Follow JJ on Twitter @jaeckel
I was impressed with the Vancouver Canucks last night.
Playing their third game in four nights and the second of a back-to-back, they came into the UC and stole an extra point, outlasting the Hawks in a long shootout.
What impressed me most is they played a clean, defensively sound style of hockey—especially in OT, where they didn't panic and held their responsibilities well against a constant Hawk onslaught.
This was a game the Hawks should have won, but it was against legitimately good team that had something to prove and did.
Eddie Lack was superb in net for the Canucks. The 6'5" Swedish netminder was strong all night and a little better than Chicago's Antti Raanta in the shootout, to earn Vancouver the extra point.
Raanta was very good, beaten only on a slightly redirected Zack Kassian wrister and an easy tap-in off a rebound. And he held his own for most of the 8 rounds of the shootout.
Patrick Kane was outstanding for the Hawks again, with a goal and an assist.
The Hawks get a couple of nights off as the rest of the league's schedule catches up to them, facing the Devils at home Monday night. I'll be back before then with a preview and any news as it happens,
JJ