For only the third time this season, the Canucks played an entire sixty-minute game without being given a powerplay but, incredibly, it was the second consecutive time this phenomenon has occurred versus the Chicago Blackhawks. What’s more, this game was called by Ian Walsh, who called the last powerplay-free affair. Is this evidence of some kind of conspiracy?
No. Uncanny though the circumstances may be, there’s no agenda here. The Blackhawks simply played a fabulously disciplined game. Furthermore, while the Canucks may have played an entire sixty-minute game without being given a powerplay, they hardly played a sixty-minute game. You draw penalties by outworking the other team, and frankly, only Cory Schneider seemed interested in doing that for much of this game. So why didn’t he draw any penalties? Well, he was a little busy. So was I. I watched this game.
Canucks 3 – 2 Blackhawks (OT)
- This game began and ended the same way — with the Sedins getting the best of Dave Bolland’s line. Bolland was excellent in the 63 minutes between these shifts, but the twins dominated these two clashes, and the second one resulted in the game-winning goal. Worse, it was Bolland’s error that caused it. As an example of the fine line you have to toe to successfully defend the Sedins, Bolland’s error was little more than a quick glance to Sami Salo at the 0:04 mark of the video above. In that half a second, he lost Daniel Sedin, who stepped into the slot and buried the winner like it was Ryan Reynolds.
- In case it wasn’t clear that Dave Bolland is at his best versus the Sedins, let’s take a look at his faceoff numbers: against Henrik, he went 5-for-10, a veritable sawoff. Versus the rest of the Canuck pivots, he went 1-for-10, a sawoff only in the sense that, like James Franco in 127 hours, it was as though he literally sawed his arm off.
- The American Express line combined for 13 shots Tuesday. They were on, especially in the first period where they opened the scoring after Alex Edler fed a wide-open Ryan Kesler in the slot. Pay special attention to Pat Kane on the goal. That’s him, just outside the blue line, waiting for a breakout pass that never comes. Every night he lights a candle for it.
- I especially enjoyed Booth’s play this fine evening. #SentencesAbrahamLincolnNeverSpoke
- At least I enjoyed it offensively. Booth had a number of great chances, he was the only Canuck to finish in the minuses, leaving the building a minus-2. While neither Chicago goal was explicitly his fault, he overplayed a man at the blueline on the the first, which opened up space for Mayers to score, and he lost a puck battle to Viktor Stalberg before fanning on Pat Kane’s centering pass back to him on the second. In short, he earned the minuses.
- So I recently came across a message board thread complaining about PITB’s tendency to take contrarian opinions, apparently just for kicks, so I’ll apologize in advance for this, but… the officials got the Keith Ballard clipping call right. I didn’t think so at first, but I went back and took a second look and here’s what happened: Ballard attempted to throw his hip into Andrew Shaw’s waist, but he overshot the check, and wound up hitting Shaw in two spots at once: his shoulder went into Shaw’s waist, which is what everyone saw and reacted to — that’s not clipping. However, his hip also went hard into Shaw’s knee, which is why the Blackhawks’ rookie came up limping. That is clipping. Moreover, that’s Ballard’s second clipping call this season and third since last April. Dude has a knack for clipping, like the stars of Extreme Couponing.
- Speaking of contrarianism, the Vancouver media has entered full-fledged “dump on Mason Raymond mode” (an annual tradition in the days leading up to the trade deadline, as though negative press coverage raises his value as an asset), so let’s give him some love. His scoring has indeed dried up somewhat, but his aptitude as a defensive forward remains. He made two absolutely beautiful backchecks on the same shift Tuesday, arguably saving a goal both times. Ludacris probably loves the way he gets back.
- Speaking of getting back, the fourth line was fantastic in this game, with Maxim Lapierre and Manny Malhotra going 15-for-19 in the faceoff circle and the whole line putting up some very positive possession numbers, according to Canucks Army. Lapierre also registered a game-high 8 hits Tuesday night. According to the play-by-play sheet, four of those hits came on Steve Montador in the span of 34 seconds.
- Kevin Bieksa played a fabulous game tonight, but jeers to him for his play on the Blackhawks’ first goal. It started out amusingly, as he hopped the puck double-dutch style to avoid touching it on the Blackhawks’ zone entry because the Canucks were in the midst of a sloppy change. However, it was far less amusing when he failed to recommit to playing the puck once he was allowed to. That’s him, spinning delicately at the edge of the crease like that twirling ballerina silhouette while Jamal Mayers scores.
