Canucks vs. Flames – Redux or revenge?

Vancouver (1-0-0) vs. Calgary (0-1-0)

After outplaying the Flames in basically every facet of the game in the season opener at GM Place on Wednesday night, one expects that ‘Iron’ Mike Keenan will, if nothing else, have his team prepared to put up more of a fight tonight in Calgary’s home opener at the Library the Saddledome.

On our side of things, I don’t expect coach Alain Vigneault to tinker with the line-up tonight. Newly acquired defenceman Shane O’Brien looked solid in his debut, so I don’t expect Rob Davison to draw in. Both Rick Rypien (1 goal, plus-1) and Ryan Johnson (1 assist, plus-2) played well on the fourth line, so it is unlikely that centre Kyle Wellwood will see action tonight. That said, the one glaring weak spot for the Canucks on Wednesday was a dismal one-for-nine on the power play, so it is possible that AV might try to work PP-specialist Wellwood into the line-up somehow.

On the Flames side, a good start might be to bench the painfully past-due Penaltuzzi. Failing that, the Flames will need to shore up the back end (the return of defenceman Robyn Regher should help) and find a way to generate traffic in the offensive zone to disrupt Roberto Luongo.

The Canucks showed enough and the Flames precious little enough on Wednesday for me to comfortably predict a victory for the visitors tonight. 3-1 ‘Nucks, with Demitra, Daniel and Raymond scoring for us, and Iginla potting one for the Flames.

Emphatic

The Canucks’ offence exploded for six goals, while Roberto Luongo stopped 25 shots to record his first shutout of the season, as the ‘Nucks beat the Flames 6-0.

Prior to the game, I highlighted a number of keys to watch for:

• Whether Steve Bernier clicked with the Sedins. Bernier scored the second goal of the game and the Sedin’s dominated on the scoresheet (Daniel recorded three points). Bernier also stepped in and fought Dion Phaneuf after the Calgary defenceman levelled Henrik Sedin in the third period. Check.
• Whether Luongo outplayed Mikka Kiprusoff. 6-0 Canucks – Luongo looked terrific when he was called upon and Kiprusoff looked beleaguered, at best. Check.
• Whether Todd Bertuzzi would be effective. Bertuzzi recorded zero points, took an interference penalty, and was minus-3 on the night. Just another night at the office, eh Todd? Check.
• Whether the Canucks would get secondary scoring from the line of Demitra-Raymond-Pyatt. While the Canucks putative second line was held largely off the scoresheet, the third line more than made up for it. Alex Burrows scored twice and Ryan Kesler chipped in with two assists. Replacement check.

A satisfying game all-around.

Tale of the tape

Canucks 4 – Ducks 0

Todd Bertuzzi – Minus 2, O points. Ineffective.

Roberto Luongo – Shutout (3rd of the season), second straight; 134 minutes of hockey without conceding a goal. Stellar.

Did I mention we have Lukas Krajicek to show for that deal, as well?

Look for him in the office (i.e. the penalty box)

Tonight’s visit to GM Place by the Anaheim Ducks marks the much-heralded return of Todd Bertuzzi (a.k.a. Penaltuzzi) to Vancouver.

I am not going to say much about it, though. The boys over the Kurtenblog have already done it better. An excerpt, for your enjoyment:

The fact is, even when Bertuzzi was playing like the premier power forward in the game, he was tough to like. Mostly it was the arrogance, the kind that every bar star in the city loads up on before donning the wife beater avec chains and hitting theclubs for some vodka-Red Bulls and general douchebaggery. Bertuzzi was their hero. He was the Vin Diesel of the NHL. Let’s put it this way: the kind of guys thatwear No. 44 replicas are not the KB’s kind of guys. If you own a Bertuzzi jersey and are offended by that, we don’t apologize. However, we do think your Honda Civic has cool rims. What, no ground effects? You should ask Mr. Lube for a raise.

Pure gold.

At any rate, it also marks the return of a team that knocked the Canucks out of the playoffs in the second round last year, only to go on to win the Stanley Cup.

Oh, what could have been! I fondly recall sitting in a Montreal bar with one of my best friends (out visiting on business from Vancouver), a huge Canucks fan, watching game 4. The Canucks took a 3-0 lead at GM Place and looked poised to tie the series at two games apiece, heading back to Anaheim. Then, disaster struck: the Canucks somehow, inexplicably even to this day, pissed away what appeared to be an insurmountable lead, allowing the Ducks to tie the game and send it to OT. Of course, as you might expect, the Ducks ended up winning the game in the second OT period (incidentally, just as we had moved to another bar, hoping it might reinvigorate our good fortune). With the Ducks up three games to one, the series was all but over.

But, if the Canucks had won. Who knows? Perhaps they win the series and meet Detroit in the Conference Finals. Perhaps they win a series against a team they matched up well against. Perhaps they win the Stanley Cup…

Alas.

Anyway, here is to hoping we see Bertuzzi re-acquainted with his old office at GM Place tonight.

Ahh yes, Bert’s favourite penalty: Unsportsmanlike Conduct. Usually received for consistenly yapping, moaning, and complaining to the ref.

Notwithstanding the enjoyment of a Canucks win, I ask you: Is there anything more quotable/hilarious than a sour, angry, dejected Bert post-game in the locker room? I didn’t think so.