Friday, December 15, 2006
Flames 1 Canucks 3
It was the Vancouver Canucks' latest, most important game of the season. The players knew it. The crowd at GM Place knew it. No one disappointed.
There was a playoff-like atmosphere at GM Place with lots of cheering and screaming and chanting and drunk girls fighting. On the ice, the boys in Orca Bay blue played as complete a game as they've played this season, beating their Northwest Division rivals Calgary Flames by a score of 3-1. They played the way Alain Vigneault thought they could back in training camp (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province):
More from the Mainstream
Another big divisional game on Saturday night, this time against the Minnesota Wild
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Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Calgary+Flames
There was a playoff-like atmosphere at GM Place with lots of cheering and screaming and chanting and drunk girls fighting. On the ice, the boys in Orca Bay blue played as complete a game as they've played this season, beating their Northwest Division rivals Calgary Flames by a score of 3-1. They played the way Alain Vigneault thought they could back in training camp (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province):
All the way back in training camp, Alain Vigneault surveyed his new team and there was a vision.Statement game - that's how everyone described this game after (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province):
He'd have rock solid goaltending. He'd get balanced, three-line scoring. He'd have sound special teams and a smart, well-positioned defence that didn't crumble like blue cheese in front of its own net.
It took 32 games but Vigneault's once fuzzy, at times laughable Canucks concept has started to focus.
The Canucks got goals from three different line combinations, rode Roberto Luongo's sturdy back and showed off some face-washing grit in a self-proclaimed statement-making 3-1 win against Calgary, which boosts Vancouver's still-meek divisional record to 3-8-1.
So if that was a statement game, what statement did the Canucks make on Thursday night?Most importantly, the guys that stepped up the most were the leaders of this team - Roberto Luongo and Markus Naslund (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun):
"That we can compete against one of the top teams in our division," said Brendan Morrison.
"I think we rose to the physical challenge and showed we can play with these guys in every facet of the game."
After Saturday's nadir in Calgary, where Luongo allowed four goals on 24 shots and was hooked, and Naslund went pointless and minus-two and was absolutely eclipsed by Flames' star Jarome Iginla, the Canucks' six-million-dollar men had much to play for in Thursday's rematch.I know it's only one win but it was a big one for this team. It showed that even with their lack of scoring prowess and style points, they can compete with the best of the Northwest; for a Canucks team that's lacking in confidence and finish, it can give them a bit more swagger.
Luongo brilliantly outplayed Flames' goalie Miikka Kiprusoff and Naslund outpointed Iginla as the Canucks won 3-1 in one of their most encouraging performances of the season.
More from the Mainstream
- More on the game from Elliott Pap (Vancouver Sun) and Grant Kerr (Globe and Mail).
- I can't say enough good things about Kevin Bieksa. Last night, teamed with Willie Mitchell, they shut down the formerly red-hot Jarome Iginla.
- Can anyone even tell what a penalty is? Last night's brilliant officiating crew gave the Flames six consecutive powerplays in the second period, including one that got a Ryan Kesler goal called back.
- Here's a story about why Willie Mitchell wears no. 8 and how he turned into more of a defensive defenseman.
- Just some odds and ends about Josh Green's pinky toe, Rory's first game back and Sami's possible return to the lineup.
My 3 Stars of the Game
- Roberto Luongo (VAN): "Only" 22 saves, but many were of the "big" variety
- Kevin Bieksa (VAN): Logged a team-high 26:32 minutes of ice-time, had a +2 rating and eight shots on goal. Was instrumental in shutting down Jarome Iginla and the Flames' powerplay
- Matt Cooke (VAN): Was his usual pot-stirrer self. Settling in on a line with Brendan Morrison and Markus Naslund and assisted on Morrison's goal
Official Statistics
Next GameAnother big divisional game on Saturday night, this time against the Minnesota Wild
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Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Calgary+Flames
3 Comments:
I can't believe that Sportsnet didn't include Luongo in the 3 stars. At least you have your head screwed on right, JJ!
What a game though. That was a treat.
Sounds like it was a fantastic game. I was on the road this week, so I was sad to miss it (impossible to catch a hockey game on the tube in LA). Great recap, as usual...your site has become the first place I go when I want to know what really happened in a game. Thanks!
Rory Fitzpatrick was +2, more than any play on either team. He played on the PK, when others were in the penalty box. And the most telling stat of them all...
the canucks are UNDEFEATED since his return.
VOTE FOR RORY!
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