We now know this: Roberto Luongo will put up spectacular numbers as long as he plays exclusively against the Calgary Flames. Extrapolating on that, we can also conclude that the Vancouver Canucks don't need to ever worry about being in a slump, or suffering any adverse effects from a short off-season just as long as they can find a way to schedule all of their games at Calgary...
Sure seemed that way last night at least.
The Vancouver Canucks, and their #1 goaltender were looking right into the eye of controversy as they once again experienced a sub-par October as they are apt to do. The media frenzy surrounding their team, and in particular their crease, was reaching pandemic proportions as pundits speculated on what was harrying the Stanley Cup finalists and whether or not they'd ever be able to break out of the doldrums that infected their early-season play.
In particular, many questioned the long-term viability of Roberto Luongo and whether or not the teams loss may have somehow destroyed not just his confidence, but apparently even his ability to win at the NHL level.
What a load of bunk.
The Canucks and their goalie have been notoriously slow starters for years. It's well documented and easy to find if you just look for the evidence. This season after 11 games, the Canucks were an average 5-5-1 after October's contests. Last season, as October closed, the team was an unspectacular 4-3-2 and sitting 3rd in the Northwest behind the Flames and Avalanche, but the Canucks ramped up in November and carried their success the rest of the season as the Flames and Avs faded.
November 2011 hockey started for both the Canucks and the Flames last night, and, unfortunately for the Flames, the initial impression is that history certainly looks like it's about to repeat itself.
There's simply no angle in which you could view the game that would allow for a positive Calgary spin. Vancouver skated better, forechecked better, played special teams better, played defensive hockey better, and created the vast majority of the scoring chances. I guess one could concede that Miikka Kiprusoff made a valiant effort to keep his team in the game at all, but with 5 goals against, even that argument sounds hollow, although it should be stated that Miikka wasn't at fault in any of the Canuck's tallies.
No, unfortunately last night exposed EVERYTHING that could possibly go wrong as the Flames were simply outclassed in a game that was looked at as an important one on the schedule. It was a game that could have brought them even with their divisional rivals and given them some confidence that they could compete with one of the west's favorites regardless of what the Canucks record was coming in.
The Canucks also saw this as an opportunity. They saw this as a chance to be able to regain a little of their confidence, a little of their swagger even, and get the foundation laid for their resurgence in November as they embarked on a season-long 6 game road trip. They couldn't have scripted it better. The got the goals, the saves, and the dominance they needed and are looking like they're ready to once again ascend to the top of the Western conference.
The Flames, unfortunately, looked as outclassed as they did last November and if last-night's game didn't serve as a wake-up call, the team, and their fans, will be in for a VERY long season.
Have a great day!
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