I am Kesler, Hear me ROAR! ROAR! 4-0!
I was listening to the Post Game Show, and they were interviewing Ryan Kesler about his game tonight and he said that he had a lot of "built up anger" against the Anaheim Ducks because he was injured during that playoff series.
You know what? It's just so amazing watching Kes grow up on the ice, especially better that he's a Canuck. Alain Vigneault gave him a lot of icetime last season, with that an increased role, and he just ran away with it. The points did not come easy at first, he mostly focused on his defensive play, but when the points started coming during the Canucks' miracle run after Christmas, it abruptly ended with his hip surgery.
This season, Kes himself had huge goals for himself. Alain Vigneault elevated his role in the team again as part of the "shut-down" line with Taylor Pyatt and Brad Isbister. Not only does he help shut down the other team's top line, but he has been scoring as well.
But yes, Kes had another good game tonight, 2 goals, both on the powerplay, and the Ducks top line were held off the scoresheet.
I wasn't able to watch the first period, I was on my way home from school, but the second and period was just fun to watch.
The Canucks scored 4 goals, the first one and the game winner, was a nice wrist shot by Markus Naslund. That goal was just a beauty... hearing the "ping" of the puck hitting the post and in, then the goal horn is just music. I don't know what the heck Todd Bertuzzi was doing on that shift. Nazzy was just wide open and he didn't even try to check him. Thanks Bert! :D
I already mentioned that Kes scored 2 goals, and the other one was scored by Matt Cooke as he tip in Alexander Edler's point shot.
Other game notes:
- Henrik Sedin + Penalty Shot =/= Pretty. At least he was laughing about that missed chance on the bench.
- As I said, I did not get to watch the first period, but I'll take everyone's word for it, Luongo was amazing.
- Our 4th line? They rock. After getting the 4th goal, the Ducks sent out their 4th line which included George Parros, so AV obliged with our own 4th line. The only brouhaha that was caused was the one that left everyone wondering whether the Sedin Twins were on the ice because they were just puck cycling like crazy out there.
- Heehee. Ryan Getzlaf hitting Taylor Pyatt from behind. ;D Fatty would have none of that. HAHA I crapped my pants laughing when they showed Pyatt's swollen lip and Pierre McGuire (or was that Gord Miller?) commented that supermodels will kill for Pyatt's pouty lips right now. HAHA I was thinking "I think they'd kill for his electrifying eyes"
- Props to AV for putting the 3rd/4th line on the ice for the last few powerplays along with Willie Mitchell and Aaron Miller. Too bad Willie was too much of a puckhog and won't let Aaron Miller score his first goal as a Canuck. He almost injured Byron Ritchie as well.
- 2 more points until Markus Naslund takes the Canucks All Time Points leader.
- Chris Pronger sucks.
