Highlights

Quick Hits

• What’s it like to put pen to paper on a 5-year contract worth $22.25 million? Couldn’t tell you, personally. Based on the play of Chris Tanev tonight, one might assume it can be a little unnerving – in the most positive sense, I am sure. The usually calm and reliable Tanev seemed just a bit off tonight, with several uncharacteristically poor plays from his own end and a general aversion to gravity – seemed to lose his balance on more than one occasion. Even at his most awkward though, Tanev broke even in Corsi For% and wasn’t on the ice for a single goal against. Ol’ reliable.
• As fortunate as Nick Bonino’s first half of the season was, this second half has been downright cruel. Bonino has been generating chances, including a glorious opportunity from the Michael Hutchinson’s blocker side in the second. With a yawning cage and ne’er a defender between Bonino and his 14th-goal of the season. As luck would have it, Bonino found a way to launch it into the side of the net, then directly into Hutchinson’s chest. Bonino may not have been as good as his October may have indicated, but he certainly isn’t this bad either. At some point, these percentages have to normalize… right?
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• Think the playoffs are sure thing? Hardly. With the Kings taking the boots to Alain Vigneault’s New York Rangers tonight, they were sitting just two points back of the Canucks before tonight’s victory over the Jets. It’s very likely that the Canucks will be playing the Kings in the first round – a team that, most would agree, is the better of the two. Home ice could go a long way in any potential upset.
• Jim Benning’s best move in his first off-season at the helm in Vancouver? The signing of Radim Vrbata. Hardly even debatable at this point. With his two-goals on the night, Vrbata’s team leading total on the season is at 29. In all likelihood, the Czech sniper will hit 30-goals on the campaign. Not bad for a free agent acquisition, with a fair price tag and short term. 
• It’s not often I say this, but Luca Sbisa had a relatively solid game tonight. At his best, the only time you notice Sbisa is when he’s delivering a massive hit. At his worst, well, you know. Tonight, you hardly noticed the bulky Swiss national – this is a positive. One such occasion when I did was when Sbisa defended a 3-on-1 to near perfection and prevented the Jets from even getting a shot off. His Corsi For of 48% on the night is a slight improvement on his yearly totals, which hover closer to 47%. That’s something, I guess?

Conclusion