Clay Imoo (@canuckclay) will be recapping every Vancouver Canucks game with a quick post-game video commentary. As a start, Clay looks at the good, the bad, and the interesting from the Canucks’ 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings from March 2 at Rogers Arena.
In the video, Clay touches on the Canucks’ top 2 scoring lines, Cory Schneider’s suspect puck-handling, the benching of Keith Ballard, the debut of new enforcer Tom Sestito, and the LA Kings twitter account.
Welcome to Dallas, Texas, where everything is bigger. None bigger than Brett Hull’s skate.
Tonight, the Stars celebrate Marty Turco. Canucks fans have fond memories of him.
Marty Turco. The man who shut out the #canucks three times in one playoff series and still lost.
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) February 22, 2013
The Canucks look for a win against Dallas after a pedantic win over Minnesota.
And back after a spell with Chris Golden & Victoria Pattison behind the CHB TGATT desk tonight, you know Lizz will be bringing here A game. Just like Aaron Freaking Rome:
Henrik better not overshadow Rome's return
— Taj (@taj1944) February 16, 2013
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!
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.
The Canucks celebrate their April 2011 playoff series win over the Blackhawks (Photo credit: Reuters)
I’m looking forward to tonight’s big match-up between the Vancouver Canucks and their nemesis the Chicago Blackhawks for a few reasons. I’m intrigued to see how Roberto Luongo plays against his arch-rivals as the fascinating goaltending saga goes on. I’m eager to see if guys like Zack Kassian and Keith Ballard can keep up their strong play. I’m looking forward to some quality time with my lovely wife Gail (who patiently puts up with my blogging shenanigans). And I wonder if there will be any retribution for Duncan Keith for his dirty hit on Daniel Sedin at the end of last season.
Just 21 months ago, I witnessed the same two teams clash in the best game that I’ve ever seen live. Of course, I’m talking about game 7 in the first-round of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. There had been so much drama and unrest leading up to game 7 as the Blackhawks had won three straight games to tie the series and bring the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Canucks to the brink of elimination. There were questions about the officiating and questions about the Canucks goaltending (apparently the more things change the more they stay the same). In fact, Roberto Luongo had been pulled in both games 4 and 5 before Cory Schneider was given the surprise start in game 6. Schneider then was pulled in game 6…but due to injury. Add in the fact that the Blackhawks had eliminated the Canucks in the second-round the two previous years and you can see why the game meant so much.
The atmosphere in Rogers Arena was incomparable that evening; there was a noticeable excitement, intensity and nervousness in the crowd the entire night. I’m sure you remember the game details very vividly: how Alex Burrows scored early in the first and even had a chance to put the Canucks up by two with a penalty shot early in the third period. How Jonathan Toews tied the game up with only two minutes left in the third period scoring from his knees with an amazing short-handed effort.
The 17-minute intermission between the third period and overtime was among the longest 17 minutes of my life. I remember very vividly that the crowd sat in stunned silence for the entire time. My buddy Mike and I, both of us never short for words when at a Canucks game, didn’t say a word to each other for the duration of the intermission. There wasn’t really anything to be said. We were about to witness history: either the Canucks were about to exorcise the Chicago Blackhawks demons or they would complete one of the greatest meltdowns in NHL playoff history.
We didn’t have to wait too long for a sign. And it wasn’t a good one.
Just 24 seconds into the extra frame, Alex Burrows took a holding penalty on Duncan Keith on what seemed like a harmless play behind the Chicago net. On the ensuing power-play, Roberto Luongo made an absolutely amazing save on Patrick Sharp’s one-timer from five feet away. In watching the save countless times, I will say that it wasn’t Luongo’s most difficult save of the season. But it certainly was his biggest.
You know the rest: just two shifts later, Burrows intercepted Chris Campoli’s clearing attempt, deftly dropped the puck to his feet, and slapped the winner over Crawford’s blocker. The goal set off a wild celebration both on the ice (remember Victor Oreskovich jumping around looking for someone to hug?) and in the stands. It’s certainly the loudest I’ve ever heard the crowd at Rogers Arena…rivaled only by the roar after Kevin Bieksa scored in game 5 vs. the Sharks to send the Canucks to the Stanley Cup Finals.
That’s why I look forward to Blackhawks-Canucks games. They always seem to be intense and exciting contests. We’ll see what drama unfolds tonight.
We’re back. Two nights, two games, two #TGATT’s. Let get this going.
@VanCanucks How come you ask @CoryMonteith if he's watching & not me? Are we not tight anymore? #TGATT
— Chris Golden (@lyteforce) January 29, 2013
This is why, Chris.
Now, on to the game.
Welcome to San Jose where the Canucks are taking on the undefeated Sharks in what I believe Sheldon Cooper would call a ‘prevening’ game.
Time for the Canucks to make sushi out of the Sharks. After all, I've always found Joe Thornton to be a Hokkai Guy. #TGATT
— Clay Imoo (@CanuckClay) January 28, 2013
Hokkai then. Here we go.
The odds are still stacked against them, but you can’t help but feel the collective confidence boost around Canucks Nation after the Canucks’ Game 4 win.
After all, the offense finally managed to put 3 pucks past Jonathan Quick, the first time since Game 2 of last year’s Stanley Cup Finals they scored 3 goals in one playoff game. After going 0-for-14 in the first three games of the series, the powerplay finally broke through with 2 powerplay goals. And despite the manufactured goaltending controversy, Cory Schneider was huge, making 43 saves, including a Dustin Brown penalty shot that could have tied the game in the third period.
Now at home for Game 5, can the Canucks continue to break down the Kings and get themselves back in this series? Here’s the chatter around the Smylosphere:
Photo credit: HF Boards
This past weekend, Clay visited the actors living at the Wave demonstration suite at Surrey’s Central City Shopping Centre (who you can follow on twitter @LiveatWave or Facebook) to check out the space and talk some Canucks hockey.
Then, Clay got to meet Canucks’ legend “King” Richard Brodeur. Brodeur talked about his favourite hockey memory, his favourite goalie (you probably won’t be surprised once you hear) and what the Canucks need to do to get back into their playoff series with the Los Angeles Kings.