edmonton, stopping 30 of the 32 shots he faced.
Schneider will return to the crease Wednesday as Luongo continues to be shopped to other teams, with general manager Mike Gillis telling the Vancouver Sun on Tuesday that a potential trade is already in place.
Canucks coach Alain Vigneault dismissed the suggestion that the fluid situation could be a distraction to his team.
"We're not concerned about what's being said outside our environment really," Vigneault said. "It's never been an issue and I'm sure it's not now."
Luongo had a 2.41 goals-against average in 55 games last season. Schneider posted a 1.96 GAA over 33 contests before displacing Luongo as the starter during the playoffs.
"I've got two great goaltenders," Vigneault said. "My job is to pick the one that I feel gives us the best chance to win and (Wednesday) I think Cory gives us the best chance to win."
Vancouver's power play, which converted 19.8 percent of its chances last season to rank fourth in the league, went 2 for 4 against the Ducks but was 0 for 5 versus the Oilers. Perhaps more concerning is the penalty kill, which has yielded four goals on seven chances.
The Canucks (0-1-1) hope to get a spark from Jordan Schroeder, a first-round pick in the 2009 entry draft. Schroeder was recalled from the club's AHL affiliate on Tuesday and is expected to make his NHL debut against the Flames.
The center had 19 points in 30 games for the Chicago Wolves.
"I'm excited," Schroeder said. "I've been working really hard for this. ... I'm really looking forward to the opportunity."
The Flames (0-2-0) also lost two games at home to begin the season, dropping 4-1 and 5-4 results to San Jose and Anaheim, respectively. Another regulation defeat would give them their worst start since they were 0-3-0 in 2000-01.
Calgary showed some life Monday against the Ducks, erasing an early 3-0 deficit before stumbling in the third period. Curtis Glencross scored his first two goals of the season - both on the power play - in the loss.
"We have some young kids in the lineup," first-year coach Bob Hartley said. "It's just a matter of playing an NHL style that's going to allow us to win some games. We can't fault the effort, we can't fault the attitude."
Forwards Roman Cervenka and Jiri Hudler will still be unavailable Wednesday, though both are expected to play Saturday against Edmonton. Cervenka (blood clots) saw a specialist Tuesday and was cleared to return to practice Thursday.
Hudler, signed as a free agent after tallying 25 goals and 25 assists last season for Detroit, has yet to make his Flames debut following the death of his father last week.
Updated January 22, 2013
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