First of all, that overtime period would have been the death of me. 2 powerplays for the Blues, one of which was a 4 minute-long double minor, you can't imagine the sense of relief and just pure excitement that I felt when Alex Burrows scored the winning goal.
It took a second to register that it was in.
And then SCREAMING AND JUMPING UP AND DOWN WITH MY FRIENDS AS WE ALL HIGH-FIVED EACH OTHER.
Then more screaming and jumping. The whole place was rocking.
The atmosphere was insane.
But let's start at the very beginning. The Canucks took an early two goal lead with goals from Kyle Wellwood and Alex Burrows. They were playing really well and they were disciplined. There weren't a lot of penalties called through out the game, and it was just really solid throughout the whole line up.
In the 2nd period, the Blues started taking it to them again, and maybe the Canucks got a bit complacement, and Luongo, apaprently started cramping up.. eitherway, the Blues tied the game, and there was a hush in the crowd at Shark Club.
Oh did I mention that Luongo was done for a few minutes and we were pretty much going "OHSHITOHSHITOHSHITOHSHIT" Yeah. But he got up, was solid again afterwards and the Canucks survived the onslaught until Burrows put the puck in the net.
Just. Wow. I don't think anyone expected this from this team from last year, and even during January. This is unexpected, but I love it.
I did not know the sound of honking can sound like heaven to the ears until I was walking around Robson with my friends. Just. amazing.
Both the team and the fans were amazing.
- 12:07 @MagicMittens is it available on windows? I hve it in my iPhone #
Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter from yaycanucks
Holy shit wow.
That was an intense game. An intensely good game. I don't even know where to begin.
I wasn't able to watch the first 10 minutes of the hockey game, as I was on my way home at the time, but I can already hear the craziness seeping through the radio. The crowd noise was just insane even though it sounded like the Blues were getting all the shots in during that time, but the energy of the Canucks was apparently crazy. Lots of hits, lots of end to end action... Just awesome.
Of course when I actually started watching the game, the awesomeness continued on. The defensive play of the Canucks was spotless. Luongo was... PERFECT and the offense did its thing to get chances.
I really think the key here was the Canucks were more disciplined and therefore did not give the Blues a lot of PP time. And when they did go on the PK, they were aggressive and kept the Blues to the outside. Oh, did I mention that Luongo was PERFECT?
The same could not be said for the Canucks PP though. The chances were there, but obviously the goals weren't. Oh well, they made it up for it 5-on-5.
Sedins with Burrows were fantastic. All those chances, and pure hardwork got them the 2nd goal.
The first goal was funnier though... After all the good chances, it goes in by trickling through Chris Mason's pads. LOL
But yes. I think the real game winner here were the plays of Luongo and the defensive play of the team. Fantastic job.
Oh yeah. And Mason Raymond? I love how you've changed your game. That's all I'm saying. Totally upped his level of play compared to when he was being healthy scratched. Good job.
Okay. Playoff matchups has been decided for both Eastern and Western teams:
Eastern Conference:
Boston Bruins vs Montreal Canadiens - it's surprising that I'm cheering for Bruins. I used to LOVE the Habs, but I think I started disliking them when Carey Price came along. Now I can't stand them and now love the Bruins. I think I also blame my friend Yuz for being such a Bruins fangirl. I think her Bruins love has rubbed off on me.
Washington Capitals vs New York Rangers - this is harder for me to pick one team since I absolutely love both teams for entirely different reasons. I think I will be happy with whoever wins this matchup.
New Jersey Devils vs Carolina Hurricanes - also a tough decision to make since I'm neutral with these teams, but I always like seeing non-traditional hockey markets do well. :)
Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins - this was a given. I hate Cindy Crosby, and love Jeff Carter and Mike Richards. Nuff said.
Western Conference:
San Jose Sharks vs Anaheim Ducks - another given. I hate the Ducks, but Sharks has always been one of my favorite teams.
Detroit Red Wings vs Columbus Blue Jackets - pretty neutral on both teams, I can't vote for just one.
Vancouver Canucks vs St. Louis Blues - ... do I need to explain?
Chicago Blackhawks vs Calgary Flames - and this one doesn't need explanations either. I hate the Flames, plain and simple.
Although the score may suggest otherwise, I thought the Canucks played a pretty exciting game with their 1-0, division clinching win.
The first period was all about the Canucks getting a lot of scoring chances, but Budaj just won't die and let the puck in. And it's not just one line contributing pressure, all 4 lines were rolling and getting the puck to the net.
They did calm down in the second period. The Avs applied a lot of pressure initially, but the defense pulled through and got us to the 3rd period where the fire was lit again and the scoring chances came back in full force. However, Budaj remained steady throughout the 3rd period, and stoned the Canucks each time.
When he wasn't stoning the Canucks, the puck just decides to stay out of the net by hitting the post, a player or something.
All that did not matter though because the Canucks got to OT and secured the division and we win anyway! :D Henrik Sedin must have scored the most hilarious goal for that GWG if you consider the type of game we had.
All those beautiful chances, and the goal that won it was a deflection off a Colorado player. LOL
The beauty in this game, to me, is just the balanced play of all the lines. Okay, not balanced, since it was obviously the Sedin line who did a lot of the dangerous scoring chances, but the other lines were not big liabilities.
Sure, there were a couple of times when they couldn't clear the puck out of the zone, or iced it, etc, but ... I thought they all looked solid. They can sustain pressure on the forecheck and was very systematic on the defense.
I am especially impressed with the 3rd line of Wellwood/Raymond/Bernier. Especially Raymond. I think you can see the change in Mason Raymond compared to his play earlier in the season.
