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What a Team!

January 26, 2013, 4:55 PM ET [248 Comments]
Ian Esplen
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
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I'm pretty busy with work right now and I just finished Yakupoving after the big win (for those who aren't familiar with this term- it is to celebrate wildly over a not so significant accomplishment), but I just wanted to throw a few comments on the board, based on what I saw last night.

What I think I noticed the most is that something is a bit different about the 2013 Canucks. And by that I mean this team is done taking other team's crap. In the past this team would get up in a game and if the rough stuff started, they would always walk away. Last night there was none of that. They got up, and when the Ducks tried to bully their way back, every member of the Canucks had no problem ramming the Ducks faced back in the mud.

Second of all, the core leaders on this team led the way. The Sedins did exactly what is expected of them. They played hard and racked up points. Alex Burrows wasn't flashy, but he played a very workman-like game and was solid. Kevin Bieksa played with a burr in his saddle all night, and when someone wanted to go, he had no trouble going. And Lastly, Cory Schneider looked like the all-star net minder we all know he is.

Great job and on to San Jose for more of the same.

Kassian
What a difference one player can make in a team's attitude. Kassian beats up a player in Eager who has tried to bully the Canucks (whether that has been a Pro or a Con is debatable) for five or six years and suddenly everyone is a little tougher. He brought the intimidation factor again last night and scored another goal. I'm going to guess the "Kassian" jersey sales are through the roof in the Lower Mainland and on NHL.com.

Volpatti
Perfect game for the fourth-liner. He had a couple hits, scored a goal and beat up Beleskey. All in a day's work for Volpatti.

Bieksa
He finally played with a bit of the snarl that we all love about Juice. He was very good in his own end and I think that is the toughest I've seen Bieksa to play against in a while. A very good sign when it appears one of the team leaders has said enough is enough.

Raymond
Who is this guy and what did he do with Mason Raymond? Two more goals and another solid game for him. He has added a lot of the secondary scoring that people were worried about and he has been key to that second Power-play unit.

The Sedins
Show up, score goals, go home. What more do you really have to say about them?

Schroeder
Another very solid game for Schroeder. He used his speed well and didn’t look out of place or intimidated. He was a very good 58% on faceoffs and got his first point on a goal that I'm sure Hiller would like back. Regardless of whether or not Hiller should have stopped it, the pass to set Raymond up was pretty.

Schneider
Finally looking like the Cory Schneider we all know. He made the big save look easy and the easy saves look like child's play. The man looks to be locking into the role of superstar once again.

Ballard
I thought he had another very solid game. I loved that he was willing to get in every scrum and provide a presence when he was out there. While Perry got the better of him, I'm guessing Perry knew he would have to jump Ballard early based on the two ass-kickings that Ballard has given him in the past.

That's a wrap.


Ian



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