The big story of the evening came at the final horn. Roberto Luongo won his 30th game of the year, and 300th of his career. He currently sits at fourth on the all-time wins list for active goalies, behind Martin Brodeur (by about 316), Chris Osgood (401), Nikolai Khabibulin (316). Osgood has been injured most of this year, and Khabibulin is most likely done. Getting to Brodeur will be a gargantuan feat, but nobody thought he would get so many, so who knows.
The game was full of penalties, and at times the Canucks looked shakey, but ultimately pulled it off. It was clear this game had the potential to get out of hand when Jannik Hansen blasted a Kings player (it escapes me who it was). It could have been considered dirty, as it appeared he used his elbow. However, the Kings responded with zero class. Drew Doughty intentionally high-stick Henrik right in the face, and only got a two-minute, but the NHL always follows their great code of "If the player didn't get hurt, then its ok." Doughty redeemed himself in the third period though, when he got a diving penalty when Burrows pushed him and he fell like an Italian soccer player. Nice job making people forget your sub-par year man.
Alexei Ponikorovsky decided he too wanted people to remember who he was, since he has been absent from the score sheet for much of the year. So he drove Dan Hamhuis's head into the boards. Thats cool, Alexei, not like the guy just got back from a concussion or anything. Must be just venting from the fact he has nine points in 44 games. I would say thats under-achieving, but its just Alexei being Alexei. Fortunately Dan didn't get hurt, but the NHL will do nothing, because of that fact. Thanks Gary and Colin, but good job ruining Marc Savard's career.
The Kings continued their streak of acting like Italian soccer players, by complaining about Daniel's game-winning goal 8:24 into the first. They felt Burrows made contact with their goalie Jonathan Quick, and they are correct. He brushed against him, outside the crease. Doughty is the one who crashed into him. But apparently the Kings don't know about replays, because they are still complaining. Whatever, this is what bad teams do, when they can't compete.
he doesn't have much of a chance to catch Marty, but 450 seems within reach. all this is assuming he doesn't lose his job to the ginger backup who has outplayed him when given the chance. lucky for Bobby Lou his giant contract ensures he'll always start and never be traded.
ReplyDeleteThe ginger has been pretty damn good this season. It is going to break my heart when he gets dealt. Hopefully they will be able to get a lot for him, hear that Brian Burke?
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