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Are the Canucks back on track?

By Josh Martin, Sports Editor

his past Sunday the Vancouver Canucks that we miss so fondly from last season showed up to play. The team that we remembered from last year; the team that dominated the league and had opposing teams dreading the upcoming games that they had to compete against them; the team that we’re used to... After a pathetic display in a 5—1 loss against the Minnesota Wild last Thursday night and then another 3-2 loss the following night to the St. Louis Blues, the Canucks came out flying and confident against the Chicago Blackhawks in a 6-2 win on Sunday. There were so many positives and very few negatives in that game that it’s almost safe to say that this could be the turn around that the Canucks so badly need. The key word in that statement is almost... They’ ve already had dominating performances in previous games against Nashville, Washington, and Calgary only to go back to losing against teams like the

between the pipes despite his first period slip-up on the Michael Frolik shot which seemed to be harmless. This is sure to be a confidence booster for Luongo who has been under the negative side of the microscope in Vancouver to start off the season.

In 10 games so far this season Luongo has a 54-1 record, a 3.06 Goals Against Average, and a .894 Save Percentage while back-up goaltender Cory Schneider holds a 2-3-0 record in six games with a 2.51 GAA and a .917 SV%. Schneider has clearly been the stronger of the two so far this season but, after Luongo’s efforts in Sundays match, perhaps the tides will change. The best possible situation would be for both goaltenders to find that friendly- rivalry sense of competition in themselves and both post instrumental numbers sometime soon... which I’m sure will be easy enough to repeat after both goalies had such strong seasons last year.

And last but not least, defensemen Dan Hamhuis has seemed to fit right in with the power play unit

“On Sunday night David Booth finally scored his first goal in a Canucks uniform which also happened to be his first of the season, after going six games with only two assists since arriving here in Vancouver.”

Edmonton Oilers, the Wild, and the Blues. So... what gives?

On Sunday night David Booth finally scored his first goal in a Canucks uniform which also happened to be his first of the season, after going six games with only two assists since arriving here in Vancouver. It was a goal which was so desperately needed for the second line winger and now that it’s out of the way hopefully he can relax and more goals will come at ease.

The Canucks power play was efficient to say the least, scoring five goals on six-man advantages throughout the night. Henrik, Daniel, Booth, Dan Hamhuis, and Aaron Rome all connected on the man- advantage while Jannik Hansen tallied an even strength goal. This juggernaut power-play is now ranked second in the league at 26.4% only to be behind the Colorado Avalanche by 0.03%.

Roberto Luongo had a solid 38- save-performance, making key saves

ever since Sami Salo went down with an injury. He has six points in his last five games which is impressive for an offensive defensemen who regularly rushes up the ice with the puck... but Hamhuis is on the complete other side of the spectrum. He is the most defensive defensemen you ean find in the game... and he’s putting up those kinds of numbers? Now that’s impressive.

The Vancouver Canucks have a poor 7—7—1 record and 15 points which is only good for tenth spot in the Western Conference... but after Sunday night’s 6-2 victory over the Blackhawks the sun is finally starting to shine through the clouds. The next back-to-back games this week against the LA Kings and the Anaheim Ducks will really dictate where this team is at. With all of the positives it’s about time the Canucks turn this boat around and head in the right direction. Let’s hope for a couple of Ws.