Vancouver at Colorado 02/04/12 – Shacks’ Take

The first beautiful Saturday afternoon of the year in Vancouver and I’m inside watching hockey.  CBC wasn’t interested in broadcasting mid-day affairs versus Boston and San Jose so you knew they would way rather air Washington – Montreal than our Nuckies playing the Av’s, this ones on Sportsnet.  So if you have a life and got out to enjoy the sunny weather, no fear of missing anything, here’s Shacks’ Take:

Pre-Game

Dan Murphy reminds us that Vancouver played a total of two good periods out of the six versus Detroit and Chicago yet still somehow managed three out of a possible four points.  With Vancouver playing seven of their next ten on the road, one period of good hockey per game is likely not a good way to stay successful.  Fortunately for Vancouver Colorado is 2 – 10 versus Northwest division foes including 0 – 2 against the Canucks this year.  Canuck fans hope this forebodes well for a better effort today.

1st Period

North Van boy David Jones has more goals against the Nucks, 5, than against any other team.  Nice of the boys to give to local charities.

It took only 1:30 for Vancouver to give up their first 2 on 1 of the afternoon.  I had to check I wasn’t watching my recording from the Detroit affair.  I knew this was a different game because it was Edler giving up the 2 on 1, pinching down the boards and having his shot blocked.  Since the Canucks seem to rely on their goaltending now and not fundamentals, no one covered and Edler didn’t get back fast.  Landeskog used O’Reilly as a decoy but rung his shot off the outside of the near post.

Byron Bitz is making his Canuck debut and is playing with Hodgson and Hansen.  Straight to third line duty.  I’m interested if a 6’5” 215lb man can complement the top 9 forwards.

Canucks jump on their first chance for a goal. Off a rebound, David Booth picks up the puck along the sideboards and shovels it back to Edler at the point.  Edler looks up and instead of blasting it, feeds Ryan Kesler at the top of the far face-off circle.  Kes hammers a one-timer top-shelf where Dad keeps the good scotch.  Vancouver leads 1 – 0.

Vancouver seems determined to see just how good their goaltending is these days; short answer, spectacular as just moments after the Kesler goal Luongo committed thievery of the highest order. Colorado came in 3 on 3 but Weiss failed to keep up with Hejduk and Landeskog zipped a pass across the ice for what looked like an empty net tap-in but Lui slid cross-crease to get his pad on what seemed a sure goal.  I think this is the first time noted Canuck killer Milan Hejduk has ever missed a chance against Vancouver.

Colorado looks like they got a beauty in Gabriel Landeskog.  He’s created something on every shift so far. 

A nifty pass from Paul Stasny on a 2 on 1 down low allows David Jones to tie the game on the power play. Edler got caught forcing the puck too high and once O’Reilly got the puck to the Stasny on the goal line it gave him all the time he needed to saucer a pass over Salo’s stick, which Jones buried into the open side.  More love for the local boy, 1 – 1. 

      

Notice how high Edler gets, leaving Salo alone with two guys down low.

Before any other Canuck can get near, Jones puts it away.

Byron Bitz wastes no time getting in his first fight as a Canuck.  Cody McLeod lined up next to Bitz on a draw and seemed to ask if Bitz’s dance card was full. Bitz replied it was open and he would be happy to accommodate his request. We’ll call this a draw as Bitz managed to open a small cut on McLeod despite McLeod likely out pointing him on most of the judges’ scorecards.

Vancouver managed to keep the out-manned opportunities to a minimum but they were still out shot 18 – 7 for the period.  Colorado seemed to have the better chances but it didn’t appear that one-sided.  Hopefully playing their system right will lead to better offensive opportunities.

1^st Intermission

Kypreos and Shannon debate the Sedins and wonder why they seem to be struggling so much.  No answers, just questions. I didn’t agree that the Sedins should be up for a game against Colorado to pad their stats.  I’d rather they play their best against elite teams, not be pumped because points are available.

The panel also liked Bitz’s energy and his willingness to get involved with a fight. 

I’m guessing Bitz will do whatever it takes to stay so this is no surprise.

