Canucks Outshine Stars In Playoff-Style Game in Dallas

By Nelson Daily Sports

Leigh Ramsden lives in Vancouver and is an avid Canucks fan, having been a partial season ticket holder for over 10 years. He's old enough to have witnessed all three Stanley Cup losses, as such, his prime goal is to remove those scars by seeing a Cup brought to Vancouver. Leigh is Fighting For Stanley's (www.fightingforstanley.ca/vancouver) west coast correspondent, and will also blog after all Canuck games for The Nelson Daily.

After last night’s intense game with the rival Chicago Blackhawks, the Canucks boarded a flight bound for Dallas in order to play the Stars tonight.  Many observers were unsure how this Canucks team would react given the high emotion of the Blackhawks game and the resulting loss of alternate captain and top goal scorer Daniel Sedin.  The Canucks were able to keep their energy and compete levels high and smothered the Stars for a hard-fought, 2-1 win.

The style of game was similar to the Chicago game as it was a chippy affair, highlighted by a number of scrums after whistles.  As the Canucks get closer to the playoffs, teams are predictably taking the “Boston approach” with them, attempting to engage them in after-whistle shoving matches, giving face washes, trash talking, and other shenanigans. 

However, it looks like these teams are surprised by what they are receiving back from the Canucks, who are now built with a little bit more grit than in the past, and are finding that it’s not knocking Vancouver off its game.

The Canucks opened the scoring tonight just 4:46 into the first period, when proverbial whipping boy Mason Raymond converted a stunning feed from Henrik Sedin, sliding the puck into the yawning cage behind Stars’ netminder Kari Lehtonen. 

Another goal wasn’t scored until the Canucks took a 2-0 advantage four minutes into the third period, after another phenomenal pass by Henrik again found Raymond, who put on the brakes on the half wall and hit defenseman Kevin Bieksa with a pass in the slot.  Bieksa’s first shot was stopped by Lehtonen, but Bieksa was able to corral the rebound and tuck it into the net for what turned out the to be the game-winning goal.

Dallas replied less than three minutes later when Canuck goaltender Cory Schneider, who was tremendous in tonight’s contest, fanned on an attempt to clear the puck from behind his net, and Vernon Fiddler was able to dive and poke the puck over the goal line.  Dallas had a bit of push after that goal, but were unable to find the equalizer and the Canucks skated off the ice with a hard-fought victory.

The team played a very solid road game tonight.  They only allowed one goal and it only occurred due to mishandling by Schneider, otherwise, this game would have been Schneider’s sixth shutout of the season. 

The new line combinations were, for the most part effective:  Henrik centered Raymond and rookie Zack Kassian and Raymond, who played a very strong game for the second consecutive night; and the Pahlsson-Higgins-Hansen line played well, keeping possession in the offensive zone on a few occasions while also playing sound defensive hockey.  

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the Kesler-Booth-Burrows line, which was also good although they haven't been generating scoring chances the way they were when Higgins was on the line.

The game was penalty-filled primarily as a result of the rough play and after-whistle shenanigans.  Max Lapierre appears to be entering playoff mode, as he was often central to the proceedings and was very noticeable in only nine minutes of ice time.  Linemate Dale Weise also had a strong night and provided a physical presence even though he was only on the ice for six minutes.  

The Canucks role players are going to have to step up their game in the playoffs and tonight they did it perfectly, providing a physical presence, standing up to the opponent, and not hurting the team in their own end.

GAME OBSERVATIONS

• Schneider was extremely good tonight for the Canucks.  On a whole, the Canucks didn’t give up a ton of top-quality scoring chances, but when they did Schneider absolutely shut the door.  His rebound control was also extremely good, as a few times he was able to direct it to harmless areas.  He also stopped Mike Ribeiro on a second-period penalty shot.
• After he was stopped, Ribeiro returned almost immediately to the penalty box as he slashed Pahlsson.  This frustration and immaturity has dogged Ribeiro his entire career and it prevents him from being a truly great player.
• The Canucks defense has played much better since they have been on this brief, four-game road trip.  The new pairings seem to be meshing better, with Alex Edler in particular having a strong two-game stretch.  Andrew Alberts had another solid game tonight after returning to the lineup last night - very quiet and efficient, but physical.
• Marc-Andre Gragnani, who I’ve been extremely nervous of, played very well tonight and didn’t stray far from where he should have been.  He is showing that when properly restrained, he can be a good defenseman.  It’s unfortunate that he and Alberts were on the ice for the Schneider gaffe as they were both minus-1, but this illustrates how silly plus-minus can be. Alex Edler and
• Dan Hamhuis had strong games for the Canucks tonight as well.
• The Pahlsson line was very good tonight.  They have shown flashes of brilliance in the past few games, fueled most significantly by the return of Jannik Hansen to his fast, physical ways.  Not only were they very responsible in their own end, but they were able to generate some pressure and drive puck possession.
• The officiating again tonight was suspect.  The amount of stuff that teams are getting away with is astounding.  Then, on the flip side, the referees got into the “even up” game in the second period after they called a couple of chincy ones both ways.  It must be infuriating for the players to try to figure this out.
• In general, I have a problem with how scrums are dealt with.  Scrums usually start because of some transgression, real or imagined, near one of the nets.  If the act that started the scrum is a penalty (i.e. a slash, high-stick, cross-check, etc.) then I don’t really care how the refs mete out discipline, but that first penalty should put that team down a man.  Often, however, the officials will even everything up after the scrum is finished, which leaves the original act unpunished.
• The Canucks were unable to score on four power plays, including a 5 on 3.  They did generate good pressure on most of their opportunities.
• For whatever reason, the puck just isn’t going in right now.  The lack of scoring of late has been concerning, and it’s only exacerbated by Daniel’s absence.  That said, they aren’t getting any bounces at the moment and soon enough this will even out.  Pahlsson hit the post tonight in the third period with an open net.  Hopefully things like this won’t happen with the same frequency in the coming weeks.
• As a road team, the Canucks’ third period was a thing of beauty.  They really limited Dallas’ chances and only allowed eight shots to the Canucks’ seven.  Vancouver’s commitment to keeping the puck out of their own net is really showing.

IF THIS WERE A PLAYOFF GAME

Similar to last night’s game, this one really had a playoff-style atmosphere and emotion.  The Canucks prevailed in what really was a very good performance, so in the playoffs this would have registered a win.  Canucks record now 3-3 when using this notion.

PARTING SHOTS

Broadcast Observation of the Night:  The atmosphere in the American Airlines Arena tonight was strangely tame for a Dallas crowd.  They really used to crank it up in there.  I know attendance has been down the past few years, but the building has been more full lately and I expected it to be somewhat similar of an environment.

It was cool to see the perch from which the play by play is done, as it’s halfway up the stands as opposed to being located at the top of the arena.  This is very old-school.  Shorthouse and Garrett raved about it.

Looking ahead: Vancouver travels to Denver to tackle the Avalanche on Saturday night to complete their road trip.