Monkey Number 1 Says

OK - I know they won't be taking too many buses, but:



A little interweb theft for you to browse: It kinda spooks me out when I see it actually written out before my very eyes:



The Kings were the easy part for the Vancouver Canucks. This is what we're looking at from here on in:

Wed, Mar 12 @ Anaheim PPV

Thu, Mar 13 @ Phoenix

Sat, Mar 15 @ Dallas

Mon, Mar 17 Phoenix PPV

Thu, Mar 20 @ Edmonton

Fri, Mar 21 Minnesota

Tue, Mar 25 @ Calgary PPV

Wed, Mar 26 @ Colorado

Fri, Mar 28 @ Minnesota

Sun, Mar 30 Calgary

Tue, Apr 1 Colorado

Thu, Apr 3 Edmonton PPV

Sat, Apr 5 Calgary



=> The Canucks play back-to-back three times and both involve plane trips in between. They also play three times in four nights twice. Meanwhile, Colorado doesn't have a single back-to-backer and Minnesota has one. Seems fair.



=> Four games on pay-per-view. Fantastic. We appreciate the Canucks are in the money-making business but this doesn't exactly create a tonne of goodwill. In fact, the word "hostage" comes to mind. And that's the way it's gonna be until the production value surpasses that of professional wrestling at the Croatian Cultural Centre. Or, Kirk McLean paints his face like Sting. We'd pay for that.



=> Everyone knows by now that Vancouver's last nine games are against Northwest Division foes. That could actually be good considering the Canucks are 12-6-5 against the division. Only Detroit (15-2-3) and Colorado (14-7-1) have done better. Calgary is 11-8-4, Minnesota is 11-9-3 and Edmonton is 9-12-2. So basically we're on easy street. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.



=> All those away games could put a lot of pressure on the Canucks to win at home to close things out. As of today, if you asked the oddsmakers, Vancouver would be favoured against Phoenix and Edmonton on the road, and the Oilers' line would be tight. For the rest of the away games, the Canucks would be underdogs. In other words, try not to freak out if they lose tomorrow in Anaheim; they're meant to. The Ducks are good.



=> In a related story, Calgary fans have to be concerned that nine of the Flames' last 13 games are on the road, including four straight to end the season. Luckily for them, the Flames are 18-13-1 away. Last year, they finished 13-20-8 on the road.



=> The one Vancouver game that sticks out as particularly huge is March 21 at home to the Wild. If the Canucks lose there, they'll have to endure all sorts of abuse (both self-inflicted and not) for three days before embarking on a brutal three-gamer. It won't be easy, either. Vancouver will have played in Edmonton the night before, the Wild two nights ago in San Jose. Again, thanks, Mr. Schedule Maker.