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CANUCKS HOCKEY BLOG

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Canucks 4 Canadiens 0

It was a homecoming of sorts for many Canucks players, all of whom had a contingent of family and friends in the stands. And they didn't disappoint.

Alain Vigneault went back to Montreal for the first time since being let go by the Habs and recorded a win; Roberto Luongo recorded his third shutout of the season and 30th of his career; Jan Bulis chipped in with a goal and an assist; Alex Burrows played a key role on a PK unit that didn't allow a goal in five Montreal powerplays; and even Marc Chouinard played a good, if not spectacular, game after four games in the press box.

In fact, it didn't matter that the Sedins didn't record a point because the rest of the lineup played a good and opportunistic team game. They won a lot of puck battles and maintained possession of the puck most of the game. They didn't give Montreal a lot of chances and when they did, Roberto Luongo was there. As he always is.

Luongo was the biggest story of the game. He took a puck in the throat during Monday's practice and had to spend Monday night in ICU. Not being able to sleep or eat or drink, his status for the game was doubtful as late as Tuesday afternoon. All he did was stop all 30 Montreal shots.

It was a performance we will all remember for some time:
When the movie is made, Mark Wahlberg can play Roberto Luongo. He'll have to wear a wig, though, and a goalie mask in place of the Philadelphia Eagles helmet he donned in a recent hit film.

The name, however, can stay the same: Invincible.

In the most dramatic moment of the Canucks' season, Luongo shook off a sleepless night spent being monitored in a hospital bed to not only lead his teammates but inspire them with a storybook shutout in his hometown.
Invincible? And maybe The Godfather.
He sounded like The Godfather but played like a god. Vancouver Canuck Roberto Luongo is not only a goaltending marvel, he's a human marvel, too.

The National Hockey League's Bionic Man got out of hospital Tuesday morning and by that night was shutting out the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 despite being weak and sore from a practice shot to the throat that left him with a welt and Marlon Brando's voice from The Godfather movies.

Like Brando, Luongo seems to own the screen when he's on it.

"One day," Luongo might have rasped, "I will ask you to do a favour for your godfather." And whatever it is, the Canucks should grant it unquestioningly because they have never possessed a player like this.
More from the Mainstream

About the game around the blogosphere

My 3 Stars of the Game

  1. Kevin Bieksa (VAN): Two more assists give him 17 points in his last 17 games
  2. Roberto Luongo (VAN): 30 saves and his 3rd shutout of the season
  3. Ryan Kesler (VAN): One goal, two assists, three hits and as solid a performance as we've seen from him all season

Official Statistics

Next Game

Thursday night against an equally-hot Ottawa Senators

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Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.

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posted by J.J. Guerrero, 6:31 AM

5 Comments:

At January 17, 2007 9:35 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

equally-hot? I think the Sens is probably the hottest among the four the Canucks opponents in this road trip. Buffalo has a better overall record, but Ottawa has a way better record in the last ten, going 8-1-1, while Buffalo has a 5-4-1 record. I want to see another win tomorrow, but I'd be happy to see the Canucks get one point and won't be too disappointed if they don't get any.

 
At January 17, 2007 10:22 AM, Blogger E said...

if you're going to link to my suffering, you could at least add me to the sidebar...

 
At January 17, 2007 4:57 PM, Blogger J.J. Guerrero said...

^ Done! :D

 
At January 18, 2007 3:59 AM, Blogger Jordi said...

Pissed indeed. The sad thing is, I didn't even alcohol with this moment. It just takes the fun away from suffering.

 
At January 18, 2007 9:53 PM, Blogger J.J. Guerrero said...

hahaha! Beer makes anything fun. Didn't you learn anything when you were in Canada?

 

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