Wednesday morning coffee: Nucks win big, Canada? Not so much...

 

 

Hands up if you called the score in this one? Yeah, no one could have predicted this one, even as bad as the Blue Jackets have been lately I don't think anyone would have foreseen this. Especially they way they found themselves up 2-0 early in the first. Instead of seizing the opportunity, the Jackets looked bewildered, and a mere 29 seconds after Kristian Huselius made it 2-0, Rick Rypien fired a wobbling puck past Steve Mason, and I swear you could hear the entire team let out a huge "OMG here we go again"-type exhalation.

24 seconds later, the Sedins set up Alex Burrows for his 1st of 3 on the night, and as odd as it sounds as that tied the game, the rout was on. A little over 8 minutes later Burrows struck again, on a carbon copy of the 1st goal, and the Canucks went to the dressing room up by 1 after they had trailed by 2. Henrik Sedin made it 4-2 with his 20th of the season (that line combined for 9 points), but that goal was quickly answered by Kris Russell of Columbus. While Russell had a decent game for the Jackets (about the only player you could say played well for Columbus), that goal was all Aaron Rome, standing in front of the net as though he were waiting for a cab, Russell's shot careening in off his shinpads. Meh. To the pressbox with you, Rome! Ahem. Though it was the 5 on 5 play that killed the Jackets (as it has

 

all season) The Canucks did get a PP goal. Some good work in the corner by Daniel Sedin forced a turnover to Sami Salo who wired one off the post and in. 5-3 and that it got weird. The Jackets appeared to clear the puck out of the zone, but it bounced off a linesman and over to Ryan Kesler, who quickly fed Mikeal Samuelsson. The salty-mouthed Swede fired it past Mason and at 6-3, Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock had seen enough, pulling last years Calder trophy winner and replacing him with Mathieu Garon. Garon let in one in the 3rd, a shorthanded marker from Burrows, on a nice pass from Ryan Kesler for the hat trick. Canucks were 1-3 on the PP while they successfully killed off all 5 Columbus PP's. Rick Nash, even with 2 assists was a non-factor in the game, effectively neutralized for the rest of the evening by the Canucks defense, who really settled down after the quick 2 goals in the first. Nash was a -2 for the night, which tells out about his game. Fedor Tyutin was a -3, while Salo and Burrows were both +3. The win moved the Canucks into a tie for 6th in West, getting the nod over LA and Nashville because they have more wins. They now sit one point back of Colorado, and 2 behind the new division leaders Calgary, who defeated the Predators 3-1 last night. Christian Ehrhoff is now a league leading +22, and Henrik is 1st in the scoring race, tied with Joe Thornton at 55 points, but with more goals. A day off for the Canucks before a shot at redemption against the Phoenix Coyotes Thursday, with a battle against the Flames looming Saturday.

 

While the US's John Carlson may be saying his OT winner was a 'lucky shot', the fact that the US team left Saskatoon with the gold around their necks had very little to do with luck. As we saw in the New Years Eve tilt, Canada had little answer for both the American's speed, giving up numerous odd man rushes throughout the game, and their superior defensive ability. All night long, TSN's Gord Miller and Pierre McGuire marvelled at the Americans' shot blocking ability. That combined with a Canadian team that couldn't hit the net led to just 9 shots on goal in the first half of the game for Canada. Full marks to the Americans, they came into the game knowing all the pressure was on Canada, stuck to their game plan, made the most of a number of bounces they got in the game and didn't flinch when the Jordan Eberle show brought the nation to it's feet. Is that kid unreal? It's going to (eventually) suck to play against the Oilers again.

So what now for Team Canada? Obviously had they been able to ice the team of all eligible players, things might have been a little different. John Tavares and Cody Hodgson, among others would have made a huge difference. With Canada losing the Under 18's and Under 20's in consecutive days to the US, is this just a blip on the radar, or a changing of the guard? That will be up to the Hockey Canada brain trust to decide. This loss will be picked to pieces by experts and the rest of us, as we try and come up with a rationalization for the loss. Why did Jake Allen fall apart like he did in the big game? Why were there so many turnovers, was it just the flow of the play or was it something in the game plan put together by Willie Desjardins and his coaching staff that was flawed? It's likely too early to know the answers. All they can do now is shake off the heartbreak, head back to their junior squads and move forward. Hockey Canada can look at the future, as they prepare for Buffalo, and a shot at redemption. Were the Canadians arrogant, as was suggested by a certain New Jersey Devils sniper who seems to have forgotten his pedigree? No, I don't think so. Confidence should never be mistaken for arrogance, even if it is somewhat unwarranted. The Canadians had confidence, but save for Eberle, lacked the finish needed to attain their 6th straight. As for Parise, we (including Martin Brodeur) will see you in Vancouver in February. Keep your head up, son... and thank you for the dressing room wall material. Not that we need it.