sleddy2008
03-03-2010, 04:03 AM
C/P from the Vancouver Province
By Gordon McIntyre, The ProvinceMarch 2, 2010 7:23 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Pre-break, post-break, it doesn't seem to matter.
It's like the Talking Heads sang: Same as it ever was, same as it ever was.
Having surrendered the game's first goal in seven of the eight games of the pre-Olympic leg of this 14-game road trip, the Canucks gave it up again Tuesday night, but for the eighth time this season came back from a second-period deficit to win, 4-3 in overtime.
Christian Ehrhoff cruised in to put the puck past Steve Mason 1:33 into the extra frame.
Mason Raymond intercepted a Grant Clitsome pass and fed the puck through Kris Russell's legs to Kyle Wellwood all alone at the side of the net and Wellwood's eighth goal of the season tied it 3-3 with 6:19 to play in the third period.
Like the last time they were here, on Feb. 12 while the Olympics opening ceremonies were about to start, the Canucks fell behind by two goals and entered the third period down 3-2.
And, like last time, Andrew Raycroft was shaky at times (the Blue Jackets' second goal went in in slow motion), but also came up with some big saves, particularly on a couple of Rick Nash one-timers.
But with Nolan Baumgartner, Alex Edler, Ehrhoff and Aaron Rome all contributing flubs, Raycroft was at the mercy of Columbus shooters throughout the contest.
Alex Burrows, with his team-leading 27th goal (and career-high 52nd point) and Pavol Demitra, with his second goal in three games, brought the Canucks back into the game in the second period, after the Blue Jackets scored twice in the first period on defensive breakdowns.
But Ehrhoff whiffed on a clearing attempt and, with Rome caught flat-footed, Raffi Torres found Derek Dorsett on a 2-on-1 to give the Blue Jackets the lead again, 3-2 at 15:21 of the second.
If the Canucks hope things will get easier after this, they're in for a rude awakening: Columbus was the only team of the six they face over these nine days that wasn't in a playoff position.
The remaining five teams were a combined 112-53-19 at home, a .660 clip, while the Canucks fell to two games under .500 (14-16-1) on the road.
Wednesday night it's a rejuvenated Red Wings at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena, then the talent-laden Blackhawks on Friday at Chicago, so the Canucks better shake off the rust pretty soon.
To be fair to the Canucks Olympians, they looked less tired than Nashville's, including Blue Jackets captain Nash, who often feasts on the Canucks.
(Nash flew with the seven Canucks who chartered out of Vancouver Monday evenning, arriving in Columbus at 2:30 EST Tuesday.)
But Vancouver's grinders were no match for Columbus's: Andrew Murray scored his first NHL goal in 360 days; Grant Clitsome, playing his first NHL game, set up the first two Blue Jackets goals; Dorsett's goal was just his third of the season.
By Gordon McIntyre, The ProvinceMarch 2, 2010 7:23 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Pre-break, post-break, it doesn't seem to matter.
It's like the Talking Heads sang: Same as it ever was, same as it ever was.
Having surrendered the game's first goal in seven of the eight games of the pre-Olympic leg of this 14-game road trip, the Canucks gave it up again Tuesday night, but for the eighth time this season came back from a second-period deficit to win, 4-3 in overtime.
Christian Ehrhoff cruised in to put the puck past Steve Mason 1:33 into the extra frame.
Mason Raymond intercepted a Grant Clitsome pass and fed the puck through Kris Russell's legs to Kyle Wellwood all alone at the side of the net and Wellwood's eighth goal of the season tied it 3-3 with 6:19 to play in the third period.
Like the last time they were here, on Feb. 12 while the Olympics opening ceremonies were about to start, the Canucks fell behind by two goals and entered the third period down 3-2.
And, like last time, Andrew Raycroft was shaky at times (the Blue Jackets' second goal went in in slow motion), but also came up with some big saves, particularly on a couple of Rick Nash one-timers.
But with Nolan Baumgartner, Alex Edler, Ehrhoff and Aaron Rome all contributing flubs, Raycroft was at the mercy of Columbus shooters throughout the contest.
Alex Burrows, with his team-leading 27th goal (and career-high 52nd point) and Pavol Demitra, with his second goal in three games, brought the Canucks back into the game in the second period, after the Blue Jackets scored twice in the first period on defensive breakdowns.
But Ehrhoff whiffed on a clearing attempt and, with Rome caught flat-footed, Raffi Torres found Derek Dorsett on a 2-on-1 to give the Blue Jackets the lead again, 3-2 at 15:21 of the second.
If the Canucks hope things will get easier after this, they're in for a rude awakening: Columbus was the only team of the six they face over these nine days that wasn't in a playoff position.
The remaining five teams were a combined 112-53-19 at home, a .660 clip, while the Canucks fell to two games under .500 (14-16-1) on the road.
Wednesday night it's a rejuvenated Red Wings at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena, then the talent-laden Blackhawks on Friday at Chicago, so the Canucks better shake off the rust pretty soon.
To be fair to the Canucks Olympians, they looked less tired than Nashville's, including Blue Jackets captain Nash, who often feasts on the Canucks.
(Nash flew with the seven Canucks who chartered out of Vancouver Monday evenning, arriving in Columbus at 2:30 EST Tuesday.)
But Vancouver's grinders were no match for Columbus's: Andrew Murray scored his first NHL goal in 360 days; Grant Clitsome, playing his first NHL game, set up the first two Blue Jackets goals; Dorsett's goal was just his third of the season.