'Nucks IceMan

Photo couresy of Yahoo Sports - Roberto Luongo - the save

Written by: Larry “The Nucks IceMan” Johnson

Yes, it’s only game two but there are positive signs and also areas that need to be addressed, before they become problems. The first Canucks win over the Florida Panthers 2-1 last night was not a work of art.

The work part belonged to the Panthers, who had played the night before in Edmonton and looked to be the fresher of the two teams.

A number of the Canucks had the right idea in the first period laying on the body checks. Dan Hamhuis continues to show why the Canucks coveted him, caught Panthers Michael Frolik with a crushing check, which was followed by Raffi Torres and Kevin Bieksa.

The plan to wear them down seemed to be working as Daniel Sedin opened the scoring but instead it was Florida who outshot the ‘Nucks with help from the only power play of the period.

Rostislav Olesz was the most dangerous Panther on the ice, as he forced Roberto Luongo on a number of occasions, to come up with a good saves to keep Florida off the score sheet.

Panthers’ Marty Reasoner also had a grade “A” chance from the low slot, only to be thwarted by Luongo.

I would like to point out that these two games have been the best that Lou has looked in a couple of years. Noted for being a slow starter out of the gate, Luongo has been a star in both games to date and stopped 41 or 42 shots last night.

A few tweaks to Lou’s game, implemented by goalie coach Rollie Mellanson, is paying dividends which has been needed in these first two games, with the opposition outshooting the Canucks.

The concept of being outworked and outshot in the third period at home, needs some work and the ‘Nucks have been fortunate to escape with three out of the four points.

Special teams penalty kill is one problem area that is headed in the right direction. The Panthers were blanked last night and over two games, the Canucks have killed eight of nine.

The forwards are much more aggressive, attacking the point men and collapsing down low to support the defense.

Florida’s Olesz had the only goal of the second period as the Panthers totally outworked the Canucks in the first five minutes. The goal was one you would have to call lucky, as it bounced off a couple of players, the last one being Alex Edler, before sliding by Luongo.

Kevin Bieksa who led the ‘Nucks in hits last night with three, also had some problems giving the puck away, which resulted in some quality Panther’s chances.

I noticed last night that Bieksa at times, was playing the left side, which is puzzling since he is a right hand shot and Hamhuis a left hand shot.

Now I know it wasn’t on the power play because the Canucks did not have any. That in itself is puzzling or maybe it was due to the Canucks been outworked by the Panthers’.

As Coach Vigneault has said repeatedly, Bieksa is very effective when he stays within himself and does not try to do too much.

Once again the opposition peppered Luongo in the third period, this time with 19 shots. Rising to the occasion Luongo stopped them all, keeping the ‘Nucks in the game.

Photo courtesy of Yahoo Sports - Daniel Sedin's winning goal

Daniel Sedin from a scramble in front of Panthers’ goalie Tomas Vokoun accounted for the second Canuck goal. It was while falling to the ice, that Daniel somehow swept the puck towards the goal line and Vokoun knocked into his own net.

Like I said earlier, it wasn’t pretty but it did provide the winning goal.

Not sure if you noticed last night but Torres was bumped from the second line and shuttled down to the third, with Jannik Hansen sliding up to play alongside Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond.

Both players seemed to be providing what is required from them as role players, so we’ll have to see if that change was temporary or permanent.

Looks like Rick Rypien is ready to return to play, which means either Tanner Glass or Jeff Tambellini will sit out on the west coast trip, most likely in Anaheim.

Glass has really not provided much to the fourth line with no shots on net in two games. The only player from that line that looks remotely dangerous on the offensive attack, is Guillaume Desbiens.

Centre Alex Bolduc is out with a high ankle sprain which could keep him out for several weeks. I was surprised when Tambellini was called up as Joel Perrault seemed like the better fit for the fourth line centre.

Manitoba Moose

How’s everybody doing down on the farm you ask? Well, Jordan Schroeder leads the team in scoring with 4 assists, followed by Victor Oreskovich with 2G, 1A and Lee Sweatt (yes Lee not Bill) with 1G, 2A.

In fact, the defense is contributing at a pretty good clip, with Kevin Connauton and Evan Oberg both with two goals each.

So far, Cody Hodgson does not have any points in the two games he has played.

In rounding up the report on the farm team, the Manitoba Moose are tied for top spot in the AHL Northern Division.

This is the best Moose team that I have seen in years and I’ll say it again, this team is going to be a force this year in the AHL. It speaks volumes about the Canucks prospects and depth.

As always, you can find me at http://twitter.com/nucksiceman and on alternate days at the Vancouver Sun on-line at http://communities.canada.com/VANCOUVERSUN/blogs/iceman/archive/2010/10/10/forty-years-later-and-nothing-changes-for-the-canucks.aspx

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