Canucks Beat Blackhawks 3-2
by Sean Zandberg on Oct 22, 2009 2:10 AM PDT
in Game Review
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PrintYes it was a game of revenge, and the Canucks did a fine job of it. In the end, Hawks fans were left with a bitter taste in their mouths, as the much-hated Mikael Samuelsson scored the winning goal to help the Canucks beat Chicago 3-2. Most of the questions surrounding the Canucks were answered tonight.
-Roberto Luongo watched the Blackhawks practice today, to get himself prepared. I thought he played very well and I also thought his mates bailed him out by once again limiting the quality chances against. That being said, Lou made some enormous saves as well.
-The Canucks outshot the Hawks 25-10 in the final 2 periods. So despite Troy Brouwer's 2-1 goal very late in the 2nd period, the Canucks kept pressing. Despite Antti Niemi's great play, the Canucks persevered.
-Willie Mitchell was out of the penalty box for 10 seconds or less before he decked captain Johnny Toews, which gave the Canucks even more reason to bury Chicago. Up until that point, I was wondering if Vancouver had the balls in them to score the tying/winning goal. That they did.
-Sure, there were no fights, but it didn't matter. That was the most entertaining game of the year so far. What a win by a team that was winless on the road and had to make amends for that horseshit loss to Chicago in the playoffs.
It was a small bit of retribution. Luongo may play it down:
"At the end of the day, it's a game," he said. "I was real excited to come back here and play even though there wasn't such great memories from last year. Nothing is going to bring back what happened last year.
But it's nice to come in here and show we can win, and just start moving on from what happened. They still won the series. We just won a game."
Ok, fair enough Roberto, but that smile on your face after the game was won told the story. This team had better now come to realize that they know deep down inside what it takes to win.
My questions to you, the fans are:
1. Hell yeah, Michael Grabner finally scored. Can we expect more from him now?
2. Is this win going to spawn a winning streak? Has this Canucks team found its identity now?
Bring on the hapless Leafs and let's find out!
ZANY'S 3 STARS:
1. Mikael Samuelsson. The winning goal late plus an assist. Clutch, Mikael.
2. Duncan Keith. 1 goal and 1 assist, over 27:00 ice-time, a +2. I wish we had this guy.
3. Roberto Luongo. He only faced 20 shots, but some of them were high quality chances. He gave the Canucks a chance to win.
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Sick game, definitely something to build on.
AKA: Linix129
by sw12 on Oct 22, 2009 6:08 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Grabs will continue to improve. Don’t expect to much. Av needs to keep that chemistry going.
I feel that sameulson will take burrs spot and burrs will fill in when dank makes his return.
But who knows anything I just hope they keep working hard and winning games.
by tobemarked on Oct 22, 2009 6:49 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
easy easy
It was one game and clearly I can see your team is not even close to last years team. Im sorry to say, they took a major step back, you guys may have one this game, good for you, but its one game. To target a star player to get the advantage..well thats another story…what goes around comes around….but im sure nucks fans know that. I don’t have to mention it….recalling last year.
What are you talking about? We beat you without sedin, Demitra, salo or schneider. And that hit was a beauty, ask any neutral observer. Fail on all comments.
by Beantown Canuck on Oct 22, 2009 8:00 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
redtribe14 enough now stop playing this woe is my team shit, your team attacked our goalie through the entire finals series and dont tell me byfulyen wouldnt do the same thing as willie given the chance.
by svenfromsweeden on Oct 22, 2009 7:57 AM PDT reply actions
Byfuglien, Eager, Brouwer, Madden, Ladd, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson...
hell, probably even Toews. But I’m not sure many of them would have taken a dive on their own high-stick resulting in the game-tying goal. Other than that, it was a very exciting game with lots of grit. I appreciate the Mitchell hit. Solid. See you next time.
"Call Detroit, tell dem... BULLSHIT!"
