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sleddy2008
03-15-2010, 05:29 AM
C/P from Globe and Mail

Matthew Sekeres

Vancouver — Globe and Mail Update Published on Monday, Mar. 15, 2010 1:05AM EDT Last updated on Monday, Mar. 15, 2010 1:22AM EDT

When the National Hockey League season began last fall, the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames were predicted to battle it out for the Northwest Division, and serve as Canada's best Stanley Cup hopes.

But with the regular season about to turn for home, it is clear that only one of these clubs will meet – or exceed – expectations, while the other will scrap for one of the final postseason berths in the Western Conference.

The disparity between the Canucks and Flames was evident Sunday night as Vancouver won its seventh consecutive game at GM Place, cruising 3-1 and chasing goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff after just one period. Vancouver is now 12 points better than the Flames.

The Canucks, who improved to 19-4-1 when playing both ends of a back-to-back situation, maintained their five-point cushion over the Colorado Avalanche for first place in the division, and will comfortably qualify for the playoffs. The team reached 40 wins in 65 games – the fastest in franchise history – and has eight of its final 13 games at home.

Calgary is stationary in ninth place, one point behind the Detroit Red Wings for the eighth and final postseason ticket out West. The Flames play host to the Red Wings tonight at the Pengrowth Saddledome. It's an enormous game for the Albertans, one of just six remaining home games this season.

Home, or homecoming, was the theme in Vancouver on this all-Canadian weekend. The Canucks finally completed their NHL-record, 14-game road trip – with an impressive 8-5-1 record at that – and were appropriately rewarded by their fans.

The local heroes were welcomed home by an energized crowd Saturday, and were given a standing ovation before a 5-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators. The partisans were whipped into a lather when goaltender Roberto Luongo was presented with his Olympic gold medal in a pregame ceremony, as the last remnants of Olympic spirit echoed around GM Place.

The stands were dotted with red and white Maple Leaf sweaters, and that colour scheme held last night as Flames fans scattered throughout the building. But they had almost nothing to cheer about as the Canucks took an early stranglehold and coasted home, recording just eight shots in the final 40 minutes, and none in the third period.

Calgary's Robyn Regehr scored with eight minutes remaining, which broke Luongo's shutout bid and added a sprinkle of drama to an affair that was over early.

The Canucks sealed the victory in the first period. They struck three times, outshot the visitors 20-6 thanks to three power-play chances, and seemingly held permanent possession of the puck in Calgary's zone.

Daniel Sedin struck just 73 seconds in, on the third chance of the shift, and with Kiprusoff out of position. Henrik Sedin drew a helper to surpass Trevor Linden as the franchise's all-time leader in assists (416).

Daniel Sedin has points in 10 consecutive games, second best on the team to Ryan Kesler, who scored the second goal of the night and now has at least one point in 13 straight contests.

With less than four minutes remaining in the frame, the Canucks received a five-on-three advantage and again struck quickly. Henrik Sedin cleaned up a rebound, and his brother drew an assist as both twins finished with two-point periods.

That goal spelled the end for Kiprusoff, who was replaced by Vesa Toskala after 17 saves in 20 minutes. Kiprusoff will likely start against the Red Wings tonight.