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Vancouver Canucks Blogger •
The Canucks salvaged a 4 game road trip last night in Atlanta with a comeback 2-1 win, potting two in the final frame to get the much needed 2 points. As bad as things have been with losing players and games and points in the standings, today the Canucks find themselves in 9th place 1 point out of 8th and only 3 behind division leading Minnesota.
Entering the third period trailing has been game over for the Canucks all year so last night’s come from behind win, which put their season total at 2-19-1 in such situations, could be the boost that they need to gain some confidence in themselves.
The win in Atlanta was also their first regulation win on the road in almost two months and gave them 4 out of a possible 8 points on the trip. Before the trip started they were looking for 3 wins, but considering the amount of rookies in the lineup, getting a .500 trip has to be seen as some sort of success.
Mattias Ohlund returned from his personal leave, flying all night to get there, and was definitely an inspiration to his teammates. He played well all night and his 23 minutes of ice was book-ended by his first and last shifts in the game. The opening seconds saw him make an excellent stick-check and deliver a thunderous hit along the boards while the final ticks on the clock were highlighted by him sticking out his foot to knock the puck away from Ilya Kovalchuk who would have been all alone in front of Roberto Luongo with the potential game tying goal on his stick.
Luc Bourdon spent much of the game playing against the Thrashers top line and continued to show that he has a solid future in this league. Playing over 17 minutes he was a plus 1, had 2 shots, 3 hits and blocked 3 Atlanta shots. There were many instances where I thought his positioning was excellent, especially one-on-one with Kovalchuk. The kid is really showing that the simple way is the best way and has really impressed me in this recent call up.
Another rookie who really stood out for me was Mason Raymond. He wasn’t able to add to his 3 game point streak against the Thrashers, but I thought he was the best Canucks forward in the game and that includes his give away that led to Atlanta’s only goal. Trying to head-man the puck instead of dumping it off the boards was a mistake, but it’s a mistake I can live with as he was trying to make an offensive play. Kids will make mistakes and that’s how they learn.
The very next shift he absolutely dominated with great work behind the net, out maneuvering two Thrashers along the boards circling in front of the net and getting a very good chance. We all know he has great speed and vision, but his work along the boards, especially with his size in a big man’s game, is very impressive. I also like the look he gives the team playing the point on the power play and think he could become a mainstay in that role in years to come.
The checking line of Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows and Taylor Pyatt turned the tide for the Canucks on the first shift of the third as they hemmed the Thrashers in their end and Kesler got a couple of good chances. The Sedins and Naslund followed with a couple of very good shifts and drew a penalty that saw Daniel deflect an Ohlund wrister to tie the game.
Five minutes later it was the checkers turn to shine again and their virtuoso shift ended in Burrows bagging the game winning goal. The play started with Burrows making an excellent dump in to a speeding Kesler who gathered the puck on the fly with ease. Kesler then gave the puck to Pyatt before going to the front of the net to cause the havoc needed to allow Burrows to score off of Pyatt’s great pass in the slot. Now that’s a checking line shift!
Many times this year they have generated as much or more chances than the opposition’s top line and last night was no exception. Add in how Kesler and Burrows manage to get under the skin of the other team’s best players with ease, and you really have the prototypical shut down combination. Both Kesler and Burrows are having career years on both sides of the puck and, I for one, really enjoy watching them do their stuff.
Of course a Canuck’s win is usually not to be unless the man between the pipes struts his stuff at least a few times and last night Luongo was in fine form, especially in the third when it mattered most. Even the one goal against came after a stunning glove save that he just couldn’t hang on to. The puck fell on to Pascal Dupuis’ stick at the side of the net and Luongo still almost made the save lunging to his left.
All the games and possible points in the standings are extremely important and the 4 they got on this trip were definitely less than they needed, but the 2 they got last night to get to that modest total were so, so needed. Depleted on the back-end and with as many as 6 rookies on the ice most nights, it could have been a whole lot worser!
The Grades …
A Luongo, Ohlund, Bourdon, Raymond
B Salo, Edler, Henrik, Daniel, Naslund, Burrows
C+ Weaver, McIver, Jaffray, Kesler, Pyatt, Ritchie, Linden
C Cooke
C- Cowan
Back-to-back home games are next on the slate with Colorado and Chicago tomorrow and Sunday. Paul Stastny should be making his return to the Av’s lineup and Jonathan Toews may also see his first action in a while.
Aaron Miller may play this weekend but that is about the only possible good news in the short term. Willie Mitchell may make it back for the end if this 4 game home stand as he hopes to start practicing with the team next week. Lucas Krajicek is indefinite and is going for further tests on his shoulder. Kevin Bieksa may start skating with the team in 10 days or so and looks like he may be able to get back in early March, about the same time that Brendan Morrison is slated to return.
