Chatecke » as Jussi Jokinen scored the go-ahead goal

CALGARY - The Vancouver Canucks hope to put the disastrous John Tortorella era further in the past when they open their 2014-15 season on the road Wednesday against the Calgary Flames. Gene Autry Jersey . The Canucks are aiming to hit the restart button after missing the playoffs last spring for the first time since 2008. As a result, Tortorella was axed from the head coaching position after only one season in Vancouver and general manager Mike Gillis also joined him on the unemployment line. Gillis, of course, was the man who made the ill-fated decision to fire head coach Alain Vigneault after the 2013 campaign and replace him with Tortorella. All Vigneault did in 2013-14 was take over the reins for Torts with the New York Rangers and lead the Blueshirts to the Stanley Cup Finals. Jim Benning, who replaced the fired Gillis, hopes he has done enough to retool the Canucks and get the club back to the postseason for the sixth time in seven years. The new GM finally pulled the trigger on a Ryan Kesler trade, sending the forward to Anaheim for depth and draft picks, while also signing star goaltender Ryan Miller to take over the No. 1 netminding position following Roberto Luongos trade at last seasons deadline. Benning also installed Willie Desjardins as Tortorellas replacement behind the bench and the rookie NHL coach will be tasked with developing a cohesive unit from the new faces and the old standbys, including the Sedin twins, who are out to prove a down 2013-14 season was merely an aberration. Vancouvers defensive depth is a big question mark heading into the season and the club could be even thinner on the blue line if Kevin Bieksa misses tonights game. Bieksa is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is a game- time decision for the season opener. You want to play on opening day, I definitely would like to play, but you also have to be smart, Bieksa told his clubs web site. Playing one game and then sitting for four or five is not smart and not good for the team. A lot of factors to consider but its Game 1 and theres a lot of games this year. The Flames, meanwhile, are in rebuilding mode and missed the playoffs last season for a fifth straight spring. Considering it plays in the stacked Western Conference, Calgary figures to have an uphill battle at making the postseason in 2014-15. Calgary is coming off a 77-point season, the lowest for the club since it notched just 75 in 2002-03. But just because the Flames are young and inexperienced doesnt mean they are pushovers. President Brian Burke, general manager Brad Treliving and head coach Bob Hartley have an exciting young nucleus to work with and they want it to be one that gives maximum effort and doesnt quit. Hartley certainly saw that last season, when Calgary matched an NHL record with 49 one-goal games. And while Calgary look for its young guns to gain valuable experience and deal with the free agency loss of Mike Cammalleri, the front office filled holes with solid veterans, adding wingers Mason Raymond and Devin Setoguchi, defenseman Deryk Engelland and goaltender Jonas Hiller. Those new faces join the rest of the veteran leadership, guided by defenseman and captain Mark Giordano as well as Curtis Glencross, Jiri Hudler and Matt Stajan. The Flames youth movement is led by Sean Monahan, Mikael Backlund and T.J. Brodie. Joining the parade of talented youngsters is Johnny Gaudreau, a 21-year-old former Boston College standout who made Calgarys roster out of training camp. The forward better known as Johnny Hockey won the coveted Hobey Baker Award as the NCAAs top hockey player in 2013-14. Gaudreau expects to play in his second NHL game tonight after debuting with the Flames late last season. Sam Bennett, the fourth overall pick at the 2014 draft, also could have made his NHL debut tonight for the Flames if not for a shoulder injury. Calgary fears the 18-year-old forward may need surgery and its unclear how long he will be sidelined. Hiller will get the call in the season opener for Calgary. He went 29-13-7, 2.48 GAA and .911 save percentage in 50 games for the Anaheim Ducks last season and hopes to bring stability to Calgarys crease. Vancouver dominated the Flames last season, winning all five meetings while outscoring Calgary by a combined 17-8 margin. The Canucks have won seven straight and 10 of 12 in the series overall and have claimed the last three encounters at Calgarys Scotiabank Saddledome. TSN Game