Just as the period starts, Sportsnet shows a graphic of which Canuck has scored the most since Dec. 30^th. 

Good numbers for Cody & Edler, but less than impressive for everyone else considering those numbers span 13 games.

It’s great that Cody is doing so well.  I’m just glad these are the stats for January because if this graphic were for the playoffs it would be shown with Cody holding golf clubs.  The Sedins will have to lead in April and May.

Damn Cody’s got a wicked shot.  He one timed a Daniel feed off the rush on an early power play and hit post.  Giguerre had no chance but the puck hit inside of the post and bounced across the crease and over Sedin’s stick who was staring at an open net.

Ahhh Kevin Bieksa, I want to like you, I really do, but how many times will you commit a giveaway because you’re just too casual with the puck?  This time he tried to reverse the puck behind the net with Winnick right on him.  Winnick got his stick on it, which caused it to bounce off the side of the net.  Winnick beat Luongo’s stick to the puck and centred it to Jay McClemnet in front, who easily buried it.  I guess using the boards and the glass isn’t exciting enough for Kevin.  2 – 1 Colorado.

Now Burrows tries to finesse a pass to Henrik from just inside his line.  Colorado deflects the puck, keeping it in the zone and leading to Landeskog, picking up for a good chance in the slot.   Gentlemen, get as cute as you like once the puck is over the blue line.  Inside the blue line GET THE PUCK OUT!!! Unless Vancouver re-signs Cloutier, odds are the other team can’t score from outside the blue line.

Burrows gets the puck here, notice the time and space to at least clear the zone.

 Burrows is in the same spot and tries a finesse pass from one foot that creates an opportunity for Colorado. 

Burrows shows his smarts, sitting on the boards until Booth gets off the ice then grabbing the puck and heading for the net on a 2 on 1.  His scoring effort wasn’t nearly as creative as he seemed to shove it into Giguerre’s pads for an easy save.

Edler is obviously not impressed by Hejduk’s usual Canuck domination as he just stepped into him with a hard check.  Landeskog shows he’s no normal Swede as he gives Edler a hit in response.  I like this kid even more.

Play by play of the game that probably only amused me, ‘Shane O’Brien with a foray into the offensive zone.’  Not surprisingly this led to nothing.

  

2^nd Intermission

Another gathering of talking heads, another discussion of Schneider’s trade status.  Kypreos thinks Tampa for Malone and a 1^st is the answer.  Shannon says he’s going nowhere for now.  Kypreos brings up the best point I’ve heard.  If he goes to restricted free agency and he’s offered $4mil. Canucks will only get a 1^st and a 3^rd round pick or they will have to match the offer, and then they can’t trade him for a year.   They will have $10mil/season tied up in goalies, handcuffing them from making any big moves.  Gillis must prevent this scenario under any circumstance.

Finally some news from the minors, which is in short supply.  My biggest complaint with Canuck coverage is the lack of information on their prospects.  Nice to at least hear something, even if the report was short on actual facts.  Connauton leads the minors in goals by defensemen and he and Tanev look good together.  We already know Tanev is NHL ready, how close is Connauton? How about Sauve? Does he still play in our system?

3^rd Period 

Canucks get lucky right off the bat.  Hamhuis breaks his stick and as the puck is heading towards the Canucks end, he skates by the Canucks bench to grab a stick.  Edler thinks he’s coming off and jumps on to take his place.  The Av’s go off-side preventing an early Colorado power play.

Hamhuis hammers a drop pass feed from Weiss and hits the post hard behind Giguerre.  I had no idea Hamhuis could shoot that hard and apparently neither did Giguerre, as he seemed completely unprepared to react to the shot.

Another lethargic game, more line juggling.  New line combo’s: Hodgson-Bitz-Booth, Hank-Raymond-Weiss, Kesler-Daniel-Burrows.  Might be because the shot totals are 36 – 20 in favour of the ‘Lanche. 

We here at ShacksOnSports promise that when the Canucks are playing bad, we will show pictures of hot Canuck chicks to remind you there is still good in Canuckland.

Now the Canucks are on the power play and Vigneault’s not done with his juggling.  He starts with Kesler between Hodgson & Burrows with Hamhuis and Edler on the point.  I’m hoping that keeping track of line changes is not the most exciting thing to happen for the rest of the game.

