CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff January 11, 2016
Daniel Sedin Slays The Panthers With OT Goal,
Gets His 346 Goal As A Canuck
The Canucks had a mission Monday night, as self serving as it was, to end the Panthers’ 12-game winning streak in game two of Florida’s Western Canada road swing.
The Panthers’ winning streak, the longest since the Boston Bruins went 12-0-0 from March 2 to March 22, 2014, was put at risk as Florida sought their 13th consecutive win.
The Vancouver Canucks (17-16-10) played the last game of their 7-game home stand against the Florida Panthers (26-12-5) Monday night at Rogers Place.
For the second time this season, Vancouver would be spoilers to teams coming into Rogers Place on long consecutive winning streaks. First it was the Montreal Canadians. And now the the Florida Panthers.
Vancouver got their 6th win in their last 10 games, improving their record to 6-2-2, as they defeated Florida 3-2 in overtime.
VANCOUVER, BC – JANUARY 11: Henrik Sedin #33 of the Vancouver Canucks celebrates after Daniel Sedin scores in overtime on Roberto Luongo #1 of the Florida Panthers as Erik Gudbranson #44 of the Panthers watches during their NHL game at Rogers Arena January 11, 2016 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver won 3-2. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
The Canucks battled hard, with Jacob Markstrom, the Sedins and the youngsters, leading the way.
Daniel Sedin with two goals; Jake Virtanen, with his first goal since returning to the lineup on Saturday night against Tampa Bay; Henrik Sedin with two assists; and Jacob Markstrom, stopping 26 of 28 shots with a .929 Sv%.
Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi had their point streaks continue, with an assist each on Jake Virtanen’s goal. Horvat now has 4 goals and 2 assists in his last 4 games; Baertschi, 2 goals and 2 assists in his last 3 games.
VANCOUVER, BC – JANUARY 11: Jacob Markstrom #25 of the Vancouver Canucks makes a save beside Jaromir Jagr #68 of the Florida Panthers and Alex Biega #55 of the Canucks during their NHL game at Rogers Arena January 11, 2016 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
Markstrom is now 5-2-1 with a 2.19 GAA and .927 Sv%, in eight consecutive starts, since Ryan Miller injured his groin Dec. 20 at the Florida Panthers.
Emerson Etem, in his first game as a Vancouver Canuck, had an impressive debut, and drew two penalties, including the one that led to the winning power play goal in overtime.
Vancouver had a shaky start to the game, and a shaky end to the opening period.
Florida wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard, as the Canucks surrendered the opening goal of the hockey game, the 7th opening goal on their seven game home stand by the opposition.
Jussi Jokinen, his 8th of the season, on a wrist shot, assisted by Reilly Smith (11) at 1:20, made it 1-0 Florida.
The Canucks once again were trailing early in a hockey game, where their opponent was dominating them in the play, catching them slow off the mark.
At 4:25, the Panthers’ Steven Kampfer received a penalty for holding Jake Virtanen giving the Canucks a man advantage opportunity to even the score at one apiece. Vancouver’s power play was unable to get a goal against the stingy penalty killing of the Panthers.
The bright spot for the Canucks was the play of the young players led by Bo Horvat, as he was robbed on at least two occasions by Roberto Luongo.
Roberto Luongo continued to stymie Vancouver as he came up on big on Emmerson Etem, Alex Burrows and Daniel Sedin as well, keeping the Canucks scoreless.
A tripping call on Brian Campbell for upending Emerson Etem, put Vancouver back on the power play for the second time in the period at 15:30. Once again, the Canucks came up empty, going 0 for 2 with the man advantage.
Just when you could see the Canucks game getting better and the momentum change, the Panthers scored a last minute goal, that took the wind out of the Canuck sails, going into the intermission.
Jonathan Huberdeau, his 7th goal, on a wrist shot, assisted by Aleksander Barkow (16) and Jaromir Jagr (17) at 19:27, to make it 2-0 Florida after the first frame.
Vancouver out shot the Panthers, 13 to 7; were 8 for 19 on face-offs; had 5 giveaways; were 0 for 2 on the power play; and 1 for 1 on the penalty kill.
