Why does it seem that Vancouver puts on a loser kind of show every time I'm watching on TV? Is it true? Am I just blowing things out of proportion? Sometimes I wonder. This time, however, it was a tough to swallow shootout loss after a crazy scoring game. After playing 65 minutes of 5-5 hockey, my boys dropped the extra point, and sent 7th Canucks around both nations to bed with a frown.
Neither Roberto Luongo nor Jonas Hiller were on their games, allowing 10 total goals on 62 total shots, failing to impressive even the most casual of fans. Things got off to a fast and furious start, with the Ducks getting goals at 12:01 and 13:17 from Teemu (a power play redirect) and Karen's lesser known brother Bobby Ryan (a deep blast that went past Lu thanks to a screen), the first being on the power play. You know when you see something like that happen in just over a minute, and then you feel like you don't even want to watch the rest of the game? Well, I felt like a traitor for those feelings when Hank (a shot through with Daniel providing the screen) and Kyle Wellwood (on a perfect pass from Stevie Bernier) scored goals to even things up after 20 minutes. The second period worked in the completely opposite manner. I don't know if you can believe it, but my boy Alex Burrows nailed his 27th goal of the season (bigger than life), and Nintendo DS got his 31st on the power play just 2 minutes later to bust out a 4-2 lead. Karen's brother struck again to pull the Quacks within 1 on a Bobby Ryan netter past Lu again. Next, however, was an increasingly pretty goal from Ryan Kesler (his 25th). Ry Ry had the puck along the goal line and sent a wrister toward Hiller that seemed to bounce off of him into the net. It was really nice, and it was a two goal lead. Roberto and the defenders couldn't do enough, though, as the Ducks got two more goals in the middle brick (12:02 and 16:28), and somehow the score was 5-5 after 40 minutes. Then, all of the sudden, both goalies decided to play keeper. The third period and the overtime four-on-four was a silent no twine tickling amount of time that led to the shootout session, which never seems to go well for my beloved Orca. Hiller pretended to be Luongo and vice versa, as the Canucks were held without a goal in the shootout, and the Ducks got one from Corey Perry that was enough to end the game in favor of Anaheim, 6-5 (officially).
After seeing something stupid like that, who would say that a shootout is better than a tie? By the way, I'd like to welcome Coleman, Alberta native Rick Rypien back to the ice after over 70 games off due to sports hernia surgery. When Ryp went toe to toe with Sheldon (isn't that the name of the egg from the farm cartoon on Garfield?) Brookbank (I thought his name was Wade), Ryp completely messed him up. Brookbank came away with a black eye, and everyone around Canucks Nations was proud to have the ol' Rickster back on the ice.
The shootout loss has my boys and their 42-45-10 (94 points) record tied with Calgary's equally solid 94 points. Minnie and Edmonton still sit back 13 points and Colorado is bringing up the rear of the division like the Mariners of Seattle, a thrilling -30 of Vancouver. In the bigger picture, it looks more like this: #3/#4 Calgary/Vancouver sit with 94, with #5 Chicago -1, #6 Columbus -6, #7 Anaheim -8, and #8 (again) St. Louis at -9. Calgary and Vancouver each have 5 games remaining, with Chicago holding a game in hand. #9 Nasvhille must be sitting pretty, with a game in hand against Anaheim and St. Louis, trailing the playoffs by just a single point. If the playoffs ended tonight, we'd be right back into the thick of the Canucks/Hawks rivalry for the opening round. Excited Jon? The first of the final five comes with a NHL Network "Hockey Night in Canada" battle between my boys and Edmonton. The final fiver games roll out like this: Edmonton (road), Colorado (home), Calgary (home), Los Angeles (home), and Colorado (road). Let's be real here: the Canucks should be able to roll over the Oilers, Avs, and Kings. This would bring us to the match against Calgary at GM Place on April 7. Everything in the playoff seeding will come down to that game. Meanwhile, the Flames final five are against Minnie, LA, us, and two against Edmonton. You kind of have to assume that Calgary will win all of their games against everyone but the Orca, and since we're all tied, that again means that it really comes down to April 7. At least the Flames will be playing the second of a back to back when the play us. Therefore, advantage Canucks in the race for #3. Follow me?
On a concluding note, it is time for today's LSFISP (LSF Irish Slang of the Post). Today's Irish slang is Mongo Sap, which is slang for "an individual with mental deficiencies." Example: "What was with Luongo last night? Played like a feckin' Mongo Sap, he did." Feel free to use it.
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