Canes Top Canucks
In what has turned out to be the most bizarre starts in franchise history, the Carolina Hurricanes have proved that what their record shows, they can still keep up when faced against the NHL’s best. Wins over Philly, twice over Boston, Pittsburgh, shutting out Chicago at home, and now edging the Vancouver Canucks before an energetic crowd of 15, 292 fans, Thursday night at the RBC Center.
Early in the first period, the Canucks tested Cam Ward early and often on absolute rifles from winger Alexandre Burrows, and defenseman Dan Hamhuis that just missed the net. Former Canes defenseman Andrew Alberts set the tone with a hard crushing hit on ex-teammate Patrick Dwyer. The intensity was there from the start, and it escalated into an altercation between Canes winger Chad LaRose, and the Canucks Jannik Hansen. Finally at 5:15 of the opening period, the Canucks broke through, and showed exactly why they, made a Stanley Cup Finals run last year. Ryan Kesler fed Chris Higgins in the slot who found an open Kevin Bieksa from the point. Bieksa fired a one-timer bullet that beat Ward for an early 1-0 lead. Bieksa’s goal would give U.S. Olympian Ryan Kesler his 9th point in the last 12 games. On the other end, Carolina would try and answer on Canucks netminder Cory Schneider. Carolina Captain Eric Staal tried backhanding the puck past Schneider to no avail, then if they couldn’t beat him down low, they’d try from the point, and maybe tip it in. Another hard hit by Hamhuis on Alexei Ponikarovsky, who also suffered a blow from recently suspended Andy Sutton in Edmonton, led to more frustration. Then suddenly a recent call-up turned the tide on the Canucks. Drayson Bowman’s turn-around shot, quite similar to the currently injured Jeff Skinner, was stopped by Schneider, the sticks came high, and a social distortion incident occurred. Canucks winger Manny Malhotra, and Canes enforcer Tuomo Ruutu squared off. Ruutu finished second in the NHL in hits last season with 309. But this season he’s just on pace for 165. In the altercation, Canes defenseman Bryan Allen, a former Canucks draft pick, decided to give the Caniacs a boost by pounding Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome down to the ice. This led to Carolina’s first power-play of the night. Despite unable to net the equalizer on a pair of one-timers from Jamie McBain, and Tim Brent, momentum had clearly shifted Carolina’s way.
Early in the first period, the Canucks tested Cam Ward early and often on absolute rifles from winger Alexandre Burrows, and defenseman Dan Hamhuis that just missed the net. Former Canes defenseman Andrew Alberts set the tone with a hard crushing hit on ex-teammate Patrick Dwyer. The intensity was there from the start, and it escalated into an altercation between Canes winger Chad LaRose, and the Canucks Jannik Hansen. Finally at 5:15 of the opening period, the Canucks broke through, and showed exactly why they, made a Stanley Cup Finals run last year. Ryan Kesler fed Chris Higgins in the slot who found an open Kevin Bieksa from the point. Bieksa fired a one-timer bullet that beat Ward for an early 1-0 lead. Bieksa’s goal would give U.S. Olympian Ryan Kesler his 9th point in the last 12 games. On the other end, Carolina would try and answer on Canucks netminder Cory Schneider. Carolina Captain Eric Staal tried backhanding the puck past Schneider to no avail, then if they couldn’t beat him down low, they’d try from the point, and maybe tip it in. Another hard hit by Hamhuis on Alexei Ponikarovsky, who also suffered a blow from recently suspended Andy Sutton in Edmonton, led to more frustration. Then suddenly a recent call-up turned the tide on the Canucks. Drayson Bowman’s turn-around shot, quite similar to the currently injured Jeff Skinner, was stopped by Schneider, the sticks came high, and a social distortion incident occurred. Canucks winger Manny Malhotra, and Canes enforcer Tuomo Ruutu squared off. Ruutu finished second in the NHL in hits last season with 309. But this season he’s just on pace for 165. In the altercation, Canes defenseman Bryan Allen, a former Canucks draft pick, decided to give the Caniacs a boost by pounding Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome down to the ice. This led to Carolina’s first power-play of the night. Despite unable to net the equalizer on a pair of one-timers from Jamie McBain, and Tim Brent, momentum had clearly shifted Carolina’s way.
