The Canucks are battered and bruised, but made it to Phoenix. Well most of them did. Steve Pinizzotto and Zack Kassian did not. Chris Higgins did, but tweaked his back in the morning and couldn’t play. At this point they really just need to hold on and bubble wrap everyone. At all times.
The Canucks are only a few injuries away from running a fan contest to play on their fourth line.
— Brigitte Lynne(@OneGirlOnePuck) March 22, 2013
Now, on to the game.
Photo credit: Lancaster Eagle Gazette
The Vancouver Canucks have easily dominated the Northwest Division in recent years. Heck, they’ve dominated it early this season, going 6-2-1 in their first 9 games against NW foes to-date (versus a 4-5-6 record against the rest of the Western Conference). But after a lackluster effort in Minnesota a couple of days ago, the Canucks have allowed the Wild to pass them in the standings.
In fact, at the halfway point of this shortened season, the Canucks have just 28 points in 24 games – good for a 6th place with 3 other teams in the Western Conference – and only 4 points up from tonight’s opponent, the Columbus Blue Jackets. They’ve been wildly inconsistent, especially in the last couple of weeks, and the frustration is clearly mounting among the team’s faithful.
In the meantime, the Blue Jackets are in the midst of one of their more successful stretches in their franchise’s history. Fresh off sweeping the Detroit Red Wings in a home-and-home series this past weekend, and unbeaten in their last 7 games (5-0-2), they are currently the NHL’s hottest team.
Add to that, they have the NHL’s hottest goalie. On Monday, Sergei Bobrovsky was named the NHL’s first star of the week after going 4-0-0 with a 0.77 GAA and 0.972 save percentage.
Think the Philadelphia Flyers are having a bit of seller’s remorse right now?
And as for the Canucks’ own goalies, well, right now, they’re struggling to make the critical saves at critical points in the game. Like, in the game’s first minute or so.
Canucks Record
24 GP, 11-7-6, 28 points (2nd in Northwest Division, 6th in Western Conference
Who’s Hot
After going goalless in the first 13 games of the season, Henrik Sedin has a 3-game goal scoring streak and a 7-game point streak (4G-5A-9P). Chris Higgins has 4 goals in his last 7 games.
For the Blue Jackets, Nick Foligno has 7 points (1G-6A) in his last 7 games. RJ Umberger has a 3-game point streak (2G-1A-3P).
Quickies
The Canucks are back from a short two-game roadtrip where they potted four solid points and are looking to douse the Flames.
And with Chris Golden manning the CHB TGATT desk tonight, you all know what that means:
Well, this game is going fast. Top Gun fast. #Canucks #TGATT
— Walter Siu (@waterboy99troop) February 10, 2013
That’s right. Top Freaking Gun!
The Canucks are in Minnesota, the second – and last – stop of their mini two-game road trip.
Zach Parise would now like his name to be pronounced ‘Par-easy’. Obviously, everyone makes fun of him for his pronunciation preferences.
Is it just me or are Shorty & Cheech saying “Pareasy” as much as possible? #trollingParise #TGATT #CanucksG10
— luonGOLD (@LuonGOLD) February 8, 2013
Dale Weise would like his last name pronounced “Gretzky” claims Dale.
— Wyatt Arndt (@TheStanchion) February 8, 2013
Remember when Cody Hodgson tried to correct all of our pronunciations of his last name? Good times.
I think we’re finally starting to see signs of life from our Vancouver Canucks.
They played this week with some consistency, a lot of physicality, and while they still can’t put the puck in the net as much as they’d like, it’s helped them to a 2-0-1 record.
They started the week with a heartbreaking shootout loss to the LA Kings. The Canucks built a 2-0 lead, but couldn’t convert on the powerplay to put the Kings away, allowing the Kings to come back and steal the game in the shootout.
On Wednesday, the Canucks continued their dominance against the Colorado Avalanche with a tidy, 60-minute effort, Roberto Luongo’s 61st career shutout, and a 3-0 win.
On Friday, they faced the rival Chicago Blackhawks. After an intense lead up, most expected a physical and ugly game, but none of the rough stuff materialized. By the end of it, the Canucks didn’t exact their revenge on Duncan Keith and instead came away with the 2 points. Jordan Schroeder experienced his first big NHL moment as he snuck one past Corey Crawford’s five-hole for the shootout winner in his first shootout attempt.
Record
8 GP, 4-2-2, 10 points (1st in Northwest Division, 3rd in Western Conference)
Who’s Next
Monday, February 4, 2013 at Edmonton Oilers (6:30 PM start)
After being named the NHL’s 3rd Star of the Week, Roberto Luongo will get his 4th consecutive start in goal. Bobby Luo has looked like vintage Luo of late. With great positional play and timing, he seems to be making key saves at key times.
The Oilers, who currently sit in 2nd place in the Northwest Division, won the two teams’ first meeting back in January, so look for the Canucks to come out strong and get some payback.
Sam Gagner (3G-6A) and Taylor Hall (2G-7A) are both tied for the team lead with 9 points. Rookie sensation and the master of cellys, Nail Yakupov, leads the team with 5 goals.
Thursday, February 7, 2013 at Minnesota Wild (5:00 PM)
With the huge off season acquisitions of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, the Minnesota Wild have their sights set on competing for the Northwest division title. Mike Rupp, acquired today from the NY Rangers, will add some veteran savvy and toughness and will join his new team for this game.
Zach Parise leads the team in goals (5) and points (9) in 8 games played.
The Canucks took 10 of a possible 12 points (4-0-2) against the Wild last season. They were led by Daniel Sedin’s 10 points (3G-7A) and plus-2 rating. Kyle Brodziak and Devin Setoguchi led the Wild with 2 goals and 2 assists each.
