Playoff Hockey – Cya Avs
The Vancouver Canucks iced another tight-checking hockey game against the Avalanche on Wednesday, taking another two points on the strength of a Chris Higgins’ shorthanded goal and the sensational play of backup Cory Schneider in a 1-0 win.
The Avalanche pressed for their playoff lives on Wednesday, but just couldn’t put one past Schneider who stood on his head earning the second of back-to-back shutouts for the Canucks.
The Hat Trick
Higgins Hits the Mark
Chris Higgins broke through with the lone goal of the game on Wednesday, carrying a perfect pass from Samuel Pahlsson in on goal and snapping it past Semyon Varlamov on a shorthanded breakaway.
The game-winner marks Higgins’ third goal in a row against the Avalanche after he carried the Canucks with a two-goal comeback performance last weekend.
Vancouver’s dynamic depth embodied by Higgins and fellow forwards is becoming the team’s strength heading into a post-season potentially without Daniel Sedin.
Booth the Brawler
David Booth continues to grow in his role as a pesky power forward and demonstrated a new aspect of his game on Wednesday, beating down BC boy Mark Oliver after the young buck challenged Booth to a second period scrap.
Maxim Lapierre attempted to intervene on behalf of Booth, but Blondie obliged Olver, quickly ripping off his helmet and throwing a number of big left hands in a convincing win.
It seems the furious anger of losing fellow forward Daniel Sedin to injury has ignited the Canucks, leading to believe the team is ready for the post-season.
Avalanche vs. Canucks (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
Schneider Shines
The Canucks received another stellar performance from their goaltender on Wednesday, watching Cory Schneider stand on his head on the way to a tight one-goal shutout victory.
The young backup had a number of sensational stops in the second of back-to-back shutouts for the Canucks, proving Vancouver’s goaltending tandem is just as tough as the highly touted duo in St. Louis.
V’s Thoughts
The Canucks came out with another win on the strength of solid goaltending on Wednesday, but continue to struggle to put the puck in the net themselves.
Vancouver’s play in their own end has been solid since the departure of Daniel Sedin, but the team desperately needs to get their scoring touch back before the playoffs begin in early April.
Quote
“Our goaltender was obviously the best player on the ice tonight, so we’ll take the two points and move on.”
Alain Vigneault struggled to criticize the win on Wednesday, happy with another pair of points for his hockey club.
Three Stars
1st. Cory Schneider - SAVE PCTG: 1.000
2nd. Semyon Varlamov - SAVE PCTG: 0.955
3rd. Chris Higgins - GOALS: 1| PTS: 1| ASST: 0 SOG: 3| PLUS/MINUS: 1
Recaps
BOXSCORE | Q’s POST GAME RECAP
Vancouver 1, Colorado 0
When: 10:00 PM ET, Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Where: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
Referees: Steve Kozari, Greg Kimmerly
Linesmen: Vaughan Rody, Mark Shewchyk
Attendance: 18890
About Kevin Vanstone
