Anaheim Ducks vs Canucks || November, 11, 2011

As quickly as the Canucks loved the 5 minute man advantage, they learned to hate it just as fast.  What gave them a huge lead against Chicago, killed them in the same fashion.  Rome took a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for his elbow - which didn't seem to deem 5 minutes, but hey - and that was the beginning of the end for Vancouver, or was it? (DUN-DUN-DUUHHHHH)

It just wasn't the back ends night, I guess.  It's supposed to be Vancouver's strong suit, mobile defensemen moving the puck efficiently and quickly out of our zone and through the neutral zone.  The big glaring mistake that seemed to get the ball rolling was the Hamhuis give away to Cogliano, who one-touched it to Koivu and picked top corner.

After the scoreless first period, I don't think there were very many people guessing that the next two periods would end up like they did.  Ducks just dominated the Canucks, combining giveaways and some lucky breaks - and tons of fire power - to score four in the second frame.  You see the score, and immediately think that it was a goaltender breakdown, yet Luongo played pretty well.  You couldn't really blame him for those goals, although I didn't like the Holland goal, beating Luongo over the glove-side shoulder.  Other than that, they were just good goals.


So, the third period starts, Schneider starts in net, and the Canucks take to the ice for the first time in this game.  Vancouver decided that they wanted to give their hometown fans - in Anaheim - something worth cheering about.  It started with the too-many-men call against the Ducks, when Bieksa capitalized on it with a point shot.  I think it tipped off Hodgson's stick, but I don't think anybody really cares.  Hansen was next, trying to tell Coach V that it was a mistake taking him off the Sedin line.  His first goal was a perfect deflection in front, tipping it through the wickets of Hiller.  Hansen's second was just pure hard work, scooping up the rebound and swinging it past Hiller as he was falling to the ice.  Now the travelling band of Canuck fans had something to cheer about.

One minute left, Schneider on the bench after only facing 2 shots in the entire period, 6-on-4 after a careless and dangerous slashing penalty on Perry (which should be reviewed in my opinion) and the Canucks are scaring the crap out of the Ducks.  Chance after chance, Anaheim didn't have any idea what to do, they were just clogging the middle hoping to block the shots.  Kesler had the best chance with about 30 seconds left, tried to beat Hiller backhand, but Hiller stretches out and stops it with the cheater on his glove.  One more chance, the Canucks work it around the outside, back to Edler, who tries a one touch pass...and he missed it.  The puck slides all the way down to the end, with only enough time for Salo to get a howitzer off from centre. That shot didn't get enough credit by the way.  He unleashed all hell into that shot, just think about that from the blue line.

I'm sure the Ducks will take that win and move on, but it can't feel like a win for them after the slaughtering they took in the third.  Then again, they did the exact same to Vancouver in the second period, so they did deserve it.  The lone reason they won that game, Hiller.  If he didn't stop Kesler at the end there, it would have gone to OT, and with the momentum wave that the Canucks were cruising on, there was no stopping them.  It was a good finish to a terrible game.

P.S.  That slash by Perry on Sedin needs looking into.  Perry broke his stick on Sedin's wrist.  Looked like a frustration move on his part.