VANCOUVER — Like the U2 song, Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault still hasn't found what he's been looking for, specifically in his bottom-six forward group. He's tried Cody Hodgson at centre on the third line. He's tried Manny Malhotra at left wing on the fourth line. He's tried Max Lapierre at right wing on both lines.
He'll try again Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche (7 p.m., Sportsnet Pacific, Team 1040) with yet another look: Lapierre between Chris Higgins and Jannik Hansen on the third unit; Hodgson centring Malhotra and Byron Bitz on the fourth. http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Canucks+coach+Vigneault+still+seeks+bottom/6152193/story.html#ixzz1mT2NThz3
Shacks' Take: At least we can confirm the over/under for Bitz playing in the top 6 was two games. Vig makes sense when he says last years success came with two offensive lines and one shut down line that took away the top unit of the other squad, freeing up one of the other two units to play against the third line of the opponent. Unfortunately it means Cody Hodgson seems doomed to a 4th line role as he just doesn't have the wheels to be an effective checker. I'm also not a big fan of trying to go back to the past to try and improve the future, I believe you must evolve and improve. Last years success is gone, he has new parts and pieces he should be trying to make a new model with. Personally, I think if the Canucks fail this season by trying to emulate late season, someone should be held accountable but that's fodder for a summer time article. For now recent successes say we need to give MG and AV the benefit of the doubt to prove me wrong.
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