Belly of the Whale

Can the Canucks succeed with only one of the Sedin Bros. in the lineup? (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

Ryan Dixon
2009-10-12 11:19:00

Ok Henrik, now’s your chance.

Losing Daniel Sedin for up to six weeks with a broken foot is definitely bad news for the Vancouver Canucks, but could turn out to be a terrific development for his brother Henrik – assuming the twins have money on which one ends his NHL career with more points.

Daniel damaged his foot in a game last week against the Montreal Canadiens. When the siren sounded on that contest, both Sedin boys had registered 466 career NHL points, perhaps the most amazing and creepy stat you could find in the league.

In one game without his brother, Henrik jumped out to a two-point lead with a pair of assists, which must have quashed some fear among Canucks supporters that when you lose one Sedin, you actually lose two.

In addition to allowing Henrik a stranglehold on the family scoring lead, Daniel’s absence also gives the likes of Steve Bernier and Mason Raymond increased opportunity to prove they can be consistent NHL scorers.

Vancouver endured an extended stretch without Roberto Luongo last year and came through stronger on the other side. Let’s see what happens this time.

THE HOCKEY NEWS POWER RANKINGS
RK.	TEAM	LW	THE SCOOP
1		4	Sidney Crosby owns the ice around the lip of the crease
2		9	Why do I feel like I'll regret not taking Ville Leino in the office pool?
3		1	Mike Richards occupies a niche all his own among NHL's elite
4		5	Early returns on Joe and Dany: This could be scary
5		6	Power play operating at almost 50 percent after five games
6		17	What a boon it would be if Michael Del Zotto's play is for real
7		7	Opening night festivities prove miserable off-season is a distant memory
8		11	Random thought here, but when was the last time a team's starter and backup were both lefties?
9		3	Have to shore up the back end to truly compete with NHL's big boys in crunch time
10		27	Are we finally witnessing Anze Kopitar bust loose?
11		2	Home has been less friendly than Sweden
12		8	Haven't really hit their stride early on
13		20	Allowed just two regulation-time goals in three games, but have just four themselves
14		14	What a great pickup James Wisniewski was for this team last March
15		22	Losing Sheldon Souray to a concussion is a huge blow to Oilers' power play
16		24	Good start comes despite just one assist through four games for Jason Spezza
17		19	Trip through state of Florida helped cure early ills
18		16	Continued production from Patric Hornqvist would help paltry offense
19		18	Wonder if Fabian Brunnstrom will just fade into oblivion
20		13	Last year it was Roberto Luongo, now Canucks must deal with loss of Daniel Sedin for extended period
21		10	Wojtek on a nice early-season rollski
22		26	Would anyone be really surprised if these guys missed the playoffs?
23		12	Marc-Andre Bergeron era will begin some time during a six-game home stand
24		28	Victor Hedman leads all Tampa 'D' with almost 26 minutes of ice per game
25		21	Cheap tickets and a bustling building is better than expensive tickets and empty seats
26		25	Evander Kane on the board with his first NHL goal
27		23	New systems take a while to take hold
28		15	Giving up 40 shots per game through four contests
29		30	Three games, three extra-time losses
30		29	Feels like the end is near for Vesa Toskala in Toronto