Couple of line changes tonight, as Bieksa returned and Sestito played his first game with the Canucks.
Burrows stayed with the Sedins, while Booth and Kassian played with Lappiere on the 2nd. Raymond centred the 3rd line with Higgins and Hansen. Sestito played with Weise and Schroeder on the 4th.
Surprisingly, Alberts stayed and Ballard was put back in the doghouse. So thanks to that, we got a few new defense combinations.. Hamhuis and Garrison, Edler and Bieksa, and Alberts and Tanev were the pairs.
After taking a 3 day break, the Canucks seemed to be itching to play again. They faced their first penalty kill 39 seconds into the first, but took it without breaking stride. Higgins had a good short handed chance, he broke past the defense and snapped a decent shot off under pressure at Quick. A minute later, Vancouver's time off really showed. After a failed clearing in the LA zone, Henrik took it to the corner and dished to Burrows at the side of the net. Burrows tossed it behind him and cross crease to a wide open Hamhuis, streaking down the wing, who snapped it in. Minutes later, Daniel Sedin almost made it 2-0 after pouncing on a rebound from a point shot, but Quick lived up to his name and robbed him. On Sestito's second shift, he flattened Colin Fraser and fought his first fight as a Canuck against Jordan Nolan. Sestito won the fight, but took quite a few punches. Regardless, his size and physical play is very welcome. Vancouver ended the 1st period a man down but up 1-0.
After killing off the last half of a penalty to start the 2nd, the Canucks picked up where they left off. Just past the 6 minute mark of the period, LA tied the game on the powerplay. Muzzin fed Williams from the point, and Williams slap shot from the faceoff circle beat Schneider. 4 and a few later, Raymond gave Vancouver the lead again. After taking the puck from the defense, Booth shot the puck through the neutral zone to Hansen at the LA blueline. Hansen centred for Raymond, who shot past the LA defense and ripped a wrist shot past Quick.
And of course, 3 minutes later, we have a tie game. Schneider lost the puck behind his net, Nolan recovered for LA and buried it on a wrap around. Schneider had his stick caught and couldn't get around in time. If that wasn't enough for you, Daniel Sedin gave the Canucks their lead back less than 2 minutes later. Henrik and Daniel caught LA changing, and stormed in on a 2 on 1. Henrik centred for Daniel, who caught Quick going the wrong way and wristed it low blocker side. Lappiere and Stoll took off setting penalties for diving and interference with 3 minutes left in the 2nd, and Vancouver capitalized. After Raymond lost the puck on the left wing, Hansen grabbed it and danced through three LA players before snapping it past Quick. Vancouver ended the 2nd on the man advantage and up 4-2.
Vancouver played keep away for a full 4 minutes at the beginning of the period, with all 4 lines showing great chemistry and generating plenty of chances. Midway through the period, the chances had evened out and both sides were playing great hockey. LA picked up the pressure, and Schneider was forced to make some wonderful saves in the last 5 minutes of the game. Higgins tallied the empty netter with 43 seconds left, and that did it. Game over, 5-2 Canucks.
Tidbits:
- Schneider: Still just plain awful at playing the puck. Other than that, he played great.
- Booth: Seems to have his passing game down pat, looked dangerous every time he stepped on the ice.
- Sestito: From what I saw, he's a good addition to the Canucks 4th line, but he's a little sloppy with the puck. Good thing he's here to hit and fight. 7:03 TOI, 3 hits, 5 PIM's.
- Raymond: Awful in the faceoff circle (11%), but looked good otherwise
- PP: 0/2. Despite not having Kesler and not capitalizing, it did well. Cycle game for both lines was great. No special combinations, just the Lappiere line and the Sedins/Burrows line.
- PK: 3/4. Left plenty of room for LA's shooters, not holding the puck to the outside.
Next game is tomorrow in Calgary at 5.
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