Every Canucks fan who ever said cheering for them is the most painful thing ever needs to read this tweet.
@ShawFireLog – If I wasn’t watching the #Canucks game right now, I’d be watching the fire log
— Roger R. Smith (@haislaguy) December 31, 2014
This guy appreciates his Canucks.
On Thanksgiving, when he says grace, it goes (I’m guessing), “There are people in the world watching fire log on TV because they don’t have a team to cheer for. I am thankful for the Canucks.”
Happy to say the Canucks were better than Shaw’s fire log against the Sharks. So much better that they won 3-1 and it wasn’t all due to Ryan Miller saving the day (like it was last time they beat San Jose).
1. Most on point conclusion on Hansen
Remember when Jannik Hansen was considered by the majority of #Canucks fans as an expendable player that #Canucks should trade. #Wrong
— Mr.Matt (@Mister_Matt_79) December 31, 2014
What’s Matt talking about, you ask? Read…
2. Hansen for MVP
During the second, Jannik Hansen took a penalty for this hit on Tommy Wingels. Some are saying he might be suspended for it.
Here’s that Hansen hit on Wingels. #SJSharks #Canucks https://t.co/UdQ1XH1sIm
— Brodie Brazil (@brodiebrazilCSN) December 31, 2014
As soon as he got out of the box, Hansen went for a skate and scored this gem of a breakaway goal.
Hansen had a great night, leading the Canucks in shots on net (4) and his breakaway goal. Wait, didn’t Farhan tweet this on Sunday?
Daniel looked like Hansen on the breakaway… #canucks @botchford
— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) December 29, 2014
Way off.
If you watched Hansen casually and caught a specific shift, you’d swear he’s a 40-goal guy. #Canucks
— Brad Fay (@SNBradFay) December 31, 2014
That’s what I’ve been saying all along.
3. Who else was good? (hint: Burr)
One major storyline for the Canucks lately has been Burrows’ demotion to the fourth line. Considering he’s one of the hardest working Canucks players and he’s also one of the team’s best forecheckers who creates turnovers and havoc on most of his shifts, it doesn’t make much sense.
Burrows played 13 minutes against Anaheim yet he was third on the team in even strength corsi plus/minus at plus-1 – meaning he was the team’s third-best forward. He finished the Ducks game with an assist and many media members reported he might be playing with the twins against the Sharks.
He didn’t get that shot, and he was still with Bo Horvat and Derek Dorsett on the fourth line, but at 15:26, Burrows had more ice time than any forward not named Sedin, Vrbata, or Bonino.
He was also instrumental in Vancouver’s first goal of the game.
Good on Burrows for his sweep job on that Horvat curling shot.
— Wyatt Arndt (@TheStanchion) December 31, 2014
Horvat to Dan Murphy during the first intermission:
“We’ve been doing a great job of getting in front of the net and getting in front of the goalie’s eyes and the last couple of goals we’ve scored, we’ve been going hard to the net and creating traffic and it’s been going in for us.”
Worked for Burr on that one.
4. But who ELSE was good? (hint: the Dream)
Against the Ducks, Radim the Dream was a nightmare. He had a team-worst even-strength corsi plus/minus of minus-14. Henrik and Daniel Sedin were right above him at minus-9 each.
They looked so tired and ineffective that Big Willie limited all three to under 17 minutes of playing time – and don’t forget the game went to overtime.
#Canucks top lines not a threat. still, 1-0 lead on a good first period.
— Raffi Cavoukian (@Raffi_RC) December 31, 2014
Raffi’s right – they didn’t look much different against the Sharks until seven minutes into the second period when they showed up suddenly to have one of their dominant shifts, leading to this Vrbata goal.
That’s the 1st 5on5 shift where Sedin line has had in 3 weeks,,, is what I was thinking right before the goal!! #vrbata #truth #vcbcanucks
— Mike S.™ (@Mike_Stefanuk) December 31, 2014
My thoughts – same same as Mike’s.
Here’s a great stat.
#Canucks leading goal-scorer in 2014: Vrbata with 14. Yep. Vrbata. Burrows 13 Hansen, Higgins & Richardson 12 Daniel 11 Kesler 10
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) December 31, 2014
5. Penalties (didn’t) cost the Canucks
If ever there was a penalty discrepancy it was in this Sharks vs. Canucks game. The Sharks had a 8-2 advantage in assessed penalty minutes, which is lopsided.
Even more lopsided – San Jose was given two penalty shots. It’s rare to get a penalty shot, but two?
Joe Pavelski missed on their first attempt, hitting the crossbar with his shot, and Joe Thornton nearly did the same, but his shot went post and in.
6. Who comes out for Kassian?
@patersonjeff if only we could trade them for a guy with Kassians potential… or you know… just play Kassian? #freekass #canucks
— Burr (@Burr77) December 31, 2014
Here’s what the media’s saying on Kass.
#Canucks Kassian has NOT been cleared to play according to Desjardins. I believe Kassian feels he is ready. Will speak to him shortly.
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) December 30, 2014
With the upside Kassian brings, his return to the Canucks lineup could be a late Christmas gift for fans.
Question is, who comes out for big Zack?
Here are a few candidates.
Linden Vey: after a flashy game against the Ducks, he was hardly noticeable against San Jose. Consistency wise, he’s not much different from Kassian. Will he be given a longer leash because he’s a Benning guy, while Kass is a Gilly aquisition? We’ll see.
Shawn Matthias: when he’s feeling confident, Matthias is an unstoppable force. Since he got his bell rung earlier in December, he’s lost that confidence. If the Canucks scratch him, they’re not losing much with the way he’s playing right now.
Derek Dorsett: he’s been playing well. Like Burrows, Dorsett gives everything every shift. Still, Kass can bring the physical element, and the team’s not losing too much skill by scratching Dorsett. It’s not fair based on effort, but hey, if players made NHL rosters based on effort, I’d be on the Canucks.