Hands up everyone who predicted the Canucks would have seven wins after ten games.
*crickets*
That’s what I thought.
The Canucks had the Montreal Canadiens number through the Naslund and early Sedin years, but surely this visit would be different — this year’s Habs are a sexy pick to take the East this year, what with their gold medallist Carey Prices and their swashbuckling, fancy dressing, bazillion-dollar PK Subbans and such.
What’s French for “Wrong-o, ya big stupid head”?
Canucks 1, Habs 0: Nick Bonino from Derek Dorsett, 8:29 of the second period.
Nick Bonino commits a clear case of vol qualifié with an interception that would make Richard Sherman proud. He counters after knocking down Alexei Emelin’s breakout pass at centre ice, then he and Derek Dorsett embarrass d-man Jarred Tinordi with some pretty passing to open the scoring.
Don’t let the skimpy scoreline scare you, my little ghosties and ghoulies; this is a quality hockey game. Price and Ryan Miller both make a handful of pumpkin-spiced saves through two periods, and both teams skate pretty damned hard at each other. The Habs are bloody fast, and the Canucks are playing a fun four-line game so far this season. High-tempo, hard-fought game so far.
Then the third period comes along, and the teams add some goals into the mix.
Canucks 2, Habs 0: Brad Richardson from Shawn Matthias and Yannick Weber, 2:17 of the third period.
Chances abound. Burrows butt-checks Price before sweeping the puck into the far post, then the Habs bounce the puck just over the crossbar at the other end. As his mates shake out the cobwebs in their own zone, Brad Richardson skates alone up ice, one-on-two as the rink buzzes. He uses Tinordi’s bizarrely thick legs as a screen — seriously, this guy’s listed at 6’6″, but that’s clearly his width — wristing a shot under Price’s blocker from fifty feet.
Canucks 2, Habs 1: Alex Galchenyuk from PK Subban and Alexei Emelin, 12:11 of the third period.
In a season full of early bright spots, the Canucks are not having much luck in the face-off circle. They get outworked on a defensive draw, the Habs cycle the puck back to superstar Subban, whose wrister is tipped short side by Alex Galchenyuk. Brendan Gallagher is building an impressive resume, almost all based on playing oodles taller than his listed height of 2’7″. His ability to take the puck away from guys five times his size is impressive, but not nearly as much as his ability to hoodwink officials with his “Who, me?” boyish grin. He gets backed into Ryan Miller by Kevin Bieksa, but doesn’t get called for interference. Miller has been knocked on his keister more than once in his career, but I’m not sure he’s ever been mounted like a mare until this night. If that’s Dale Weise halfway up Miller’s backside, that goal is called back three times over.
Canucks 2, Habs 2: Max Pacioretty from Dale Weise and David Deshamais, 17:27 of the third period.
The top line plays Keystone Cops in their own zone before Weise sets up Max Pacioretty to send it to OT. Radim Vrbata, Hank Sedin, Luca Sbisa and Yannick Weber all get chasing the puck, giving #67 an acre of open ice at the top of the slot. What about Daniel? He looped to centre ice hoping against hope for a breakout pass instead of picking up the trailer. Unfortunately, Miller goes for a swim during the scramble, and gives Patches an easy snack goal to tie the game. Nobody smells good on this one. Ugly goal.
Canucks 3, Habs 2: Daniel Sedin from Henrik Sedin, 2:45 of OT
The Canucks have a 4-on-3 in overtime, and nearly let Tomas Plekanec end it shorthanded. Damnation, is it exciting hockey — how many times were we able to say that about games at Rogers Arena last year? Henrik sprints the length of the ice with a dozen seconds left in the power play, and the criss-cross with Daniel leaves Emelin and Subban quite literally seeing double. The Habs wave their sticks in the air like they just don’t care, but this is possibly the fastest the Sedins have skated in their careers. Hank, Dank, thank you ma’am. (Did I do that right?)
Vancouver plays in Edmonton Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada, then come straight home to host the Predators on Sunday. Past Canucks teams would have followed up a big win over the Habs by stinking up the joint against two should-beat-’em teams like these. What will the 2014-15 Canucks do?