With Kassian still out with a back injury, and Booth struck down with a foot injury, the Canucks were forced to bring up some replacements. Schroeder was recalled from Chicago to centre the fourth line, and Sestito was brought out to man his left wing. Pinizzotto was brought up to the 3rd line to play with Higgins and Lappiere. The Raymond/Ebbett/Hansen 'speed line' was kept together, same with the Sedins/Burrows line.
Luongo got the start.
What an awful start to a game. Minnesota all but dominated the first 10 minutes of play, and the Canucks turned the puck over every chance they got. Their first powerplay just a few minutes in didn't generate a single shot. Just as the powerplay was ending, Burrows took a high stick and had to go to the dressing room. He returned, but it set the tone for the game. 8 minutes left in the period, and Suter cross checked Henrik in the kidneys. Later, on another Canucks powerplay, Luongo left the net to play the puck. He dropped it to Bieksa, who bobbled it and almost watched it slide into his own net. Tensions rose, and so did the Canucks. Weise and Sestito started crushing Minnesota's players, and even double teamed to take town Falk.
Yep, that was a whole period. 0-0 after 20, shots 10-7 Canucks. Goes against my normal 'essay-per-period' policy.
Weise and Tanev nearly opened the scoring 5 minutes into the 2nd. Coming in to the zone, the puck wound it's way to Tanev on the rush. His shot through traffic bounced to Weise, whose shot was barely saved by Backstrom. That play ignited the Canucks, and a flurry of scoring chances. None of them counted, but it was more than happened in the 1st. Weise's line had another chance float over the top of the unguarded net, but no cigar.
And then the powerplay. The drought, it's over. After going 0/35, everything came together. Edler tee'd up Garrison, whose rocket point shot nailed Daniel Sedin and bounced right to Henrik. Henrik had a wide open net, and couldn't miss if he wanted to. Of course the Wild scored a few minutes later. On the powerplay, Brodin and his merry men were left all alone on the point, and hammered a slapper past Luongo. Few more chances back and forth, but no results. 1-1 going into the 3rd.
Early in the third, Minnesota took the lead, after Coyle tipped Stoner's shot over Luongo's shoulder. Henrik and Pinizzotto almost combined to tie the game just a few minutes later, but Backstrom was centred to it. Henrik had pulled the puck out of the corner, and found Pinizzotto streaking down the middle lane. His shot was rushed, and he didn't have time to get it up high. Around the 10 minute mark, Ballard and Tanev were stuck back on a 2 on 2. Tanev took his man and check him, while Ballard somehow ended up behind his man. Long story short, Cullen scored and I feel like revising my last article.
Fast forward to the end of the third. 2 minutes left, 3-1 Wild, faceoff in the Minnesota zone. Vancouver pulls their goalie. Despite an entire 2 minutes of pressure, the Canucks couldn't bury anything. Game over, 3-1 Wild. Yeah, that just happened.
Tidbits:
- PP: 1/4. Wow, finally. Everything had slowly been coming together over the last 3 or 4 games, and finally clicked tonight.
- PK: 1/2. Has had a tendency over the last few games to leave a whole half of the zone open.
- Garrison: Has been able to get his point shot going in the last few games, but still unable to get real accuracy on it.
Next game is tomorrow night against the Blues.
- Garrison: Has been able to get his point shot going in the last few games, but still unable to get real accuracy on it.
Next game is tomorrow night against the Blues.
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