- Cory Schneider’s pretty good, huh? He made 37 saves, several of the category “gadzooks!“, including a massive stop on Jonathan Toews early in the first and an equally massive save on Patrick Kane in the second. But his best save and arguably the best save of 2012 thus far came on Brendan Morrison midway through the second, as he gave the puck away behind the goal then scrambled back to the front and sprawled to get a shoulder on the shot. Sure, you can fault him for the bungle, but considering how badly the Canucks hung him out to dry in that period, you can’t blame him wanting to be a part of the team, especially after he criticized Tim Thomas for opposite thinking.
- Let’s talk about the Canucks in the second. How bad was that period? In the intermission, rather than dress them down, Alain Vigneault just gave them a Midol and told them to get some rest.
- Clearly, the Canucks failed to learn their lesson when they escaped the second period without surrendering a goal, so kudos to the hockey gods for making sure they learned it the hard way early in the third. Unfortunately, one of those hockey gods plays for the Canucks, and Cody Hodgson went rogue on the pantheon shortly thereafter, scoring a beautiful breakaway goal. His shot is nuts — it goes right over Crawford’s shoulder, about six inches from his mask, basically an unstoppable location.
- What do you think — did Dan Hamhuis intend to hit Hodgson with that pass or did he simply miss Jannik Hansen, who waved at it.
- Just prior to scoring the overtime winner, the Sedins had an offensive zone shift where they made three beautiful cross-zone saucer passes in a row, even though everybody on the ice knew they were going to. Daniel Sedin shot the puck after the third, but unfortunately, Corey Crawford stopped it. It’s a shame, because if that had gone in, it would have been Wizardous Sedinery of the highest order. Instead, the highlight is listed as “Corey Crawford save”. Lame. That’s like calling “The Dark Knight” a Gary Oldman movie. No. He was just in it.
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MelT
February 1, 2012Are you contrarians, or does everyone else just lazily jump on the same point of view? In any case, great summary as usual.
Nick
February 1, 2012I whole-heartedly agree with you Harrison about Mason Raymond. I like what I’m seeing from him since his return. He seems more confident; and his shiftiness, his stick handling, and passing are crisp look better than ever. The pucks aren’t going in, but other aspects of his game have really come around.
In a sense, he and Jannick are changing roles. Like Hansen, Raymond is becoming more valuable than ever in a defensive role and on the PK.
He’s always been streaky offensively, and probably always will be. But the laziness of the media to just blindly accept what somebody else has said (e.g., Burrows is a diver, Raymond has to be moved) is disappointing. When it comes to Raymond and trade talk, being a contrarian makes sense to me.
JDM
February 1, 2012I’m not sure I share your opinion of Hodgson’s shot on the breakaway being well placed; it’s more like he very nearly hit Crawford with it. About a foot to the right would’ve been better. But hey, if it works, it works.
Add this game to the growing pile of inexplicable examples as to how bad the Canucks are at the 2nd period. Why are they so bad? Please AV, solve this puzzle before the games really count.
J21
February 1, 2012Daniel appears to have solved it in his Manny Malhotra posting a while back — see my comment below.
Steeeve
February 1, 2012I think that was a perfect shot, defined. Inches above the shoulder, six inches from Crawford’s left ear. No chance any goalie could ever stop that. Couldn’t even wave his glove at it. How is that not perfect? That was an extraordinarily well placed shot.
bergberg
February 1, 2012A period joke!!
bergberg
February 1, 2012That is supposed to be a “shocked” face. I’m not very good at this internet thing.
Prophet
February 1, 2012This just in from a source deep within the Ottawa Senators organization:
Craig Anderson, Erik Karlsson to Vancouver for Cory Schneider, Keith Ballard and a third round pick.
You heard it on PITB first so it’s gotta be true… pass the word.
jenny wren
February 1, 2012WGN TV
I loved this game; I’d like to try
To share a major reason why:
The play-by-play and color guys,
An effervescent fine surprise!
I loved their cov’rage most because
They simply called it like it was.
Throughout the game it didn’t seem
That they had a favorite team.
Dispensing praise where it was due,
This Blackhawk broadcasting crew
Described for me with much delight
The game I watched on Tuesday night.
Two plus hours of, “Holey Moley!”
Steve Conroy and Patrick Foley.
