Canucks vs Blackhawks, Apr 22/13

With a single point tonight, Vancouver can clinch the Northwest Division for the fifth year in a row. But easily the story of the game: 20 year defenseman old Frankie Corrado plays his first NHL game tonight. Corrado spent his season in the CHL between the Sudbury Wolves and Kitchener Rangers, and played 3 games for the AHL Chicago Wolves before his NHL call up against the Blackhawks. Bit of a trial by fire, don't you think?

Lots of lineup changes tonight, as Ballard joined the injured defenseman list and Higgins returned after missing 6 games. Burrows played with the Sedins, while Kesler tried his hand at the wing with Higgins and Roy on the 2nd. Lapierre centred the 3rd line with Raymond and Hansen, while Sestito, Ebbett and Kassian brought up the 4th. On the defensive side, Hamhuis and Garrison manned the first unit, Corrado played on the 2nd with Edler, while Alberts and Barker brought up the third.

Just minutes in, Roy and Higgins showed why they belong on a line together. Breaking into the zone, Roy's pass beat the defense and hit Higgins, whose shot was just barely stopped by a sprawling Crawford. For close to 10 minutes, the Canucks absolutely dominated play. Actually, scratch that. They dominated the entire first, but it just doesn't work for what I wanted to write. Anyways, the Canucks defense held the Blackhawks out of the middle, and were able to keep the puck away from the net more often than not. With 6 minutes left in the first, Hjalmarsson went for a hit on Daniel Sedin with his elbow up, but Daniel ducked it. The ref saw it, the Canucks went to the powerplay for the 2nd time. On the ensuing power play  Garrisons shot from the point hit Oduya, then went off Hansens skate and in. Like I mentioned earlier, complete dominance of the first period for the Canucks. 1-0 Canucks after 1, shots 11-5 in favor of the good guys.

Vancouver had no problem maintaining their dominance in the 2nd, as they continued to outplay the Blackhawks in every aspect. Early on, Henrik found Higgins with a great 2 line slap pass. Higgins slid a perfect pass to a streaking Burrows, who tipped the puck on net but couldn't beat Crawford. A little past the 10 minute mark of the period, Kassian took a few shifts with the Sedins, and he sure deserved. After Kassian chipped the puck in deep to Daniel, the Sedins did their incredible cycle-and-confuse routine. Daniel found Kassian in front, who pushed off his man and beat Crawford 5 hole.

With that assist, Daniel surpassed Naslund to become 2nd all time in Canucks points, second to only brother Henrik. With just a few minutes left in the period, the Hawks put up their best effort of the game on a 4 on 4. But you know what happens when the Sedins get a little room? Miracles. Henrik banked the puck from his own zone all the way up to Daniel in the neutral zone. With only Keith even close to him, Daniel took off, pulled forehand-backhand on Crawford, then lifted it back hand over Crawford. Words cannot even begin to describe how beautiful it was. Here, watch it over and over again. 3-0 Canucks after 40, shots 20-14 Vancouver.

I shouldn't even write a review for the third. Why? Because the Canucks did the exact same thing they did the first two periods. Dominance. Unfortunately, Schneider didn't get a shutout, because Sestito. Did I just use Sestito as a verb? Yes. Yes I did. After Schneider made 2 great stops in a row, the puck bounced to Sestito behind the net. Now, instead of clearing the puck to the side with nobody on it, Sestito cleared to the side with the ref. The puck bounced off the ref, and straight to Carcillo at the front, who backhanded it past Schneider. Again, can't blame the ref. He'd been there for quite a while already, and Sestito needed to be looking where he was clearing. Other than that, nothing big. Game over, Canucks 3, Blackhawks 1. Final shots 32-25.

Tidbits:

 - PP: 1/5 Just takes time to warm up. First one was all over the place, but 2nd and ensuing were able to control puck much better.
 - PK: 2/2 Weren't able to get the puck out of the zone, Schneider bailed them out.

 - Sedins: Spectacular, best they've played all season. And of course:

It took Daniel Sedin 905 games to pass M. Naslund on all-time Canucks scoring list. It also took Henrik 905 games as well. Of course it did.
— TC Carling (@TC_Carling) April 23, 2013

 - Corrado: Calm and cool under pressure. I wasn't sure he was ready (not that 1 game is a proper measuring stick), but seems like he could be a defensive staple next year. 17:20 TOI, 3 hits, 1 blocked shot.
 - Garrison: If his shot doesn't hit the net, it takes someone out in front. Love it.

Game in Review: Blackhawks 3 - Canucks 2 F/SO

Tonight marked the return of David Booth, about 5 weeks after straining his groin in a skating drill during practice. His return, plus the poor play of Kassian, meant that the lines needed to be shuffled. The Sedins stuck with Burrows, while Kesler played with Raymond and Hansen. Kassian was demoted to the 3rd line with Schroeder and Higgins, while Booth was eased back in on the 4th line with Lappiere and Weise. The defensive lines remained the same, and Schneider got the start.

The Canucks came into this game trying to stop a 2 game losing streak while trying to reintroduce Booth and Kesler to the 2nd line. Chicago had the opportunity to tie the record for best start in the NHL, if they could pull off the win. Another thing: Most media outlets were convinced this would be a blood bath, but both Vancouver and Chicago are usually content to play skilled, smart hockey.

