Historically, a Canucks vs Red Wings game is like the 2011 Cup Finals. Either it's a close win for the Canucks, or a total blowout win for the Wings. With a single point tonight, Vancouver can clinch a playoff spot. Couple of lineup changes tonight, but no one returns yet from the injury list. Kesler centred the second line between Raymond and Kassian, while Roy returned to centre the 3rd line with Ebbett and Hansen. Higgins will most likely take Ebbett's spot once he returns. On the defensive side, Alberts was bumped to the second pairing with Edler, and Barker was put on the third with Ballard. Higgins is supposed to be returning for Monday's game against the Hawks, while Bieksa and Tanev are to return before the playoffs start. Booth has no return date.
Spot on with the last 3 games, the Canucks let the first period rest on Schneider. Wasn't much action in the beginning, more end to end hockey than intense zone play, but by the 10 minute mark the Wings had a 6-1 shot advantage. And it wasn't that the Canucks weren't trying. No, they just seemed... Uncoordinated? Vancouver had their best chance to capitalize, on a 5 on 3 powerplay midway through the first. They didn't score with a 2 man advantage, but they managed to get one past Howard before the second penalty expired. After Roy won the initial faceoff, Hamhuis fed Edler with a cross ice pass, and he blasted it past a screened Howard.
Despite the goal, the Canucks were playing like it was a charity game. On a defensive miscue, Cleary snuck behind Elder on a breakaway. Thankfully, Cleary missed by a mile, but it goes to show how out of sync they are. Later in the period, on an Edler, penalty, Burrows got a great short handed chance. After poking the puck off the sideboards, Burrows pushed past the defense and cut to the center on Howard. But because Howard was out so far, Burrows ended up tripping over him and couldn't finish his deke. It looked like Vancouver would take the lead to the dressing room, but then with 21 seconds left, Brunner beat Hamhuis to a loose puck on the sideboards. Brunners shot, not all that hard, was tipped by Emmerton just in front of Schneider. It squeaked 5 hole, and put the Wings on the board. Through 20, tied at 1. Shots 9-4 in favor of the bad guys.
The Sedins seemed to be the only ones trying in the second, but they had nothing to show for it. Lot's of good puck movement, lots of chances, but no goals. Towards the midway mark, the fury of Ballard showed itself for the first time since St Louis. After being dumped in the corner by Abdelkader, Ballard came charging back and pretty much sat on him in front of the net for a good 30 seconds. After an exchange of cross checks, the pair dropped the gloves. I'd give the fight to Abdelkader, who landed more punches but was the first down. Later, Franzen beat the living daylights out of Daniel Sedin in front of the Vancouver net. Franzen had a good 10 seconds to cross check poor Daniel before the Swedish Mafia arrived. Franzen received 2 penalties, Burrows got 1. Despite the advantage, the only real chance on the powerplay came from an individual effort on the rush by Kesler.
By the 30 minute mark of the game, Vancouver had just 2 even strength shots, and 5 on the powerplay. If you can't math, that's 7. 7 shots in 30 minutes. Gives you an indication of where this game is going. Second period over, still tied at 1. Shots 13-11 for the Wings.
Thankfully, we got one good period of hockey out of this game. Unforunately, it was pretty one sided in favor of the wings. Schneider was forced to be sharp more than once, and got lucky more than once. In one case, Datsyuks shot went off Hamhuis' skate, off Schneiders stick and off the crossbar. At the other end, one of the few Canuck chances of the third, Roy did the crossbar on a wide open net. In the final six minutes, Vancouver was under siege. Schneider became a one man, show, stopping pucks and clearing them before the Wings could pounce. Somewhere in there, Ballard sustained an injury and left to the dressing room. Somehow, the Canucks made it to the final buzzer and OT. With that one point, the Canucks clinched a playoff spot.
More of the same in OT, as Schneider became a freaking brick wall. No goals, off to the shootout!
Up first, Kesler! Fast up the middle, tries moving to the right and 5 hole... Stopped by the pad.
Datsyuk: Dipsy Doodles up the centre, tries to flip it over Schneider.... Bobbles it.
Roy: In from the left, tries to move to the right, in too close... Pokechecked
Zetterberg: Fake shot, tries to deke backhand... Stopped by the pad
Lapierre: In slow, left to right, sudden change to the left again, backhand shot... SCORES! Over a sprawling Howard!
Brunner: In fast, tries to shot 5 hole... stopped by the paddle.
Canucks win! They didn't deserve it, but it STILL counts!
Tidbits:
- PP: 1/4 Terrible. Spent the whole time chasing the puck. Only goal was off of a faceoff.
- PK:3/3 Good at getting puck out, and putting it deep in Red Wings zone.
- Defense: Will be better when Edler/Ballard can both be on their left sides again. Bieksa and Tanev are supposed to be back before the playoffs start.
- Schneider: Again, only reason we won. Didn't do bad with his stickhandling either.
- Kassian/Raymond: Didn't notice them, even with increased minutes. Bad sign, when Kesler was on for most of the game.
Next game is Monday, April 22nd vs the Blackhawks.
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