Canucks, Ballard Whiff Againt Canes: Recap and Chance Data
Thomas Drance
December 15 2011 09:06PM
Bieksa Score! Bieksa MAD!
The Canucks again failed to show up for a first period on the road, and even when they did turn it on they played poorly by their standard Thursday. So the result was predictable: another loss on the road to one of the NHL's premiere cellar dwellers. With Daniel Sedin scratched late, the team called up Mark Mancari from the Wolves, and threw Raymond onto the top line, where he was excellent. The Canucks controlled possession, and were the better team at even-strength, however, they couldn't buy a whistle, got mediocre goaltending from Cory Schneider and whiffed on some glorious chances late.
The team better shape up as they roll into their former GM's barn in the center of the Universe on Saturday evening. For a game in mid-December, it's a big one. After all, it's the early game on Hockey Night in Canada, and your author will be in attendance. A more detailed recap, and scoring chance data after the jump.
The Wonders of CBA Rule 13.23 (or “Antti Miettinen has a Sad”)
Thomas Drance
December 14 2011 01:32PM
The following is a guest post from our senior CBA correspondent Beantown Canuck. Beantown Canuck is a Nucksmisconduct regular, and a lawyerly type who resides in New York. He used to live in Boston but he now denies the existence of such a place. Beantown Canuck loves to look into and analyze the CBA, and may, or may not, derive a quasi-sexual satisfaction from such an activity that he calls "a lawyerboner." Here's his take on Rule 13.23 of the current NHL/NHLPA CBA which, is the rule that requires players like Antti Miettinen to pass through waivers upon being signed, if they were previously under contract with a team overseas in the same season.
This is a Guest post from Beantown Canuck.
Alright Canucks Army, since I know you all loved my article on the ramifications of falling under the cap floor, I’m back to serve you some more hot, steamy NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement analysis. Today let’s talk about everyone’s favourite rule: Rule 13.23. What is Rule 13.23 you ask? Well you wouldn’t be asking if you were Antti Miettinen, or Evegni Nabokov, or Kyle Wellwood (in the case of Wellwood, for reasons beyond the fact that it’s hard to ask questions with a hoagie in your mouth). Rule 13.23 is the reason Antti had to forego the bikini’d beaches of Tampa for the cruel winters of Winnipeg. It is the reason why Evgeni couldn’t help Detroit overcome their torturous three season Stanley Cup drought and instead had to throw a hissy before eventually joining the Islanders. And it is the reason Kyle somehow missed out on St. Louis and had to instead join those “unafraid of losing” dynamos in San Jose.
Canucks Rally in Ohio, Fall Short in Shootout: Recap and Chance Data
Thomas Drance
December 14 2011 09:07AM
Last night the Canucks played hard for forty minutes against the NHL's "worst team," it wasn't enough, and they had to make do with a single point. Les boys came out meekly in the first period and through twenty minutes were thoroughly out-chanced while allowing Columbus to functionally dominate proceedings. Jeff Carter scored on a 4-on-3 power-play after a Ryan Kesler penalty and that was all Columbus needed to get to the shootout.
The Canucks turned things around in the second and third, and were especially good through the first ten minutes of the third, but ultimately it wasn't enough. While Lapierre got the equalizer, the Canucks couldn't put the game away despite having a number of quality chances, and several other chances at chances in the games waning minutes and in over-time. In the shootout, Luongo (who was otherwise the best Canuck player) was beaten on all three Columbus opportunities. It's really not the biggest deal, and the Canucks have still taken five out of a possible six points thus far this road-trip, but it wasn't their best team effort... A more detailed recap and chance data after the jump.
Headshots December 13th
Thomas Drance
December 13 2011 02:41PM
Schneider and Luongo check out the Blue Jackets crowd (who have arrived early) in Columbus today.
Headshots are a Canucks Army feature where we link to the day's freshest news, and other assorted Canucks web-goodies. If you've written a blogpost, produced a tribute video or birthed a clever .gif into existence - please e-mail me at thom.drance@gmail.com.
Game #30 Preview: Full Metal Blue Jacket
Thomas Drance
December 13 2011 12:23PM
Birthday Boy Dan Hamhuis Flips-Up An Anonymous Blue Jacket
Game Day Recon: Game #30 - Canucks at Blue Jackets
Tin Soldiers, and the Richard Nixon of NHL team's are coming to Ohio tonight, as the visiting Canucks face-off against the lowly Blue Jackets for the third time this season. This is the Canucks third game on their current East Coast swing, and they're, thus far, undefeated on the trip. Cody Hodgson, who many feared would be out for a while with a concussion following an incidentally vicious head-shot from Nick Foligno on Saturday night, will be in the lineup. Roberto Luongo, who has been hot of late gets the start, his fourth in a row. In the Blue Jackets meanwhile, are throwing Steve Mason in net, so take the over.
While the Canucks have dominated the Blue Jackets so far this season, and historically, this Blue Jackets team is better than their record indicates, and if their goaltending holds-out (unlikely with mason in net) they could give the Canucks some trouble this afternoon. B.C. born youngster Ryan Johansen had a borderline dominant performance in a losing effort against the Canucks the last time these two teams met, and I'll be curious to see him skate again. Kid looks like the real deal.
