Vancouver Canucks Beat NY Rangers, Winning 2nd Straight Game: 15 Thoughts

After two scoreless periods, the Vancouver Canucks turned up in the third to beat the New York Rangers 2-1. What. A. Game.

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The Vancouver Canucks are on a roll. They beat the New York Rangers 2-1 and looked like a very decent team in the final period of the game. In any other division, we would have to stay humble and say things like “this was only the second win after a long losing streak” or “calm down, the team still sucks.” While we can say all those things, we really don’t need to, because the Canucks are now one point ahead of the San José Sharks, who are third in the Pacific.

Now, what would be more fun than a write-up of happy and sad thoughts after last nights win? Nothing? That’s what I thought.

I would love to present you these thoughts in something close to chronological order but you know, that’s not how thoughts flow.

1. First off, let’s hope Dan Hamhuis comes back soon. That was a terrible injury. Expect him to be out for a month or more, though.

2. The first two periods, especially the first one, were what you would expect when the Rangers and Canucks meet. That third period, however, was probably the best the Canucks have had this season. More of that, please.

3. If the Canucks start playing full games like they played that final period, making the playoffs would not even be that bad after all. If not, maybe the playoffs are a bad idea.

4. Did you see how good Ryan Miller was? That’s how good he can be if you don’t play him in back-to-backs. He kept the Canucks in the game with 15 saves in the first period.

5. Alex Edler is a terrible player and shouldn’t be playing on the top D-pairing? But… But… He’s the first star of the game! He scored the 1-0 goal with a beautiful wrist shot and set up Henrik Sedin for the game winner with a pass that was at least equally beautiful! But look for yourself:

6. Speaking of Edler’s beautiful goal, how about Alain Vigneault’s classy reaction that landed him a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct?

“Great f$*%ing goal!”

7. It seems safe to say that Dominic Moore’s hooking, Jared Stoll’s puck hogging, Ryan McDonagh’s high sticking and AV’s, well, reaction to it all cost the Rangers their win. The Canucks simply played well, but stupid penalties and a lot of 5-on-3 PK time are not the best circumstances for a win.

8. McDonagh should get at least a fine for his “high sticking” on Alex Burrows. He viciously cross-checked him in the face.

9. Apparently Chris Tanev used his hand to move the puck out of the crease, which is also illegal, and gave the Rangers another chance with a penalty shot. I’m still not quite sure if Tanev really did what he’s said to be. Then again, players are great at making illegal things look coincidental.

10. Sven Baertschi had a surprisingly good game as well. Not a Sedin or Edler kind of good game, but a good game compared to what he usually delivers. The guy was all over the place and really worked hard. Set up Derek Dorsett nicely at the end of the third, but Henrik Lundqvist made the save.

11. The fourth line finally played fourth-line minutes again. Don’t get me wrong, I liked what they did out there. But giving them more even-strength minutes than any other line last game was a little too much.

12. Speaking of the fourth line, Dorsett had the team’s best even-strength Corsi-For numbers at 13, according to War-On-Ice.com. Crazy world, eh?

13. Alex Biega looks like a reliable option on defence. He kind of looks like a rookie who does nothing flashy but also nothing wrong. Problem is, he is 27 years old and will likely decline sooner or later. That’s too bad.

Next: Canucks Prospect Demko: Too Good to Be Real

14. With Hamhuis out, Vancouver might want to call up another defenceman. My guess is Andrey Pedan because he shoots left-handed and was up a short time ago.

15. The Canucks are now second in the Pacific Division with one more point than the Sharks. They are also 17th in the league, tied with the Florida Panthers, who are fifth in the Atlantic. How fun.