We set up Canucks home game vs. the Rangers

THE BIG MATCHUP

Rebuild versus retool

Are you ready to hear unending comparisons of the way the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks have handled the past few months? The Rangers are viewed by many as a model rebuilding team, mostly because they’ve done an excellent job of acquiring draft picks. The Canucks? Not so much. In an underwhelming season, the Canucks haven’t been able to add much for their future. They did acquire a couple of 20-something players at the trade deadline and will be eager to showcase them.

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME

1 Leipsic’s arrival

Lost in the trade-deadline rubble has been the solid deal the Canucks made in acquiring Brendan Leipsic. Fast and aggravating, he brings an element the Canucks have lacked all season. Coach Travis Green hasn’t enjoyed how easy his club has been to play against. In a bottom-six role, Leipsic could help change the program a bit.

2 The Gudbranson problem

Since pairing Erik Gudbranson with Alex Edler on the team’s matchup defensive duo, the Canucks have controlled just 43.87 per cent of the unblocked shot attempts with Gudbranson on the ice. In other words, he’s been getting run over when it comes to shots. It’s the worst ratio among all the Canucks’ defencemen. He’s also been on the ice for 14 goals against in those eight games.

3 The view from centre

Led by No. 1 centre Mika Zibanejad, the Rangers’ top line plays with a lot of pace. New York probably expected a better season from Zibanejad, who has 31 points, but you can’t sleep on that line he pivots. Meanwhile, Brandon Sutter has been seeing the ice pretty well lately and has had some nice assists. He’s never been a playmaker, but the Canucks could use some more offence from him.

4 Vigneault’s return

It just doesn’t have the same kind of feel it once did, but people are always going to be interested in the Canucks’ former head coach. It’s been five years now since Alain Vigneault left. In New York, he’s had some big highs and now is trending toward some lows. People still complain about decisions regarding lineups, but he got New York to the playoffs in each of his first four years and you can’t deny the man his success.

5 The goalie battle

Someone the Rangers will always have to count on is Henrik Lundqvist. Despite selling off some of their best players at the trade deadline, Lundqvist remains committed to the Rangers. The Canucks are expected to counter with Jacob Markstrom, who has been average recently, which isn’t a bad thing to say when it comes to Vancouver goalies because mostly they’ve been below par this year.