Thursday November 7 Vancouver Canucks 4 - San Jose Sharks 2
The Vancouver Canucks won another statement game when they defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-2 on the road on Thursday night. Here are your highlights:
Henrik Sedin was held pointless, putting an end to his league-leading 12-game streak, but I don't think anybody minds. The more important streak was the nine straight losses to San Jose, which has now been put to bed.
The Canucks continue to spot their rivals early leads, as San Jose went up 1-0 on a goal that Roberto Luongo called "comical" at 1:17. On a shoot-in by Joe Thornton, the puck took a funny hop off the back boards and came back over the net, hitting Luongo in the back before bouncing into the cage. That's the sixth time in 18 games this year that the opposition has scored on the Canucks on its first shot of the game—an astonishingly high number, especially for a team with a good record.
The goal was so weird that it wasn't even deflating. The Canucks answered back just three minutes later on a Brad Richardson tally which tied the game at one. The first period remained surprisingly wide-open, with Vancouver up 3-2 at the end of 20 minutes.
With four goals on just 13 shots, the Canucks chased Antti Niemi for the first time this season after Zack Kassian banked a puck into the net off his skate at the 5:22 mark of the second period. Alex Stalock was solid for the Sharks the rest of the way, but San Jose didn't show the same hunger that has been commonplace in their recent games against Vancouver.
The Canucks played a great second period, outshooting the Sharks 17-5, then withstood a late push from the home team to preserve the victory. The final shots were 34-24 in Vancouver's favour.
All the goals in the game came at even strength. The Vancouver power play sputtered again but the Canucks haven't allowed a single power-play goal in three games against a strong Sharks unit.
Last season, the San Jose got off to a blazing start fueled by Patrick Marleau's goal-scoring streak before falling back to earth. The pattern may be repeating itself this season. Last night was only the team's second regulation loss of 2013-14 but after three previous extra-time losses, the Sharks are suddenly in the midst of a four-game winless streak.
The win gives the Canucks three of four points so far on the road trip and pulls them even with the Sharks and the Coyotes in the Pacific Division standings, though Vancouver has still played the most games. That situation will finally even out with a fairly relaxed Canucks home schedule once they return from this road trip.
Vancouver plays the Kings on Saturday, then the Ducks on Sunday before returning home. Another winning road trip is there for the taking if the team can maintain its current level of poise and hunger and John Tortorella keeps getting the most out of his boys.
Before the game on Thursday, Torts talked about how much more comfortable he is with his team compared to last time they were in San Jose on opening night. I wish he'd started his process a little earlier in the summer but after a big win against the Sharks, it's a good day to be a Canucks fan.
I'll be back tomorrow to preview the Kings game. Enjoy the long weekend!
Quick Hits:
- The housecleaning in Florida has begun, with head coach Kevin Dineen and his staff fired on Friday morning. Personnel changes are also on the horizon. RESIST, Mike Gillis!
- I wonder what Roberto Luongo thinks about this news out of the Sunshine State? He's been solid in the Canucks net and hasn't been a distraction in any way. Is he still dreaming about playing closer to home, or is he happy to be getting his groove back with a Canucks team that shows new signs every day that it can compete with the big boys?
- I was going to stay away from the Rob Ford fiasco till Vancouver visits Toronto in February, but I came across this irresistible video. Don Cherry welcomes Rob Ford into office by saying "he's going to be the greatest mayor this city has ever seen."
Ford sure had a different aura about him on this proud day, didn't he? Here's hoping he gets the help he needs.