Jenny Wren
Harrison Mooney
February 1, 2012Fine work as usual, Jenny, although you have a couple of rhythm errors here that I’d like to fix. The couplet “Throughout the game it didn’t seem / That they had a favorite team” is missing a syllable at the front of the second line unless you’re aiming to pronounce “favorite” with three syllables and awkwardly placing the emphasis on the second. I’d recommend “As though they had a favorite team”.
Additionally, the couplet “Dispensing praise where it was due, / This Blackhawk broadcasting crew” has the same problem. This is a tougher fix, but my suggestion would be “This Illinois broadcasting crew”, just for the way it flows.
jenny wren
February 1, 2012damn! i’ve been madwagged. and rightly so. spasibo!
juandesooka
February 1, 2012Did you call Ian Walsh to get his opinion on this alleged conspiracy? What would Ayn Rand say about your journalistic integrity? Yeesh!
whisky jack
February 1, 2012i do detect / the Wagner Effect
J21
February 1, 2012“James” Mayers? His prep-school brother, perhaps?
I was hoping that the stellar play of both young Cor(e)ys in goal might have led to a Feldman/Haim (z”l) reference. Instead, I present to you some words that rhyme with Cor(e)y: glory, story, allegory, Montessori…
On HFBoards, I was heavily backing Daniel’s theory about the longer change in the second period as the Canucks’ undoing in middle frames. When you watch a game like this, where they are good in the first and competent in the third, but godawful in the second, surrending odd man rush after odd man rush, I don’t see what else it could be. It defies explanation otherwise, so I think Daniel’s nailed it. In playoff games, have the Canucks been noticeably worse in 1OT as compared to 2OT? (If Daniel is right, the fact that the first, long sudden death frame is played on the second-period side is definitely worrying for the Canucks). This doesn’t just mean losing games, but surrendering chances above all.
Anyone else amused that a guy called Shaw was getting physically pummelled in Rogers Arena? I can imagine a room of Rogers execs gathered around their VIP cable package-enhanced TV, clasping their hands and grinning like Palpatine. Probably a good thing for the Hawks that Mark Bell doesn’t play for them anymore. (Or that prospect Brian Telus wasn’t called up. OK, I made him up. But Swiss forward Andreas Mobilicity is totally real).
“Ludacris probably loves the way he gets back.”
Missed opportunity to make a Sir Mix-a-Lot reference. Just saying.
Harrison Mooney
February 1, 2012This comment is so full of win. I consider it an addendum to the IWTG. Note to self: J21 is an option to write one of these posts in a pinch.
Additionally, I came this close to making a Family Channel joke in reference to the two Cories. “Boy Meets World” Cory? Awesome. “Cory in the House” Cory? Not awesome.
Hmm. “Raymond got back so fine Sir Mix-a-lot wrote a verse about it.” Yep, a Sir Mix-a-Lot joke would have been way better. Next time.
J21
February 1, 2012Heh, I would be honored at the invitation, if you can handle subtly forced references to Jyrki Lumme and complaints about how there is no green in the damn logo, thus breaking all rules of proper uniform design.
Speaking of your Family Channel reference, Tru Fakt: former NHLer Brian Savage is the older brother of Fred and Ben Savage. Very, very tru.
JS Topher
February 1, 2012Mind = Blown
obituary mambo
February 1, 2012A Corey Haim/Feldman reference would have made my week!
tom selleck's moustache
February 1, 2012I’m still a little skeptical of the second period relapses simply being a long change problem. Because the other teams also have to deal with the long changes as well; so it should cancel itself out.
J21
February 1, 2012Not if, as Daniel has posited, the Canucks base their entire up-tempo style on short shifts — at least, more than the opposition. (And as he’s pointed out, they have the shortest shift times in the league).
obituary mambo
February 1, 2012This blog remains endlessly fantastic. There is no excuse for the lackluster 2nd period performance. However, being thrilled with the end result, I’ll let it slide for now. OT was thrilling! In all seriousness, though, the ‘Nucks should have tied this baby up in regulation, rather than allow the ‘Hawks to gain a point in the standings.
obituary mambo
February 1, 2012BTW, did anyone else notice little Chinook hop over the boards for the OT celebration while Kiss Huggins headed straight to the dressing room? It was almost enough to break my heart. Hope he’s feeling all right.
Yikes! At first I wrote “Hope he’s feeling himself,” which is to say *feeling like himself* but quickly decided that would lead to disaster. Though I’m sure there are those among us who don’t mind the thought unintentionally expressed in the original phrasing. ~__^
James W.
