Mr Gixxer
11-13-2002, 10:39 AM
Fucking awesome game!
Vancouver's power play comes alive as Canucks beat Blues 6-3
Canadian Press
Wednesday, November 13, 2002
(CP PHOTO/Chuck Stoody)
Vancouver Canucks goalie Dan Cloutier makes a stop on a breakaway by St. Louis Blues Petr Cajanek during first period of NHL action in Vancouver on Tuesday. (CP PHOTO/Chuck Stoody)
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VANCOUVER (CP) - It wasn't a work of art but the Vancouver Canucks packaged a suddenly potent power play and scoring from role players into a rare home-ice victory Tuesday night.
"We just tried to keep it simple," said Brendan Morrison, whose second of three Vancouver power-play goals was the winner in a 6-3 NHL victory over the streaking St. Louis Blues. "Pucks up the wall, pucks in deep and pucks at the net." A puck at the net by Trevor Letowski produced a big rebound for Morrison to bury behind goalie Tom Barrasso after the Canucks had fallen behind 2-0.
Todd Bertuzzi and Letowski also cashed in with the man advantage as the Canucks made the most of five power-play chances after entering the game ranked 25th in the league with the extra skater.
"We weren't fancy," said Morrison, whose club won at GM Place for the first time in seven games and for only the second time this season.
"Again, just traffic in front is the biggest thing when things aren't going too well (at home). We could use some ugly goals."
The Canucks fired 35 shots at Barrasso, who was making his first start for the Blues, and a lot of those shots produced fat rebounds.
"He made some big initial saves but guys driving the net were rewarded," said Morrison.
Artem Chubarov got his first goal of the season, Todd Warriner his fourth and Trevor Linden his second for the Canucks. Shjon Podein, Cory Stillman and Scott Mellanby scored for the Blues, who had won 10 of their last 11 games.
Vancouver goalie Dan Cloutier, whose temper is as quick as his glove hand, gave his club a chance to win with key first-period saves, then got into a scrap with Mellanby near the end of the game.
"You don't always do the right thing every time," said Cloutier after both players drew minors and misconducts. "Sometimes your emotions get the best of you, but I got right back into it and started focusing on my job which is stopping pucks."
Cloutier was the difference in the first period, stopping Petr Cajanek on a breakaway and Eric Boguniecki who dashed down the left wing.
"They wait for the perfect opportunity and they had a lot of tough shots tonight," Cloutier, who has started all but one of Vancouver's 16 games this season, said of the Blues.
"If they get up early like that, you don't want to give them the third one . . . it's tough to come back."
It was also tough to come back for Barrasso who signed as a free agent on Nov. 4. He was shaky as the Canucks fired 35 pucks on net and tested him with long-range bouncers.
"It's a very good offensive team in Vancouver," said Barrasso. "If you turn the puck over they take advantage of it.
"I haven't been on the ice that much and it's about what I expected."
It was the Blues' second loss in three games after a nine-game win streak gave them the best start in franchise history.
Mellanby, who wondered why he was penalized when it was an angry Cloutier who left his crease after the Blues' third goal, said Bertuzzi's goal at the end of the first period led to St. Louis' first road loss in six games this season.
"It was just a little trouble at the end of the period," Mellanby said. "At the start of the second period they also had a power play and we kind of got back on our heels."
Bertuzzi said the Canucks played a gritty game like they did on a road trip that resulted in three wins in four games.
"We worked extremely hard in the corners," said the burly winger who has eight goals this season.
"We created a lot of loose chances that way. Obviously he (Barrasso) hasn't been playing in a while so you want to make sure you get as many pucks on him as you can."
But he said that Cloutier was the difference.
"As usual he stood on his head and gave us a chance to get back in the game but it's good to see the offence spur on everyone."
NOTES: Barrasso is the fifth netminder St. Louis has used this season . . . starter Brent Johnson has been out with a high ankle sprain . . . Defenceman Bryan Allen was a healthy scratch after being recalled by Vancouver from the AHL's Manitoba Moose . . . Canucks captain Markus Naslund was in the lineup but didn't practise Monday because of the flu . . . Morrison played his 200th consecutive game, all but nine with Vancouver . . . the Canucks face the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday in the second game of a five-game homestand.