Notes VAN was 5-0-0 vs CGY last season, winning twice past regulation VAN has won 7 straight vs CGY, 3 of the games in CGY 9th opening season match up between teams, last time in 2009 CGY: 0-3-1 last 4 openers final 17 games in 13-14, 12-5-0, 31/34 on PK, 58GF 88.8% home PK in 13-14, best in league Gaudreau 1G in 1 career NHL game, vs VAN VAN: 0-3-2 last 5 openers ranked 12th out of 14th in the West on the road last season (.451pts%) H Sedin final 12 road games, 0G, 3A Miller 2 career starts in CGY last Dec /2010 (lost both, 5GA in each) Line Combinations Calgary Flames Forwards: Glencross -Colborne - Hudler Raymond - Backlund - Bouma Gaudreau -Byron - jones Bollig - Stajan - McGrattan Defence: Giordano - Brodie Russell - Engelland Smid - Wideman Goalies: Hiller Ramo -- Vancouver Canucks Forwards: D.Sedin - H.Sedin - Vrbata Higgins - Bonino - Burrows Richardson - Vey - Kassian Dorsett - Matthias - Hansen Defence: Hamhuis - Sbisa Edler - Tanev Stanton - Weber Goalies: Miller Lack Kaleb Cowart Angels Jersey . Off-Season Game Plan looks at what the Blue Jackets may do to build upon last seasons success to return to the playoffs again next year. Trevor Cahill Jersey . Consider it received. Attacking on offence early and often, the Penguins topped the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 on Saturday night as Jussi Jokinen scored the go-ahead goal in the third period to help give Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference playoff series. https://www.cheapangels.com/2733j-dillon-peters-jersey-angels.html . JOHNS, N.PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. - Cody Corbett and Mitchell Moroz had two goals and three assists each as the Edmonton Oil Kings completed their four-game playoff series sweep of the Prince Albert Raiders with a 6-2 victory on Wednesday in Western Hockey League action. Curtis Lazar and Tyler Robertson also scored for Edmonton, while Tristan Jarry made 25 saves for the win. Craig Leverton and Reid Gardiner replied for Prince Albert. Cole Cheveldave stopped 35 shots in the loss. --- WHEAT KINGS 5 PATS 4 BRANDON, Man. — Jayce Hawryluk had a hat trick — including the winner — and added an assist as the Wheat Kings edged Regina to take a 3-0 series lead. Jesse Gabrielle and Chad Robinson also scored for Brandon, while Chad Robinson stopped 29 shots for the win. Dryden Hunt struck twice for the Pats, while Carter Hansen and Jesse Zgraggen also scored. Daniel Wapple made 20 saves. --- BRONCOS 3 TIGERS 2 SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Jake DeBrusk scored 5:06 into overtime as the Broncos slipped past Medicine Hat to tie their playoff series 2-2. Graham Black scored twice for Swift Current and Eetu Laurikainen made 39 saves. Captain Curtis Valk had both goals for the Tigers and Marek Langhamer stopped 42 shots. --- WINTERHAWKS 6 GIANTS 1 VANCOUVER — Oliver Bjorkstrand had a power-play goal and added two assists to lead Portland past the Giants. Chase De Leo, Adam De Champlain, Keegan Iverson, Alex Schoenborn and Brendan Leipsic roundded out the attack for the Winterhawks, who swept the playoff series in four games. Darin Erstad Angels Jersey. Brendan Burke stopped 32 shots. Carter Popoff was the lone scorer for Vancouver. Goaltender Payton Lee stopped 10 of 13 shots in 17:05 of work for the Giants. Jared Rathjen made 29 saves on 32 shots in relief. --- ROYALS 6 CHIEFS 1 SPOKANE, Wash. — Austin Carroll scored two goals and assisted on another as Victoria took a 3-0 series lead over Spokane. Logan Nelson and Travis Brown had a goal and an assist apiece, and Jordan Fransoo and Ben Walker also scored for the Royals, who were 3-for-6 on the power play. Bradon Magee chipped in with three assists. Liam Stewart scored the lone goal for the Chiefs, and Eric Williams and Garret Hughson combined for 18 saves. Williams started in net, giving up five goals on 22 shots, and Hughson made one save on two shots in relief. Victorias Patrik Polivka made 20 saves for the victory. --- ROCKETS 5 AMERICANS 3 KENNEWICK, Wash. — Marek Tvrdons power-play goal in the second period was the eventual winner as Kelowna held off Tri-City. Tyson Baillie scored and added two assists for the Rockets, who lead the playoff series 3-1. Cole Linaker, Justin Kirkland and Madison Bowey chipped in as well. Jordon Cooke made 25 saves for the win. Justin Hamonic, Philip Tot and Brian Williams supplied the offence for the Americans. Eric Comrie turned aside 27 shots in goal in the losing effort. --- ' ' '