Wednesday, December 31, 2003
CANUCKS 4, BLACKHAWKS 3 (OT)
Let me first describe the utter joy I felt when I sat through SportsCenter from 7:40 up until the Mayne Event segment w/Jen Love Hewitt (she's not aging well) that I didn't bother to sit through (just short of 9pm) and managed to not witness a highlight reel of this very Vancouver/Chicago game. I'm pretty sure it was over before the SportsCenter started, or at least it would have been over in the first stages of the SportsCenter. Instead, it was a bunch of bowl game rehash (highlights shown TWICE), a bunch of bowl hype, a bunch of lamenting about Bill Callahan's firing, and the obligatory Brett Favre asskissing. I know Favre is probably the most durable and probably the best (definitely top 3) quarterback of the last decade, but man...
Yes, there was a hockey game that took place tonight.
The Canucks are now 9-3-4 in their last 16 games and goalie Dan Cloutier is 4-0-1 in his last five games, thanks to tonight's overtime win at the United Center against the somewhat pesky Blackhawks. The win gives the Canucks a six-point cushion for first place over the Avalanche and the Flames in the Northwest Division.
The Canucks managed to blow a 3-1 lead they had with under 8 minutes remaining in the second period, but they got the two points in overtime, and since it was a road game, we'll let 'em slide.
Cloutier stopped 29 shots in the win. The Canucks peppered Blackhawk goalie Michael Leighton (last week's NHL defensive player of the week) with 29 shots, and as the score indicates, four of them went through.
Scoring goals for the Canucks tonight: Artem Chubarov (5th of year), Henrik Sedin (2nd), Brent Sopel (2nd, on power play), and Todd Bertuzzi (11th, on power play)
Two good things to see with the scoring: one is that the power play seems to slowly be heating up in the last few games, which is something the Canucks desperately need. On last week's Hockey Night in Canada telecast, the Canucks' retired longtime broadcaster Jim Robson was asked if he thought the team could win the Stanley Cup, and he basically said they wouldn't have a chance unless they spruced up their power play. The power play is showing some signs of life. The second good thing about the scoring is that Todd Bertuzzi has scored goals in consecutive games. If Bert gets warmed up, the Canucks could go on another tear like they did to open up the season.
Big battle at the Garage on Friday...Colorado/Vancouver. Wish I could be there. Even if I had the logistical wherewithal to get up to Vancouver, the Canuck ticket is not an easy item to obtain.
Yes, there was a hockey game that took place tonight.
The Canucks are now 9-3-4 in their last 16 games and goalie Dan Cloutier is 4-0-1 in his last five games, thanks to tonight's overtime win at the United Center against the somewhat pesky Blackhawks. The win gives the Canucks a six-point cushion for first place over the Avalanche and the Flames in the Northwest Division.
The Canucks managed to blow a 3-1 lead they had with under 8 minutes remaining in the second period, but they got the two points in overtime, and since it was a road game, we'll let 'em slide.
Cloutier stopped 29 shots in the win. The Canucks peppered Blackhawk goalie Michael Leighton (last week's NHL defensive player of the week) with 29 shots, and as the score indicates, four of them went through.
Scoring goals for the Canucks tonight: Artem Chubarov (5th of year), Henrik Sedin (2nd), Brent Sopel (2nd, on power play), and Todd Bertuzzi (11th, on power play)
Two good things to see with the scoring: one is that the power play seems to slowly be heating up in the last few games, which is something the Canucks desperately need. On last week's Hockey Night in Canada telecast, the Canucks' retired longtime broadcaster Jim Robson was asked if he thought the team could win the Stanley Cup, and he basically said they wouldn't have a chance unless they spruced up their power play. The power play is showing some signs of life. The second good thing about the scoring is that Todd Bertuzzi has scored goals in consecutive games. If Bert gets warmed up, the Canucks could go on another tear like they did to open up the season.
Big battle at the Garage on Friday...Colorado/Vancouver. Wish I could be there. Even if I had the logistical wherewithal to get up to Vancouver, the Canuck ticket is not an easy item to obtain.
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