The Canucks played the Oilers in a Northwest division match-up. Considering the Oilers had lost eight of their last 10, you knew this would be a close game given Vancouver's propensity for playing right to the level of their competition. Lately they have this perfected. Here's Shack's Take:
1st Period
It only took 45 seconds for Vancouver to show they were serious about letting the Oilers compete in this one, as Hemsky had a glorious chance that only stayed out because Hemsky can't score anymore. He has four goals all season and just one in his last 21. Didn't he used to be good?
The Canucks found another way to keep it close as Burrows and Sedin came in on a 2 – 0 but failed to register a shot as Sedin passed just past the out-stretched stick of Burrows.
The Sedin line showed they wanted to have a little fun tonight and practice their Harlem Globetrotters' routine. This particular shift started in the Oilers' zone at 7:26 of the period and the puck didn't leave until 8:30. In that 1 minute and 4 seconds, once the Sedins gained possession, the line with their defense partners of Bieksa and Hamhuis completed 14 consecutive passes before the Sedins completed a sweet give and go that started with Daniel giving the puck to Henrik on the boards and heading from the point toward the front of the net. Henrik slipped a pass through his check back to Daniel heading towards the front of the net for a great chance that Dubnyk got a pad on.
Are there any scarier words in hockey than, 'Dale Weiss leads the rush through centre.'
Daniel Sedin opens the scoring at 10:24 and did so with no help from his brother. Danny checked Taylor Hall on the boards in the Edmonton zone. The ensuing give-away went straight to Dan Hamhuis who one-timed a pass to Alex Burrows who first timed that pass to Danny Sedin. Sedin then wired a perfectly placed shot over Dubnyk's shoulder upstairs where Norman keeps his mother.
Ryan Smyth, I love Captain Canada but dude has a shot that couldn't break a pane of glass.
The Sedin line channeled its inner Globetrotter for the second time this period. They kept the puck in the Oiler zone for 57 seconds this time and passed or shot the puck 17 consecutive times while maintaining possession. They only managed to complete 10 consecutive passes this time. Is Edmonton the only team in the league that isn't aware the Sedins might like to play the cycle game?
1st Intermission
Since Mike Gillis blessed us with appearances in both intermissions, we'll review both these appearances as well.
Mike Gillis introduced the Canucks for Kids initiative, Mindcheck.ca, in honour of Rick Rypien to try and help people suffering from depression. Great initiative, great idea. Depression affects too many people who don't seek help and Rick Rypien shows just what can happen when it becomes too much.
Don't we all miss the Ripper? I'm not sure there was a funner guy to watch ever in a Canuck uniform. His fight with 6'7" Hal Gill is legendary. I wish, I wish, I wish….
Sportsnet is already pumping their 'Trade Deadline Special', which is only a month plus a few days away. Give it a rest guys.
2nd Period
Watching Sami walk in to the top of the circle and wind up must scare the Bejesus out of a goalie. Fortunately for Doobie (wish we had a goalie named Doobie or maybe I just wish I had one) he stayed out of the way. Even more fortunately for Doobie, the puck rang iron.
Vancouver again proved they love close games by allowing Edmonton to tie the score on a total brain cramp by Maxime Lapierre. He had Taylor Hall by the boards at the point. The puck was played down to Hemsky in the corner and Lapierre continued to cover the boards. While he ensured the board didn't get the puck, Hall slipped down to the face off circle and received the puck, which created a 2 on 1 down low. Hall slid the puck across to Horcoff who easily deposited it in the empty side. Fortunately Lapierre stopped the boards from going anywhere.
They just showed Pam Anderson in a private box. I will now slip away to 1994 Baywatch. I'll be back shortly…
Aaron Rome tried an end-to-end rush that seemed to surprise him the most. He looked like a kid getting training wheels off for the first time and with the same result. He went great for a while, seemed to realize what was happening and started losing control. Just after the Edmonton blue line he started flailing then just fell over and slid into the end-boards. Remember kids, when learning to ride a bike, safety first. Wear proper protection like Aaron Rome. He was not hurt on the play.
