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After a stiff neck sidelined Lu, Cory Schneider stepped in and picked up the slack. Schneider was awesome stopping 28 of 30 shots. He was a major reason Vancouver won, as the Canucks got away from playing strong defensively and opened the game up. Nonetheless, a win is a win and other than giving up a few too many scoring chances, the team played well.
Chris Higgins opened the scoring just over six minutes in. Higgins got the goal but it was the excellent effort of Jannik Hansen to set him up that stood out to me. Hansen bulled his way into the Stars zone, then fought for the puck on the side wall, and made a nice backhanded feed to Higgins. Higgins broke in and snapped one home. Higgins and Hansen make up 2/3 of one of the best third lines in the NHL. I can see this line creating all kinds of matchup problems in the playoffs. Add in Pahlsson's grit and you have a great shutdown line that can score.
The Stars would get that one back in the second when Steve Ott scored. Benn threw a puck at the net from a bad angle off the face-off and Ott followed it up. Ott didn't score on the first crack but he banged home the second chance, 1-1. While there wasn't any Canuck to blame for the goal, I found the D to be a bit softer than they have been in the past week. As much as people like to hate on Juice, from the looks of last night's game he definitely gets the other D to play bigger when he's around.
Midway through the period, Sami Salo would put the Canucks ahead on the power-play. While the PP has generated decent pressure since Daniel has been out they hadn't really scored. I felt last night the PP got back to the basics and it finally worked on Salo's goal. When the PP struggles you have to get back to the basics of shots from the point and bodies to the net. While Burrows didn't get a point on the play, both him and Kesler drove the net and caused all kinds of problems.
Shortly after the goal, Andrew Alberts would put the Canucks ahead to stay. Lapierre worked hard to get the puck to Hank, Hank found Alberts, and Alberts hammered it. This play shows just how good Hank is. A week ago he made Mason Raymond look like a star and last night he helped Lapierre and Alberts pad their stats. Hank makes players better, but people already know that. The biggest thing I've been impressed with in Hank since Daniel has gone down has been his defence. Offensively the twins are better together, but defensively they seem better apart.
In the third the Canucks would drive the final nails into the coffin. First Burrows popped home his 25th on an outstanding display of skill and effort, and then Lappy sealed the deal by snapping it home. Alex Burrows' goal may have been the nicest of the night. Burrows got one shot off in close, then kicked the rebound back up to his stick and fired it home. That's a big league goal, by a big league player.
Lappy's goal was nice too. Kassian worked the fore-check and found his Buffalo buddy Gragnani sneaking in. Grag's slipped the puck to Lapierre and he snapped it home. What a great way to round out a late birthday party. First starting the game with Hank and Burrows, next, racking up three points and hits, and finally wrapping it up with a goal. I thought Lapierre was the best player on the ice last night and I hope AV keeps rewarding him for the way he is playing right now. While the points were nice, I think his grit and character adds a nice bit of sandpaper to Vancouver top line.
Jake Dowell would wrap up the scoring by beating Schneider with a wrist shot. Despite the last goal being a tad soft, I thought Schneider was great again. The guy is clearly a number one goalie and I have no doubts that he will be competing for a Vezina once he gets that chance. Again he never looked rattled and his positioning and athleticism was on display in full force. Every time he plays like that I picture Mike Gillis tenting his fingers and letting out a Mr. Burns-like "Excellent".
Four more games to go and the schedule looks pretty smooth. Calgary twice, Edmonton, and Anaheim left to go so a nine game streak to head into the playoffs is possible. Who would have thought that and few weeks ago?
Canucks 3 Stars
1- Lapierre
2- Schneider
3- H. Sedin
Vancouver/Calgary
Both teams come into this one after a back-to-back. Vancouver is rolling and Calgary, well, they're trolling, likely under a bridge somewhere. Vancouver has won five in a row since the loss of Daniel Sedin and is playing as well as any team right now. Calgary on the other hand is in free fall and has only one regulation win in their last eight.
Canucks 48-21-9 105pts
Flames 35-29-15 85pts
The person I feel the most for during this free fall is Brent Sutter. I think Sutter is a great coach and deserves a lot better than the Flames are giving him. The guy has won at every level he's been at so I don't think the problem is him. The problem in Calgary is the players and the management. When the season all said and done there are rumours Sutter will head north to Edmonton to take the reins of the Oilers. If that day comes, the Canucks may actually have to play a full season to win a division title.
As far as the Flames go, I would be surprised to see much out of them tonight. For the past few weeks they have been rested and hungry and haven't shown much, so why should I expect them to show anything tonight when there is nothing on the line? I expect Calgary to be flat and the only thing that is stopping the Sedins from embarrassing them again like they did a few seasons ago is Daniel is missing. Because of that, maybe we'll see Lappy try the between the legs move on Kipper (if he plays).
If you're going to the game tonight don't expect much. Expect Vancouver to win and hold a little something back because they will be a bit tired from last night. Expect the Flames to not give a crap (they haven't for weeks, why would tonight be different). Expect Lance Bouma or Blair Jones to be the Flames best players and push the limits. Expect Kassian, Lappy or Weise to have to keep them in line.
Prediction- 4-1 Canucks
Thanks for reading
Enjoy your day.
Ian
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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