Canucks at Red Wings 02/23/12 – Shacks’ Take

It's a Thursday night match-up in Motown and they don't get any better with the Canucks and Red Wings meeting in a match up of league powers.  There’s no end to the stats we can throw around for this one but let’s get to the one that really matters:

These are two of the best teams in hockey so you have to hope this one lives up to the hype.  I'm excited for hockey in February again, here's Shacks' Take:

Jimmy Howard has quick feet so it makes him tough to beat down low.  Early on he stopped Higgins from the slot and robbed Henrik from in close off a nice feed from Burrows. With both shots he threw out his left pad and kicked out the chances.  Vancouver will need to shoot upstairs to have success tonight.

Is it too early to make a joke about Bertuzzi’s new contract and Steve Moore’s $38 mil lawsuit?

Oh Kevin, my love/hate relationship with you is back to hate. This time he got caught trying to do a toe drag move around Darren Helm at the Wings’ line— Helm took the puck up ice on a 2 on 1 using Abdelkader as a decoy before fluttering a fanned attempt and fooling Lui.  I’ve decided I need to keep a running meter of my love/hate relationship with Bieksa.  Right now it’s at +3 on the hate side but with Kevin it’s likely to fluctuate several times a night.

Vancouver has really looked the better team in the first despite giving up the only goal.  Howard’s giving Detroit the kind of goaltending the Canucks have been getting lately and he’s been the difference maker so far.  Detroit still can’t solve the Canuck penalty kill going 0 – 3, running their total this season to 0 – 19, while the ‘Nucks were 0 - 1 so far tonight.

I bet when Coach V paired Bieksa with Hamhuis they thought Hamhuis’ smarts and poise would rub off on Bieksa, not the other way around, but it appears Bieksa’s giveaways seem to be happening more often. Occasionally Hamhuis looks like he wants to make Kevin feel better by making his own inexplicable error.  In one 45 second shift Hamhuis fans on a pass handing the puck to Abdelkader who walks in front, forcing Luongo to make a point blank save. This was followed by the puck going into the Red Wings end, and when a missed shot caromed around the boards, Bieksa skated right past it giving Helm another 2 on 1, forcing Lui to make yet another great save.

I have to say I’m seeing the game a bit differently than the refs.  Of the six penalties to the two teams, I think two were legit, although I don’t think any of them needed to be called and the most obvious one, the high stick to Mason Raymond, was ignored completely.  Fortunately both power plays have been totally ineffective so it hasn’t mattered anyway.

The second period started a little slow but opened up nicely just past the midway.  The Sedins capitalized on a 4 on 4 as Edler shot the puck from the point and Henrik’s deflection trickled to Daniel with Howard out of position and an open net.

The goal was followed shortly by a sweet Luo moment when he stopped Quincey from having a dream home debut with an amazing glove save.  Quincey was the recipient of a Cleary feed on a 3 on  2 break caused by a Higgins slip in the Red Wing’s zone.

Lui flashes the leather. 

As much as Howard was the difference in the first, Luongo’s being every bit as good in the second.  Detroit has had several odd man rushes in this period as well as a few good chances on their power plays and Bobby Lou has stood tall.  So far this game has been as good as the hype.

Lui saved his best work for the final 3o seconds of the period as he was forced to make four saves off the seven shots directed at the net in the final burst, including two in tight off Bertuzzi, the second of which was really impressive, stretching from his knees to stop a shot labeled for the top corner.  He also got little help from the post on a shot by Zetterberg.

They broke down the Los Angles trade with Columbus.  The Kings must be desperate to score because that's one big check they’re writing for Carter. Snap Take: I’m not sure I would have made that deal.

Helm, Abdelkader and Miller is a really nice looking line, they’ve been noticeable all night.  On the other hand, I’m not sure I’ve seen Cody Hodgson since the first period.

Kyle Quincey gets to play hero after all, scoring the go-ahead goal six minutes into the third, and of course it was Abdelkader’s line out against Hodgson’s.  This time the two high forwards got caught staring at the puck and Quincey was able walk by them from the point into the slot to take a pass from Abdelkader on the side boards. Quincey’s high shot eluded Luongo who appeared screened and was stuck too far back in his crease.

 

Abdelkader has the puck and Quincey sneaks in from the point. 

No one is near Quincey as he takes the pass, I'd love to know where that fifth guy's gone.

Lui probably should have been out at the top of the crease as the puck goes over his shoulder. 

Once the Canucks fell behind, Hodgson got more ice time and suddenly we’re tied.  Granted it was a lucky bounce of Kronwall’s skate, but I don’t think it’s an accident that Hodgson got the goal in clutch.  He made a few nice moves on the boards and put the puck in a place where good things happen.

The Abdelkader line wastes no time restoring the lead 20 seconds later on a hard working goal.  Really that’s been their calling card all night, these guys are fast and they hustle all over the ice.  The goal boiled down to who wanted it more with Vancouver having the chance to end the play by winning any of four separate battles on the ice, but losing all of them.  As good as the goalies have been, two of the three stars in this one are Helm and Abdlekader.

Rome could have won the battle for this puck with Miller, which allowed... 

This shot by Helm which could have been prevented had Higgins won this battle, which resulted in...

Tanev battling Helm and Hodgson battling Abdelkader, both Red Wings won their battle allowing Helm to knock the puck to the crease and Abdelkader to put the puck in the net.

Booth’s speed created a breakaway opportunity that could have made his homecoming a sweet one in front of the 50 or so friends and family at the game, but Booth’s backhand deke was stuffed by Howard.

This game achieved regular season classic status when Daniel Sedin scored the tying goal with 15 seconds remaining.  The Canucks finally got possession in the Wing's zone when Henrik won a clean draw from Zetterberg. The set play to Edler got blocked, but the ensuing scramble ended with the puck behind the net.  Some good spade work by Kesler freed the puck to Henrik behind the net who threw it back to Danny at the point and his screened shot went top shelf where Dad keeps good scotch to tie it up. 

Danny has plenty of bodies in front screening Howard on the winner. 

Overtime was every bit as thrilling as the previous 6o minutes and then some.  Both teams had several grade A chances and both goalies were great again.  Chances kept coming right up until the last seconds as Vancouver had a scramble in front of Detroit's goal until Howard covered the puck in the last second.

The streak is over! The streak is over.  Five straight missed shots left the game on the stick of Alex Burrows and Burrows does not disappoint using his fake shot backhand shelf move to perfection. Appropriately, Burrows pretends to 'break' his stick over his knee to signify the end of the Detroit home win streak at 23.   

Alex 'breaks' the streak. 

Lui celebrates. 

Kind of fitting that Detroit’s winning streak that some feel is tainted by the shootout is ended by the shootout.  This was one of  those games you’re glad you told the wife you were delayed at work and went to the pub to watch.  These two teams would make great fun as playoff opponents, hopefully this year we see it.