Game in Review: Canucks 2 - Blackhawks 1 S/O

     To say this game didn't live up to the media hype would be an understatement. No fights, no real big hits, but some nice plays. Wade Rypien, Rick Rypien's brother, dropped the puck for the opening face off and the Canucks jerseys had the Vancouver Millionaires logo on them, for whatever reason. There were 3 or 4 runs at Duncan Keith in the 1st, but he evaded them all. Not much happened until Henrik Sedin received a 2 line pass, made a nifty pass to Kassian who then threaded the needle to Edler who buried it tops shelf on Crawford. Nothing much happened in the 2nd, other than Luongo bailing out the whole team a few times, and Henrik and Daniel teaming up to take down Duncan Keith. Oh, and the Blackhawks hit the post a few times, too.

     Early in the 3rd, Hansen swung around and 'accidentally' hit Bolland in the leg with his stick. Bolland left to the dressing room and didn't return. Toews then later ran Luongo from behind, no call from the refs and no one came to his defense. After the hit on Luongo, the hits did pick up. Weise had a few, but Henrik had 4. Henrik. Midway in the 3rd, Luongo was on his stomach and Kane buried a beautiful pass to tie it up. After that, the Canucks had 3 powerplays, including a 40 second 4 on 3, but nothing happened off of them. Schroeder came so close to getting his first NHL goal, but was hauled down before he could bury a pass from Mason Raymond on a 2 on 1. The Blackhawks dominated the next few minutes, and Luongo made a few goal line stands.

     Despite all the chances, the game went to OT. There, Luongo made more brilliant saves and the offense generated nothing, and the team survived a penalty kill in the final minute and a bit. And off to a shootout we went. Burrows, Toews, Kassian, Kane, Lappiere and Sharp were all stopped. Schroeder, in his first NHL shootout, snapped a shot 5 hole that just trickled through Crawford's pads. Luongo stopped the final shot, and that was that.

Tidbits:

 - The defence was much better tonight, seemed harder to split.
 - Raymond made a few drives at the net, and picked up his physical play
 - Powerplay: Passing was better, but still generated nothing. Burrows played with the Sedins on the first unit later in the game.
 - Penalty Kill: Stellar. Content to let the puck roll around the edges, and block the shots. Went 5/5.
 - Keith had plenty of runs taken at him, and was hit more than a few times. Was also boo'ed every time he touched the puck.
 - Garrison likes jumping up on the play, almost tipped in the puck on the rush.
 - Kassian showed his passing game off this game, and had a blind back pass to Daniel Sedin late in the 2nd.
- Schroeder a very solid player, knows how to play defensive hockey, and has a great passing game.


So who starts next game? Generally if a goalie is playing well, you play him. The fact that he went 4/4 against the most potent shootout combination in the league is a testament to how on fire he is. But Schneider needs to play, especially if he is the heir to the cursed Vancouver crease. Regardless, both goalies have been really good sports about the situation.

Next game is Monday at 6:30 against the Oilers.