Canucks & Beyond
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Even When Vancouver Wins, They Lose
by Alanah McGinley on 03/18/08 at 03:49 AM ET
Comments (8)
From TSN:
The Vancouver Canucks big win over the Phoenix Coyotes Monday night was a costly one. The Canucks lost winger Mason Raymond mid-way through the third, when he was hit knee-on-knee by Coyotes defenceman Keith Ballard. Early reports have Raymond out of action for four weeks with an MCL sprain.
There was no penalty called on the play, but Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault thinks the league should look into what he called ‘a dirty play’.
Was it a dirty play? That wasn’t my impression. Ballard was just moving fast and missed his target. While the results are terrible—and it probably should have drawn a penalty—it didn’t appear to be purposeful, just a case of bad timing when trying to connect an awkward hit.
Video is below.
Incidentally, Kirk McLean’s comment on the tape, bringing up Chris Pronger… to be honest, I don’t even know what he’s talking about there. But if it was to compare this situation and that one in any way whatsoever, I’ll have to completely disagree.
That’s apples & oranges.
Filed in: vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: injury, keith+ballard, mason+raymond,
Comments
Hockey happens. It’s a shame but it didn’t look like a cheap shot or dirty play. If it was dirty, he would have made no attempt to turn his hip into Raymond. Hope he heals quickly.
Posted by Eric on 03/18/08 at 10:52 AM ET
To me, it looks more like Ballard was trying to get his knee out of the way, not “hang” it as the speaker in the clip says.
I don’t watch the Canucks much, but when I read the win “was a costly one,” I’m thinking something happened to a Sedin or Luongo, or any of their top four defensemen who happens to be healthy. All due repsect to Raymond, but he doesn’t rate. He’s a decent AHL player, like most of the Canucks forward corps.
Posted by shep from california on 03/18/08 at 10:52 AM ET
All due repsect to Raymond, but he doesn’t rate. He’s a decent AHL player, like most of the Canucks forward corps.
That’s an interesting take, shep, but one I must respectively disagree with. I’m not a Canucks fan, but I think it’s fair to compare Mason Raymond with Torrey Mitchell (a young speedster on the Sharks). Not that I’m wishing any harm to Torrey, but if it’s Mitchell lying in a crumpled heap instead of Raymond, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the term “costly” in Bay Area stories.
Posted by dash_pinched on 03/18/08 at 12:26 PM ET
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Posted by The Teacher from Long Island on 03/18/08 at 01:12 PM ET
Nah, I don’t think the hit was ‘clean’ (i don’t know why anyone would consider knee-on-knee clean) but it doesn’t look like Ballard intended for it either. I think Alanah nailed it. Ballard lined up a hip check, Raymond was going too fast, knees collided, ergo ligament tear. Unfortunate, but not worth review.
Posted by LOUiE from Cowtown on 03/18/08 at 02:48 PM ET
Shep - Vancouver’s defense-first system has very little speed or creativity when it comes to entering the offensive zone. Mason Raymond’s transition to the NHL has provided quite a bit of that. Personally, I really do find the loss “costly”. We’re not exactly overloaded with these sorts of players.
(On the other hand, thank god it’s not another defenseman…) 
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 03/18/08 at 02:55 PM ET
This should mean that Shannon draws into the line-up automatically though right?
Why Cowan ever gets the nod is beyond me. He’s barely fought this year, takes some bad penalties, and adds zero offence. If he would deliver a couple good hits each game he played I’d say he’s worth it, but that sure hasn’t been the case.
Posted by Shabbadoo on 03/19/08 at 02:21 PM ET
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About Canucks & Beyond
Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003 (with a notable gap in time through 2010, kicking it with new baby Lucy while living knee-deep in chaos while reading “parenting for complete idiots” during every spare minute) sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen.
In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah was one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast. She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.
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Posted by moore00 from Columbus, OH/Grand Rapids, MI on 03/18/08 at 08:54 AM ET