Tuesday November 10 - Vancouver Canucks 5 - Columbus Blue Jackets 3
Flipping the script from many of their recent games, the Vancouver Canucks overcame a 3-2 third-period deficit to come back and seize a 5-3 win from John Tortorella and the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.
Here are your highlights:
Jacob Markstrom showed why Jim Benning had enough faith in him that he shipped out Eddie Lack during the summer, stopping 42 of a season-high 45 shots allowed by Vancouver. Markstrom didn't give up an even-strength goal and was especially impressive in the second period, stopping all 22 shots that he faced.
His best save of the night was this show-stopper after his own terrible giveaway.
Chris Tanev was back on the blue line—with a bandaged ring finger. He played a little less than usual—19:29—and at times, he looked like he was having a bit of trouble gripping his stick effectively. Though he finished the night as a plus-2, he was also on the ice for both of the Blue Jackets' quick-strike power-play goals.
The Canucks' trusty penalty killing has gone into the dumpster—since Luca Sbisa was injured?
Not sure whether or not that's a coincidence, but Sbisa was averaging 1:55 a game on the penalty kill before he was hurt. During the five games that he has been out, Vancouver has now given up five goals while shorthanded, compared to just three in 11 games with Sbisa in the lineup.
The Canucks have now dropped to 11th in the league on the penalty kill.
We can't blame Sbisa's absence for the sudden demise of the power play, but that has been even worse. Vancouver is now back down to 25th in the NHL with the man advantage, with just a 13.7 percent success rate. Not only have the Canucks failed to score on the power play for their last five games, they have also given up three shorthanded goals during that time. A very troubling trend.
One trend that didn't continue was the late-game collapses. The Canucks did fall behind 3-2 at the 8:01 mark of the third on Cam Atkinson's shorthanded goal, which led to a hopeful chant of "C-B-J" from the rather sparse crowd of 14,148 fans hoping to see the Blue Jackets' first home win of the year.
Henrik Sedin silenced the chant by tying the game just 2:04 later, then Brandon Sutter scored the game-winner on a strong power move to the net at 14:52. Henrik iced it with an empty-netter at 18:21—his second goal of the period and fifth of the year.
The twins started the game with former Blue Jacket Derek Dorsett on their right wing but Willie quickly switched in Jannik Hansen as per his morning skate combinations—and boy, did that ever work.
Hansen finished the night with a goal and three assists—a career night for him against coach John Tortorella, who gave Hansen plenty of grief during his time behind the Vancouver bench.
Further proving that he was the third Sedin last night, Hansen took the high road after the game when asked if he enjoyed his revenge.
After the game, Willie Desjardins told
Ben Kuzma of
The Province that the first line's success on Tuesday doesn't mean Hansen will become a permanent fixture on the twins' right wing:
"With that line, it seems like we’re going to have to rotate guys," said Willie. "Guys have a big game and then the line seems to tail off."
One of the things that has been most distressing about the Canucks' third-period collapses this season is the feverish memories it brings back for me of the Torts era in Vancouver, when the Canucks went 21-5-2 when leading after two periods. Remember when the Canucks took a 3-0 lead into the third against the New York Islanders and ended up losing 7-4?
With those painful images still drifting through my mind, I found it extra gratifying to see Torts' new team mirroring those same old patterns. Terrible third periods were part of what got Todd Richards fired.
Torts has yet to figure out how to get them out of their funk:
For now, staying true to tradition, Torts is responding by putting his players through a bone-draining practice:
For the Canucks, the win helps ease the pain of the tough start to the road trip. After losses by the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks last night, Vancouver is now back in sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division, with a 1-1-1 record on the road trip, and will face the struggling Ottawa Senators next on Thursday.
The Sens gave up a season-high seven goals and surrendered a 5-4 lead after 40 minutes on Tuesday night, losing 7-5 to Nashville. The loss gives Ottawa 49 goals against in 15 games this season—28th in the league, ahead of only Columbus and Calgary.
I would suggest that Thursday's game should be winnable.
The Canucks are already in Ottawa, where they are practicing today:
Here's our first look at how the lines will likely shake out for Thursday's game. Time for Jared McCann to take a day off.
The Canucks also took time out to attend today's Remembrance Day ceremony in our nation's capital:
Looks like Alex Biega didn't pack an overcoat when he joined the Canucks for his emergency recall on the weekend. The temperature in Ottawa today is quite similar to what we have here in Vancouver right now—it was about nine degrees at 11 a.m. ET.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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