From the puck drop, it was a relay race for almost 5 minutes. After getting that out of their system, the play settled into back and forth zone play. Chicago held the puck in for almost 45 seconds at one point, and only Schneider's great cross net movement saved a goal. Shortly after, Daniel Sedin caught Chicago mid change and had a half breakaway (Defenceman was going to cut him off), forcing Daniel to take a quick shot and let Emery make an easy save. As the game progressed, the hit train took off down the tracks. Weise bowled over Dave Bolland (hurrah), and Brandon Bollig didn't like it. Bollig hit Weise 3 times before he could get his gloves off, and won the fight. Fortunately the ref had his head on straight, and gave Bollig an extra 2 minute penalty for instigating. Now, normally a powerplay helps your team. Both Hossa and Bolland had breakaways on the man advantage, but Schneider saved Hossa's and Bolland lifted the puck too high after putting Schneider on his belly.


Another breakaway was gift wrapped and presented with love to Patrick Sharp just after the 10 minute mark, but Schneider came out and took the shot away. Oh, what's this? ANOTHER BREAKAWAY?! Daniel Sedin snuck through the defense and had another shot at Crawford, but hit the inside of his pad. But don't fret, he capitalized 30 seconds later. On his way down the right wing, unchallenged, Daniel back handed  the puck at the net, and it snuck through Emery's pads. Shots were 12-9 at the in favor of Vancouver at the end of the 1st.

After an incredibly evenly matched first period, Vancouver decided to shut down. Chicago dominated the first 5 minutes, and eventually tied it up. Kane entered the zone and dished to Sharp on the left wing, who ripped a slap shot past Schneider. The Canucks woke up a little after that, but it soon diminished. After Ballard took a penalty, Chicago hemmed in the Canucks for the majority of the powerplay. Schneider came across and made a save, but put himself totally out of position. Bieksa and Garrison put themselves down in front of the net, and Lappiere had to cross check a man out of the crease. Lappiere's cross check was considered a penalty, and that's where the Blackhawks took their lead. After breaking his stick blocking a shot, Chicago's powerplay unit was able to cycle with ease, and Hossa slapped in a cross ice pass. 3 and a half minutes later, Hossa made it 3-1. Hossa cut through Garrison and to the front of the net, and waited until Schneider was stretched out before tucking the puck in. In a last ditch attempt to tie it up before the end of the 2nd, the Sedins got the puck behind Emery but couldn't push it in. Chicago dominated the shots 16-6.

Nothing really changed in the 3rd for either side. Oh, Hansen became public enemy number one in Chicago. No doubt there's a bounty on his head by now. Early in the period, Hansen and Hossa both reached up to grab the puck, and Hansen's elbow collided with the back of Hossa's head. Hossa was down and didn't move for about a minute, and had to be escorted to the dressing room. The elbow certainly looked accidental, if only a little bit of a brain fart for Hansen, but Hossa didn't return to the game. For the remainder of the 3rd, the Blackhawks were completely dominant in puck control and scoring chances. Hansen was also shown some Illinois lovin', as he was boo'ed every time he stepped on the ice. Michal Rozsival took a penalty on Booth with 3 and a bit left, and Vancouver made them pay. Schneider was pulled to give the Canucks a 6 on 4, and Edler was tee'ed up for a perfect slap shot. Post and in. 3-2 Vancouver, 2:42 left in the game.

With just over a minute and a half left in the third, a faceoff in the Chicago zone, and Schneider is pulled. After having the puck tied up on the side boards, Daniel Sedin fed Bieksa cross ice, and with Burrows screening the puck flew over Emery's shoulder. Tie game, 1:01 left. And after playing an entirely flat 2nd and 3rd period, Vancouver forced their way in to OT in the last few minutes. 5 minutes worth of end to end rushes later, and we arrived in a shootout.

Toews: Tried to go fast and five hole, nope
Schroeder: Weaves in and tried a wrister blocker side, denied.
Kane: Had Schneider split, trickled 5 hole. Ref originally said no, but went under review. Goal.
Higgins: Pulled it in to his body with speed down the wing, wrister up high. Goal
Shaw: Came it at full speed, pulled it backhand. Goal.
Kesler: Skated in slowly, tried a wrister glove side. Nope.

Blackhawks win, and the Canucks have now lost 3 straight.


Tidbits:

 - Booth: 10:57 ice time, had an assist on the Edler goal. Pretty good performance for his first game back
 - Kesler: 21:08 ice time, was on the ice for the Edler goal. Slowly getting better, but isn't really doing anything in the shootout. His "skate in slowly and fire a wrist shot" doesn't fool anybody. Obviously still not fully back yet, but frustrated he's even in the shootout.
 - Raymond: Cut to the net a few times, seems to be unafraid of being in close to big defenders.
 - Schneider: Almost all the credit for the single point goes to Schneider. Faced 43 shots, 3 breakaways and tons of odd man rushes. .930 save percentage, stood on his head.
 - Hansen: After his hit on Hossa, everyone wanted a piece of him. Didn't get intimidated, kept playing his role. Kudos to him.
 - Defense: Terrible in regulation. Constantly let Chicago players split them, allowed 3 breakaways and too many odd man rushes to count. Tightened up nicely in OT.
- PP: 1/3. First 2 resulted in more chances for Chicago than Vancouver, but desperation was the only reason Vancouver capitalized on #3.
- PK: 4/5. Did it's job, did it well.



So expect a few more games like this, as Booth and Kesler still aren't playing their best. At the same time, Chicago is easily the best team in the league right now, and dominance on their part was expected.

Next game is on Thursday against Dallas at 5:30.

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.