A Powerplay Miracle, 4-3 Canucks over the Flamers
Wow, was that game unreal or what? All goals scored by the Canucks were scored on the powerplay!
POWERPLAY!!!
Get outta here!
It was a classic Canucks/Flames tilt, but in terms of actual determination, I thought the Flames looked better tonight than the Canucks.
Calgary had a better forecheck for most of the game, defensemen pinching in at the right times, which always kept the puck in our zone. They were also stronger on the puck, especially when the Canucks had a lot of chances to clear it out, pressure from the Flames kept it in. The Canucks also gave up a couple of breakaways, thank god that they either missed the net, can't pull the trigger on the shot or beat Luongo or else this game would have been over.
As for the Canucks, their powerplay, and for the most part, their penalty killed pull through. Mostly the powerplay, though.
Markus Naslund had a good night, but it didn't start out that way though. The first goal by Cory Sarich was partly from a bad play as he should have gone harder for the puck and cleared it out. He wasn't able to and the Flames got a goal.
He did make up for it in the 2nd period, by scoring on the powerplay to make the game 2-1 Canucks, and then that last great effort on the later OT powerplay. He also laid out a rare hit on Dion Phaneuf (PHANUEF! OF ALL PEOPLE!) which got him a roughing penalty in which the Flames eventually scored in, but honestly, the refs did blow the whistle late, and I am sort of glad he even hit Phaneuf in the first place.
Our defense... was a little weak tonight. I am probably one of the biggest Willie Mitchell homers in the planet, but he played just okay tonight, but I know he can be better... more dominant. I thought Aaron Miller stood out as the best defensive defenceman on the ice tonight, I mean, other than that crosscheck on some Flamer that almost got Luongo injured... Yeah, Miller was solid tonight.
Mattias Ohlund also had a great night offensively, scoring that goal that tied the game, and then, like Naslund, he got the puck to the net in that last second OT powerplay that led to Daniel Sedin's game winner.
I just wish Kevin Bieksa does what Ohllie did in the powerplay tonight... SHOOT THE PUCK A LOT MORE. Please Juice. This is how you scored last year. Just throw it on the net, you have a nice shot, use it.
Anyway, the Sedins are back with Taylor Pyatt tonight and I thought he looked better on the Sedin line than Mason Raymond did. I'm sure it just comes with chemistry and experience which is why Pyatt looked good there, but this is what I've wanted all along: For the Sedins to finally have some solid linemates. I just want them to build on the chemistry they already have with Pyatt and vice versa.
As for Taylor Pyatt's effort tonight... He did hit a couple of players, had some nice shots on goal, including that one timer that caused Kipper a delay of game penalty... I still think he can play better. He is still getting pushed around a lot, especially on the boards, but at least I thought he's skating better this year compared to last year. I thought he looked faster. He also played a pretty "big" role on Ohllie's game tying goal, screening Kipper enough that he was unable to see Ohllie's shot.
As for the rest of the team... I already mentioned that near-injury situation with Roberto Luongo. Not only does he have to be afraid of players from other teams bearing down on him, there's now the threat of his own teammates pushing another player on him.
Please guys, you're there to protect Luongo and push people AWAY from the net, not towards it. Please, let's remind ourselves of this.
Hmm... I'd comment on how I disliked AV's decision of scratching Mason Raymond and Trevor Linden out, but I won't. I should give Brad Isbister a chance and stop hating on Alex Burrows and Matt Cooke.
But you know what scares me? Someone on the Team 1040 pregame show, I'm assuming Tony Gallagher, mentioned that Alain Vigneault prefers "grit" over "skill/talent". And sometimes I can't help but agree, but that's a story for another day.
