Some Vancouver Canucks fans may be keen for this combination, but head coach John Tortorella isn't buying the notion of playing the inconsistent Zack Kassian (left) with the Sedin twins in the absence of longtime linemate Alex Burrows, who is sidelined with a broken jaw. Photograph by: Darryl Dyck , Canadian Press

VANCOUVER — Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella is desperately seeking someone to mesh with the Sedin twins during the injury to Alex Burrows, but it won't be Zack Kassian, at least not for now.

The Canucks’ coach admitted Thursday he simply doesn't trust Kassian enough to put him in a position where he might be matched up against the opposition's top six. So it will be Jannik Hansen for the time being, even though there doesn't seem to be much chemistry between the Dane and the twins. The Canucks, who have won five straight, entertain the Edmonton Oilers on Friday in a rare 6 p.m. start at Rogers Arena (CBC, Team 1040).

“I'm not ready to put Zack in those situations where I am playing that line against probably the top two lines on the opposing team,” Tortorella said. “We're still in the process of trying to get Zack to process the game, not only with the puck but away from the puck. So that's where I'm at there. It's tough when you have to worry about pucks going in the back of your net when players just aren't ready to read those situations.

“When I use Danny and Hank, it's usually against a top line, or at least the top six. With Kass, I don't think he has processed and learned that part of the game well enough to be put in those situations.”

Even though the Canucks have been winning lately, the Sedins have been quiet offensively. Henrik has two points in his last six games while Daniel has three, all assists. Daniel has no goals in five. Tortorella wasn't buying the fact that revolving wingers — David Booth also took some shifts with them Monday — have led to the recent decline in their production.

“I don't buy that, not for a second,” stated the coach. “They're too good and they understand who they are and what they are as players for that to affect them. Daniel and Henrik have to lift their game up. They know that. I'm not worried about them. I know they'll find their way.

“I would love to find a fit for them with Burr out but I haven't been able to,” Tortorella continued. “Hansen was there today in practice. I tried David there the other night. I don't think either of them worked and I don't want to move Ryan Kesler right now. You guys will kick the (rhymes with spit) out of me if I move Kess out of the middle and put him on right wing.”

Daniel Sedin, ever the loyal soldier, put a happy face on the situation.

“I kind of like it,” he said. “It's no problem. It's going to make our team better, I think, going into playoffs, or important games, where you're going to need to change lines in games or between games.

“We've played with pretty much all these guys before so we kind of know what game they play. I don't think it's more challenging, to be honest with you. We're winning games and that's all that matters.”

Asked about the possibility of Kassian joining their line, an experiment that began at training camp and died in the pre-season, Daniel replied: “I haven't put too much thought into it. You go into a game, you see who you're playing with and you go with it. I'm sure we'll play with Zack sometime during the season.”

Hansen admits he modifies his style of play when skating alongside the twins. It's something he does, he explained, each time he is deployed on a different line.

“Of course, you change your game when you're playing with the Sedins,” Hansen said. “I mean, if you play with anybody else in this room, you take charge a little bit more but, with them, you try to let them do their thing and not get in their way.

“If you can pull a defender, or one of their players away from them, you see how good they are 4-on-4 when they get a little more room. It's definitely a different game when you're playing with them. It's all a matter of trying to make whatever line you're on succeed.”

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