Jannik Hansen was on the receiving end of a beautiful breakaway pass from the genius hockey IQ Cody Hodgson. The Honey Badger decided to blast a slapper that hit Doob, trickled through him then trickled off the side of the post.
The game kinda turned after the Edmonton goal as the Oilers seemed to push back after getting more chances. The game is now fairly even in terms of flow.
2nd Intermission.
Gillis was asked a few questions about needs and whether Cory Schneider was a trade chip he would use. Here's what Mike had to say, "." I believe that sums it up nicely. We could have got more information interviewing my cat. Then the conversation turned to the all-star game and…well seriously who gives a sh*t about that. Let's move on.
3rd Period
Booth hit the Canucks the cross bar just 15 seconds in on a nice feed from noted puck hog Ryan Kesler. That's the third ping the Canucks have heard so far.
John Shorthouse uttered the words Canucks fans have heard all too frequently, 'Luongo lunges at the puck awkwardly.'
The Canucks reclaimed the lead at the 5:00 minute mark after Hamhuis started a 3 on 2 with a great outlet pass to Kes. This led to a nifty give and go between Kes and Higgie, which Kesler deflected, on net. The puck seemed to get lost in Doobie's feet and Booth swept in and tapped the loose biscuit home.
The fourth Canuck ping came after Henrik Sedin did some dipsy-doodling in the slot then let go a near identical shot to the one his brother scored on earlier. Unfortunately, he was about an inch too high.
Andy Sutton just did the exact same toe drag move around two Canucks and almost set up the tying goal, just missing the cross crease feed. Love that even though Bieksa had seen Sutton walk around a falling Raymond, Sutton could do the exact same move less than two seconds later and have Bieksa fall out of the way exactly as Raymond had. Nothing like learning from those mistakes, eh?
John Garrett just chose the Patriots to win the Super Bowl. I was leaning that way myself, I guess I need to re-think things.
An unlucky but legit Hamhuis penalty led to Edmonton tying the game with just over four minutes to go. Classic power play 101. Feed the point man in the middle of the ice (Ales Hemsky), have point man one-time a shot (Corey Potter), have forward in front deflect puck (Taylor Hall) past goalie (Bobby Lou).
Andy Sutton tried the same move again but this time against Chris Higgins. Higgins was able to stay on his feet and defend the play.
Overtime
Bieksa waited until 2 min left in OT to gift-wrap his usual present to the opposition. This time, he accompanied it with a sterling impression of a fish on ice because after handing the puck to Jordan Eberle he proceeded to fall down then flop around the ice trying to prevent ummm…forest fires? Not sure but Eberle fed the puck to Hall who made Lui make his best stop of the night.
Of course this was all a part of Bieksa's master plan as the rebound led the Canucks to a 3 on 2 where the Sedins and Salo took turns pummeling the puck at Doobie. Doobie made his best saves of the night here with some highlight of the night stuff.
My bad, Luongo actually ended up making his best stop of the night with 1:15 left off a Ryan Smyth rebound, he held the fort as Sam Gagner tried to jam the puck home.
Just before the end of OT, Kesler tried a sweet through his own legs how-ya-doin move on Sutton only to be foiled by the Doob.
Shootout
Edler starts it off and scores on a shot stick side. I remember they used him a few times in his rookie year but he hasn't been seen in a shootout since. Why did the Nucks stop using him?
Both teams missed their next two so it was up to Sam Gagner to keep it going. Gagner used the old double deke to Luongo's stick side, both of the previous attempts had gone glove, to extend the shootout.
After both Kesler and Hall missed, it was Cody Hodgson's turn. He used his genius hockey IQ to see the opening in the 5 hole and deposit it into the net for the go-ahead goal. The pressure was too much for Shawn Horcoff who hit Luongo in the stick to end the game.
Despite Vancouver's desire to be kind to the teams at the bottom of the standings, Vancouver still pulled this one out 2 – 1 in the shootout and 3 – 2 overall.
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