Love ‘Em & Hate ‘Em
For all the hype, this was probably the tamest edition of the Canucks/Blackhawks rivalry. There was absolutely no rough stuff aside from Sheldon Brookbank chasing after Alex Burrows after he cheekily slipped the puck in the net on an offside call.
Both teams came into the game saying all the right things about just wanting to get the two points, and it turns out they were right.
Go figure.
Love ‘Em
1. The curious case of Roberto Luongo
Aside from Duncan Keith, all eyes were on Roberto Luongo making his third straight start against the team that haunts him.
Man, did he ever play well.
Luongo’s performance last night was absolutely vintage, robbing the ‘Hawks on a number of stellar chances and looking he didn’t even break a sweat doing it.
He was even amazing in the shootout, which allowed the Canucks to leave with two points because…
2. Schroeder (doesn’t quite) score his first NHL goal
It doesn’t officially count, but Jordan Schroeder put the puck into the net for the first time in his NHL career and it won the Canucks the game.
Both teams came into the game saying all the right things
The kid has been looking NHL ready over his first six games, and now threatens to stick around whenever Ryan Kesler gets back.
3. Dat Kass. Pass
I just….kid is a beauty.
Hate ‘Em
1. I went to a board meeting and a hockey game broke out
Credit the Rogers Arena fans for booing Keith lustily, but that was also one of the few times they made a peep. Vancouver crowds seem to like to watch hockey very seriously with no distactions.
It’s a business to them I guess.
But considering the price and access of tickets these days, it’s not surprising the suits are all business.
2. Shootouts
This game highlights what a coin toss joke they are. You take a close game with this rivalry and let it be decided by an individual competition. The 65 minutes previous will be viewed through the lens of whoever won the shootout.
We were random chance away from discussing how Luongo sucks in shootouts and the Canucks blew another lead.
This was a tie game, remember those?
3. Duncan Keith
Good on the Canucks for not going complete goon and turning the game into a circus, but surely something more than a Henrik Sedin bodycheck could have been delivered.
Oh well, they meet again in Chicago in two weeks.
GAME NOTEBOOK
Vancouver captain Henrik Sedin assisted on Edler’s goal, snapping a three-game scoring drought.
Alex Edler leads the Canucks with seven points. Chicago rookie LW Brandon Saad led all skaters with four shots on goal.
CLICK HERE CHECK OUT THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS CLUBHOUSE TODAY ON NWSB!
About Richard Hodges
