Canucks shut out Kings and now heavily put their hopes on Edmonton

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 11:00 PM PDT in Game Review Comment 13 comments

I can't top what was written at Yahoo's game review:

Luongo faced one fewer shot all game than he did in the first period in a 46-save, 4-1 win over Calgary on Tuesday night. The 13th-place Kings only fired 13 shots through two periods—four fewer than Luongo saw the first 10 minutes against the Flames.

Amazing isn't it? The Canucks repeatedly mentioned after last game that they needed to tighten up defensively as a group and that is exactly what they did against the Kings. Sure, a 6-0 destruction of Los Angeles would have been great, but at least we know Vancouver has not lost it's defensive touch.

Now I'm going to watch a Flames-Oilers game more closely than I have since I can remember. If the Oilers pull off a win tomorrow night the Canucks can win the Northwest Division with a victory over the Avalanche on Saturday afternoon. The pressure is now on Calgary.

I thought Mats Sundin had another good game. He fired 7 pucks on net, with one of them resulting in a Ryan Kesler goal. That would be 25% of the Canucks' overall shots. Sundin was getting in his favorite spots to shoot those pucks. I wouldn't say his shots were always top-calibre, but the effort was appreciated. He looks to be rounding into playoff form. *Editor's note: It looks like Ed Willies of The Province agrees.*

Luongo now holds the Canucks record for shutouts in a single season (8), surpassing Dan Cloutier's mark. He is one shutout away from tying the Canucks' team record for all-time shutouts (Kirk McLean-20). More Canucks records here.

So now let's see what the Canucks do against Colorado. They won a wide-open style against the Flames and now a trapping 1-0 victory over the Kings. Maybe the Avalanche game will be a blend of both. If that is the case I like our chances.

A cruel twist in the schedule has the Canucks playing the Avalanche on Saturday at 12:00 PST. What the hell is that all about? The Avs began a 3 game homestand tonight with a loss to the Stars in a shootout.

Did you know that the only team that Colorado has beaten in their last 11 games is the....Canucks. Good grief.

By the way, Joe Sakic will not play for the Avalanche on Saturday.

BOXSCORE AND HIGHLIGHTS

Go Oilers!

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I’m just really happy they made the playoffs. Because that means I actually get to watch the team. The last time I consistently watched them was when they were in the playoffs 2 years ago. No playoffs = no Canucks at all, as witnessed by the fact that I saw 0 games last season.

Toot Toot

by rollonubears on Apr 9, 2009 11:07 PM PDT reply actions

Why? What? How? Why don’t/can’t you watch Canucks regular season games?

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 11:09 PM PDT reply actions

Dude could be in the states like me

Where it’s an adventure to find Canucks games on TV… no RSN Pacific — occasionally the dang Versus network will have the Canucks but those are rare forays… and HNIC isn’t that helpful, either.

I was in Vancouver watching the last Canucks afternooner against Pittsburgh… that was the groin game. Great birthday present for me.

"What is Jumanji?" --Jason Owens

by GoodKeith on Apr 9, 2009 11:27 PM PDT reply actions

Try China. All bit torrent all the time.

by GZ Expat on Apr 9, 2009 11:30 PM PDT up reply actions

GZ, how long are you planning on living in China?

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions

However long they’ll keep me. The money is good, the job rocks…the only downside is, this city is dirty, crowded and the people tend to be a bit rude…and there isn’t any hockey around (oh, there is in HK)

by GZ Expat on Apr 10, 2009 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Or the boondocks of Japan, I’ll probably be able to get the Stanley cup finals at the local sports bar. I can get streaming, but I hate watching movies on my computer and I doubt my line could handle decent HDTV feeds to pop onto my TV. I’ll probably give it a shot when my dad comes for a visit, he has a sub to nhl online or some such service.

by rsm on Apr 10, 2009 1:35 AM PDT up reply actions

Holy hell. Don’t ever celebrate your birthday again! Not while Luongo plays here! :)

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Half of Vancouver wasn’t even awake when Luongo got hurt, that was the weirdest thing about it. I was at Speakeasy’s talking mad game to the cocktail waitress and all of a sudden I see him go down and I am like, “Oh, god.” Still won 3-0.

Getting back across the border was fun, CBP searched my bag front, back, side to side and upside down. Only cool thing I had was a Jonny Canuck shirt.

"What is Jumanji?" --Jason Owens

by GoodKeith on Apr 9, 2009 11:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah. I’m in California too, in Sharks territory so it is even less likely I will get a random Canucks game unless they are playing the Sharks. I went to the 2-1 OT loss against the Sharks in January.

Toot Toot

by rollonubears on Apr 10, 2009 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Trust in the Oilers?

Be careful that you dont pin too much of your hopes on the Oilers. After the loss to the Kings the other night (and not the best effort I’ve seen), I’m not so sure you want to put your trust in Edmonton.

If they played without heart in a game that mattered, what are they going to do in a game that means nothing? Better hope that the whole Battle of Alberta thing means as much to the team as it means to the province!!

Cheers,
Matt

www.viewfrommyseats.com

by Cheap Seats on Apr 9, 2009 11:33 PM PDT reply actions

I have to trust the Oilers. They are our only hope

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 11:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Shorthouse said something goofy tonight...

Does anyone remember what it was? It happened either late in the first period or early in the second and caused me to roll my eyes in the back of my head like the Undertaker in the WWE.

"What is Jumanji?" --Jason Owens

by GoodKeith on Apr 9, 2009 11:39 PM PDT reply actions