Saturday, February 9, 2013 vs. Calgary Flames (7:00 PM)
As of this writing, the Flames sit last in the Western Conference, to the surprise of no one, except maybe the Flames.
This will be the second meeting between the two clubs. Two weeks ago at Rogers Arena, the Canucks won in a shootout, paced by Zack Kassian, who scored a goal and the shootout winner.
Alex Tanguay leads the team with 6 points, but it has been the play of Jiri Hudler that has Flames fans excited. Hudler was brought in for top-6 production and he has done exactly that with 5 points (2G-3A) in just 3 games played.
In quite a comical scene from Friday night’s game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Vancouver Canucks, Roberto Luongo and Patrick Kane shared a few words as they were sprawled on the ice together seconds after Luongo foiled Kane’s shootout attempt (see video below). Two rounds later, rookie Jordan Schroeder beat the Hawks’ Corey Crawford before Luongo stopped Nick Leddy to seal the 2-1 win.
Reports surfaced later that Luongo said to Kane “Not this time” as the two players untangled themselves. Even so, the two rivals were within earshot of each other for a full five seconds after Kane’s failed attempt. Thus, Luongo likely said more than those three words.
Here are 10 things that Roberto Luongo may have said to Patrick Kane:
10. Just so you know – I let you score on me earlier in the game just to make it more exciting.
9. You should clean your jersey.
8. What’s it like being the Undertaker’s brother?
7. Thanks for boosting my trade value.
6. What do you think of my new single-leg take down maneuver?
5. Got room for one more in the limo?
4. Nice try…hopefully you’ll be able to score at the Roxy.
3. Those moves might work on Schneider but certainly not on me.
2. Tell your GM and coach I’d be an upgrade over your current goalie. In fact, he’ll probably let a rookie score on him later on in this shootout.
1. Let me know if you need exact change for the taxi later.
Are you ready for this? I hope so, because it’s Canucks v. Blackhawks baby!
If there’s one thing I hate more than bad 80s music, it is Vancouver Canucks fans.
— Scott Stewart (@Foos4Life) February 2, 2013
That is just unnecessary and uncalled for. 80′s music is amazing thank-you very much. I now officially declare it 80′s night.
Now, on to the game.
Photo credit: Vancouver Sun
As I’m writing this, I’ll admit I’m drinking a bit of Mike Gillis’ kool aid.
In an interview on TSN last night, Gillis preached some patience on the Canucks’ 2-2-2 start this season.
I’m inclined to agree.
All things considered, the Canucks’ start was probably as well as could be expected. They’re still missing Ryan Kesler and David Booth, 2/3rd of their second scoring line, and with a shortened training camp and no exhibition games, it’s obvious most of the rest of the lineup are still in preseason mode.
But before we start a “Fallin’ for Drouin” campaign (or is it “Fallin’ for Mackinnon”?), there are some positives to take here.
While most of the vets have struggled, the Canucks have received more than expected contributions from the likes of Mason Raymond, Zack Kassian, Jordan Schroeder and the Dutch Gretzky. Jannik Hansen has also been noticeable and Chris Tanev has probably been their most consistent defenseman. Coincidentally, these are pretty much all the players, give or take Andrew Ebbett, who were playing some hockey either in the AHL or in Europe during the lockout. Maybe something for players to think about in 2020.
May Ray, in particular, looks more like the May Ray from 2009/2010 rather than the May Ray whose career was almost ended by a cheap Johnny Boychuk hit in 2011.
At least through a few games, Kassian looks to be a good fit with the Sedins. Right-handed shot, power forward with good hands, good instincts and a good nose for the net. He’s also shown that he’s not afraid to play bodyguard for the twins – ask Ben Eager.
Schroeder has some obvious speed and skill, and as Gillis points out, he hasn’t really hurt the team on the defensive end. I mean, in his NHL debut against Calgary, he had a particularly memorable sequence in which the Flames bounced him around like a pinball, but if anything, he showed he’s got a hard compete level.
Of course, this isn’t to say there aren’t cause for concerns.
The Sedins look out of synch. For all of their offensive zone starts, they don’t seem to be generating as much offensive pressure as they normally do.
The defense looks out of synch. It probably speaks volumes when the pairing of Tanev and Keith Ballard (!) is the one defensive pairing left untouched. Dan Hamhuis, Kevin Bieksa, Alex Edler and Jason Garrison have been shuffled around already.
The special teams aren’t so special. The powerplay can’t score and the penalty-kill can’t kill penalties.
And already in 4 of their first 6 games, the Canucks couldn’t hang on to leads like Dustin Diamond couldn’t hang on to his dignity.
So should we worry?
As magnified as things seem in a shortened season with little room for error, I think 6 games is still a small sample size to adequately judge this team. Like Gillis says, let’s wait a few more games before we step off the ledge or jump off the bandwagon. In the meantime, hopefully the kids can keep it up and the vets can pick it up. And hopefully, it’s not too late by then.
Almost a week after the Anaheim Ducks ruined the Canucks’ season and home opener, the Canucks get their opportunity for revenge. And boy, did they get it.
The game had everything – pretty goals, big saves, big fights, a penalty shot, and even phallic-shaped light sabers.
Pew pew!They have frickin’ laser beams introducing the #NHLDucks, here’s hoping the Sedin twins have the real laser show. #Canucks #TGATT
— Clayton Corley (@opiatedsherpa) January 26, 2013
Yup, they had that and more.
Photo credit: canucks.nhl.com
Because I sometimes like to overthink things, here are some quick thoughts this morning:
