Detroit Red Wings vs. Vancouver Canucks Will Be One of the Season's Best

Less than a month ago, the Detroit Red Wings were going into a big game against a good team that was on a huge roll.

In the end, they came out with a shootout victory—perhaps not the most flattering way to win, but two points versus the defending Stanley Cup champions is a good two points regardless.

Now, they're playing another hot team, who happen to have been the Bruins' opponent in last year's Stanley Cup Finals.

If any game has a chance of outdoing the Wings game this season against the Bruins, their game versus the Canucks will be a likely candidate.

After suffering a lengthy Stanley Cup Finals hangover, the Canucks are back in business. They have one of the best offensive records (fourth overall) in the league, and a defensive record (sixth) to match it.

The Canucks are 11-3-1 in their last 15, compared to Detroit's record of 12-3-0 in their last 15. That's very close.

While Detroit has been playing some good hockey, Vancouver's recent defense may be a concern. Roberto Luongo seems to be getting back on track, and in their most recent game, the Canucks shutout division rival Minnesota Wild.

Detroit has the tools to get past the Canucks, though. They're ranked third overall offensively, with a fifth-ranked defense.

One of the most important things Detroit will need to do in order to win is stay out of the penalty box. Vancouver's power play is dangerous, as in number one in the NHL dangerous.

Their seventh-ranked PK is nothing to complain about either, but Detroit's fifth-ranked power play could be equally dangerous to the Canucks.

The fact is, neither Detroit or Vancouver wants to be short a man in this game.

Jimmy Howard and Roberto Luongo should be an interesting goaltender battle as well, as Howard is seemingly in a Vezina candidate season.

Currently, Howard has a 1.91 GAA and a .928 SV%. He also leads the league in wins. Luongo, however, has been improving as the season has gone on, and now has a 2.48 GAA and a .910 SV%.

If any game can dethrone the Thanksgiving Showdown as Detroit's best game of the year, it may very well be this one, and if the Wings wan to increase their chances of winning, staying out of the penalty box is vital against Vancouver.

Jordan Matthews writes for the NHL and for the Detroit Red Wings. For more coverage, you can read some of Jordan's recent articles posted below:

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