Saturday, April 08, 2006
GAME 78: CANUCKS 3, FLAMES 2 (OT)
Canucks 3, Flames 2 (OT)
[initial partial post]
The Canucks were in dire circumstances. They had five games remaining, all against teams either assured of a playoff spot or in the hunt for one. Most accounts say the Canucks need to win four of these five remaining games to get in. Before a home game against Anaheim, a home game then a road game against San Jose, followed by a final home game against Colorado, the Canucks first had to host Calgary and beat them. That's never an easy task these days. One thing the Canucks did have going for them was the return of defenseman Ed Jovanovski, who had played in only two games since New Year's Eve and who'd had abdominal surgery. Jovo has missed 38 games this season.
1st period
»» 1, VANCOUVER, powerplay, Brendan Morrison 17 (Todd Bertuzzi, Markus Naslund) 5:28
»» 2, VANCOUVER, powerplay, Mattias Ohlund 12 (unassisted) 18:59
2nd period
none
3rd period
»» 3, CALGARY, powerplay, Mark Giordano 1 (Jamie Lundmark, Tony Amonte) 10:06
»» 4, CALGARY, Byron Ritchie 3 (Daymond Langkow, Jarome Iginla) 12:09
overtime
»» 5, VANCOUVER, Ed Jovanovski 7 (Naslund, Morrison) 2:27
Three stars -- (1) Calgary's Jarome Iginla, (2) Ohlund, (3) Jovanovski
skater, goals-assists-points
Morrison 1-1-2
Naslund 0-2-2
Jovanovski 1-0-1
Ohlund 1-0-1
Bertuzzi 0-1-1
The necessary win leaves the Canucks with a record of 41-30-7 (4-4 shootout, three overtime losses), good for 89 points. The Canucks have dug themselves down so far that they can't be picky about where they want to be seeded should they make the playoffs. They just to make the playoffs period. The fact that Colorado and Anaheim won and that Calgary got a single point out of this game (and clinched a playoff spot with it) is irrelevant. The Canucks needed two points, and they went out and got the two points. As of now, the Canucks are tied with San Jose for eighth in the West, but the Sharks have two games in hand. The two teams square off in a home-and-home on Wednesday and Thursday. With only eight possible points left to get, the Northwest Division title is out of the question since the Flames now have 98 points, as are Nashville, who is fourth in the West with the same amount of points. Anaheim is fifth in the West and five points up on Vancouver with a game in hand. Colorado is three up on Vancouver in sixth in the West with a game in hand. Edmonton is two points up on Vancouver with no games in hand and is seventh in the West.
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