Home Opener follows Season Opener’s script; Canucks lose to Blue Jackets

The comfort of GM Place was no cure for the Vancouver Canucks as the Blue Jackets skated to a 5-3 victory in GM Place last night. The Canucks looked to be in control for the majority of the game, but a sloppy second period defensively lead to their demise. I was hoping for a simple game from both the forwards and the defence, and unfortunately defensive lapses from both the defence and the goaltending were too much for the Canuck forwards to overcome. The Canucks generated 43 shots offensively, which is an impressive number against a defensive minded Blue Jackets Team. The defensive side of the game left a lot to be asked for from the Canucks. Poor efforts from defensemen and a lack of a backcheck from the forward group allowed the Blue Jackets to score easily in transition, as a number of odd man rushes were given up by the Canucks. Roberto Luongo didn’t get much help last night, but an ugly fourth goal for Luongo was enough for Alain Vigneault to give him the hook in order to shaken up a sloppy Canucks skating group. I liked the move from Vigneault, who finally did something to shake up his team during a losing effort as I noted earlier. The Canucks responded with a solid third period effort, but it was unfortunately the deficit and a deadly penalty for Mikael Samuelsson that ended any chance of a Canucks comeback.

Here are my notes and observations from the game, in a game that the Canucks could have easily won, there seems to be too many defensive lapses and poor penalties in order to win in the NHL.

1^st Perioid:

• Kesler brought his skating tonight, breaking out of the zone and backchecking well.
• The Rick Rypien / Darcy Hordichuk double team hit is gross, the initial Rypien hit was borderline 2 minutes for boarding, and then Hordichuk goes in just to make sure were on the PK…Tanner Glass must be loving this.
• Hordichuk does his best to get another rest in the penalty box, but the refs don’t bite on an obvious interference call.
• Great work by Mitchell on the PK, that’s the heart and hard work I want to see.
• Terrible pinch by O’Brien leads to a breakaway and a hooking call.
• What are they feeding Mason Raymond, and where can I get some?
• Good play down low, back to the point and Henrik jumps on the rebound, 1-0 for the Canucks. Simple hockey works.
• I love Kevin Bieksa…but the shot he hit the post with on the power play has to be buried 99 times out of 100, and his backcheck on the shorthanded 3 on 2 is brutal – tied at 1’s.

2^nd Period

• Nice shot by Huselius, 2 – 1 BJ’s. Can’t blame Luongo on that one, great shot with a bit of a screen.
• Rick Nash with a beautiful touch pass to set up a goal for Klesla, 3-1 BJ’s.
• As I was typing previous bullet, Canucks give up ANOTHER 3 on 2 and Filatov slides in an ugly one, 4-1 BJ’s. Hey look! Alain Vigneault must read the blog, because for the first time in a long time he did something to stop the opponent’s momentum: Luongo pulled, doesn’t look happy with his play from the bench.
• Great screen by Bernier, Ehrhoff slaps on from the point past Mason, 4-2 BJ’s. Another simple play for a Canucks goal, I’m beginning to think the Canucks are actually trying too hard; the calm and collected Canucks are finding success.
• Another juicy rebound from a point shot, Canucks were very close to pulling within one. Still 4-2 BJ’s.
• I’ve been pretty rough on Bieksa tonight, but I love that he’s not letting anyone snow-shower our goalie, even if it’s the backup.
• I say again, WHAT ARE THEY FEEDING MASON RAYMOND!?

3^rd Period

• Good work by Wellwood around the net to draw a penalty, Canucks to the power play.
• Nice point shot by Mitchell pulls the Canucks within one; more simple hockey works for the Canucks.
• Great drop pass by Kesler to set up Mikael Samuelsson, but Mason was up to the task.
• Blue Jackets snow Raycroft again, if it wasn’t a one goal game Vermette would be eating Bieksa’s knuckles right now.
• Edler literally just kicked the puck straight to Kristian Huselius, wow.  Raycroft deserves a stick tap for that bailing him out.
• Samuelsson loses the puck as the last man back, takes a hooking call. Terrible time to take a penalty with 5 minutes to go.
• Smart little play by Raycroft to drop the puck to Mitchell to get a clear, I like it.
• Burrows going for a pretty Short Handed Goal, love the drive.
• Point shot goes off Raffi Torres and in; the look on Samuelsson’s face says it all. Big off season signing skating out of the penalty box after a goal? Now I know how Leafs’ fans feel.
• Canucks lose 5-3, I’m choked.

If you had any thoughts about the Canucks’ play last night or throughout the season so far, let me know in the comments section. What are they doing wrong, what do they need to change?