Canucks 4 Sabres 1

Game Recaps: canucks.com . Vancouver Province . ESPN
Statistics: Score Sheet . Stat Sheet

• The game started with some good back and forth action between the two teams before the referees started calling a parade of penalties. The majority of the first two periods was played on special teams with both teams combining for 11 powerplay opportunities.
• Alex Auld played one of his best games of the season. His positioning was good, controlled most of the shots that came his way and hardly gave up any rebounds. In this, his ninth consecutive start, he finished with 24 saves on 25 Sabres shots. The win was his 19th of the season - good for 8th overall in the NHL.
• The other Alex - Alex Burrows - also had a great game. In only 9:19 minutes of ice-time, Burrows recorded two shots, one shorthanded goal and a +2 rating. His play has been refreshing - lots of energy and lots of hustle. And it's rubbed off on the rest of the team.
• The Canucks only recorded five blocked shots but it sure seemed like they blocked a few more. They were certainly more willing to go down on point shots. There was one penalty-kill in particular where Ryan Kesler went down twice on the same shift to block a shot.
• I know I've loved Kevin Bieksa's play recently but I thought he was out of position and made a couple of bad decisions last night. On the Sabres' goal, he pinched in short-handed then took the wrong guy on the way back, leaving Pominville open in front of Auld.
• I have to point out the one powerplay in the second period when the Sedin line kept the puck for the entire two minutes. They created a few chances though they failed to score a goal.
• Tyler Bouck played his first game of this season and finished with two hits and one minor penalty in 7:34 minutes of ice-time.