Canucks 1 Islanders 2 (SO)

Welcome once again to the local chapter of the 'This really isn't the worst thing that ever happened to the Canucks' support group. Should they have won that game Monday night? Absolutely. A team 7 points down in the standings from you may not be the worst team in the league, but still, it's a general rule of thumb. But was it so inconceivable that they would lose to the Islanders? Yes, they're in 28th place, but they're not that far out of a playoff spot. They have a sub .500 record, but had played well since Rick DiPietro's injury (read into that what you will). They have a hot goalie right now in Joey McDonald, and no doubt were fired up by the comments in the Vancouver media about how this game would be a cake walk (I believe the term 'perennial doormats' was used, showing that not only do the Canucks press corps not believe in quotes that go on dressing room walls, but they don't realize how much more often the Islanders make the playoffs than the Canucks). Now as far as the win goes, apart from a brutal second period, I think probably their worst period of hockey all season, the Canucks played a pretty decent road game. They tried not to take penalties (hands down some of the worst and most bizarre rule interpretations I have ever seen... between the puck that hit a camera over the glass and the throwing of the puck up the ice, those 2 are the worst blown calls I have seen in some time) and the PK was good. There were some issues with the ice, not the reason why they lost, but it was bad enough that it did impact both teams, they missed passes and often saw pucks hop the line. The Islanders goal to tie it though was hardly a sign they were dominating. It was a shot on net that went in off Shane O'Brien. So why is it that people lose their minds over this? I think the media certainly set the fans up for a fall. Of course the Canucks should be confident going into the game, they had been playing very well, and have had success against the team recently. But to imply the game was unloseable (is that even a word?) was crazy. All it did was show that no team can afford to play less than a 60 minute game in the NHL. Take a period off, you usually pay for it. And losing in the shootout is not losing in my eyes. It's a tie. And we got a valuable road point. So everyone take a deep breath. We are in for a treat tonight, and one I think that now we have adjusted to the 3000+ mile road journey we are ready for. Bring on the Rangers!