That's a little more like it - Canucks 4 Crapalanche 1
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 28, 2009 2:05 AM PDT
in Game Review
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(Photo from AP-ESPN)
When I say "a little" I mean it literally. The Canucks took about 30 minutes to show some passion. Up to that point Jason Labarbera was keeping them in it and it was only 1-0 Avalanche. But right about the time where Ian Laperriere shot a broken stick towards the puck, told the referees where to go and how to get there and then ejected was when the Canucks came alive.
Demitra missed the ensuing penalty shot as Andrew Raycroft stoned him silly, but the Canucks got the much needed tying goal from Hank Sedin just over 2:00 later and never looked back. Hell, they outshot the Avs 16-5 in the 2nd period! Raycroft was good.
In the 3rd the surging Canucks scored 3 unanswered goals to bury the stunned Avalanche to pull within 1 point of the Flames.
In my opinion it's becoming painfully clear that Vancouver is going to have to take the Northwest Division crown in order to have home ice advantage in the playoffs. The Blackhawks won their 3rd straight game tonight (this time beating the Devils) to put them 2 points ahead of us. I really don't think they are going to slow down. Is Marty Havlat rolling or what? 3 more points for him tonight. We'll see how well we match up against them on Sunday.
But Vancouver had better play more consistently against Chicago than they did tonight.
Great to see Jason Labarbera get the win. I thought defensively (except for a few odd-man rushes against) the team played well in front of him.
Nice pass by Sundin to Demitra for that beauty goal in the 3rd.
Demitra was playing "angry" tonight, according to the Province.
"I was not very happy with my game," Demitra said of his play against St. Louis. "I don't even know what (Vigneault) said but I was pissed. Trust me, I was pissed. I put my game face on and I was ready for a good game. "I was so pissed with myself, I couldn't even sleep (Thursday) night."
I didn't think Demitra was playing all that bad lately. He has been showing the type of grit that maybe Sundin should learn from. Sure, Demo scored his first goal in 11 games tonight, but he's also had 8 assists in that span. Sundin had 2 goals and 3 assists in those 11 games. Not that stellar. Apparently he was called out by AV as well.
Sundin said post game:
"We need to be a complement to the Sedin line," Sundin said. "That means we have to do what we did (Friday) on a consistent basis. We're good enough to do that.
"We talked about something before (Friday's) game. One of the problems against St. Louis was there were only two or three shifts where we controlled the play down low and really ground them out. Because all three of us are big enough and strong enough to control the puck. We need to use that more."
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Canucks' depth
One big advantage with this current roster is they don’t need Sundin and Demitra to be lights-out every night. For once, the team actually has three lines that can score. I like Sundin’s quote about “being a complement to the Sedin line.” Everyone was thinking of him as a superstar in the offseason, but he’s really more of a tremendous second-line centre at this point (and we got him without any cost in players or picks). It’s still early, but I’m a big fan of the way the roster has changed under Gillis; he’s managed to create a lot of scoring depth while keeping solid goaltending and defence.
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by Andrew Bucholtz on Mar 28, 2009 8:05 AM PDT reply actions
I like the depth too. The team was already succeeding before Mats got here. This is kind of where I’m wondering where a problem with Sundin lies. He hasn’t been that dominant Mats that I was used to seeing even last year in Toronto. It’s as if he came in here just to fit in on line 2. I was hoping he’d be that colossal presence on the ice and be the go-to guy.
A big difference is that he’s not wearing the captaincy. I know some people don’t put as much value in that, but I do.
This is Luongo’s team. The pressure mostly falls onto him. Sundin isn’t even wearing an “A”. I know we are scrutinizing Mats a bit in Vancouver but he had it worse in Toronto no doubt being the captain there, yet he produced more.
So I’m wondering if he would play better if he had to be even more accountable and given a higher leadership role on the team. Not Lou’s “C” either because we can’t ruffle those feathers.
Is Mats taking it easy out there? I know he’s improved lately, but how much motivation does he have to put up more points when the team can haul ass without him potting more goals and being the Sundin I saw in Toronto?
Many are saying that in the playoffs he will turn it up several notches. I want to see that now. Give me a preview, Mats!
He looked better last night after he was called out by Viggy. Let’s see if he can be a little more consistent. Being a massive fan of his for years I watch him closely every game. To be honest, a lot of times I’m seeing a Bertuzzi-type effort (the one after the Steve Moore debacle-the bad one)
He dumps the puck in corners and lets Demo or Kesler chase it. He’s never the first guy in. He just waits in the vicinity of the back of the net for the puck to come to him. He is lacking passion and grit, IMO.
Is this Mats good enough because he provides that depth up front? I don’t think so. I want a Stanley Cup here. Everybody including ol’ Matsy is going to give it 100%. No floating!
Damn this is too much thinking for when I just wake up.
Ah, Jim Jamieson has a great piece on Sundin as well. Kind of echoes my sentiments
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 28, 2009 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions
SOB last night: 13 min played, one of only 2 Canuck players with a minus game
Ossi against St. Louis: 12 min played, only Canuck player with a +2
BRING BACK OSSI!
by Beantown Canuck on Mar 28, 2009 12:00 PM PDT reply actions
Ossi Vaananen:
-Has the best name on the team
-Is +1 with 1 point in 2 games and no penalty minutes
-Can hold Salo’s hand and console him in finnish if he gets an owie.
SOB:
-Whines all the damn time
-Takes dumb penalties all the damn time
-Is -7 in his last 7 games
by Beantown Canuck on Mar 28, 2009 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions
I concur on all accounts. Ossi needs some experience with some smashmouth hockey and that could be the Chicago game tomorrow. I’d put him back in.
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by Yankee Canuck on Mar 28, 2009 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m having a hard time arguing with those stats.
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 28, 2009 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions
OB is an enigma though. What your saying is right, or at least that is what is expected of him. But then why is he continually getting benched then? Maybe it’s the rum, but I can’t remember the last time OB fought. Is he really a pest out there or a Salo-wannabe?
If he isn’t going to play like a tough-assed pest then I’d say put OV in.
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