Canucks vs. Leafs Post Game

Boy they made it so close. The Canucks are lucky they have Luongo. Wellwood's goal was a fluke, and I think there was interfer... uh, sorry. I seem to have been temporarily possessed by a Leafs fan for a minute there. Fact is, all the score does is flatter the Leafs even more. They had no business winning that game, because they didnt mount any type of sustained pressure. Sure they outshot the Canucks, but they didn't dominate the play. If anything, they should thank their defense for doing such a good job of clogging up the slot so the Canucks couldnt get shots through on the point. Hey at least one of their scouts was paying attention...
Pavol Demitra had an impressive return, setting up 3 of the 4 goals, including the opener from Wellwood, who was in the lineup because of Demitra's rib injury in the first place. As far as the story of the game though it was the 5 on 3 powerplay that the Leafs had in the first. Roberto Luongo, playing without a stick stopped the Leafs 5 times, and not long after Wellwood got the Canucks on the board. The defensive duo of Shane O'Brien and Lawrence Nycholat were solid last night, and Nycholat's set up of Daniel Sedin for the 4th Canucks goal was downright impressive. Who knew he had that kind of set up ability? Favorite moment of that game however, besides the fans chanting "Leafs Suck" after various organ tunes, was the Willie Mitchell goal. Big Willie has been busting his ass this year, and is well on his way to a career high for points, but had been goal-less so far. So it was fitting that his goal was not only a beauty, as he charged up the middle to tap it home, but it was the game winner. Luongo may be the Captain, but as far as the skaters go, Mitchell leads by example with heart and desire every night on the ice. The Taylor Pyatt bashing continues, and Steve Bernier continues to be snakebit. Pyatt didn't play bad IMO, and as far as Bernier, you can feel it building up, and we will probably see a long streak coming from him. So with that Eastern roadtrip out of sight and another one approaching, the Canucks are now 7-2-1 in their last 10, neck and neck with the Wild for 1st in the Division. First up on the trip is the Islanders, followed by a game we've all had circled on the calendar: the Rangers and Markus Naslund. This game is not just huge because it's against our former Captain, but because this will send a message to the league and many of those sports writers who still think it's the Vancouver Luongos: This team is far better than you thought, and while it's not necessary to apologize, should they beat the Rangers, you can at least admit you were wrong. Yeah I get a little worked up about this stuff. I'm a fan, no apologies.
The new jerseys made their debut last night, and I think I speak for most when I say the Johnny Canuck shoulder patch should have been the main logo. I like 'em, but they would have been the best jersey in the league with JC on the front.

There could very well be a podcast for that game Monday, it all depends on how many puppies we still have around the house (the shameless attention hogs that they are, they're always trying to hog the mic).

Canucks vs. Leafs Second Period

To paraphrase a CDC poster: "the new gold standard of how much your team sucks is when Willie Mitchell scores on you". While Toronto is obviously trying, the Daniel Sedin goal was a back-breaker. For as few shots as the Canucks have managed, the play certainly hasn't seemed so lopsided as you would guess from looking at the score. Nice stat about the Canucks not giving up an even strength goal since the Halloween game against Anaheim. The Leafs haven't really played a bad game, they just haven't gotten any breaks, can't do anything with their PPs, didn't get any help from their goaltending and have poor penalty killing. But other than that, they're right in it.

Canucks vs. Leafs First Period

All in all an entertaining first period. Roberto Luongo may have played the most amazing stretch during that 5 on 3 since he came to Vancouver, and that's saying something. Gotta feel good for Kyle Wellwood, potting one against his old team, you know that one stings. Toskala does not look good so far, and it may be a good thing for him that once again we are struggling to get shots through. I am looking for some rolaids because I know I will need them after the spin Cherry puts on what was a disastrous 1st period for the Leafs. They may not recover the lost momentum from that 5 on 3. Good on Luke Schenn for sticking up for his teammate, but loved the way Davison was feeding him lol.