Canucks Outgun Wings in Best of West Showdown

In a physical, high scoring affair the Vancouver Canucks proved to be too much for the Detroit Red Wings Saturday night at Rogers Arena.

The relentless checking of emerging centers Ryan Kesler and Manny Malhotra consistently gave the high-powered Red Wings fits in a battle between Western Conference contenders that instantly became a Hockey Night in Canada classic.

After controlling the flow of play for the first two periods, the talented Red Wings were unable to keep up with the tempo and physicality of the Canucks in the third period. Thanks to strong play in both ends of the ice from Manny Malhotra and Ryan Kesler, reigning Selke award winner Pavel Datsyuk seemed human amongst players far less skilled than himself. Manny Malhotra’s shorthanded goal stripped straight from the stick of Datsyuk exemplified the Canucks tandem of tough checking and timely scoring Saturday.

On top of tough checking and timely scoring, Andrew Alberts and Raffi Torres set the tone physically for the Canucks with big hits throughout the game picking their spots on the ‘Wings skilled skaters. It was a game that perfectly demonstrated the desired traits of Mike Gillis’ off season acquisitions. As proven Saturday, this Canucks team is skilled and physically talented enough to outscore the leagues best while grinding down the opposition with the sand paper and grit from the third and fourth lines.

Having played the previous night in Edmonton, the Red Wings energy and discipline wavered as the game went on, allowing the Canucks to overcome a relatively slow start. Playing the last of four games in six nights, the Canucks ability to elevate their level of play as the game continued, dominating the Red Wings in shots 23-7 in the third characterized a gritty effort Saturday.

Like Raffi Torres earlier this week, Mikael Samuelsson found the back of the net against his old team en route to a Canucks victory, however unlike Torres; Samuelsson hasn’t necessarily been playing his best hockey of late. After being called out by his coach to play better late last month, Mikael Samuelsson has been one of the few disappointing Canucks so far this season. Following a pitiful back-checking effort on Niklas Kronwall’s first goal of the game, Samuelsson responded with a clever tip-in to even the game just over a minute later. The ups and downs of Saturday’s game against Detroit are similar to Samuelsson’s play so far this season, however with impressive offensive skills and Ryan Kesler on his line, Samuelsson has all the opportunities to excel at both ends of the ice in the future.

Montreal Calling

Following a busy week in the Western Conference, the Vancouver Canucks will now embark on a five game road trip through Eastern Canada stopping in Pittsburgh and Buffalo along the way. The first stop of the trip in Montreal serves as a homecoming for Canucks Roberto Luongo, Alex Burrows, Guillaume Desbiens, Alexandre Bolduc as well as Coach Alain Vigneault. It will be nice for some of the team to enjoy the comforts of their home town on a road trip in which the Canucks have the opportunity to bond together as a team and take advantage of the struggling Leafs and Sabres.

There have been some amazing memories made during Canucks Eastern road trip over the past few years. Mats Sundin’s shootout winner, the Sedin’s one-line third period comeback last season? What’s next for the Canucks in the land of 1967?

I dream of Rypien vs. Orr at center ice, for now.

News and Notes

• The Canucks November Wallpaper is another beauty, featuring a candid goal celebration from Mason Raymond. Take that, Hurricanes.
• Via @TC_Carling Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis will join Twitter this week, I’m keeping my fingers crossed he plans on Tweeting more than just his golf scores.
• Red Wing goaltender Jimmy Howard hadn’t lost a game in regulation since March of last season which spanned over 22 games before last night, that’s just impressive.
• I heard a bit of booing for Todd Bertuzzi last night, which caught me by surprise. Do Canucks fans really still harbour hate for Big Bert, or can fans think past to see one of the better thirds of the West Coast Express?