Forward-Vancouver Sun: Canucks Game Day: Hordichuk gets the hook

The Vancouver Canuck coach is messing with a winning lineup by scratching Hordichuk, the team’s enforcer, for tonight’s Northwest Division game against the Edmonton Oilers.

Hordichuk is pointless in seven games this season, was minus-two in a dismal 5-3 Canuck loss Friday in Calgary and took a careless offensive-zone holding penalty in the third period of Vancouver’s 2-1 home win Saturday against the Minnesota Wild.

“I’m just a different coach,” Vigneault said of changing his lineup after a victory. “He has played seven games so far and hasn’t played real well. Even though he plays between six and nine minutes a game, those minutes are important and he hasn’t played good enough. He’s aware of it. He’s had seven games to turn it around and hasn’t been able to do it so far.”

Vigneault will replace Hordichuk with mucker Tanner Glass, pointless in three appearances this season, against the Oilers.

Vigneault talked to his fourth line, which includes Ryan Johnson and Rick Rypien, at the end of Monday morning’s skate here to tell his energy players the Canucks need more from them.

“I’m trying to work as hard as I can, trying to get in the forecheck and do some things to produce maybe a little offence,” Hordichuk said. “I’m trying to do things and maybe sometimes it works against you and works against the team, but I’ve been there before. They’ve been patient with our line but the bottom line is we got scored against a couple of times [in Calgary].

“This is what makes you a better player. It’s not the end of the world. I went out there and had a good skate this morning and I’m looking forward to getting back in against Chicago.”

The Canucks visit the Blackhawks on Wednesday.

• PLAYERS TO WATCH: Former Vancouver Giants star Gilbert Brule has seven points in seven games for the Oilers, and seems to be benefiting from his relationship with new coach Pat Quinn, a minority owner of the junior Giants.

Canuck Henrik Sedin is struggling so much without injured brother Daniel, he could get himself into the scoring race. Henrik has five points in three games since Daniel broke his foot.

• INJURIES: Oilers — D Sheldon Souray (concussion), D Steve Staios (concussion), C Fernando Pisani (back), RW Marc-Antoine Pouliot (hernia surgery) and RW Ales Hemsky (flu).

Canucks — LW Daniel Sedin (foot), LW Jannik Hansen (hand), LW Pavol Demitra (shoulder) D Sami Salo (knee) and D Mathieu Schneider (shoulder).

imacintyre@vancouversun.com
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