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Vancouver Canucks Game Review: Starstruck in Dallas, Hawks Ahead |
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Thursday December 19: Dallas Stars 4 - Vancouver Canucks 1
The Dallas Stars have been a non-playoff team for the past five seasons, yet they consistently give the Vancouver Canucks trouble. Even with their former coach as part of our braintrust, the Canucks never had a chance on Thursday as they dropped a 4-1 decision at American Airlines Center.
Such as they are, here are your highlights. The package is only 3:14 today:
The game was essentially over before the five-minute mark of the first period. In a 15-second stretch, Dallas picked up goals from Tyler Seguin and rookie Colton Sceviour—who scored his second straight game-winning goal in just his fourth game of the season. The Stars led 2-0 before Vancouver had recorded its first shot on goal.
The Canucks have played well through the first half of December, but this game exposed all the familiar areas of concern. A poor start. Terrible response after a goal. Inability to score despite good pressure in the second period—shots were 14-5 but Dallas got the only goal, a softie off the stick of Erik Cole. Inability to finish by Jannik Hansen. And a less-than-perfect night from Roberto Luongo.
Torts wasn't sounding any alarms after the game. He shrugged off the mistakes that led to the first two goals and gave Kari Lehtonen credit for keeping the Stars in the game during what he described as a very good second period. It's no time to yell and scream when it's your first game in nine where you don't get at least a point, apparently:
With Ryan Stanton on the shelf, Torts juggled his defense pairings all night long, working Yannick Weber and Andrew Alberts onto the ice with one of the top four wherever possible—I don't think they ever played together. Both Weber and Alberts got plenty of ice time in the third period, when the game was out of reach. Weber finished with 13:01 while Alberts logged 13:45—and was a plus-1! Hamhuis was the high-minute man once again, with a "mere" 27:55.
Kesler Hurt?
Was Ryan Kesler injured when he got hit by a Jason Garrison one-timer on a second period power play? He struggled to get back to his feet on the play and also looked hurt when he blocked an Erik Cole shot later in the period. We've seen Kesler play through pain before—and become ineffective. I'll be watching him closely in Chicago tonight to see if he looks like he's struggling.
Vancouver Canucks at Chicago Blackhawks - Friday December 20 - 5:00 pm - TSN, NHL Network US, RDS2, Comcast Sports Chicago
Vancouver Canucks: 20-11-6, fourth in Pacific Division
Chicago Blackhawks: 25-7-5, first in Central Division, first in NHL
The Canucks have two games left to right the ship before a week-long Christmas break (when Bo Horvat and Hunter Shinkaruk will become the centre of attention). Vancouver will be in for a test tonight with a matchup against the league-leading Chicago Blackhawks.
This is the Canucks' only to the United Center this year. In case you forgot, Chicago beat Vancouver 2-1 at Rogers Arena a month ago, with their two goals in nine seconds to erase Vancouver's 1-0 lead. It's a little scary that the Canucks have already shown signs of regressing to that pattern.
After a weird 7-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs last Saturday, Chicago has tightened back up this week. They've beat both Los Angeles and Nashville by 3-1 scores and have had two days off heading into tonight's game.
The Hawks have managed just fine since their top two goaltenders went down to injury. Corey Crawford has started skating and should be back with the team after the Christmas break, while recent pickup Jason LaBarbera has just been recalled from Rockford.
Expect to see rookie Antti Raanta get the start for the Hawks tonight. He's 7-1-1 so far in 10 appearances, with a .920 save percentage and 2.26 goals-against.
No definite word from the Canucks on a starter, but Dan Murphy joins the group who suspects it'll be Eddie Lack tonight. I agree:
Thursday's loss and a win by Colorado dropped Vancouver to seventh place in the Western Conference. None of the Canucks' rivals are playing tonight, so two points *could* vault the team back up to sixth. Now all they have to do is earn 'em against a loose, confident team that continues to play very good hockey.
Quick Hit:
- The holiday trade freeze arrived with a whimper. The only deal on Thursday saw the Edmonton Oilers move Linus Omark to Buffalo for a conditional sixth-round draft choice. For all the teams that could use help right now, the lack of activity sends a pretty clear message about just how tough it is to make a deal this year in the NHL.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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