The second unit is Booth with the Sedins and Bieksa and Salo manning the points.  So far the line juggling is the most interesting part of the game.

Burrows shows the most life of any Canuck today, reacting to a mauling at the hands of Shane O’Brien.  I know AV didn’t like this guy, but I would way rather have O’Brien as my sixth defenseman than Rome, Alberts, Sulzer or even Ballard.  Can we get anyone on our team that plays just a little nasty?

Shane-O looks ready to lay the beats to any Canuck that comes near.  Bieksa used to get this look but he’s too good for that now.

After looking awful during the first half of a 4 on 4 with Luongo having to stop a Winnick breakaway caused by a Daniel turnover, Vancouver actually gets some pressure during the second half.  Hank and Raymond team up to make some nice passes until they get the puck back to Bieksa in the slot.  Giguerre stops the initial shot and Raymond’s rebound attempt.

Did I mention how much I like Kevin Bieksa?  With the goalie pulled, first Bieksa dives to stop a bouncing puck from going into the Canucks goal, then when the play returns to the Colorado end, Bieksa (the king of the bad bounce) gets the puck in the slot after Eric Johnson’ clearing attempt hits the stanchion and caroms wildly to him.  Bieksa uses Booth’s screen and picks the blocker side corner with 33 seconds left.  2 – 2

Everyone is against the boards as Erik Johnson rings the puck around the glass.

After the puck hits the stanchion all five Avalanche players are now on the wrong side of the ice as the puck comes right to Bieksa. Stanchions sure like Boom Boom. 

Bieksa has time to pick his spot and three bodies in front ensure Giggy has no idea where the puck is until it's in the net.

Overtime    

The Refs ignored what should have been called a blatant trip on Hunwick right in front of Don Van Massenhoven. I’m guessing the refs are just trying to prepare Vancouver for the playoffs. We will not make a call if the game is on the line no matter how blatant.  John Garret used his usual illogical logic saying the refs had decided Vancouver had received enough power plays already. 

It took four minutes for the first whistle of the overtime.  Luongo covered the puck after he makes a nice stop off Hejduk at the side of the net off a feed from Johnson.  This chance was created because Sami Salo tried to beat O’Brien in the Canuck end and O’Brien shoved him down then tied up the puck until the rest of his teammates could come join him. 

Daniel got one shift with Kesler, and Hank, one with Raymond.  That’s it.  I think AV’s trying to send a message.

Shootout

The Avalanche have won 10 in a row in the shootout.   I don’t like our chances.

Hejduk starts, absolutely lunches Luongo but puts the puck over the net on the backhand with most of the right side of the net to shoot at.  Of course Garrett gives Luongo credit for the save.

Lapierre comes in at a snails pace, stickhandles several times, then shoots the puck into Giguerre’s glove. Not very creative for a guy three for six in shootout tries.

Now it’s Landeskog’s turn and he must have seen Detroit’s shootout attempts last gams because he comes from wide on the glove side then quickly shoots low blocker. Fortunately he dings the post.  Again John & John give Lui credit for the save despite the loud ping noise everyone else heard.

Mason Raymond scores the first goal of the shootout going wide on Giguerre, he cuts to the middle and shoots it through the gaping hole between Giggy’s pads.  Giguerre must have thought Raymond was going to do some kind of trick play because he seemed completely surprised by the shot and his legs were so open Raymond could have shot Dan Cloutier’s beach ball through it.

Any time you get an opportunity to use this picture you got to take advantage.

O’Reilly has to score to keep the Av’s awesome shootout streak going.  He goes slow and tries a forehand – backhand move.  Luongo stays with it and easily makes his first save of the shootout for the win.

Since the all-star break the Canucks have been hard-on-the-eyes awful, yet they just took their 5th point out of 6.   The Sedin’s look ordinary and the rest of the team isn’t much better.  Shots on goal against Colorado 46 – 29 for the home side.  I’m not sure how much longer the boys can play sub par hockey and keep earning points, but it is February so it’s not of a great deal of concern….yet.