5 Games the Canucks Won… But Shouldn’t Have
By Cam Davie
12 years ago
This was Cory Schneider’s first career shutout.
But should the Canucks have even won this game?! Uh, no.
(Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)
Throughout every season, there are always games that a team should win but didn’t. And there are always games that a team shouldn’t win but they manage to squeak it out.
Today we look at the top 5 games that the Canucks should not have won, but managed to steal a win anyway.
5.
23 MAR 2011 – VAN @ DET
VAN 2 – 1 DET
Roberto Luongo stopped 39 of 40 shots in the Motor City as the Canucks inched closer to clinching first overall to close out the regular season.
23 MAR 2011 – VAN @ DET
VAN 2 – 1 DET
Roberto Luongo stopped 39 of 40 shots in the Motor City as the Canucks inched closer to clinching first overall to close out the regular season.
Why They Shouldn’t Have Won
The Red Wings had only 3 power plays … but they had NINE shots, beating Luongo on their ninth and final power play shot. The Wings had 40 shots, and only one Red Wing (Patrick Eaves) didn’t register a shot. The Canucks had a big second period with 20 shots… but that was it. They had only 13 shots total in the 1st and 3rd periods combined. This game was all about Luongo and Daniel Sedin, who notched his 39th and 40th goals of the year to seal the win, a game which saw the Canucks badly outplayed, outshot and outworked, but luckily not outscored.
The Red Wings had only 3 power plays … but they had NINE shots, beating Luongo on their ninth and final power play shot. The Wings had 40 shots, and only one Red Wing (Patrick Eaves) didn’t register a shot. The Canucks had a big second period with 20 shots… but that was it. They had only 13 shots total in the 1st and 3rd periods combined. This game was all about Luongo and Daniel Sedin, who notched his 39th and 40th goals of the year to seal the win, a game which saw the Canucks badly outplayed, outshot and outworked, but luckily not outscored.
4.
10 Mar 2011 – VAN @ SJS
VAN 5 – 4 SJS (SO)
10 Mar 2011 – VAN @ SJS
VAN 5 – 4 SJS (SO)
The Canucks were mired in a minor scoring slump but managed to put 4 past Antti Niemi and then won in a shootout.
Why They Shouldn’t Have Won
They shouldn’t have won coming into the game, given their scoring slump (they hadn’t scored more than 3 goals in regulation in 3 weeks). However they managed to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
Cory Schneider stopped 44 shots in regulation and overtime, while the Canucks were outshot 9-0 in overtime and had to kill a penalty when one of their main PK quarterbacks, Ryan Kesler, was sent to box for high-sticking. Then Schneider managed to stone all three San Jose shooters (Clowe, Wellwood and Pavelski) in the shootout.
Despite allowing a goal with 21 seconds left and blowing 2 leads, the Canucks managed to squeeze out a win.
They shouldn’t have won coming into the game, given their scoring slump (they hadn’t scored more than 3 goals in regulation in 3 weeks). However they managed to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
Cory Schneider stopped 44 shots in regulation and overtime, while the Canucks were outshot 9-0 in overtime and had to kill a penalty when one of their main PK quarterbacks, Ryan Kesler, was sent to box for high-sticking. Then Schneider managed to stone all three San Jose shooters (Clowe, Wellwood and Pavelski) in the shootout.
Despite allowing a goal with 21 seconds left and blowing 2 leads, the Canucks managed to squeeze out a win.
3.
26 OCT 2010 – COL @ VAN
VAN 4 – 3 COL (OT)
26 OCT 2010 – COL @ VAN
VAN 4 – 3 COL (OT)
Mason Raymond was credited with the game winning goal 28 seconds in OT when he poked at Avs’ Jonas Holos stick, forcing him to shovel the puck into his own net.
Why They Shouldn’t Have Won
The Canucks wouldn’t have won if Craig Anderson didn’t wreck his knee during warmups. The Canucks wouldn’t have won if Luongo did have a terrific game. And the Canucks certainly wouldn’t have won if an unproven rookie didn’t skate the puck in front of his own in OT. Oh, and two of their four goals were scored by Jeff Tambellini and Peter Schaefer.
The Canucks wouldn’t have won if Craig Anderson didn’t wreck his knee during warmups. The Canucks wouldn’t have won if Luongo did have a terrific game. And the Canucks certainly wouldn’t have won if an unproven rookie didn’t skate the puck in front of his own in OT. Oh, and two of their four goals were scored by Jeff Tambellini and Peter Schaefer.
2.
3 DEC 2010 – VAN @ CHI
VAN 3 – 0 CHI
3 DEC 2010 – VAN @ CHI
VAN 3 – 0 CHI
Roberto Luongo came in to the United Center and shut out the Chicago Blackhawks. He won this game for this Canucks all on his own.
Why They Shouldn’t Have Won
The Canucks only had 18 total shots in the game (they were outshot 32-18), and only 10 shots in the final two periods. And surprisingly, their 3 goals came in the final 2 periods. They took the first 2 penalties of the game, then opened the third period (clinging to a 1-0 lead) by taking another two consecutive penalties. Luongo stopped all 7 power play shots the Blackhawks fired his way. Oh to cap it all off, the Canucks’ first goal and eventual game winner was scored by another unlikely player – Tanner Glass.
The Canucks only had 18 total shots in the game (they were outshot 32-18), and only 10 shots in the final two periods. And surprisingly, their 3 goals came in the final 2 periods. They took the first 2 penalties of the game, then opened the third period (clinging to a 1-0 lead) by taking another two consecutive penalties. Luongo stopped all 7 power play shots the Blackhawks fired his way. Oh to cap it all off, the Canucks’ first goal and eventual game winner was scored by another unlikely player – Tanner Glass.
1.
6 MAR 2011 – VAN @ ANA
VAN 3 – 0 ANA
6 MAR 2011 – VAN @ ANA
VAN 3 – 0 ANA
Cory Schneider earned his first career shut as the Canucks finally won back-to-back games after alternating wins and losses for 13 games.
Why They Shouldn’t Have Won
The Canucks had only 16 shots in the game and only 1 power play shot. Manny Malhotra opened the scoring only 42 seconds into the game. He scored the second goal of the game only 17 seconds into the second period. Again the Canucks took far too many penalties and gave the Ducks every opportunity to win this game (as they rightfully should have), but the Ducks took themselves off the PP one too many times and then finally killed themselves with a string of penalties to close out the game. Ryan Getzlaf did every thing he could to try to get the Ducks their win though. He finished with 11 shots in 21:36 of ice time.
The Canucks had only 16 shots in the game and only 1 power play shot. Manny Malhotra opened the scoring only 42 seconds into the game. He scored the second goal of the game only 17 seconds into the second period. Again the Canucks took far too many penalties and gave the Ducks every opportunity to win this game (as they rightfully should have), but the Ducks took themselves off the PP one too many times and then finally killed themselves with a string of penalties to close out the game. Ryan Getzlaf did every thing he could to try to get the Ducks their win though. He finished with 11 shots in 21:36 of ice time.
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