Gotta keep this game in focus. The Canucks outshot the Dogs 47-29 in this one but the 47 shot total for the Canucks has to have surprised a lot of people, myself included. For most of the game the play/pressure would dictate that kind of lopsidedness. But Jason "Barbie" Labarbera hardly stole this game as much as the Canucks didn't provide a lot of quality chances or even finish on the quality chances given. I don't want to shit on Barbie's parade, because he was solid. But the Canucks did have an extended 5 on 3 early in the 3rd that they absolutely failed to capitalize on, while the score was still 0-0. The Lapierre failed 3 on 1 rush comes to mind as well. Fruitless.

The Coyotes are known for their stifling defence and really showed it tonight. Not in the sense that they gave up too many shots, but more in the fact that they limited the Canucks' quality chances against. 0-0 game with about 9:00 left.....then Alexandre Burrows gets called for a completely hokus boarding call on Vernon Fiddler..putting the Canucks down a man for 5:00. Such is the over sensitivity of the NHL nowadays. Hey, you fucking liberals wanted player safety, now the refs call that kind of bullshit. Like Mike Brophy said post game: these are sensitive times. Phoenix unloaded with 2 late PP goals on that major penalty and ended this one.

At least Burrows and Vigneault bit their tongues post game on the terrible boarding call.

Bottom line: the Canucks controlled the play for most of that game but didn't get it done on the scoresheet. Great job, Barbie, lousy job Canucks.

-Eric Belanger had 2 assists in this one...so that adds up to 1 goal and 4 assists in his last 2 games against the Canucks.

-1 goal and 1 assist for both Shane Doan and Radim "streaky" Vrbata.

-Daniel Sedin had 7 shots and 1 assist

-That's 2 good games for Christian Ehrhoff in a row. 1 goal, 5 shots and a 0 +/- for him tonight. He also led the Canucks in PP time on ice. He played over 27:00 tonight, more than any other player.

-The Canucks were 0-for 5 on the PP.

-The Canucks were doing fine on the PK until the Burrows major, making the call even more frustrating

-Maxim Lapierre, according to NHL.com led the Canucks' forwards in shorthanded time on ice (4:33) closely followed by Chris Higgins (4:29).

-HIGHLIGHTS:

Alain Vigneault post game:

BOXSCORE