He makes a lot more plays and seems to be using his line mates a lot more than he used to. Also, doesn't it seem like he's stronger on the puck recently? I don't know.. I see him forcing his way into the offensive zone better, and winning a lot more puck battles.
Ryan Johnson has also been excellent lately. I think his finger has probably now fully healed.
I feel bad that Shane O'Brien didn't get a regular season goal as a Canuck. Maybe he can get his first goal as a Canuck in the playoffs. :D Wouldn't that be something? C'mon OB, you know you have it in you!
Anyway. I'm just SO happy that it's done. It's time to just worry about the post season and hope we kick CBJ/STL bum.
Hello folks! It has been a while since I posted, but I have just been so busy with the 5 courses I'm taking this semester that I haven't had time to post. Surprisingly, I can find time to watch games, but I just get so tired to post about it afterwards.
I'm tired now, too, but this game was just too awesome that I can't pass up posting about it.
I didn't catch the first 5 or so minutes, but I did get in just in time for Rick "the Rypper" Rypien's 3rd goal of the season. First of, welcome back Ryp and congratulations on getting your first goal back as a Canuck.
First of all, I have to point out the obvious: Roberto Luongo was FREAKING AMAZING this game. As in wow. His rebound control was just... airtight. In fact, he barely let out any rebounds since he holds on to the puck or just steers it so far away that he has time to react when a shot comes in from that rebound. If not, there is usually a forward out to clear it... or a Calgary player ready to shoot it wide. *SNERK*
A lot of his saves were just WOW-inducing and just.. unbelievable. He's been pretty inconsistent since his return from injury, but I hope this is the beginning of his consistency. All the other teams would be in a world of pain if he keeps this up in the long run.
Also, Willie Mitchell? You're a freaking beast. There's a reason why this guy is my favorite player. I was so worried about him after he got hit by the puck. Man that looked painful, but he stayed in, toughed it out, went to the dressing room and came back out. Then he was high sticked by Bert afterwards.
But anyway, this is not the point. The Flames pretty much dominated the Canucks, at least in terms of shots on goal (46?), but, in general, I didn't think the Canucks were that sloppy? Maybe it is just me, or maybe it was just Luongo making the team in front of him look better than usual, but I was quite pleased with the play of the forwards.
I didn't think the 3rd and 4th lines were that bad tonight, especially the 4th line with Rypien and Hordichuk. Loved when Rypien hit some Flamer, then Hordi followed it up with a hit on his own on another Flamer. And oh yeah. RYPIEN SCORED. Did I say that already? It feels like I have.
it's like deja vu that I'm experiencing right now.
Nevertheless, Ryp really has Kipper's number.
Anyway, other goal scorers were Mattias Ohlund with 2 goals, and Henrik Sedin.
Yes.
Henrik Sedin.
Why is it that it's been Hank that's been scoring all the goals lately? Have the twins decided to switch up their jersey recently so Hank can look more wholesome, other than being viewed as the Twin that always passes?
It was a nice goal, by him, too.
Other than scoring... THE PENALTY KILL. They did an awesome job. Ryan Johnson has really improved in the PK. I loved all the times he pushed his puck to go over the line by force. I love his faceoff wins. Then other than him, the whole PK crew was jus fantastic. Definitely a collective effort, and it all starts with Lui.
Anyway...
Oh yeah. SHANE O'BRIEN. Did anyone else laugh out loud when he was leading the rush, and was found deep in the offensive zone? I love it. LOL. XD
I can't believe the playoffs are coming. Oh. My. God.
- 20:06 That was a nice kill by the #Canucks. #
- 20:14 Wow. Talk about the Canucks panicking. WTF. #
- 20:15 @MagicMittens wellwood wants to be a badboy, but too bad Salo took the chance from him. #
- 20:19 Willies chance to be a goalscorer was foiled again. Good kill by the #Canucks again. #
- 20:27 Arg. Ohlund. Not cool. #Canucks #
- 20:33 That was almost an opennet!!! Oh well at least pp for the #Canucks. I hope they capitalize. Argh #
- 20:34 WTF was that edler?? Argh. #
- 21:26 Grr burrows. #
- 21:30 Win for the #Canucks. Good job Hank. #
- 21:45 Hehe willie #
Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter from yaycanucks
Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter from yaycanucks
- 21:18 That Looked like a very intimate conversation between SOB and Semenov. LOL #
- 21:30 Holy crap Luongo. #Canucks #
- 21:42 Win for the #Canucks. I didn't curse them afterall. #
Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter from yaycanucks
I haven't been posting in this blog, but that's mostly because I have been busy with schoolwork *cough* hence I haven't found time to watch the games completely.
I did watch this one from start to finish though, and although the Canucks really poured it on during the 3rd period and OT, they weren't impressive during the rest of the game.
They did not have any speed at all, it was actually very frustrating to watch. I don't know if they didn't have legs or if it's because the Leafs were just that fast, but they were painfully slow. It took them forever to get the puck out of the zone, which cause them to get hemmed in for long periods of time, and when they do get a chance to move it out, they either ice it, or turn it over right away.
It was especially worse in the first few minutes of the game because none of their passes were connecting and it somehow just ends up on the Leafs' hands.
Anyway, the exciting part is how we won the game. Wow. Wow, right? As the announcers were saying, it's like this game was scripted!
Mats Sundin won it for the Canucks on the shootout! Mats Sundin won it for his new team against his former team! It's fantastic.
My heart stopped for a second as I couldn't decipher whether the crowd was cheering because Toskala made the save or because Sundin got the goal. It wasn't until after his teammates were treating his head like a bobblehead that I can breathe again.
Man. What a storybook finish. haha.
Anyway, yeah. :P I won't be able to catch the next Canucks game again. Lame. However, I am going to be watching their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at GM Place. ;)
