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Disappointment is the one word that sums up last night's game for Canucks fans. Disappointed with the result, the power-play, and what would a Canucks loss be without being disappointed with Roberto Luongo. The Canucks played a decent game, but could not beat Steve Mason more than once. The Blue Jackets D did an exceptional job of allow their goaltender to see the shots, and Mason stopped most of them. Hats off to Columbus, they were the more desperate team and they played hard for the two points.
In the first period, Vancouver came out flat and Roberto Luongo did his best to keep the Canucks in the game. Luongo stopped 9 of the 10 shots he faced, but was beaten when Jeff Carter stuffed home the puck on a rare 4-on-3 power-play. Luongo looked to be seeing the puck well last night and in my opinion was as good, as Mason during the game. The shootout, that's a different story. This game could have been 2 or 3 nothing after one period if it wasn't for Luongo.
The second period had no scoring, but the play picked up for both teams. The Canucks actually had some life in this period and got back to doing what they have to do to win. They got pucks to the net, stayed out of the box, and played with speed. Both goaltenders were very good in the period. The highlights were Luongo making a big stop on Letestu, Mason robbing Burrows in close, and Mason make an unreal stop when Hank tipped a puck on net between his legs.
In the third period, Vancouver's hard work paid off as Higgins beat a Columbus player to a loose puck and centred it for Lapierre, who finally beat Mason with a shot off his mask and in. After the goal Vancouver kept coming but could not solve Mason. Overtime would solve nothing as well and the game headed to a shootout.
The shootout was an event Canucks fans and Roberto Luongo would like to forget. Three shots, three goals, and Luongo didn't look like he had a chance on any of them. While only Burrows scored for the Canucks, your goalie has to make at least one stop in the shootout to win. Back to the drawing board for Lu with the shootout drills.
All in all, I thought the Canucks got what they deserved last night. Other than Kesler and Burrows no one really got to the net, and created any traffic. As bad as Mason has been this year he is still an NHL goalie and if he sees the shot, he's likely going to stop the shot. We all know this team is capable of playing a lot better so put the point in the bank and know the Canucks are only 5 points back of Minny, with a game in hand, and 52 to go.
Columbus deserved the two points last night. I felt they went toe to toe with Vancouver the whole night and played how you have to play to bet Vancouver. To beat the Canucks you have to do three things very well and Columbus did all three last night. They got good goaltending, check. They had good penalty killing, double check. And their entire team bought into playing defence and keeping the Canucks away from the goal, triple check.
Running around and roughing up the Canucks is not how you beat them, playing the way Columbus did last night is. Any team that plays as a team, stays in position, kills penalties, and gets good goaltending can beat Vancouver. That's the formula to win against them, not running around trying to turn the game into a street fight.
Canucks 3 Stars
1- Higgins
2- Lapierre
3- Luongo
Canada's Jr Team
Goalie
Mark Visentin 08/07/92 Waterdown, ON Niagara (OHL) PHX 2010
Scott Wedgewood 08/14/92 Brampton, On Plymouth (OHL) NJ 2010
Defence
Nathan Beaulieu 12/05/92 Strathroy, ON Saint John (QMJHL) MTL 2011
Brandon Gormley 02/18/92 Murray River, PEI Moncton (QMJHL) PHX 2010
Dougie Hamilton 06/17/93 Toronto, ON Niagara (OHL) BOS 2011
Scott Harrington 03/10/93 Kingston, ON London (OHL) PIT 2011
Ryan Murray 09/27/93 White City, SK Everett (WHL) 2012
Jamie Oleksiak 12/21/92 Toronto, ON Saginaw (OHL) DAL 2011
Mark Pysyk 01/11/92 Sherwood Park, AB Edmonton (WHL) BUF 2010
Forwards
Michael Bournival 05/31/92 Shawinigan, QC Shawinigan (QMJHL) COL 2010^
*Brett Connolly 05/02/92 Prince George, BC Tampa Bay (NHL) TB 2010
Brendan Gallagher 06/05/92 Tsawwassen, BC Vancouver (WHL) MTL 2010
Freddie Hamilton 01/01/92 Toronto, ON Niagara (OHL) SJ 2010
*Quinton Howden 01/21/92 Oak Bank, MB Moose Jaw (WHL) FLA 2010
Jonathan Huberdeau 06/04/93 Prevost, QC Saint John (QMJHL) FLA 2011
Boone Jenner 06/15/93 Dorchester, ON Oshawa (OHL) CBJ 2011
Tanner Pearson 08/10/92 Kitchener, ON Barrie (OHL) 2012
Mark Scheifele 03/15/93 Kitchener, ON Barrie (OHL) WPG 2011
*Jaden Schwartz 06/25/92 Emerald Park, SK Colorado College (WCHA) STL 2010
Devante Smith-Pelly 06/14/92 Scarborough, ON Anaheim (NHL) ANA 2010
Mark Stone 05/13/92 Winnipeg, MB Brandon (WHL) OTT 2010
Ryan Strome 07/11/93 Mississauga, ON Niagara (OHL) NYI 2011
Biggest shock to me was Bulmer and Morrow being left off. We'll have to wait and see how this team does.
Question of the Day
Why do you think Cody Hodgson only played 7:51?
Thanks for reading.
Enjoy your day.
Ian
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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