Canucks Fall 3-2 To Ducks

Had to completely legally watch the first and second period of this game via streaming as the Braves-Phillies game went 13 innings on Sportsnet. Good thing it's only preseason, I guess. The Ducks came out flying on home ice and got 2 first period goals. Cam Fowler banked a shot off

Mark Mancari's stick to make it 1-0. Bobby Ryan used Andrew Alberts as a bit of a screen (block it or get out of the way, AA!) and wristed one past Roberto Luongo high glove side to make it 2-0. Shots after 1: 9-7 Ducks.

The Canucks came alive in the 2nd period. Henrik Sedin made it 2-1 on a very un-Sedinian type of goal about 4:00 into the frame. The Quacks got into penalty trouble at about the 16:00 mark and then the 17:45 mark and the Canucks made them pay at the 18:12 mark. Dank to Hank to Sami Salo, who blasted a one timer past Jonas Hiller. Lots of puck possession by the Canucks in the 2nd. Shots: 8-8

Now we had a beauty game heading into the 3rd. Except 4:00 in Alexandre Burrows takes an absolutely lazy tripping penalty. A minute later, Lubomir Visnovsky blasts a shot from the point that Luongo let go through his 5 hole. No excuses for Lou there. No screen. No tip. Bad goal. The Canucks pressed hard to tie it afterwards and they had plenty of chances to do so, including a 6 on 3 with Lou pulled late in the game but Jonas Hiller was making save after save. Many of the wow variety. Shots in the 3rd: 15-8 Canucks. Yeah.

Hiller is my first star of the game.

Cam Fowler (1 goal and 1 assist, 21:42 ice time) is my 2nd star.

Henrik Sedin is my pick for 3rd star. He had 1 goal and 1 assist and played over 21:00.

MAD PROPS

-Victor Oreskovich. Oreo's efforts tonight were outstanding. Lots of speed, generating chances and making hits. You can tell he has played in all these preseason games. He looks ready. Oh, and he had an assist on Hank's goal and was a +1. I thought Andrew Ebbett had a solid night as well. You noticed him out there unlike....

-Alain Vigneault. Mark Mancari, Mike Duco, Jordan Schroeder and Aaron Volpatti all received about 10:00 of ice-time each. That's a step up from what he normally gives his 4th line. Lord knows what he'll do in the regular season, but this was good to see. To me it seems that Volpatti and Schroeder are the next 2 to get sent to Chicago.

WHAT THE...

-Marco Sturm. 15:18 played, 2 shots that I have forgotten about.

-Alain Vigneault. Ok, so he gave Cody Hodgson 2:35 power play time...but the Sedins got double that time. It's preseason, AV. With the Canucks down and on the PP late in the game AV was quick to get the Twins out there and the second unit with Hodgson off the ice. The precious little time the 2nd unit had at the time they were generating chances with hard work. Why not give that unit a bigger look? It's preseason!

-Roberto Luongo. Made several decent saves. I didn't like the 2nd goal against, but the 3rd goal through the 5 hole was bad. It's preseason. Trade Luongo!

-Not as physical of a game as I expected. And NO!!!! Volpatti's hit from behind on Andrew Cogliano is not even suspension-worthy. Cogliano turned his back to Voltron at the last second.

BOXSCORE

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