The legend stands with Radim Vrbata, who we think is trying to smile.
Screencap Courtesy: CanucksTV

It looked like it was going to be a traditional late-season Edmonton Oilers blowout of the Vancouver Canucks. That didn’t come to pass though, as the Sedin twins and Svan Baertschi combined to erase three two-goal deficits and tie the contest through 60 minutes. 

Despite some of Ryan Miller’s issues in his first game back in action after a seven week absence spent rehabbing his sprained right knee, the club scored enough that it didn’t much matter and Alex Edler ultimately scored the overtime winner. 

The only highlight you really need is this Gino Odjick thank you note to Canucks fans:

(Courtesy: HockeyGraphs.ca)

(Courtesy: war-on-ice.com) 

– There isn’t much to take away from this game that has any analytical value. It was essentially a glorified preseason tilt, and roughly as meaningful. Even facing a makeshift Canucks roster that was resting key players throughout the contest, the Oilers defense looks bad. The Sedins are also showmen of the highest order. Those are the two big picture takeaways. Aside from that you can throw this one out. 

– Ryan Miller was not at his best, obviously, though I think we can cut him some slack considering that he hasn’t played in seven weeks. His much anticipated tune up start was something of a nightmare, with the Oilers beating him five times on x shots, and several goals being of the soft variety. Is Miller fit to backup in the playoffs? It’s an open question, but after tonight, I think we can expect Eddie Lack to have a leash that extend on into infinity in the playoffs.

– Sven Baertschi’s wrist shot is pretty slick, which we knew. That his wrist shot is apparently even more dangerous when he’s fighting of a checker is new though. Baertschi scored twice on Saturday night and the gaols were essentially identical:

(Courtesy: NHL.com)

Second verse, same as the first:

(Courtesy: NHL.com)

That quickie release is just sick.

– Baertschi has to be in the lineup for Game 1 against the Flames right? Maybe it’s my bias as a journalist, but the story is just too delicious. 

– The Sedin twins were at their best in extraordinarily limited action, and looked like a couple of players who will be tough for the Calgary Flames to contain in the weeks ahead. This is shaping up to be something of a signature series for the Sedin twins, of whom much will be expected, especially with Flames captain Mark Giordano out of the lineup. Based on the underlying numbers and Calgary’s personnel, the top end of Vancouver’s roster should be able to overpower the Flames.

– At the very least the Sedins look as fresh as they have at the end of a season in several years. Credit to Willie Desjardins.

– Derek Dorsett was sporting a nasty cut postgame and left the game in the second period after Luke Gadzic caught him with a big hit. Kevin Bieksa also appeared to be banged up after blocking a shot in the second frame, though he stayed in the game. Thankfully for the Canucks, no players were lost to injury in this one.

– The Canucks handed out their team awards on Saturday night. You can read about who won here.

– 82 games in the book, and at least it was better than last season. Now onto the second season, when it really matters, and a first-round playoff series that promises to be exciting and contentious and suffocating. Two Western Canadian playoff teams going head-to-head for the first time in the Twitter era? Sign me up, but spot me some Advil.