Canucks 4 – 3 Flames
Last night, the Canucks wrapped up their five-game West Coast road swing with a convincing 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames, and I do mean convincing. Don’t let the final score fool you; this wasn’t a one-goal game. The Flames may have jumped out to an early lead after Mikael Samuelsson and Dan Hamhuis got confused about the game’s start time, but the Canucks woke up immediately thereafter, perhaps buoyed by the Flames’ damning two-goal lead, and spent the rest of the evening putting Calgary under pressure on the ice [ice, baby]. After the slow start, it was great to see them so immediately snap to life, and I did see, because I watched this game:
- That’s right. Two song references in one sentence, wherein the first song referenced is sampled by the second. PITB for the win, y’all.
- Alex Burrows potted his 20th goal of the season on a tip in front that tied the game at three. I don’t think we give Burrows enough credit for what he does in front of the net. He’s not the biggest guy and he’s not that strong on his skates, so the only way he gets space in front is by zipping around at breakneck speed. Watch the next time a Sedin gets the puck behind the net: cue Burrows, darting back and forth around the crease like a squirrel in the street. Also watch, on last night’s goal, as he gets effortlessly moved from the area by Matt Stajan, then immediately scurries back there once Stajan thinks his work is done. In the split second between Stajan heading to the side boards and Steve Staios realizing Burrows has been left alone, Burrows is in the position to be found by Daniel Sedin.
- Speaking of Daniel Sedin, he and Henrik were fantastic. They were on the ice for all four goals, combining for 5 points and completely dissecting Calgary’s defensive coverage with Wizardous Sedinerie and fabulous vision all night. My favourite goal (Daniel Sedin’s first of the night, above), comes when Rene Bourque drifts about a foot too high, and Daniel cuts through the middle of the offensive zone ice at full speed. That’s a fabulous read, and it’s matched only by Henrik’s vision to get him the puck. The moment Daniel starts his sprint, it’s obvious what’s coming, too, as Henrik puts a backhand pass through the legs of Robyn Regehr (who seriously opens up to let it through), and Daniel one-times it past Kiprusoff. So good. Not so good: Rene Bourque practicing his first star twirl while this play is unfolding.
- When the Sedins are going like this, the power play tends to trend upward as well, so it’s no surprise that the special teams were spot-on last night. The first unit went 2-for-2, scoring just over thirty seconds into each powerplay (32 and 37 seconds, respectively). Daniel Sedin’s game-winner was so effortless it was hard to tell who moved less when it happened, he or Miikka Kiprosoff. It came so quickly off the faceoff you’d have thought the linesman just chucked it into the net.
- What a road trip. The Canucks went unbeaten in five games, all of which were against teams currently top 8 in the West. It was the best road trip since the one where that carful of girls literally punched Stuntman Mike to death.
- Ryan Kesler played a fabulous game as well, finishing with a goal and an assist, both on the powerplay. It was great to see the return of his lethal wrist shot from above the faceoff dot. Kiprusoff seemed a little befuddled that it got past him, but Kesler’s been getting behind everyone these days–it was inevitable. Of note: while Kesler was back there, he took his shirt off and offered Kiprusoff a half-eaten slice of pizza.
- One thing Kesler does well is take hits to make plays. He got drilled three or four times last night, but the Canucks never lost possession of the puck.
- In the broadcast booth, Garry Galley was a nice change of pace from Kevin Weekes. He made some good observations, including his call on the Alex Burrows goal, in which he dubbed Daniel Sedin’s open ice “The Quiet Zone.” It sounds like the title of a Cronenberg movie full of weird sex. I’m glad that Galley was good, because he’s owed me one for fifteen years. He was the slowest player in NHL 94 and somehow, he was always on my team. I was so sick of his painfully slow sprite lugging the puck through the neutral zone. Anyway, now we’re even.
- By the by, Garry’s son Wyatt is the star goaltender for the Langley Chiefs. They’re in the BCHL playoffs right now and tickets are cheap.
- You always hear criticism that the announcers are biased against your team, but you had to think Calgary fans were pulling their hair out as Galley marveled at the Canucks. It was somewhat inevitable, though. Vancouver’s the best at everything right now. They’ll be the first team to 100 points, and Daniel Sedin, too, will probably get there before any other team does.
