LA Kings vs Canucks || November, 10, 2011

They looked angry, frustrated, plain ol' pissed off.

The Canucks dominated the first period, which led to a coasting of the second and third. The first period should be used video evidence on how to play hockey in the future.  Our powerplay was efficient to the point of astonishment.  The way the puck was moved - not only around the outside, but through the defense in the middle - was amazing.  It all started with the elbowing penalty they took with Trevor Lewis caught Bieksa in the face - Bieksa ended up missing quite a bit of the period getting stitches.  From then on, the Kings frustration shone through, especially when Doughty decided to assault Kesler in front.  As that was happening, I was wondering what he was thinking.  Doughty got a couple punches to the back of Kesler's head, then a couple crosschecks, then looked back to ref as if he was testing him.  Finally, one last monster crosscheck and that was enough.  Everything Doughty did in that sequence was a penalty, and then when he finally got one, he seemed dumbfounded that he was in the penalty box.

Salo played his first game back since taking some time off to let his tender groin heal (yes I know what I just said, and we will all be adults about this and move along...).  The calming presence of Salo was one thing that our powerplay was missing.  His goal was a textbook, defenseman goal.  Head up, moving forward into the slot, waits for the screen to be in place, then wires it in far side.  The scary thing about that show though, is that he didn't hammer it.  That was almost a half swing, which makes me scared for the people who are going to block his shots in the future, because if he really steps behind one, you might die.  Literally, die.

After the first period, it seemed like the Canucks were putting it on cruise control just a little bit.  Didn't have the same type of domination as the first, but still very much in control of the game.  I almost got the feeling that if the Canucks went up 4-1, that the Kings would start playing dirty.  L.A. looked so frustrated in the first period and it carried over into the second and if the Canucks put the game out of reach, that would have been enough to make them snap.

The third period, the Kings came to play.  Luongo was good all night, but the third was when he had to make some of the more unusual saves he will have to ever make.  My favorite, was when Bieksa got pushed down into the crease, and at some point during Luongo scrambling, Lou ended up on top of Bieksa and still made the save.  The was the most scrambling I've seen Luongo do, but it wasn't the kind of flopping around that he does in October's.  It's the kind that he does in January and February, where it seems like you can't get anything past him.

This was a great start to a back-to-back situation.  Vancouver did what they were so good at doing last year - causing frustration.  Playing keep away on the powerplay like you do when you play basketball against a younger sibling.  Scoring almost at will, like every goal they scored, they knew it was going in.  Nobody seems surprised when they score now, it's almost like an acknowledgement that their process was complete, rather than a celebration of an unexpected goal.

Nucks vs. Ducks tonight! Anaheim has one of the scariest first lines I can think of, in terms of size and skill, but Vancouver always seems to handle it, so we will see.  My prediction for the score: 4-2 Canucks, with an empty netter at the end.

Give me your predictions in the comments!