Thursday October 19 - Boston Bruins 6 - Vancouver Canucks 3
I spent way too much time thinking about Game 3 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night, and I'm sure I wasn't alone. A bad hit by Erik Gudbranson triggered a first-period major penalty where Boston scored three goals on the way to a 6-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
Here are your highlights:
Back in that fateful game in 2011, the Canucks were already down 2-0 when Aaron Rome laid the open-ice hit on Nathan Horton at 5:07 of the first that earned him an interference major and game misconduct.
The Canucks actually killed that five-minute penalty successfully, but then gave up two goals before the end of the period, then four more in a penalty-filled third. The final score was 8-1.
Last night, Vancouver was in a 1-1 tie when big Erik Gudbranson pasted not-big Frank Vatrano into the boards behind the net at 6:13 of the first.
This time, the Bruins scored three goals on their five-minute power play, chasing Anders Nilsson after he gave up four goals on 17 shots in just 10:40 of action and putting the game essentially out of reach with the first period barely half over.
Gudbranson will have a hearing for the hit today.
It looks like this is the first time he has come under the microscope for possible discipline from the league.
The only other mention of the word 'suspended' came during the lockout in the fall of 2012, when he was suspended by the Florida Panthers after coming clean that an offseason shoulder injury suffered after his rookie season was caused by a wakeboarding accident rather than happening in training.
Click here to read that story, from Brian Stubits of CBS Sports.
Gudbranson was still rehabbing when the 2012-13 season got underway after the lockout was resolved. After a brief AHL conditioning assignment at the end of January of that year, he got back into the Panthers lineup on February 7 and appeared in 32 of 48 games that season.
Here's the word on the punshiment:
Since Gudbranson is a righty, Alex Biega will slide nicely into his spot. He's the only extra D-man the Canucks have been carrying since Alex Edler was injured last week. Though they're right in the Utica Comets' backyard, I doubt they'll make a call-up since Gudbranson's absence is temporary.
The Canucks did briefly show a pulse over a 36-second span near the end of the second period, when Thomas Vanek and Bo Horvat each scored their third goals of the year to bring the score to 5-3. The team managed 12 shots in the third but was not able to beat Anton Khudobin, who was called into action after Tuukka Rask suffered a concussion in practice on Wednesday.
One other crazy tidbit from last night's game. Remember when Adam McQuaid was in so much pain after blocking shots from Boeser and Ben Hutton on the penalty kill in the third period?
Friday October 20 - Vancouver Canucks at Buffalo Sabres - 4 p.m. - Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet 650
Vancouver Canucks: 6 GP, 2-3-1, 5 pts, fifth in Pacific Division
Buffalo Sabres: 7 GP, 1-4-2, 4 pts, seventh in Atlantic Division
After Thursday's debacle, perhaps it's a good thing that the Canucks have a chance to get right back on the ice and redeem themselves tonight against a struggling Buffalo Sabres team.
Despite major offseason changes with the hiring of new general manager Jason Botterill and coach Phil Housley, the new regime has struggled out of the gate and will be looking for its first home win of the year tonight.
In addition to his status as a legendary Sabre who's in the Hockey Hall of Fame, Housley ran the esteemed Nashville Predators defense for the last four seasons before taking the Buffalo job, so it was hoped/expected that he'd be able to help cut down on goals against for a team that finished 21st in that department last season. But through seven games, the Sabres are sitting 27th with an average of 3.86 goals allowed per game and have already given up five shorthanded goals.
By contrast, even after last night, the Canucks are 19th with 3.17 goals against per game and two shorthanded goals against. Buffalo's averaging 2.57 goals per game on offense, while Vancouver's just behind at 2.50.
Almost all of the Sabres' offense has been generated by its top line. Evander Kane is leading the team with five goals and 10 points (contract year!) and his linemates Jason Pominville and Jack Eichel have nine points each, putting them all in the top 25 in NHL scoring.
Chad Johnson will make his fourth start of the year for the Sabres tonight, which draws him even with nominal No. 1 guy Robin Lehner. Johnson has earned Buffalo's only win of the year so far but his numbers are pretty shaky—an .863 save percentage and 4.08 goals-against average.
His presence with the Sabres has drawn the attention of his namesake, the football player formerly known as Ochocinco.
The Canucks did hold an optional morning skate in Buffalo today.
Based on Nilsson's presence, I'd guess he won't get the chance to start against his old team. Jacob Markstrom was decent last night in his mop-up duties, giving up two goals on 18 shots in 49:01 of action.
Once again, puck drops at 4 p.m. PT and the game can be found on Sportsnet 360. Enjoy!
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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