More pressure on Canucks with short season on hand

(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward)

By MONTE STEWART

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) The Vancouver Canucks will start the season short-handed.

Injured center Ryan Kesler (shoulder, wrist) and winger David Booth (groin) have created two holes for coach Alain Vigneault, who is already worried about the condensed 48-game schedule put together after the NHL lockout.

Vancouver is trying to win a third straight President's Trophy as the top regular-season team and get back to the Stanley Cup finals after losing to Boston in 2010-11. The Sedins are back and Cory Schneider is expected to start in goal while the club tries to shop Roberto Luongo.

The opener is Saturday night at home against Anaheim.

Updated January 18, 2013