Linden Vey was the best Canuck face-off man at 4 for 6; Daniel Sedin led Vancouver in shots with 3; Jake Virtanen, Bo Horvat and Jared McCann, had 2 shots each, in the first period.
In the middle frame, the Canucks came out skating with Florida, who had played the night before in Edmonton. And the Canucks pressure and persistence would pay off.
Daniel Sedin, with his 18th goal, would cut the Panthers lead in half, as his backhand shot would get by Roberto Luongo at 5:41, assisted by Henrik Sedin (26) and Radim Vrbata (9).
Nearing the halfway point of the period, Vancouver was out shooting the visitors 6-3 and 19-10 in the game.
Jared McCann would come close to getting the Canucks even as he had Luongo beaten but the goal post got in the way.
The middle frame ended 2-1 for the Panthers.
Vancouver and Florida had 8 shots each; Canucks were 10 for 22 on face-offs; had 4 giveaways; Florida had 3 giveaways.
Linden Vey was the best Canuck face-off man after two, at 5 for 9; Daniel Sedin and Jared McCann led Vancouver in shots with 4 each; Jake Virtanen, Bo Horvat and Emerson Etem, had 2 shots each, after two periods of play.
The Panthers went into the final period with a great opportunity to extend their consecutive winning streak to 13 games, with the 2-1 lead.
Just a minute into the 3rd period, the Canucks would get their 3rd power play opportunity as Bo Horvat drew a holding call for holding from Willie Mitchell at 1:05. Once again, Florida would successfully kill the penalty, handing the Canucks their third consecutive unsuccessful man advantage without a goal in the game.
Shots were a premium as both teams were struggling in that department which suited the Panthers more than the Canucks.
With 12:22 left in the final period, shots were 4-3 Florida, with the Panthers defensive game continually frustrating the Canucks puck possession.
As the period progressed, it seemed Florida raised their game up a notch as they could sense history in the making, while the Canucks looked like the team that played the night before.
With seven minutes left, and the Canucks seemingly unable to generate any offense due to the Panthers dominating play up and down the ice, it seemed more than likely, the Canucks would suffer a loss in the final game of their home stand.
But Vancouver would not go gently into the night, and after a great stop by Jacob Markstrom on a 3 on 1 by Florida, the Canucks would be inspired and finally put another goal by Roberto Luongo, off a face-off in the Florida end, to knot the game at 2-2.
Jake Virtanen, with his 2nd goal of the season, assisted by Bo Horvat (10) and Sven Baertschi (8), at 17:22.
Markstrom would have to continue to make some great stops in the final 2:38, as the Panthers did everything they could to get the go ahead goal, but time would run out in regulation play, with the game tied at 2-2.
The Canucks battled back and would at least get a point but the question on everybody’s minds: would Florida extend their consecutive winning streak?
Vancouver would go to the power play as Emerson Etem would draw another penalty as Jaromir Jagr would get penalized for hooking at 2:07.
Then for the second time this season, the Canucks would be consecutive game spoilers, as Daniel Sedin would score on the power play, ending Florida’s consecutive winning streak at 12 games.
Daniel Sedin, his 19th of the season, second of the game, on a wrist shot, assisted by Alex Edler (12) and Henrik Sedin (27) at 2:21.
The goal was Daniel Sedin’s 14th overtime winning goal which is a franchise best for the Canucks.
Daniel Sedin is now tied with Markus Naslund for the all-time lead in goals scored for Vancouver with 346.
As the Canucks were celebrating the win, the two benches would get into a scuffle, after words were exchanged.
VANCOUVER, BC – JANUARY 11: Linesman Kiel Murchison separates Henrik Sedin #33 of the Vancouver Canucks and Willie Mitchell #33 of the Florida Panthers during their NHL game at Rogers Arena January 11, 2016 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver won 3-2. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
GAME REVIEW
CANUCKS PLAYERS STATS
WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD STANDINGS
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE STANDINGS
STATISTICS COURTESY OF THE NHL AND VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Andrew Phillip Chernoff 