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Vancouver's power play comes alive as Canucks beat Blues 6-3
Canadian Press
Wednesday, November 13, 2002
(CP PHOTO/Chuck Stoody)
Vancouver Canucks goalie Dan Cloutier makes a stop on a breakaway by St. Louis Blues Petr Cajanek during first period of NHL action in Vancouver on Tuesday. (CP PHOTO/Chuck Stoody)
ADVERTISEMENT
VANCOUVER (CP) - It wasn't a work of art but the Vancouver Canucks packaged a suddenly potent power play and scoring from role players into a rare home-ice victory Tuesday night.
"We just tried to keep it simple," said Brendan Morrison, whose second of three Vancouver power-play goals was the winner in a 6-3 NHL victory over the streaking St. Louis Blues. "Pucks up the wall, pucks in deep and pucks at the net." A puck at the net by Trevor Letowski produced a big rebound for Morrison to bury behind goalie Tom Barrasso after the Canucks had fallen behind 2-0.
Todd Bertuzzi and Letowski also cashed in with the man advantage as the Canucks made the most of five power-play chances after entering the game ranked 25th in the league with the extra skater.
"We weren't fancy," said Morrison, whose club won at GM Place for the first time in seven games and for only the second time this season.
"Again, just traffic in front is the biggest thing when things aren't going too well (at home). We could use some ugly goals."
The Canucks fired 35 shots at Barrasso, who was making his first start for the Blues, and a lot of those shots produced fat rebounds.
"He made some big initial saves but guys driving the net were rewarded," said Morrison.
Artem Chubarov got his first goal of the season, Todd Warriner his fourth and Trevor Linden his second for the Canucks. Shjon Podein, Cory Stillman and Scott Mellanby scored for the Blues, who had won 10 of their last 11 games.
Vancouver goalie Dan Cloutier, whose temper is as quick as his glove hand, gave his club a chance to win with key first-period saves, then got into a scrap with Mellanby near the end of the game.
"You don't always do the right thing every time," said Cloutier after both players drew minors and misconducts. "Sometimes your emotions get the best of you, but I got right back into it and started focusing on my job which is stopping pucks."
Cloutier was the difference in the first period, stopping Petr Cajanek on a breakaway and Eric Boguniecki who dashed down the left wing.
"They wait for the perfect opportunity and they had a lot of tough shots tonight," Cloutier, who has started all but one of Vancouver's 16 games this season, said of the Blues.
"If they get up early like that, you don't want to give them the third one . . . it's tough to come back."
It was also tough to come back for Barrasso who signed as a free agent on Nov. 4. He was shaky as the Canucks fired 35 pucks on net and tested him with long-range bouncers.
"It's a very good offensive team in Vancouver," said Barrasso. "If you turn the puck over they take advantage of it.
"I haven't been on the ice that much and it's about what I expected."
It was the Blues' second loss in three games after a nine-game win streak gave them the best start in franchise history.
Mellanby, who wondered why he was penalized when it was an angry Cloutier who left his crease after the Blues' third goal, said Bertuzzi's goal at the end of the first period led to St. Louis' first road loss in six games this season.
"It was just a little trouble at the end of the period," Mellanby said. "At the start of the second period they also had a power play and we kind of got back on our heels."
Bertuzzi said the Canucks played a gritty game like they did on a road trip that resulted in three wins in four games.
"We worked extremely hard in the corners," said the burly winger who has eight goals this season.
"We created a lot of loose chances that way. Obviously he (Barrasso) hasn't been playing in a while so you want to make sure you get as many pucks on him as you can."
But he said that Cloutier was the difference.
"As usual he stood on his head and gave us a chance to get back in the game but it's good to see the offence spur on everyone."
NOTES: Barrasso is the fifth netminder St. Louis has used this season . . . starter Brent Johnson has been out with a high ankle sprain . . . Defenceman Bryan Allen was a healthy scratch after being recalled by Vancouver from the AHL's Manitoba Moose . . . Canucks captain Markus Naslund was in the lineup but didn't practise Monday because of the flu . . . Morrison played his 200th consecutive game, all but nine with Vancouver . . . the Canucks face the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday in the second game of a five-game homestand.
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