Friday, December 09, 2005
GAME 29: CANUCKS 3, SENATORS 2 (SO)
Canucks 3, Senators 2 (SO)
[posted in full Sat ~9:51p]
By most accounts, it was a great game marred only by the referees trying to take its reins. The talent on the ice was plentiful and the goaltending was incredible. With all the penalties, the goaltending had to be incredible to keep the game down to a final score as indicated.
The Vancouver area had a long time to build this one up since the Canucks hadn't played since Sunday night. The game marked the 100th straight sellout at GM Place (counting playoffs), and this had been billed as a measuring stick game. It would be against a team of Ottawa Senators who weren't just good, they were 21-4 good. What would hold up? Would the balance swing in the favor of a 21-4 team or a team that was 12-1 on home ice at GM Place?
1st period
Markus Naslund drifted from the right-wing boards and moved next to the faceoff dot, where he wristed a bullet past Dominik Hasek stick side with a couple of skaters in front to help screen. Coming into the game, the Canucks had a record of 11-1 when scoring the first goal of the game.
»» 1, VANCOUVER, powerplay, Markus Naslund 16 (Todd Bertuzzi, Ed Jovanovski) 1:07
»» CANUCKS 1, SENATORS 0
On a 2-on-1 shorthanded break with Bryan Smolinski on his left, former Canuck Peter Schaefer wristed the puck five-hole past Alex Auld from the back of the right circle.
»» 2, OTTAWA, shorthanded, Peter Schaefer 5 (unassisted) 3:14
»» SENATORS 1, CANUCKS 1
In a four-on-four situation, Daniel Sedin got into the Ottawa zone on a breakaway and had to evade two of the Sens' defenders trying to hook him from behind. Hasek came way out of the net and halfway up the slot to try and kick the puck away, but he whiffed on the kick attempt. Henrik Sedin came to pick up the scraps with only defenseman Chris Phillips to beat in front of the net. Phillips is not Hasek.
»» 3, VANCOUVER, Henrik Sedin 8 (Daniel Sedin) 17:58
»» CANUCKS 2, SENATORS 1
Ottawa was hit with three penalties in the final 2:24 of the period and over a span of 88 seconds. Naslund was hit with a tripping minor eight seconds before the 2-1 goal as well. Shots were 13-9 for Vancouver in the period. The Canucks were 1-for-5 on the power play, whereas Ottawa was 0-for-2.
2nd period
Though no goals were scored, possibly the biggest save of the game was recorded when Hasek threw up the pads on a Brendan Morrison shot. Nearly as absurd as the first period, Ottawa was hit with penalties at the 15:21, 17:21, and 19:54 marks. The period was scoreless, but Hasek had a lot to do with that. Vancouver outshot the Senators 15-6 in the period (28-15 overall) and was 0-for-4 on the power play (1-for-9). Ottawa was 0-for-3 on the power play (0-for-5).
3rd period
Vancouver hockey fans had their hockey fix during the lockout by way of the WHL's Vancouver Giants. Andrej Meszaros was a member of the Giants last year and also represented the Czechs at the World Junior Championships last winter. Coincidentally, the World Juniors this year will be held in Vancouver. Anyway, Meszaros fluttered a puck from the point that went off Bryan Allen (and possibly Mattias Ohlund before that) and past Auld to tie the game. It was the first NHL goal for Meszaros. There's never a good time for a fluky goal, and with a one-goal lead against Ottawa, it really wasn't good.
»» 4, OTTAWA, Andrej Meszaros 1 (unassisted) 5:01
»» SENATORS 2, CANUCKS 2
The Canucks weren't able to get the lead back, and their best chances was on a two-man advantage with just over five minutes left when Naslund tried to jab in a rebound, but Hasek was on it. The Canucks failed to take advantage of a power play over the final 53 seconds of regulation. Vancouver outshot Ottawa 9-6 in the period (37-21 regulation) and was 0-for-4 on the power play (1-for-13 regulation). Ottawa was 0-for-2 on power play in the period (0-for-7).
Overtime
Ottawa outshot Vancouver 2-1 in the overtime period and didn't capitalize on 17 seconds of a power play to end the overtime. Vancouver outshot the Senators 38-23 in the game. Ottawa finished 0-for-8 on the power play while Vancouver was 1-for-13.
Shootout
Dany Heatley -- NO (missed net high)
Naslund -- NO (backhand five-hole stuffed by Hasek)
Daniel Alfredsson -- YES
Bertuzzi -- YES (backhand, Hasek stops but it slips through)
Jason Spezza -- NO (backhand fake to forehand, stopped)
Ryan Kesler -- NO (rolls off stick)
Mike Fisher -- NO (gloved by Auld)
»» D Sedin -- YES (hard forehand wrister)
»» CANUCKS 3, SENATORS 2 (SO)
Three stars -- (1) Morrison, (2) Ottawa's Andrej Meszaros, (3) Jovanovski
[Kevin Kinghorn's recap (top link in every one of these posts) eschewed the in-arena three stars, as did many after the game. He went with (1) D Sedin, (2) Auld, and (3) Detroit's Dominik Hasek. Much safer picks.]
skater, goals-assists-points
Naslund 1-0-1
H Sedin 1-0-1
Bertuzzi 0-1-1
Jovanvoski 0-1-1
D Sedin 0-1-1
Todd Bertuzzi was the first player to score against Dominik Hasek in a shootout this season.
In the faceoff circle, the Canucks were 32-for-68 (47%). Brendan Morrison was 13-for-28 in his 500th career NHL game, Trevor Linden was 5-for-8, Ryan Kesler was 4-for-8, Henrik Sedin was 7-for-16, and Todd Bertuzzi was 3-for-6.
Morrison led the Canucks in shots with seven. Sami Salo got off six shots. Bertuzzi dished out six hits. Bryan Allen blocked three shots. The only plus-playing Canuck on the night was Salo, who was plus-1. Minus-playing Canucks were Mattias Ohlund, Nolan Baumgartner, Allen, Richard Park, Kesler, Jarkko Ruutu, and Anson Carter. All other Canuck skaters were even.
The Canucks are now 18-9-2 (1-1 on shootouts, one overtime loss), good for 38 points and a lead in the Northwest Division due to their game in hand over the Calgary Flames, who also have 38 points. They also are now 13-1 on home ice.
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