February 1, 2012Living in Ottawa, I met Cody Hodgson at the All-Star Fan Fair. I actually asked him if Chinook was his nickname, and he said “No, only Booth calls me that on Twitter”. I think it’s Whitetail.
sarah
February 1, 2012Poor Booth is trying so hard to fit in with these nicknames. I hope the council lets him release the next one just so he can feel like he’s part of the in crowd.
Winsy
February 1, 2012That Wolverine is relentless! ;P Let poor Booth have one, just to make him feel like one of the guys!
obituary mambo
February 1, 2012Good to know. And Whitetale is a pretty good nickname. Provided Booth doesn’t decide to go hunting, that is.
Winsy
February 1, 2012Kiss Huggins hopped over the boards too. He didn’t go to the dressing room until the rest of them did. It was just the way that the clip was cut. Watch again, but keep your eye on him He definitely hops over the boards.
obituary mambo
February 2, 2012You’re right; I guess I missed it because they cut so immediately to a shot of him heading to the locker room. I’m glad to know he’s feeling himself after all. *mischievous smile*
JDM
February 1, 2012Having just read the recap on CanucksArmy, they posted a stat that I found staggering: Dan Hamhuis had 24 minutes of ice time, during which the Hawks had 5 chances. Meanwhile, when he wasn’t on the ice they had 22 chances.
Cathylu
February 1, 2012It was an entertaining game (except for the 2nd period – I also hope they can figure out their problem with the middle frame). So happy we won. I had fun booing Bolland from my couch. Cory did an amazing job – that save was incredible – I just wish he wouldn’t have made his own problem there. And what’s up with Daniel’s little goal celebration?!?! Very cute!
sarah
February 1, 2012If you pause it right, it looks like he’s Tebowing.
obituary mambo
February 1, 2012Ha! It totally does! Good catch. ^__^
sarah
February 1, 2012Favourite/oddest exchange of the night:
Announcer 1 [sorry don't know his name] on Keith and Seabroke’s friendship: “Those two can’t get enough of each other. They even went to mexico together over the break.”
Announcer 2: “Of course they did,”
I came to IWTG with the intention of saying that the second was such a bad period that I took a couple of Aspirin, dug out the hot water bottle, and broke into the chocolate chips, but I see you essentially beat me to it…
Nero
February 1, 2012Just a heads up, Higgins didn’t give the direct feed to Kesler, it was Edler.
SteveB
February 1, 2012AV’s reaction to the game winning goal was oddly muted, especially compared with Joel Quenneville’s vigorous calisthenics protesting the non-call on the Hamhuis slash on Stalberg breakaway.
SteveB
February 1, 2012hrrmmm, that was supposed to start at 0m46s, but the Sedinery was so wizardous that it played the entire clip.
DanD
February 1, 2012I have come to the conclusion that Cody Hodgson has some sort of time warp at his disposal. Every time he comes in on a breakaway, he makes moves that worked in the 80′s and he scores. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen slapshot goals off the rush. And that shot, although perfectly placed, felt like it came right out of the book of Wendel Clark. Maybe it’s just me, but he just seems to make goalies look like overcommitted goalies from the 80′s.
Shade of Blue
February 1, 2012He’s clearly channeling guys who played before he was born. I keep wishing that he would flip his lid when he gets a breakaway. Hair flowing behind him as he releases a slap shot from the top of the circle would complete the Lafleur look/homage.
peanutflower
February 1, 2012I still don’t know if I agree with your take on Ballard’s penalty — I’d hate to see Ballard give up that hip check move because when it works it’s a thing of beauty. Maybe it’s the fact that sometimes it doesn’t work and then it’s just a big ole disaster. I’m surprised there was nothing about the “hook” and whatever — now I forget who the Hawk was — that Quenneville just about had a seizure over. Was that because PITB didn’t think it was penalty-worthy? Just asking. That was a great game, but I’ll just echo everyone else by saying WTF with the second period and the Canucks? It’s like two different games are being played. Surely it’s intentional. Just restin’ up for the turd, ya know.
stathead
February 1, 2012Wasn’t there a hit from behind on Kesler that wasn’t called? It’s great that we’re seeing both sides of the game here, but – let’s remember to see both sides of the game.