Early in the second period, the Canucks kept coming, Chris Higgins walked in on a golden chance, only to watch number 30 (Ward) stand tall in the net. After Ward again denied Herik Sedin a chance, Mason Raymond would provide the loose change for just his second goal of the season and a commanding 2-0 lead. Once again Chris Higgins would dance-in on Cam Ward, only to be deined again on a highlight reel save. “Pure desperation, just a matter of not giving up on a puck”, Ward said on staying in the fight against one of the league’s elite teams. Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault notified how momentum turned on his team, “We had quite a few chances to put that game away, and we didn’t. Casual in front of their net, we weren’t able to bury some Grade A scoring chances, made a couple of mistakes, and all of a sudden, we’re in penalty trouble and the score’s 4-2, and it’s really tough to come back in this league, especially against a world-class goaltender.” Drayson Bowman would turn and fire a perfect feed from Anthony Stewart, and Jamie McBain to get the Canes on the board. The Canucks still had chances, but they are well swallowed up by Ward. With nothing to lose, Bryan Allen fired and absolute bomb that was tipped on goal by Tuomo Ruutu to even things up 2-2, heading into the third period. Bowman’s goal would be his first of the season, and third career overall. “Coming up from Charlotte, that’s just what you hope to do. Come in and bring whatever you can. If it’s two goals, it’s great”, noted the 21 year old prospect.
In the third period, Chad La Rose skated around the blue area of the Vancouver zone, and fed Bowman who buried it top shelf on Schneider, giving Carolina it’s first lead 3-2. From there it would all break down for the Canucks. Vancouver defenseman Keith Ballard drove Alexei Ponikarovsky hard into the boards. On the ensuing power-play, newly acquired Canes defenseman Jaroslav Spacek fired a bullet from inside the blue line to give the Canes a commanding 4-2 edge, and net his first as a Hurricane. This concluded a span of 4:45, where the Hurricanes netted 3 goals, after trailing by 2, and that included Bowman’s 3rd and 4th career tallies. “We talked about going out there, and trying to make it happen, Ward noted. We didn’t sit back in the third period, and showed that we were going to go for it”. Bowman would try and net his first NHL hat trick, only Cory Schneider would deny any chance of that happening staying right there with him with his glove ready to catch that puck. The Canucks would feed off that save, as Alexandre Burrows buried one home on the rebound of a Henrik Sedin shot right through the slot. Late in the game another altercation between Burrows and LaRose led to a 4-on-4. Mason Raymond danced into Carolina’s zone with a spin-o-rama, and found a wide open Keith Ballard on the right side of the net with Ward down. Ward lunged to his right and with his glove made a diving highlight-reel save that kept the score at bay. “It was very rewarding, we’ve been through some tough times this season. Got challenged by one of the top teams in the league. To be able to put up a fight like that, and get a big win, speaks volumes of the confidence builder that’s gonna give our team. Well because you’re playing against the best, and then that only brings out the best in yourself. We knew it was going to be difficult, and they were going to give up some opportunities. I had to make sure I was there, you know that save in the second period, if it gives in, it’s a whole new game with a 3-0 lead. So we’re able to turn it around, it’s great to see Bowman cash in on a couple. We’ve gone back to the drawing board, and change some things. For me it’s challenging one another, and to do it for one another, it’s not always going to be pretty, there’s going to be opportunities, it’s not a lack of work ethic, guys showed a great effort tonight”, noted Ward on his 33 saves performance.
The win marks Kirk Muller’s first at home with the Canes, and second overall as their new head coach. “You never go away. We’ve been in every game. We haven’t come up on the right side of the win column in some of them, but we need better starts. The goal had us saying we can play with these guys, and I think the guys felt we had good momentum tonight. We just didn’t score. We got that one, we’re in the game”, noted Muller on the never-say-die attitude despite what their record shows. The win improved the Hurricanes to 10-18-5 overall, and kept them momentarily out of the cellar in the Eastern Conference. They were try and build on this one as they head to South Florida for a Sunday Afternoon SouthEast Division Showdown vs the Florida Panthers.
