Best PK vs Best PP? 3-1 Canucks
One of the subplots surrounding the 2nd game against the San Jose Sharks is the head-to-head battle of the league's best penalty killing team (Canucks) vs the best powerplay team (Sharks). Although Alain Vigneault probably wouldn't be eager to test who can outlast who, the Canucks obviously didn't listen and took a bunch of hooking/holding penalties.
Luckily, we are the best penalty killing team in the league for a reason, and held San Jose 0 for 7 on the man advantage. Of course, a big chunk of this should be credited to Roberto Luongo as he was a MONSTER in goal. He must have had 3 "save of the year" saves from this game alone.
He has stolen so many games for us. In the game against the Kings, he stole a point for us, and tonight, 2 points! We didn't even deserve to win this one, especially in regulation time. It was just unbelievable that the Sharks were held off the scoresheet, except that 1 goal, especially when they were in our side of the rink for 90% of the game, creating some amazing scoring chances. They outshot us by a huge margin and Luongo just made save after save after save.
For the longest time I haven't fully jumped in the Luongo bandwagon, especially with a less than spectacular start to the season. But in around December, the breaks started going our way, and the team finally gelled and everything just started going well. I think after December was the only time we really saw what Luongo can do.
Taylor Pyatt was amazing tonight. AV thought Pyatt turned his game around after Thornton laid a big hit on him.. and I actually thought the same. I remember thinking, after that huge hit, that Pyatt will either fight someone or make a big impact, and he did the latter. Seriously. This guy doesn't like getting hit. He gets really angry and ..... last 2 times we've seen him angry both ended up with him fighting someone.
At least this time he scored a goal and added a helper to the game winning goal. His goal is the 14th of the season, and it ties his career high back when he was in Buffalo. It's very similar to the goal he scored in Toronto, this time, except of Ohlund passing, it was Naslund who sent him away for a mini breakaway and Pyatt didn't hesitate on putting the puck through Nabokov's five hole to tie the game.
Really. We should break this guy's thumb more often. He has been playing brilliantly for the past few games he has played. I hope he just continues to improve throughout the season. Love how he also bumped the Sedin's goal slump. :)
Markus Naslund, and the 4th Line were also outstanding tonight. Nazzy was on the ice for 2 of the goals, both of which he assisted on. The 2nd one is an assist on the Canucks' first empty net goal of the season. ;) The 4th line provided the energy we needed everytime they were on the ice. They should be used more often
We could do much better on defence. Canucks should be enrolled in "Puck Clearing 101". They can't get the puck out of the net for crying out loud! The one time San Jose scored was on a failed clearing attempt. C'mon guys? Luongo may be a monster in goal, but the guy needs help sometimes. :\
Anyway, not overly pleased with the win, but just amazed at Luongo. Just wow. I hope they don't show up with this kind of effort against Columbus, and think that team will be an easy win. (*coughkingscough*) They are starting to depend on Luongo too mcuh, I just wish they'd give him a hand, too. :\
Luckily, we are the best penalty killing team in the league for a reason, and held San Jose 0 for 7 on the man advantage. Of course, a big chunk of this should be credited to Roberto Luongo as he was a MONSTER in goal. He must have had 3 "save of the year" saves from this game alone.
He has stolen so many games for us. In the game against the Kings, he stole a point for us, and tonight, 2 points! We didn't even deserve to win this one, especially in regulation time. It was just unbelievable that the Sharks were held off the scoresheet, except that 1 goal, especially when they were in our side of the rink for 90% of the game, creating some amazing scoring chances. They outshot us by a huge margin and Luongo just made save after save after save.
For the longest time I haven't fully jumped in the Luongo bandwagon, especially with a less than spectacular start to the season. But in around December, the breaks started going our way, and the team finally gelled and everything just started going well. I think after December was the only time we really saw what Luongo can do.
Taylor Pyatt was amazing tonight. AV thought Pyatt turned his game around after Thornton laid a big hit on him.. and I actually thought the same. I remember thinking, after that huge hit, that Pyatt will either fight someone or make a big impact, and he did the latter. Seriously. This guy doesn't like getting hit. He gets really angry and ..... last 2 times we've seen him angry both ended up with him fighting someone.
At least this time he scored a goal and added a helper to the game winning goal. His goal is the 14th of the season, and it ties his career high back when he was in Buffalo. It's very similar to the goal he scored in Toronto, this time, except of Ohlund passing, it was Naslund who sent him away for a mini breakaway and Pyatt didn't hesitate on putting the puck through Nabokov's five hole to tie the game.
Really. We should break this guy's thumb more often. He has been playing brilliantly for the past few games he has played. I hope he just continues to improve throughout the season. Love how he also bumped the Sedin's goal slump. :)
Markus Naslund, and the 4th Line were also outstanding tonight. Nazzy was on the ice for 2 of the goals, both of which he assisted on. The 2nd one is an assist on the Canucks' first empty net goal of the season. ;) The 4th line provided the energy we needed everytime they were on the ice. They should be used more often
We could do much better on defence. Canucks should be enrolled in "Puck Clearing 101". They can't get the puck out of the net for crying out loud! The one time San Jose scored was on a failed clearing attempt. C'mon guys? Luongo may be a monster in goal, but the guy needs help sometimes. :\
Anyway, not overly pleased with the win, but just amazed at Luongo. Just wow. I hope they don't show up with this kind of effort against Columbus, and think that team will be an easy win. (*coughkingscough*) They are starting to depend on Luongo too mcuh, I just wish they'd give him a hand, too. :\
