I know Kevin Bieksa takes a lot of abuse for playing a little nonchalantly at times. We all have our WTF moments when watching Juice and would love to see him amp it up for every shift. Last night he proved that once again that when juice wants to play, he can play. Bieksa played a major role in the Canucks win yesterday. Juice is there when it matters most, and that is what matters most to me.
Ryan Kesler would get the Canucks off to the start they wanted, when he hammered an Alex Edler pass past Giguere. Mason Raymond started the play by getting the puck to Edler at the point, and then drove the net to create a bit of a distraction for Giguere. It’s nice to see Mason going into the dirty areas again. He needs to go there to be effective and that is something I haven’t really seen out of him in the past ten or so games. Great job to start the play and provide the distraction on it.
The Av’s would tie the game up on the power-play, when Paul Stastny would make a perfect pass to David Jones for the goal. No chance on this one for Lu, in my opinion, Edler and Salo were giving Stastny too much time and space. Stastny is a good player and you have to take that away from him if you want to stop him. Still at the end of the day, you have to give the Av’s credit. Their PP is one of the tops in the league because of execution and they executed that play perfectly.
Shortly after the goal, Lord Byron would make his presence felt in the game. First he rocked Kyle Quincey in the corner with a big hit, than he answered the bell the next shift out by having a go with Cody McLeod. While the tussle between the two wasn’t that memorable, it was nice to finally see a Canuck tough guy come out on the winning end of a scrap. After the game AV said he was happy with Bitz’s play (as was I). A few more games like that out of Bitz and Weise may be out of a job.
Early in the second the WTF version of Bieksa would rear his head. Bieksa would turn the puck over in the corner to Daniel Winnik, who would find a wide-open Jay McClement in the slot. McClement one timed it on a shot Lu had no chance on. That play is just far too easy after Bieksa’s turnover.
The Av’s would continue to play well until the last minute of play in the game. First Bieksa does hi best Roberto Alomar impersonation to steal away an empty net goal. he then gets the puck up the ice to start the play into the Av’s zone. The puck takes a “Bieksa bounce” off the side boards and Juice fires it though a sea of bodies and into the net.
That play is why I love KB. He never gives up on the play and he some how, against all odds makes it happen. I wonder how many Av’s fans hearts were broken on that one? I also wonder how many Sharks fans had nightmares last night after witnessing history again. As I said before, Juice has a lot of those WTF moments, but he also has a lot of great moments like last nights.
For the second game on a row overtime would solve nothing and the two teams would head to a shootout. Just a quick show of hands, how many Canuck fans said, “well at least we got one point tonight “ as the shootout began. Like Bieksa’s goal, another miracle happened and the Canucks won the shootout. Raymond scored and Lu stoned the Av’s, as the Canucks snuck out of town with two points they didn’t really deserve.
Overall, the Canucks played another so/so game, but they did what good teams do. They got two points out of a game they should have got none. After the game coach AV joked, “While I know our goalies are ready for the next game”. Lu has now made 84 saves in his last two games and is looking like the brahma bull that can carry this team again. Schneider’s 37save performance against Chicago left no doubts in who is the league’s best backup.
Kesler was once again a beast and the Sedins, well they’re working through some things right now. I think they are going to be ok, and as long as the Canucks keep winning I don’t see their struggles as a problem. They’re elite players and I don’t think they have suddenly lost it. Keep playing them 19-20 minutes a game and they will find it soon enough. What concerns me more than the twins is the forty shots the team is giving up a game right now. That has to be fixed, and it has to be fixed by next game.
Oh well, I’m sure it will be. 30 more games and an 11 point elad now until we get into the real season. Keep calm and carry on.
Canucks 3 Stars
1- Ryan Kesler
2- Ryan Kesler
3- Ryan Kesler
Ryan Kesler
I just wanted to take a minute to send my condolences out to Ryan Kesler and the entire Kesler family for the their loss. On Friday night, Ryan’s grandmother passed away. When he pointed skyward after scoring in the first, that was his tribute to her.
Anyone who has lost a loved one knows how hard it is when you lose a loved one. As well anyone who has followed Ryan Kesler throughout his career knows that his family is the most important thing in his life. They have played an influential part in the person he has grown to become and are the reason behind his success.
My thoughts go out to the entire Kesler family for their loss.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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