Canucks @ Flames Post Game

Canucks 7 Calgary 2

In my pre game blog for this match up I said that Raymond would be amped up for last nights game and would have his wheels going. I expected that line to use their speed to be effective and score a goal. Well even that was an understatement.I also mentioned they needed to be good in their own zone playing against Iginla. Between the three players on that line they had 8 points and were a combined +4. Mason Raymond lead the way scoring the hat trick with 3 goals and 1 assist.

Positives:

I had said it would be important for the team to get off to a good start coming off the four day break and Raymond did that on his first shift. Two minutes in Raymond used his speed down low to cut behind the net and used his little fade away move coming around the net he likes to use. He was trying to set up Tambellini in front but got a nice bounce off the defenders leg and in it went.

The next goal was a great use of speed to get in on the forecheck by Tambellini. He beat Giordano into the corner for the puck and created the turnover. The puck swung around to the point for Edler to take a shot, the rebound came out front to Tambellini in the high slot and he buried it. If you have been watching Tambellini lately he does a great job of sliding into the high slot for shots, it's a great attribute for a goal scorer.

Canuck's third goal was an important one. They had already had three power play chances in the first without scoring and were only up 2-1 at this point early in the 2nd. A nice cross ice pass by Edler to Henrik for the one timer caused a rebound that Kesler made a great hustle play to get the puck to Daniel who had a pretty easy tap in to make the game 3-1. That's 7 goals for Daniel on the PP and 600 points for Henrik in his career.

Again after letting Calgary back into the game at 3-2 the Canucks handed Calgary a PP to start the third. However Raymond was there to use his incredible speed to break away on the PK and score a pretty goal on the backhand. Kipper had no chance with that move and the speed Raymond was coming in with.

That seemed to be the end of Calgary and they shut down. A turn over by Henrik in at centre ice and a nice pass to Burrows lead to a two on one. Burrows caught Kipper guessing and finished with a nice shot. Burrows has three goals in three games and looks like he's coming on. This is huge news for the Canucks to get their top scorer from last year back.

Raymond's hat trick goal was kind of ugly but it counted. Torres with a nice screen in front and Raymond just put the puck on net. Hopefully a goal like this will keep him shooting more often.

The last goal can be blamed on Kipper who decided it would be a good idea to take a shot at Tambellini who was streaking to the net. This lapse in concentration made for an easy tap in to an open net on a rebound by Hamhuis who jumped in from the point.

Luongo, he played good and had some key saves in my opinion. He needs to keep playing this way every game. No bad goals and a few key saves and this team will win a lot of games. As long as Luongo isn't the reason this team is losing he's doing his job in goal. The first goal was a tip that you can't expect your goal to save from that angle and the 2nd goal was unlucky. He was in position for the first shot but Tanguay fanned his 2nd chance he put it off Luongo's back and in. The Flames PP was 0/3 and Luongo needs some credit for that.

The Negatives:

For a win of these proportions I still saw some things I was really unhappy with. Starting with the first goal for Calgary. On the road the visiting team has to put their line on the ice first. AV has three guys to chose from who have very good faceoff percentages (Kes, Hank, Malholtra). Yet in a 2-0 game where you know if the Flames score they are back in the game you put out your forth line? I don't understand this move at all. The Flames could have used any line they wanted with the last change. They ended up winning the draw which lead to puck possession and the tip in goal. To me this is a huge mismanagement of your lineup.

Although the PP ended up 3/8, the five minute PP at the 2nd needed a goal in it. The game could have been 4-2 at that point in time and would have made for a lot less stressful beginning to the third.

Overall:

A big win for the Canuck's putting them back into first in the NW division and 2nd in the West with a game in hand on Colorado. They used their speed to get off to a fast start and keep their momentum going that they've been creating over the last couple games. Raymond lead the way the rest of the team followed. It's good to see the team getting their game together and everyone chipping in on the scoreboard. Another team win for the Canucks against a rival team.

Friday is another rival in Chicago. Check in soon for the pre game for that game.


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