- Curiously, someone threw a fish on the ice. No idea why. Curiosities abound: why a salmon, and how does a salmon gets through security, anyway? They’ll confiscate a Ziploc bag of goldfish crackers but they’ll let a real freaking fish through? Ridiculous. But, perhaps the most curious element of this very curious action was that the fish found the ice late in the third period. Why wait? It’s been my experience that, when you’ve got a fish in your backpack, you get rid of it as soon as possible (unless you’re the shopping penguin). Suffice it to say, someone just ruined a backpack.
- Thanks to Qris for covering this feature in our absence. We haven’t missed an IWTG this season. Without him, that streak ends.
- Chris Higgins is going to be a great addition to this team. He was good wherever he played last night, and he was all over the lineup, especially after Mikael Samuelsson got benched early in the first.
- I understand the criticism that Mason Raymond’s had a number of off-games without getting benched so summarily as Mikael Samuelsson did tonight, but I think Alain Vigneault wanted to whip Sammy with a sock full of batteries after that Michael Backlund goal. This goes back to Samuelsson’s Borg-brainwashing in Detroit, but he often refuses to to give up possession by dumping the puck out of the zone. In this case, it bit him. How to win AV’s love: make the safe plays. Why do you think Aaron Rome had more shifts (34) than any other Canuck? Hint: it’s not his skating.
- I liked Manny Malhotra trying that icing play the Sedins always do. He and Raffi nearly connected for some Plagiarized Sedinerie. We’ve actually seen a lot more of that this year, when players who aren’t the Sedins try their hand at Sedinerie. It’s very Mickey Mouse. Mind you, considering they’re the top two scorers in the NHL, it’s probably safe to learn from them. On the flipside, it’s probably not safe to learn from Mary Kay Letourneau. Especially if you’re Chris Tanev; he’s quite young.
- And finally, we often criticize the way Alain Vigneault metes out icetime, but he’s managed his roster quite well. Nobody played under 11 minutes, and in the last game of a five-game road trip, icetime management matters. Know what else matters? Family.
You might also like:
25 comments
Search
Recent Comments
- steveB
on Sedins, Edler, Jensen, Hamhuis off to Worlds, just like they probably wanted all along - Sinochick
on David Booth teaches us a new word: ‘nefarious’ [VIDEO] - Peter Zee
on 20 potential replacements if Alain Vigneault gets fired - Sharkitect
on David Booth teaches us a new word: ‘nefarious’ [VIDEO] - Daniel Wagner
on David Booth teaches us a new word: ‘nefarious’ [VIDEO]
About canada.com | Privacy Statement | Terms | Copyright & Permissions
© 2008 - 2011 Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited.
Anonymous
March 13, 2011a four-three hyperbole
most certainly a game to see
canucks and flames in calgary
within minutes a shot went in
shortly later they scored again
the home side scrapping for one more
when kessler's shot beat thirty four
the score two one it was intense
who scored next could prove immense
then suddenly it was two two
the home team would their lead renew
and 'ere a most dramatic third
in which no fan was left unstirred
it was vancouver scoring twice
to win this epic match on ice
chicken chick
The Belgian Canucks Fan
March 13, 2011Oooh, where is our Hamhuis-is-a-community-man reference? 2 in the box shoud suffice for him to help in Japan, no?
Harrison Mooney
March 13, 2011Wow, Chicken Chick did not take long.
A post, a poem, a chicken song
Night in, night out with no reprieve.
I now suspect you'll never leave.
May I suggest you poet-trolls
Have been transfigured in your souls
And now, our side is lady luck's:
You're fans of us, and our Canucks?
Harrison Mooney
March 13, 2011@TBCF I wrote one, but then I decided that this IWTG was long enough, and that I'd rather save the community man joke for another time.
Dan "Community Man" Hamhuis had a great game, though. He broke up three or four odd-man rushes. That said, the best rush he broke up was when he counseled a teenage couple to wait.
M
March 13, 2011Apparently the fish being thrown was in response to Hank's hooking call. Some obscure reference to a McD's Filet O'Fish ad about gettin' hooked.
Flames fans are very odd!
Harrison Mooney
March 13, 2011@M: Agreed. Especially Double Moustache Man.
Anonymous
March 13, 2011Plagiarized Sedinerie. Love it.
