Minnesota Aeros vs Vancouver Canucks: Game Re-Cap

by BReynolds on Apr 7, 2011 11:48 PM CDT in Events

Minnesota Wild 0 - 5 Vancouver Canucks

For Vancouver perspective, please visit Nucks Misconduct

Before we go any further, I would like to provide a definition, just so we are all on the same page:

pride/prīd/

Verb: Being especially proud of a particular quality or skill.

Noun: A feeling of pleasure from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.

The Minnesota Wild have, for over a month, had nothing to play for but pride. Up until this point, they have shown absolutely no interest in doing so. Several times, the Wild had at least a chance to show that they believe the words they have been telling us, and chose, yes chose, to do nothing. "We are playing for the guy next to us," is what we have heard. After the past couple of games, I am glad I am not the guy next to them. With friends like these, who needs enemies, eh?

Kevin Bieksa runs Niklas Backstrom. Three Wild players skate away, including (according to Russo) six foot four defenseman Justin Falk. Jannik Hannsen throws a dirty punch to the back of the head of Pierre-Marc Bouchard, and the best they can muster is Colton Gillies and Kyle Brodziak throwing a couple of slaps at him. Justin Falk? Nothing.

The Wild's "tough guy" Brad Staubitz would muster nothing until Backstrom was yanked in favor of tomorrow's starter Jose Theodore, and one of the Canucks must have said something mean to Theo. Staubitz finally decided he was ready, but it was far too late.

Then, after having a hat trick put up on you, another guy get two, Brad Staubitz decides to cross check Keith Ballard from behind with 4:11 left in the third. He earned himself a two and ten for that. Too little, too late, and dirty at that, Brad. Sorry. Not even close to good enough.

The Canucks played a good game against the Houston Aeros tonight. As much as I want to give the Nucks credit, the best I can do is say they didn't play down to their opponent. They should have won this one easy, and they did. They are a damn good team, and they look like they finished first for a reason.

I miss John Scott.

Hockey Wilderness Three Stars

1. Ryan Kesler (3G, 6 SOG)
2. Mason Raymond (2 G)
3. Roberto Luongo (29 Saves, shutout, never really tested)

Five Questions

Carson McMillan scored in his debut. Can he follow it up? Nope.
So much offense on the Nucks. Can the Aeros contain it at all? Not even close.
In a meaningless game, can these teams find a way to just get along? Eh. Shouldn't have, but the patsies played their part, yes.
Does LOLuongo live up to his name? Shutout the high powered Aeros offense.
9:30 game on a Thursday. Will anyone be around? Good crowd at HW tonight. We had fun, even if the team disappointed a fan base beyond disappointment.

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Give MacMillan some credit :-)

Although no points, he looked good out there for a rookie picked in the 7th round ;-)

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by danccchan on Apr 8, 2011 12:04 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah, no offense, but it is kinda funny how people can see things so differently.

Fandom is weird huh?

The “runs Backstrom”, for instance. Players drive the net all the time. Bieksa was far outside the blue. He tries to stop and Backstrom comes out to make a save on the shot. Bieksa more or less fell over him trying to stop. No intent there, from what I saw.

Sometimes you don’t even get that call that far out. They gave it. But I would not beat up the players that skated away. They were smart, actually. Going after Bieksa is only going to take them off the PP.

Hansen is not exactly the biggest bruiser on the Nucks. Again, no offense, but really? He cuffed him with his glove. It was not even much of a punch, and if Bouchard does not put on an Emmy performance, its offside and thats it. He went down pretty easy.

I would agree the Staubitz crosscheck was dirty though, Refs saw that for what it was, and got him off the ice before he did something even sillier.

The Wild did not really play that bad, and were trying until the end. their best pressure was with less than 10 minutes left. ( not best chances though, but territorially )

Thats pretty good for a team out of it for a month. They got beat pretty good, and showed some warts, but they did keep trying.

Has to count for something, no?

Nuck’s Misconduct Bishop, 1st United Church of Luongod, "Mark Whicker, the superb columnist of the Orange County Register, has observed that when an NBA player isn't selfish, it merits mention. And when an NHL player is selfish, that's also noteworthy. I have never heard anyone in the NHL fret over who should take the last shot."Farber/SI/4/6/11

by vancitydan on Apr 8, 2011 3:08 AM CDT reply actions

They were smart, actually. Going after Bieksa is only going to take them off the PP.

In a meaningless game, down 3-0, to a “rival,” in which every player on the ice hasn’t shown any heart in months. Yeah, they’re going to get beat up about it. The power play means absolutely nothing. Less than nothing. Sticking up for your goalie and showing some damn pride would have been really nice right there.

He cuffed him with his glove. It was not even much of a punch, and if Bouchard does not put on an Emmy performance, its offside and thats it. He went down pretty easy.

We’re going to have to agree to disagree on this one, otherwise I might say something I don’t mean to. Let’s just remind you that Butch just missed 20 months with a concussion. Any hit to the head is going to come under some scrutiny.

Has to count for something, no?

After what we have watched for the last two months… nope.

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by BReynolds on Apr 8, 2011 8:47 AM CDT up reply actions

I really don't think the Wild played any good at all

And Hansen may have ’’cuffed’’ PMB, but he did it for no apparent reason, without PMB looking. It may not have been much of a punch, but PMB’s a pretty small guy and as Bryan pointed out, just came back from a lengthy concussion, so yeah, we weren’t happy at all with that punch, no matter how bad it was.

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by JSLandry on Apr 8, 2011 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions

I get coming back

…and being protective about it. But if they had mics ( something I would pay good $$$ for, I have no idea why the NHL has not put out an NC-18 version with mics on the players )…something might have been said.

Hansen is not the kind of player that would do that on purpose if he knew, which I am sure he might not have. I imagine he is OK if kept playing. It certainly was nothing to send him to the "quiet room’ for. lol Point taken.

The belligerent style of beating down someone for every thing is going away. Yes, stand up for your guys, of course. I get the Code and all that.

So, maybe its something more and more coaches are changing on. Do it, but if you do it for every thing, you are going to be killing a lot of penalties with the crapshoot quality of some of the officials.

by vancitydan on Apr 8, 2011 8:27 PM CDT up reply actions