Dan Cloutier for Vezina

Canucks record: 27-16-1, 55 Pts. T1 Northwest

Flames Record: 25-14-5, 55 Pts, T1 Northwest

Last Meeting:  One doesn’t have to look to far back to recall the last meeting between these two teams.  Jarome Iginla opened the scoring on a tip in on the Flames first shot of the game two weeks ago, but after that it was all Vancouver.  Mason Raymond recorded his first career hat trick to pace the Canucks to a 5-1 win.  Raymond scored perhaps the craziest goal of the season as he lobbed a dump in from center ice that deflected off an unsuspecting Kiprusoff and into the net.

Season Series: Despite losing the last contest, the Flames still lead the season series 2-1 on the strength of two early season victories.  All games have been played in Calgary to this point.  The Canucks may now have the upper hand as they will have the advantage of playing at home for the last three games between these two teams.  The Flames won 5-3 on October 1^st and again by the same score on October 16^th.

Last Game: The Flames had a let down game at home to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night losing 3-2.  The Jackets were able to build up a 3-1 lead and hang on for a 3-2 victory.  It’s the Flames second loss in a row after winning five straight.  The Canucks shut out the Coyotes on Thursday night thanks to the strong play of Roberto Luongo and of course the back-to-back hat trick by Alex Burrows.

Injuries:  Aaron Rome (concussion)-Out, Sami Salo (eye)-doubtful, Pavol Demitra (shoulder) – Out but day-to-day, Kevin Bieksa(ankle)-Out indefinitely.

Other Stuff: I’m hoping to do game previews on here more often and what better way to start than with a matchup between the Flames and Canucks.  I don’t think many people would have expected these two teams to be playing with exactly the same number of points based on how the Canucks were playing at the start of the season, but thanks to winning 11 of 14, the Canucks are now tied with the Flames.

Brad Lukowich is going to get his first start of the season with the Canucks on Saturday.  Lukowich has been playing with the Texas Stars of the NHL after being waived and re-assigned by the Canucks at the conclusion of the pre-season.  Lukowich was aquired as part of the trade that brough Christian Ehrhoff to Vancouver.  Lukowich was happy to head back to Texas to help the new franchise get its feet underneath them after spending the best years of his career in Dallas.  I use the term happy loosely here as he obviously would have preferred to be in the NHL but still it was a good situation for both sides.  Lukowich wasn’t assigned to Manitoba, the Canucks AHL affiliate at the time because they were at the veteran roster limit.

Evan Oberg has also been called up to play for Sami Salo should he not be able to go tomorrow.  Salo didn’t practice Friday because his eye had swollen shut after being high-sticked by Willie Mitchell on Thursday.  Unless it heals pretty damn quick it appears we’ll be seeing Oberg make his NHL debut.  Honestly, Oberg isn’t ready to step into the NHL yet but because the Canucks are so thin on defensive depth they have little choice.  This also should show that the Canucks want absolutely nothing to do with Mathieu Schneider anymore.  If Schneider hadn’t done whatever he did to upset the Canucks he’d be looking at some consistent playing time right now.  For those interested, Nolan Baumgartner is just about healed from a broken finger and Lawrence Nycholat as well as Nathan McIver are also injured, leaving the Canucks with no choice but to call up Oberg