Canuckles
March 13, 2011Harrison,
I agree that Rome didn't get the most shift because of his skating. But you left out a couple of other reasons. It also isn't because of his hitting, offensive talent, puck handling, puck moving OR his scrabble skills.
Canuckles
March 13, 2011Heeeyyyyyyyyyy PITB got KESLURKED!!!!!!
Erik
March 13, 2011A couple of weeks ago, I was hoping the Canucks would get to practice their coming-from-behind. Last year, they were the best at it. No lead was safe from them. This year? They suddenly forgot how the 2-0 was the worst in hockey. Hell, even a 1-0 lead seemed insurmountable for this year's team. Now, after two games coming back from 2-0, it's all changed.
I think Kesler is showing the rest of the team how it's done. That's the real purpose behind his interview bombing.
Tom
March 13, 2011Didn't the game start at 7? Or did daylight savings time start on Saturday.
Anonymous
March 13, 2011About the fish, it's apparently "because there is a special on McDonald's called "Get Hooked" with a Filet O Fish. So Henrik Sedin took a hooking call late in the game so they threw a fish on the ice."
Harrison Mooney
March 13, 2011Good catch, Tom. I forgot the game started an hour later than usual because it was the CBC late game. Sentence amended.
Anonymous
March 13, 2011I am petitioning a change of the term the Sedin Wizardry to the term of Sedin Warlockry
Cause they're winning.
Duh.
Anonymous
March 13, 2011On the Nucks Misconduct blog, one of the commenters mentioned that a relative of his was the one who threw the fish….apparently he smuggled it in his pant leg. Gross.
Also, what if there hadn't been a hooking call in the game? Guy goes home, disappointed, with his fish?
Harrison Mooney
March 13, 2011If there's one thing you can count on, it's a hooking call on a Sedin. That's why we call them Captain & Assistant Captain Hook.
Anonymous
March 13, 2011dear harrison (i may call you that?)
i thank you for you little poem
residing here here so far from home
vancouver games are all we see
although a fan i'll never be
that does not mean i cannot see
their players are of quality
i appreciate sedinerie
and an outstanding power p
alex burrows has his appeal
he plays with a feisty zeal
and kessler too i cannot hate
though to his abs I can't relate
to only you i must confess
ballard hip checks with rare finesse
and sure hamhuis would be catch
a kindly soul with balls to match
raffe torres is more my type
he never smiles but does not gripe
and tanner glass of scrabble fame
is always there to play his game
jannik hansen rates all too fine
his forechecking A-plus divine
and salo's shot ehrhoff's as well
make goalie's lives a living hell
the others too each play a part
their coach vigneault is very smart
and bobby lu and his backup
may take them close to stanley's cup
but i've no flags upon my truck
and don't believe in lady luck
I'll cheer canucks those times i can
because i am a hockey fan
but know when push becometh shove
it's still the blackhawks that i love
chicken chick
J.S. Topher
March 13, 2011I say you get bonus marks not only for the two songs/one bassline/one sentence triumph but consider as well, that within those songs, there are 3 separate musical entities and dare I say cultural icons… Kudos
Anonymous
March 13, 2011Haha, I just noticed that PITB got Keslurked/bombed. No one is safe!
J21
March 13, 2011I doubt the fish had anything to do with McDonald's… there have been a few thrown on the ice at Canuck games over the years (going back at least to the 1995 playoff series against St. Louis), as kind of a West Coast response to Detroit's octopus.*
I'd be shocked if it were a Flame fan who threw it.
* Octopuses, of course, being native to the detached homes of suburban South Bloomfield, MI.
Anonymous
March 13, 2011I was going to ask about the Dan Hamhuis reference. That's hilarious, I love it! Please, keep it going!
*Actually, I love PITB. You guys are amazing!
Anitha
Lexie Jovanovski
March 14, 2011@J21, allegedly the smuggler was a Leafs fan. Naturally. I don't think any other fans in the league are crazy enough to smuggle a fish in their pants to a game they have zero emotional investment in!
Section 312
March 14, 2011Maybe I am the only one but if I am the ice worker at the Saddledome that picked that fish up off the ice I am pumped about the cedar planked Salmon I am eating for dinner the next night.
Anonymous
March 14, 2011You spelled Mary Kay Letourneau wrong.
Harrison Mooney
March 14, 2011Dammit, I tried to spell it from memory. Shoulda looked it up. Fixed.