If we’re going to start blaming bad calls for throwing games, then all 30 fanbases will have legit claims.
Besides, if you complain too much about the refs, you’ll start sounding like paranoid wings fans. You don’t want that do you? ;)
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Oct 22, 2009 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions
Nope.
I would never complain about a ref or a bad call. Aren’t all remaining Wings fans paranoid? They should be (lol)!
"Call Detroit, tell dem... BULLSHIT!"
Heh, I think I just read too much paranoia during the SCF. It was over the top.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Oct 22, 2009 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions
I PVR’d the game.
… Mitchell’s hit was a thing of beauty.
… Grabner’s goal was either a deft “open-face” shot that fooled the goalie … or it might have been just barely tipped by the lunging D-man; couldn’t tell for sure, even in super slo-mo.
… Bieksa got clipped by his own stick. I think the penalty call was:
……a) cuz it was Byfuglien, who seems to be “known” by the officials, unfortunately for him; and
……b) a make-up call for the lost Sedin breakaway that should never have been interrupted by the Hawks starting a fight. The refs knew they blew that one and were balancing things out.
Oh, and as for redtribe … Don’t feed the trolls, guys. Let’s keep this group for real hockey talk. Thx.
Regarding the 4-minute highsticking
I re-watched it many times and wasn’t sure what happened, so I don’t blame the officials. I saw one frame where Byfuglien’s blame was going up near the Bieska shoulder level, and the next frame I saw Bieksa’s face hit by something, with his own stick pointing up to the sky. Byfuglien’s stick probably hit Bieksa somewhere high (stick or arm), but the bleeding was probably cause by Bieksa’s stick hitting his own face.
I super slo-mo’d it and as near as I could tell, yeah, Bieksa got hit by his own stick. I don’t think Buffy’s stick caught Bieksa high anywhere else (e.g. back of shoulder) but couldn’t be sure because of the angle.
In any event, no way it warranted a double minor other than as a makeup call. The Canucks were owed something for losing a 2-on-0 breakaway to a mistimed whistle (the breakway couldda been allowed to finish before the whistle was blown) and I suspect the officials were trying to balance that out.
Just my opinion, of course.
I was not sure either, but I was sure that I saw Byfuglien’s stick blade near Bieksa’s shoulder in one frame of the video, and then it wasn’t clear what happened next until Bieksa’s own stick was right in front of his face.
As for the double (instead of 2 minutes), once a penalty is called because of highsticking, it’s an automatic double minor if any bleeding is observed.
Thoughts on a Few Players
Couple thoughts:
The fact that Samuelson loves to shoot the puck is GREAT. He makes up for others who would rather pass.
Bernier may not have deft hands, but if he keeps banging in garbage goals he’ll be well worth it.
If Raymond can add a little finish to his game, he’s going to be a VERY good player. Like, top 20 league scorer kind of player.
I agree about Raymond. On the sportscast they were talking about all he needs is for his hands to catch up to his feet, and that, that was how bure was. If mason can figure out how to do that, he could be a very good player
by kiyotok on Oct 22, 2009 10:05 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I fail to see where Bure had a problem. Oh you mean Valeri Bure? ;)
by Sean Zandberg on Oct 22, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions
And Ehrhoff was terrible. -2 including getting muscled off the puck by Kane. One of his worst games in the Orca.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Oct 22, 2009 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow.
Like, top 20 league scorer kind of player.
Guy’s 24 and scored 23 points last year, on pace for less this year.
Jan Bulis got a lot of chances because of his speed too, that didn’t make him a scorer and it’ll take more than speed to make Raymond one even half that good, ever.
I think you underestimate him. He’s improved his defensive play in his time here and now will work more on offense. He shows quick reflexes and moves and generates lots of chances and will put it all together soon. I consider him a late bloomer (like, say, Brett Hull was) in that he blossomed late in junior, in his case because he had been so small and got his growth late.
