Highlights

Quick Hits

• This was a fairly boring game.  The Calgary Flames scored to take the lead early on.  From there the Canucks peppered the Flames goaltender in shots but none could get through rookie netminder Joni Ortio.
• Henrik Sedin did score a goal but it was quickly waived off due to a high stick.  The Canucks had plenty of chances, including 4 crossbars/posts, but the Flames had the PDO.
• Frank Corrado played his first NHL game this year after three call ups.  Despite playing with Sbisa he was quite impressive including some offensive flashes in the third period.  On the night he was +12 in ES Corsi (+10.70% in Corsi Rel), which was third among defencemen, and right behind Chris Tanev and Alex Edler.
• With Corrado in the lineup, Yanick Weber was a scratch.  Linden Vey was also a scratch tonight to allow Power Forward Zack Kassian to prove he deserves top 6 time. Kassian didn’t exactly hold up his end of the deal, as he was one of only two Canucks with a negative Corsi at even strength.
• Ryan Stanton was hurt in the third period and was seen leaving the bench to be checked out by the Canucks medical staff.  The defence corps vastly improved.
• Bo Horvat had a good night, despite being on the ice for the only goal against, he did walk out Rogers arena with a +12.21 Corsi Rel, 2nd best on the night.  Known for his faceoff prowess Horvat won 4 and lost 3; good to see him in the positive as he has been regressing ever closer to 50%, down from over 60% to 52%.
• Joni Ortio, the Flames goaltender, earned his first career NHL shutout and a career high in shots against with 36.  The Utica Comets have faced Adirondack 7 times (including tonight) and have won all seven of them, including 5 against Ortio.  Perhaps Willie Desjardins should have phoned up Comets’ coach Travis Green for some pre-scouting tips.
• Now that Tom Sestito is not with the Canucks, they lost.  But Sestito with the Comets tonight?  They won.  Coincidence?  I think not.
• As this game was on Hockey Night in Canada, Canucks viewers had the treat of listening to the expert insights of CBC’s panelists.  The highlights of the broadcast included pointing out that the Canucks were losing because they were behind in hits 16-4; not understanding variances within scoring goals, PDO, and the standings; and that Radim Vrbata makes the Sedins succeed, except for the fact the Sedins have succeeded with Burrows for years.
• As a few people have pointed out on Twitter, the Canucks currently have 49 points after 40 games; last year at the same time the Canucks had 52 points. That’s certainly ominous, though falling off a cliff like last season isn’t likely.

Conclusion