Only Trip West

Vancouver enters this game coming off a 2-1 win over the Flames two nights prior and while they are on a down slide, they seem focused to play an intense game at both ends.

This is the second of two meetings this season between the Islanders and the Canucks, with the Canucks leading in the win column 1-0.

While most should be focused on the games ahead, the topic of conversation around the rink and on the way to town was involving Todd Bertuzzi and his fate with history 10 short years ago with Steve Moore.

Some are still in shock that Luongo was moved “back to Florida” in a move that “rocked” hundreds of Canuck fans both far and wide.

With changes in the fold, this past week and no doubt in the future, watching the Canucks approach this game, it’s like a look at the “new wave” Canuck team.

While it’s early to tell, the season is slowly coming to an end and the Canucks would rather be skating on the ice; than being on thin-ice.

The game against the Islanders featured the return of former Canuck goaltender Garth Snow who is now the General Manager working under owner Charles B. Wang.

Building a winning franchise is not an easy task and while the Canucks have been in the League since 1970, the Islanders entered the league in 1972.

Since then the Islanders have played all their home games in the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and are one of three NHL franchises in the New York City metropolitan area.

The other two being the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers, but the Islanders main fan base they draw from comes from that of suburban Long Island.

It should be remembered that the team was founded in 1972 and played (at that time) a part of the NHL’s plan to keep a team from that of the rival WHA from joining and playing out of the Nassau Coliseum.

Success seemed imminent as they managed fourteen straight playoff berths beginning in their third season, that included them winning four consecutive Stanley Cup championships between 1980 and 1983.

In addition from 1980 and 1984 they won 19 consecutive playoff series, yet to be achieved by other sports teams.

The first ended with the Canucks up by a 1-0f score, while they had 8 blocked shots to the Islanders 5 while the Canucks forward Ryan Kesler had 7:21 ice time.

The second period was far more entertaining on all fronts as the Canucks outshot the Islanders be a 19-13 margin, with the Islanders having numerous chances as the period drew to an end, with the shots being 19-18 for Vancouver.

The never-say Islanders responded in the third at 1:03 on a goal by Bailey notching his 6 of the season after being set up from Donovan and Nelson.

Shortly after this it was followed by another minor from Jansen for holding, which was his second of the game.

The Canucks follow this up with a delay of game minor to Bieksa for shoving the net off when the Islanders were jamming at the puck in the crease.

To the surprise of no one the Islander while playing 5 on 3 notched the second of the game on the PP nullifying the first minor and still playing short.

That was scored at 3:14 and with pressure on and on the PP, they tied the game at 3 on a long shot from DE Hahn at 3:36 – yes two goals 22 seconds later.

While the Canucks have never been involved in a game such as this, Head Coach John Tortorella mentioned “it’s something we have to get past and it’ll be hard for some. We took too many foolish undisciplined penalties making rookie mistakes.”

He continued “the guy’s here are professional and all I can do is to focus on the positive things we did throughout the game.”

While that is true, it’s hard for the team to understand how it can happen, and in the post -game presser in the room it was interesting to note that Eddie Lack seemed to take the blame for this and said “he has to be better.”

While the Canucks came away with a 7-4 loss they did manage to block 17 shots thrown at them.

Kesler ended up with 24;28 ice time on 29 shifts while Henrik had 19 shifts for 20:28 ice time.