Twins and turnpikes

In what was heralded as a potential low scoring affair with little offense, the Canucks turned into a very entertaining, uptempo game.

"I've got to check my phone to see if Steve Yzerman texted me," said a tongue in cheek Luongo postgame

Though much of the pregame focus was on the netminders 190 feet away from each other, it was the Canucks’ offensive players that stole the show.  This after Canadian Olympic starting goaltender hopefuls Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo allowed a combined 5 goals in the 1st period.

As TSN play by play analyst Chris Cuthbert aluded to, the New Jersey Devils were coming off their “sloppiest practice this season”, and it showed.  Particularly crucial was their inability to transition smooth line changes, which resulted in two goals.

Jannik Hansen adds to the Canucks lead in the third period (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)

Alex Burrows recorded his 7th goal of the season to open the scoring six minutes in,  on a feed from Daniel and Henrik Sedin, capitalizing on the Devils’ mistimed line change.

Sami Salo got the monkey off his back, potting his 1st of the season with a patented slapper from 15 ft inside the blueline 4 minutes later.   Daniel Sedin showed further signs that he’s shaken off any rust from his 14 game absence, he ripped a slapshot just inside the right post to put the Canucks up 3-0.  New Jersey fought back with goals by Niclas Bergfors and Travis Zajac, – Zajac’s goal coming with 6 seconds left in the period.  He finished with 8 shots on goal.

Leading Devil sniper Zach Parise forces Roberto Luongo's save of the game

Obviously stung by the late 1st period marker, Luongo was terrific the rest of the way.  Zach Parise got in alone for 3 whacks at the puck, the first of which should have gotten him his 2nd of the game.  “It was a bang-bang play,” started Luongo.  “Once I made the initial save, I was just trying  to get some low coverage.  Luckily they didn’t have much time to lift it over me.”

Luongo looks for his mask after the Devils dislodged it in the 2nd period (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)

Daniel Sedin was named the games’ 1st star, scoring once and adding an assist.  Alex Edler also had a strong game, with a goal and 2 assists, earning 2nd star.  Henrik Sedin rounded out the 3 stars, garnering 2 assists in the victory.  The Canucks began a four game road trip that continues tomorrow, as they head away from the turnpike to Philadelphia.  The Flyers have lost 5 of their last six, including a 1-0 loss to Atlanta on Saturday, whom they had beaten the previous 14 times, since Nov.18, 2005.