Friday, March 17, 2006
GAME 68: CANUCKS 3, BLUE JACKETS 2
Canucks 3, Blue Jackets 2
[initial partial post]
The Canucks needed in the worst way to end their five-game losing streak. It made for a free-fall in the Western Conference standings as other teams got better around them. Worse yet, another loss would make it all the more difficult to right their ship since the upcoming week's schedule is tough and might decide whether or not they go to the playoffs.
1st period
»» 1, VANCOUVER, powerplay, Mattias Ohlund 10 (Todd Bertuzzi, Markus Naslund) 17:22
2nd period
»» 2, COLUMBUS, powerplay, Ron Hainsey 2 (Pascal Leclaire) 5:55
3rd period
»» 3, VANCOUVER, powerplay, Anson Carter 27 (Henrik Sedin) 7:56
»» 4, COLUMBUS, Manny Malhotra 4 (Jason Chimera, Trevor Letowski) 8:36
»» 5, VANCOUVER, Brendan Morrison 13 (Matt Cooke, Trevor Linden) 13:49
Three stars -- (1) Morrison, (2) Columbus' Pascal Leclaire, (3) Ohlund
skater, goals-assists-points
Carter 1-0-1
Morrison 1-0-1
Ohlund 1-0-1
Bertuzzi 0-1-1
Cooke 0-1-1
Linden 0-1-1
Naslund 0-1-1
H Sedin 0-1-1
The win snapped a five-game skid for Vancouver, bumping their record to 36-26-6 (3-3 shootout, three overtime losses), good for 78 points and fourth place in the Northwest Division. Edmonton also has 78 points but is ranked ahead of Vancouver by way of having a game in hand. Thusly, Vancouver is seventh in the Western Conference. The Los Angeles Kings are a point back in eighth place. The Canucks are two points behind the Colorado Avalanche and four back of the division-leading Calgary Flames. The reward for finally ending the skid? The Red Wings come to Vancouver on Sunday night and the Canucks follow with three straight games (one road, two home) against the Edmonton Oilers, whom they have yet to beat this season.
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