Love ‘Em & Hate ‘Em
As much fun as the Canucks‘ second period was, they jumped out to the most dangerous lead in hockey. One period later, the puck found its way to Patrik Berglund via Chris Tanev‘s face and the Blues were within a goal of completing the comeback.
It was a nail biter but it wasn’t to be, affording the Canucks a split in their four game homestand.
The question is whether riding one good period and a hot goalie is an acceptable approvement.
Love ‘Em
1. Hansy
Something has sparked Jannik Hansen this year as he’s playing for keeps almost every shift. The sparkplug collected his fifth goal of the month with a well placed rocket that stayed in the net for perhaps half a second and opened the run of three goals in 8:45 that decided the game.
WATCH Hansen’s goal
2. Schneisy
Easily the best game of the year for Cory Schneider, who was brilliant to keep the game scoreless in the first and brilliant again with the game on the line late.
Alain Vigneault challenged his goalies to be better than than their counterparts on the opposite end of the rink, and Schneider delivered that last night.
3. Schroedsy
I’m still not quite sure what I saw when Jordan Schroeder made an incredible pass to set up Dale Weise for the gamewinning goal. It was a start-stop blind play that makes you wonder just how fast someone can come under the influence of playing with Henrik Sedin.
It sparked this tweet from our editor “Q”.
3-0 #Canucks Did Weise just seriously score there? #Impressive HECKUVA play by Schroeder too
— Q Smith (@NWSBQ) March 20, 2013
So there’s something to be said for that.
He did unfortunately whiff on a couple chances to get a goal in his latest call-up, but Schroeder makes plays like these every once in a while that make you wonder what exactly the Canucks have here.
Hate ‘Em
1. Zack’s back
Clik here to view.
Zack Kassian returned to the line-up last night
Zack Kassian returned to the line-up last night, took three minutes to fight Chris Stewart in a brilliant move to take the league’s first star of last week off the ice, and then disappeared back into the locker room having re aggravated his back.
On the plus side, Pinizzotto looks like he could be fun.
2. Jawbreaker
Thankfully he’s OK, but oh man what a one-two punch to see Chris Tanev‘s assist on Berglund’s goal.
The smooth and steady defenceman would have been a major loss to a blueline in a slight state of flux.
Keith Ballard must have seen his own life flash before his eyes.
3. 20 minute hockey
A win is a win as a horse and horse and no one can look a gift horse in the mouth of course.
That is of course unless that horse sandwiches a pristine period of hockey with two where they barely hang on.
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