CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff December 9, 2015
CANUCKS PUSH BACK,
SEDINS CONTINUE TO DOMINATE
The Vancouver Canucks (11-11-8) started off well against the Rangers (18-8-3) with their first few shifts but once New York got into the game, the opening period became dominated by the Rangers in a scoreless period. New York out shot Vancouver 15-7, as they possessed the puck the majority of the time in the Canuck end.
Miller made great saves and the Canucks received a power penalty opportunity at 18:10 of the period when Ranger Ryan McDonaugh went off for holding Henrik Sedin. Hits were even as both team had 4 each, led by Brandon Prust with two hits. In the face-off circle, New York dominated, winning 11 of 17. Henrik Sedin was 3 for 6; Bo Horvat 2 for 5; Jared McCann, 1 for 4; Adam Cracknell, 0 for 2.
In the second period, Vancouver stepped up their game as the third and fourth lines took their game to the Rangers, but neither team could find the back of the net, and game was still scoreless after two periods.
Vancouver was much better at breaking out of their own end and gaining puck possession time in the Rangers end in the middle period.
Both teams were 0-2 with the man advantage. Jared McCann stopped sure goal with his left skate near the right goal post of the Canuck net late in the period.
Rangers out shot Vancouver 8-7. Hits were 5-5 each.
In the face-off circle, Vancouver won10 of 17. After two periods, Henrik Sedin was 6 for 10; Bo Horvat, 6 for 12; Jared McCann, 4 for 8; Adam Cracknell 0 for 4.
The final period was not anything like the first two, plenty of action and plenty of interesting calls, including a penalty shot.
It all started when Vancouver killed off their third short handed situation of the night. Dominic Moore was called for hooking Henrik Sedin at 1:32, putting Vancouver on their third power play of the night.
With time running out on the Vancouver man advantage, Jarret Stoll was called for delay of game at 2:57 when he covered up the puck with his hand, putting the Rangers down two players, and a 5-3 advantage for the Canucks.
Twenty-two seconds later, Vancouver scores with the two-man advantage, as Alex Edler (6) puts a wrist shot past Henrik Lundqvist at 3:19, assisted by Henrik Sedin (19 and Daniel Sedin (20).
The intensity between the Rangers and Canucks continued and so did the penalties. Rangers receive an unsportsmanlike penalty after the Canucks scored, with Chris Krieder serving the bench penalty, keeping Vancouver on the power play.
Forty seconds later, Ryan McDonaugh is sent to the penalty box for high sticking Alex Burrows at 3:59, adding more intrigue to the Canucks man advantage, now 5 on 3, for 80 seconds.
With Alex Burrows still upset at getting high sticked, he takes a penalty 44 seconds later.
Once it all settled down, both teams were back at full strength after the Burrows penalty was killed, and it looked like things would get back to playing hockey.
Wishful thinking.
At 8:54, New York was awarded a penalty shot when Chris Tanev covered up the puck in the Canucks goal crease. Dan Boyle took the shot for the Rangers, scoring to even up the game at 1-1. It was his first career penalty shot goal.
Response from Vancouver was quick and swift, as Vancouvers top line took to the ice and scored 30 seconds later to give the Canucks the lead, 2-1. Daniel Sedin (13), on a wrist shot, buried the puck past Lundqvist, assisted by Alex Edler (11) and Henrik Sedin (20) at 9:24.
There would not be anymore goals the rest of the game. Vancouver would kill one more penalty. And both teams would battle hard the rest of the way, but Vancouver would hang on.
Dan Hanhuis got hit in the face with a slap shot, and had to leave.
CANUCKS JOTTINGS
- Ryan Miller recorded his 4rth win in his last 11 starts tonight, making 32 saves for a .970 SV%.
- Vancouver’s penalty kill was 5 for 5 tonight, and did not allow a power play goal against on their 4 game home stand, going 12 for 12; and are 19 for 21 in their last 7 games.
- The Canucks were 1 for 6 on the power play for the second straight game. They have 21 power play goals on 111 opportunities this season in 30 games; 11 power play goals in 53 opportunities at home in 14 games.
- Alex Edler had 1 goal, on the power play; 1 assist; 6 shots; and 2 block shots.
- Derek Dorsett and Radim Vrbata led Canuck forwards in shots with 3 each.
- Canucks fourth line of Prust-Cracknell-Dorsett had 5 shots, 4 hits and 3 block shots.
- Henrik Sedin had 2 goals and had a plus/minus of +1.
- Daniel Sedin had 1 goal and 1 assist; had a plus/minus of +1; 2 shots and 1 block shot.
- Chris Tanev had 3 block shots.
- In the face-off circle: Henrik Sedin was 11 for 22: 50%; Bo Horvat, 8 for 16: 50%; Jared McCann, 5-9: 56%; Adam Cracknell, 2 for 6: 33%; Jannick Hansen, 0 for 1.
- Canuck defenseman had 9 block shots; the forwards had 7 block shots.
NEXT GAME UP: AT CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015
GAME REVIEW
CANUCKS AT A GLANCE
CANUCKS PLAYER STATS
Statistics courtesy of the NHl and the Vancouver Canucks, with thanks.
Andrew Phillip Chernoff 