‘Slip’ it into another gear
March 16th, 2008 by thewordbirdVancouver Canucks fans ran the entire gamut of emotions this past Saturday night. Momentarily brushing aside the fact that players are oftentimes stoked up to play on Hockey Night in Canada.
The Canucks came out with their hackles up and something to prove in the first period in the contest with the Dallas. The Stars elected to start Johan Holmqvist, a back-up goaltender who was moved with Brad Richards in exchange for Mike Smith, Jussi Jokinen, Jeff Halpern and a 4th round pick. It was a curious move, as Holmqvist had not started a game since February 23rd and was shelled against the Bruins, allowing 5 goals on 28 shots in a 5-3 loss on the doorstep of the trade deadline. Vancouver shot the puck at every opportunity and Matt Pettinger (Vancouver’s deadline acquisition) scored on a weak shot between Holmqvist’s legs that was a culmination of sustained pressure, movement and cycling by the Canucks to make it 1-0.
Ryan Kesler ground out a powerplay goal on very enthusiastic efforts by Alexander Edler and Markus Naslund on the second unit against what is the best penalty-kill in the league, to give Vancouver a 2-0 edge. Pettinger stripped former Vancouver Giants’ Captain Mark Fistric of the puck and moved in, sending a well-timed pass to Naslund for a one-timer that did not have to be accurate to send the Canucks up 3-0. It seemed as good as a win right there. The Canucks were playing their game and not many passengers were evident, at least Head Coach Alain Vigneault was limiting the mistakes that were costly in previous games.
And then a breakdown occurred. The Stars had been getting very minute amounts of traffic to goaltender Roberto Luongo previously, to no avail. Joel Lundqvist and Antti Miettinen were the only Stars to even produce a scoring chance with four minutes to go in the period. Then, the fourth line of Krys Barch, Brad Winchester and veteran Stu Barnes served up an active shift and Captain Brendan Morrow really got in Luongo’s sightlines. Defensemen Willie Mitchell and Kevin Bieksa were admiral in protecting the goalie, but eventually the Stars broke through. With 14 seconds remaining, the home crowd was lifted back in, on the strength of Lundqvist’s first marker in 45 games.
Stars’ Head Coach Dave Tippett decided to hand the game over to franchise netminder Marty Turco to begin the second period. Morrow was again in front of Luongo when Mike Modano’s point-shot on a pass from Stephane Robidas brought Dallas to within one goal on the powerplay. The pace was very quick and some great end-to-end hockey was being played. Speed players such as Brendan Morrison and Mason Raymond for Vancouver were able to raise their games to match Modano, Niklas Hagman and poised young defenseman Matt Niskanen. Dallas was too much at this point and as Raymond could not squeeze the puck against the boards it headed to Edler at the point. But the rookie made a rare error pinching and veteran Jere Lehtinen chipped the puck up to Richards. With considerable swiftness, Richards gained the offensive zone and then Luongo’s confidence, with first a head fake and then a shoulder fake. The deke that ensued was well placed and he slid the puck in between the goalie’s legs for the tying goal. Richards was also immense in the face-off category, winning 18 of his 24 draws.
Coach Vigneault did something that struck me as odd but made more sense as I thought about it afterwards. Edler was not on the bench after the goal. I believe that is very good coaching on his part. Edler took the next shift for the team and was not shaken. Turco and Luongo both reminded me of last year’s playoff series, making key saves and the tempo of the contest was elevated once more. Things were chippy towards the end of the second period. One can only wonder about the outcome if Turco would have had the start….
In the third period, Morrow was again camping in front of Luongo and the combination of Bieksa and Mitchell answered the call again and again, clearing the large forward. Luongo made saves on Richards and Modano, and Mitchell did not miss shifts when he was gashed open from a puck that rode his stick upwards and bloodied him substantially. The Canucks got what proved to be the winner off of Morrison’s skate, which earned Naslund and Pettinger each their third point of the night.
Robidas used his stick to harness Naslund on a very good chance for the Canucks (pass from Mitchell as well) and was awarded a penalty shot for a chance at a larger lead. The Canucks’ Captain came in with no speed and proved to be an unproblematic save for Turco. Vancouver still showed hustle at the end of the game, apparent in rushes by among others, Taylor Pyatt who exhibited his around the defense, generating a chance. Disaster could very well have struck though, as the Canucks invited the Stars in for two late game face-offs deep in Vancouver’s zone, after icings. Fortunately for the Canucks, Dallas was unable to convert.
The Canucks have come to the end of this four game road trip and with 2 wins and look forward to another meeting with Wayne Gretzky’s Coyotes on tonight in Vancouver, before heading to Oil country in a North West Division clash on Thursday night.
March 17, 2008
Robin Keith Thompson
