Music: {allcanada} Canucks shift focus to Heritage Classic

Saturday, March 1, 2014

{allcanada} Canucks shift focus to Heritage Classic

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VANCOUVER -- It's a pretty long flight from Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, to Vancouver. But to see their sons play in an event like the 2014 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic, it's worth it for Tommy and Tora Sedin.

The parents of Canucks forwards Henrik and Daniel Sedin will be two of the many friends and family members traveling here to see the Canucks take on the Ottawa Senators at BC Place on Sunday (4 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC, RDS).

"My mom and dad are coming over from Sweden," Henrik Sedin told NHL.com. "It's going to be a lot of fun. They come over once or twice [per year]. They timed it to come to the outdoor game."

The Canucks lost 2-1 in a shootout to the Minnesota Wild on Friday night, so now their full focus can shift to preparing for the unique setting of a game at BC Place, the retractable-roof stadium located next door to their usual home, Rogers Arena.

"It's going to be different for sure," Canucks defenseman Christopher Tanev told NHL.com. "It's more than double the capacity here. It's something that none of us have really done. Everyone's looking forward to it."

Tanev said he doesn't have anyone special coming to the game, but goalie Eddie Lack does. His best friend has come over from Sweden for the first time since Lack came to North America in 2010.

"I have my best friend from Sweden here, and my girlfriend has her best friend from Chicago here," Lack said. "We're going to try to have some fun [Saturday]."

While the players know it will be a fun game in a unique setting, the goal remains the same -- picking up two important points as the Canucks fight for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The point gained in the shootout loss to the Wild on Friday gave them 66, the same as the Dallas Stars, the team holding the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Stars are ahead of the Canucks because they've played three fewer games.

"We've got to focus on getting the two points," Sedin said. "We understand we have to enjoy the day but also focus on the game."

That's just what coach John Tortorella wants to hear from his captain. Tortorella said he's looking forward to coaching in his second outdoor game -- he was behind the bench with the New York Rangers when they beat the Philadelphia Flyers at the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic in Philadelphia -- but said all that really matters is getting two vital points.

"It'll be a lot of fun," he said. "We were fortunate enough to play one in a ballpark in Philly. I think it's great. This is a kind of different situation for me because we're trying to keep our head above water. Doesn't matter where we play. We can play in the parking lot as long as it comes with two points at the end of the day. That's all we're looking for."

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