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Last night, was a classic example as to why Vancouver should just stick to playing hockey and not bully their opponents. For the first 40 minutes, the Canucks tried to play the bully role, while Calgary played hockey. The Canucks truculence was led by Andrew Alberts, who did his best Ben Eager impersonation and likely cost Vancouver the game. Once the Canucks decided to play their system, they roared back and stole a point.
The Game started out fairly uneventful, with the first sign of a spark coming from Mike Duco and Lance Bouma. The two AHL middle-weights engaged in a spirited scrap that saw both players toss some bombs. I've really liked the edge Duco brings, and in every game this year I've noticed him. I like that he brings everything he has on every shift. Is Mike Duco as talented as Dale Weise? In my opinion, no, but is Mike Duco a tougher, better hockey player, with more heart, yes. I thought Duco was good again last night and is great fit on the fourth line.
As the period was nearing an end, the Flames would get on the board first when Mike Cammalleri had a puck deflect off his leg and in. While not the prettiest goal Cammi has ever scored, they all count the same, 1-0 Flames. While a lot of people may question if the goal should have stood, I choose to question how the hell Bieksa and Edler let a player who is much smaller get to the net that easy. This goal is squarely on them. You can't just stand there and watch Cammi get closer and closer to the goal without laying a hand on him. You have to check the guy.
Shortly after that, Andrew Alberts would go on his own personal mission to seek and destroy the Calgary Flames. He started by running out of position to the right and getting called for charging. Then he ran out of position to the left and got called for charging. Lastly He decides he would beat up Mikael Backlund just because he was there.
While I love the enthusiasm, Alberts has to scale it back a bit. While I didn't find the hits themselves too dirty, in my opinion, he took himself out of position to make them and that's not Canucks hockey. And the assaulting of Backlund, that was just bush league crap. Fighters fight fighters. Alberts had no business jumping Backlund and there was a small part of me who didn't mind him getting his ass handed to him by Jackman. You're not in Boston anymore Andrew, time to cut this crap out of your game.
Somewhere in the middle of the Andrew Alberts show, Roman Horak would make it 2-0 Calgary. Lance Bouma would out muscle Edler along the boards, and centre in to Horak for the goal. While I like Alex Edler, it's games like he had last night that drive home the fact that he is not quite in that Norris Trophy league yet. First, he took a dumb penalty. Second, he stood and watched the first goal. Third, he couldn't stop an AHLer on the boards. Lastly, he had to be bailed out by Lu in the dyeing minutes of the game. Edler is good, and I think he will win a Norris one day, but to put him in the top D-men in the league right now is a joke. His defensive side of his game is just not there yet. Norris trophy winners don't have games like Edler had last night.
As the second ended, the Canucks team we all know showed up. Cody Hodgson would get Vancouver on the board by going to the dirty area of the ice. Lappy controlled the puck in the zone and fed Edler for the shot. Edler hammered it on goal and Duco and Cody cleared up the garbage. Over the past few games I really like how Cody and Duco have looked together. Both of them seem to really complement each other's games. Duco is good at casing havoc in front and Cody is smart enough to find the puck in the chaos and make plays with it.
In the third, the Canucks kept pressing and would tie the game up. Hamhuis drilled one on net, and David Booth was Johnny on the spot for his 9th of the season. This goal was textbook Canucks hockey. Forwards drive the net, Defencman gets the shot on net. The forwards put in the rebound. After Booth's tying goal, both goalies would exchange save of the game honours. First, Kipper on Hank, then Lu on Iggy. Overtime would solve nothing, and the Canucks would fall in the shootout.
Overall, I thought Vancouver looked very flat for the first 40 minutes. Calgary played well, but it's easy to play well when only one line shows up for the opposition. I felt that the Sedins with Bitz were the best line on the ice last night. I think what’s impressing me most about Bitz is his hockey sense. I knew he was big, athletic and had some skill, but it's the fact he is always in the right place is what I have noticed the most.
Thanks for reading.
Enjoy your day.
Ian
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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