If anyone but PITB had said that Ballard’s hit wasn’t clipping, I’d disagree reflexively. I watched the hit v carefully on the replays and couldn’t see the clipping.
peanutflower
February 1, 2012There was indeed, and the penalty on Burrows was pretty iffy too. It’s sort of do Ballard’s and Burrow’s bad calls justify not calling one on Hamhuis and Bieksa on the breakaway? Is there a non-call penalty ranking system, like two bad non-calls equals one good call or something like that?
Rituro
February 1, 2012Yeah, there was a solid case for something to be called against the Canucks on that rush. Glad as always that the team won but seeing both Hamuis and Bieksa go into “oh crap, did we get caught? Quick, stop moving, maybe they won’t call it” mode gave me the impression that, yeah, they both got cleanly beaten, they both tried to compensate and were both very, very lucky not to get called for the hook or the slash.
Again, as a fan, glad they didn’t and that Daniel got to do his Lapierre/Tebow mixtape celebration, passing BMo for the Mr. Overtime title.
Square Ball
February 1, 2012It seems ironic that Brendan Morrison ends up in the same team that taunted him while he was trying to get off the ice with a bad injury last year.
Makes me wonder about their team dynamics, but from what I gather he is enjoying it there. It also seems that some of those players have matured over the last year. Some of them.
akidd
February 1, 2012again with the canuck goaltending holding the fort. i think playing corey was a great move. the hawks wrote the book on getting lou out of position with fakes and drop passes but had no such luck with schneider. it was an absolutely stunning game for him. not bad for a ‘B’ goalie;)
overall the hawk skaters looked better than the canuck ones so while the two points were nice it does bring a bit of trepidation seeing how good some teams are. the wing game will be interesting. as they recently skated circles around these same speedy hawks. is this a vintage year in the west? it might not be a bad idea to buy a few cases of hawks, wings, canucks, blues, kings etc and store them in the cellar. competitive. very competitive. i hate to think that shiny cup will be even harder to get than last year but that’s what i’m thinking.
i’m also thinking that not winning the conference might be a good idea this year. maybe let that central divison beat itself up a bit before the conference finals. impatient? naw. more regular season please. stretch that puppy out.
By-Tor
February 1, 2012No mention at all of Edler? I know he’s an all-star and is supposed to play well, but he played really well last night. 2 assists, 3 hits of the genus thunderous, and some brilliant defensive work. I maintain that Morrison would have scored on that Schneider turnover despite Schneider’s best effort, except that Edler got his stick on Morrison’s just enough to delay him from shooting long enough for Schneider to get back into net.
Zach Morris
February 1, 2012Who needs a tough guy when you’ve got Salo’s slapshot as a weapon?
shoes
February 1, 2012There was calls that could have been made against Chicago if you take the standard of the little push Burrows put on buddy. And sorry to say….the Ballard thingy was not a clip. His legs are near straight and when his legs are straight the other guy has to be in the NBA to have his knee in that area. Or to put it another way Ballard did not drop down to get the knee, or if he did the video missed it.
Harrison Mooney
February 1, 2012I think the video missed it. The angle we were given only showed the shoulder hitting the stomach. But there’s a clip happening on the left side of the screen.
vancitydan
February 1, 2012Solid as usual.
Hansen actually got an assist on that goal. Ref must have seen him actually touch it! I know right? I looked at more than several times!
Himongi
February 1, 2012On the Dan Hamhuis pass to Hodgson, there’s no doubt that Hamhuis sees Hodgson breaking away. Hodgson’s anticipation is perfect as he sees there’s about to be a neutral zone turnover. It’s Hansen that gets the cheap assist as he flubs trying to knock down the saucer pass that was not intended for him. Good thing too…
Nee
February 1, 2012“That’s him, just outside the blue line, waiting for a breakout pass that never comes. Every night he lights a candle for it.”
A little late to the party, but that made me lol. Bravo.
BlackHawks Fan
February 2, 2012Just a Hawks fan from Chicago giving kudos to the unbiased and knowledegable comments on this board. The Canucks have some great fans.
Nee
February 2, 2012I don’t know who you are, but that’s very nice of you. Means something extra coming from a sworn enemy ; ).
Chi-town has great fans too!
stathead
February 2, 2012Cheers! Same back to you – there are eyebrow-raisers in every fan base, but plenty of people in all cities who just think the game is beautiful. We’re both lucky to have awesome teams… hope you Chicago guys have or get a blog as good as this one for the sane-minded fans!
Gord R
February 3, 2012they do…secondcityhockey.com. The guys are top notch over there.