Guys like Raymond and Grabner also draw extra penalties, like all speed guys do. Doesn;t show up on the scoresheet, but it’s offence nonetheless.
I’m a little hesitant to rate Raymond as a top 20 scorer as well. I’m not seeing it.
by Sean Zandberg on Oct 22, 2009 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I underrate him?
Because I disagree that he’ll yet be an elite scorer?
Sorry but that’s overrating him big time.
Brett Hull?
By the time he was Raymond’s age Hull had a 50 goal year in the AHL, better than a goal per game season in the NCAA, and was on a 40 goal pace in the NHL.
This comparison is worthy of an elf, imagine if a Flamer were to claim that about, a 24 y/o with 23 points and 1 this season?
I’m not saying the kid will never score, but come on, much more of the pace he’s been on and he’d better start concentrating on making himself a Ryan Johnson type if he wants to stay in the NHL.
I said that you underestimate him, yoata, not that you underrate him. Ratings are for the present, estimations are for the future. Please don’t rebut a strawman argument.
At present he is playing well, tho we’d all like to see him pot a few more of his chances. In my estimation, he will do that; in yours, he won’t. We have the rest of the season to see.
As for top 20 scorer … well, it’s possible one day, I guess, but I’d be happy with his getting 25 goals this year and we’ll see what happens from there. Remember, the original commenter did say “if,” and if Raymond added finish to his game, then yeah, he could be a top 20 guy. If.
Oh ffs
semantics do not equate to a straw man argument.
Notice how you ignore the questions.
25 goals???
He’s not even on pace for 10. Of course you’d be happy with it, it’s a fantasy.
If? Yeah and IF I could add skating ability like Paul Coffey, I could be a Norris winner. Those types of statements are pointless, and until he actually begins to score worthy of even being a 3rd liner, any talk of him being top 20 is too.
Raymond’s on his way to becoming a very good two way player. If he scores 20-25 goals a year and is as effective defensively as Kes and Burr, that’ll be good enough for me.
Sure, the problem is he is not going to score 20-25 at the pace he is going, or anything else hes shown in his career here in the NHL.
Lets face it people, and I’m invested in him for hes on me Keeper League roster, he has yet to show any real signs of being able to finish the play.
Untill he starts putting the puck in the net, hes just another fast skater who brings other things to the table than scoring.
by Jesse Taylor on Oct 22, 2009 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Not even close to that pace
Few guys score that well consistently, and very few Nucks, his trajectory suggests more of a Kris Draper type max potential… if he really concentrates on D.
I mean I hope I’m wrong but where’s the proof?
I agree. You know, the Hawk fans keep repeating how fast their team is and how well they skate, but looking at the Canucks … we’ve kinda crept up on the league and suddenly we’re a pretty quick team ourselves and a lot of people haven’t twigged to it yet. Raymond-Kesler-Grabner is a good example.
I like that combo and hope we’ll see more of them together for a while.
one game guys! one game!
one game guys and you all think you are going to win the freakin cup it is one game that we blew, i admit we blew! you won hats off its only nine games in the season. lets talk later and see were are records were. And mentioning don’t feed the trolls. Your telling me that last year when you guys got bounced out of the playoffs. you guys were not blaming the officals and the hawks for rough play. And if you all say no then you are a bunch off bullshitters. I come on here just to tell what i say not defending eather side. we lost the game every team loses know and then, but we shall see who is the better team standing. fair enough.
Catharthic
I’ve watched this hit over and over and over and I lover every stinking second of it. Searching for description I realized the word is I seek is: cathartic.
Defined nicely as:
1. purifying: producing a feeling of being purified emotionally, spiritually, or psychologically as a result of an intense emotional experience or therapeutic technique
2. having purgative effect on bowels: describes a medicine that causes emptying of the bowels
Bingo. Bango. Bongo. Luongo.
by Linden4evah on Oct 23, 2009 9:38 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
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