Canucks post-game SixPack - Miller's revenge & Tanev jumps into a dogpile
It’s somewhat fitting that the Canucks played Roberto Luongo and the Panthers on Monday, because the talk going into the game was all about Vancouver’s new Luongo.
I’m talking about the player we’ve written about, discussed and thrown around in trade rumours more than anyone else. I’m talking about a player Canucks fans love when he’s playing well but jump all over when he has a few bad games. I’m talking about one of the best Vancouver Canucks eve… ok, I got stuck thinking about Luongo for a second there.
I meant to talk about Zack Kassian. One of the greatest Canucks ever? Not yet. Maybe next year.
Most talked about Canuck this year? Definitely.
Of course there was another storyline in this game, albeit minor.
@botchford @TheStanchion @omarcanuck @RobTheHockeyGuy legends! pic.twitter.com/N3QBlqrBkP
— Jovan (@JovanHeer) January 20, 2015
Miller won this time around, even though he lost his shutout streak with less than a minute remaining – the Canucks won 2-1.
1. Miller’s revenge
Two weeks ago, when Luongo beat Vancouver, Canucks fans were Luuing him until the very end of the game. On Tuesday, Botch wrote about Miller’s response to that fan reaction.
“I hope to have that kind of affection after a couple of years (in Vancouver).”
Putting up nearly three straight shutouts is a good start to winning the fans of Vancouver, Millsy.
Miller’s shutout streak ends at 212:52 minutes, roughly 30 short of Luongo’s record (242:36 minutes).
— Justin Tillyer (@JustinTillyer) January 20, 2015
Tough crowd, tough crowd.
Replacing Luongo will take more than half a season I guess.
2. Miller part 2
With Miller playing brick wall style hockey in his last three starts – with a small weep hole in the grout for rain screen purposes (there’s a joke for you construction people out there) – the question is will he start against the Lightning on Tuesday?
Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy asked him if he’d want the start after the Panthers game.
Miller: “If the coach taps me, I’m ready to go.”
Plus there’s this.
Willie sure sounded like he was leaning Miller tomorrow. May help decision that Lack is still sick
— Jason Botchford (@botchford) January 20, 2015
Lack’s sick, Miller’s been on fire, and he’ll have the All-Star break to recover? No reason for him not to play.
3. So… how’d Kassian do? part 1
Kassian drew into the lineup against Florida after being scratched two straight games because Brad Richardson was injured.
Feels as if Kassian’s fans have completely disappeared lately, but they came out of the woodwork for this one.
@zkassian9 Just put on my Kass jersey. This is your opportunity bud, go take it! #Canucks
— Ryan Henderson (@AKnorthern_one) January 20, 2015
This is Kassian’s biggest opportunity… Better show up #Canucks
— VanNucks (@sydney_a17) January 20, 2015
@zkassian9 time to Kassassinate! #Canucks
— UnionMortgages.ca (@simon_every) January 20, 2015
So including me, that’s four believers. Did he reward us?
4. So… how’d Kassian do? part 2
Kass made a couple of nice passes in the second period – one real beaut to Bonino.
Just over halfway through the second, Blake Price noted the abundance of playing time.
Kassian has played over 10 mins already tonight.. over a minute of PP time as well. Thoughts?
— Blake Price (@blakeprice1040) January 20, 2015
Yep, Kass was doing pretty well for playing time… until the third period began. But how was he actually playing? Go ahead, Twitter:
@blakeprice1040 couple bad passes, couple good passes, meh
— Ryan Day (@VANcanucks92) January 20, 2015
@blakeprice1040 10 minutes? Rather ghostly.
— Chris Marganelli (@Hockeycustoms) January 20, 2015
In the third, Derek Dorsett got 7 shifts. Hansen – 8. Horvat – 6.
Kassian? FOUR.
With the Canucks holding onto the lead, Desjardins didn’t want Kassian on the ice. If you think those shifts through two periods are on order from Mr. Benning to drive up Kassian’s trade value, you’re not alone.
Joey Kenward: “KASSIAN CENTERING OUT IN FRONT”. Call of the trade rumors… This kids gonna BE A Player!! #vcbcanucks
— Mike S.™ (@Mike_Stefanuk) January 20, 2015
I’m not sure if this is an insult to both or a compliment to one.
@blakeprice1040 He needs to get in to the scrums and drop them. Played better than someone else #HIGGINSISCRAP
— Scouser (@mr_evertonian) January 20, 2015
5. Best rivalry in hockey?
No idea why, but the Panthers and Canucks don’t seem to like each other.
There were, as Joey Kenward would put it, “A lot of extra-curricular activities going on after the whistle,” which is like saying, “The Canucks scored and lit the red light and put the puck in the net.” (I’m saying he likes using many synonyms all at once).
Here’s Chris Tanev going rogue during the second (thanks to @Chan_Bing for providing this):
6. Blogger wars
Dorsett’s fight led to this:
#Canucks lost one of Dorsett’s gloves following a scrum. It was returned to them from the #panthers bench. Filled with lemon-lime Gatorade.
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) January 20, 2015
Great story, Murph. Thoughts, PITB?
LRT: Congratulations to the idiot Panther who wasted the best Gatorade flavour sullying Derek Dorsett’s glove.
— Pass it to Bulis (@passittobulis) January 20, 2015
Not everyone agreed, though…
There’s no such thing as an incorrect opinion, unless you like lemon-lime Gatorade. In that case, you’re wrong about everything. Forever.
— Rhys Jessop (@Thats_Offside) January 20, 2015
Apparently Canucks bloggers were feeling a bit of the same aggressiveness as the players tonight.
Rumour has it @Thats_Offside enjoys VitaminWater and thinks it’s a) water and b) packed full of important vitamins
— Pass it to Bulis (@passittobulis) January 20, 2015
BOOM
Daniel scored the KO, though. This one made you say “YUP” then “… wait, what?”
Seriously, guys, the best Gatorade flavour is strawberry lemonade Powerade.
— Daniel Wagner (@ADanielWagner) January 20, 2015
Thought it was over, then, but feeling neglected in the blogger wars, Rob threw this in before the game was over:
You can’t do that. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/tChUTh12ay
— Rob The Hockey Guy (@RobTheHockeyGuy) January 20, 2015
She was doing the robot. Rob hates the robot. (I think that’s what he was getting at)
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