All of these guys coming back will be huge boosts to the team and their playoff chances … they just have to hang in there and keep grinding out as many points as possible.
.
.
.
Entering the third period trailing has been game over for the Canucks all year so last night’s come from behind win, which put their season total at 2-19-1 in such situations, could be the boost that they need to gain some confidence in themselves.
The win in Atlanta was also their first regulation win on the road in almost two months and gave them 4 out of a possible 8 points on the trip. Before the trip started they were looking for 3 wins, but considering the amount of rookies in the lineup, getting a .500 trip has to be seen as some sort of success.
Mattias Ohlund returned from his personal leave, flying all night to get there, and was definitely an inspiration to his teammates. He played well all night and his 23 minutes of ice was book-ended by his first and last shifts in the game. The opening seconds saw him make an excellent stick-check and deliver a thunderous hit along the boards while the final ticks on the clock were highlighted by him sticking out his foot to knock the puck away from Ilya Kovalchuk who would have been all alone in front of Roberto Luongo with the potential game tying goal on his stick.
Luc Bourdon spent much of the game playing against the Thrashers top line and continued to show that he has a solid future in this league. Playing over 17 minutes he was a plus 1, had 2 shots, 3 hits and blocked 3 Atlanta shots. There were many instances where I thought his positioning was excellent, especially one-on-one with Kovalchuk. The kid is really showing that the simple way is the best way and has really impressed me in this recent call up.
Another rookie who really stood out for me was Mason Raymond. He wasn’t able to add to his 3 game point streak against the Thrashers, but I thought he was the best Canucks forward in the game and that includes his give away that led to Atlanta’s only goal. Trying to head-man the puck instead of dumping it off the boards was a mistake, but it’s a mistake I can live with as he was trying to make an offensive play. Kids will make mistakes and that’s how they learn.
The very next shift he absolutely dominated with great work behind the net, out maneuvering two Thrashers along the boards circling in front of the net and getting a very good chance. We all know he has great speed and vision, but his work along the boards, especially with his size in a big man’s game, is very impressive. I also like the look he gives the team playing the point on the power play and think he could become a mainstay in that role in years to come.
The checking line of Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows and Taylor Pyatt turned the tide for the Canucks on the first shift of the third as they hemmed the Thrashers in their end and Kesler got a couple of good chances. The Sedins and Naslund followed with a couple of very good shifts and drew a penalty that saw Daniel deflect an Ohlund wrister to tie the game.
Five minutes later it was the checkers turn to shine again and their virtuoso shift ended in Burrows bagging the game winning goal. The play started with Burrows making an excellent dump in to a speeding Kesler who gathered the puck on the fly with ease. Kesler then gave the puck to Pyatt before going to the front of the net to cause the havoc needed to allow Burrows to score off of Pyatt’s great pass in the slot. Now that’s a checking line shift!
Many times this year they have generated as much or more chances than the opposition’s top line and last night was no exception. Add in how Kesler and Burrows manage to get under the skin of the other team’s best players with ease, and you really have the prototypical shut down combination. Both Kesler and Burrows are having career years on both sides of the puck and, I for one, really enjoy watching them do their stuff.
Of course a Canuck’s win is usually not to be unless the man between the pipes struts his stuff at least a few times and last night Luongo was in fine form, especially in the third when it mattered most. Even the one goal against came after a stunning glove save that he just couldn’t hang on to. The puck fell on to Pascal Dupuis’ stick at the side of the net and Luongo still almost made the save lunging to his left.
All the games and possible points in the standings are extremely important and the 4 they got on this trip were definitely less than they needed, but the 2 they got last night to get to that modest total were so, so needed. Depleted on the back-end and with as many as 6 rookies on the ice most nights, it could have been a whole lot worser!
The Grades …
A Luongo, Ohlund, Bourdon, Raymond
B Salo, Edler, Henrik, Daniel, Naslund, Burrows
C+ Weaver, McIver, Jaffray, Kesler, Pyatt, Ritchie, Linden
C Cooke
C- Cowan
Back-to-back home games are next on the slate with Colorado and Chicago tomorrow and Sunday. Paul Stastny should be making his return to the Av’s lineup and Jonathan Toews may also see his first action in a while.
Aaron Miller may play this weekend but that is about the only possible good news in the short term. Willie Mitchell may make it back for the end if this 4 game home stand as he hopes to start practicing with the team next week. Lucas Krajicek is indefinite and is going for further tests on his shoulder. Kevin Bieksa may start skating with the team in 10 days or so and looks like he may be able to get back in early March, about the same time that Brendan Morrison is slated to return.
All of these guys coming back will be huge boosts to the team and their playoff chances … they just have to hang in there and keep grinding out as many points as possible.
.
.
.
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