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Top 5 Reasons the Canucks Can Survive Luongo’s Injury
by Alanah McGinley on 11/24/08 at 01:41 PM ET
Comments (7)
Darren Eliot at Sports Illustrated named the Vancouver Canucks as one of the most notable surprises of the NHL thus far this season, and he summed the team up this way:
Luongo is obviously the foundation on which the Canucks base their game—being the goaltender captain that he is—yet the team’s play goes beyond their defensive stinginess. Theirs is a hard-charging aggressive team game that is invigorating.
Very true. And that’s why Canucks fans—while understandably drinking heavily these days—need not jump off any bridges.
Here are my Top 5 Reasons the Canucks will survive Luongo’s injury:
1. They’re not as offensively incompetent as people generally like to assume. While their game itself could fairly be accused of looking like dripping paint some nights (but not too often these days, thank god), the team is still tied for 5th in the NHL for goals-scored this season, last I looked.
2. Curtis Sanford is on a roll. Sure, a “roll” is a bit of an exaggeration, but this situation is much much better than it could be. While Sanford spends 98% of his time bench-warming usually, the last two games he’s played… and he’s won. He stopped 45 out of 48 shots between Minnesota and Pittsburgh the last two games—and that’s legitimately a “roll” when you consider how seldom he plays.
3. The Canucks have achieved 5 of their last 7 wins by outscoring their opponents by 2 goals or more. So as much as Luongo was a huge factor, team offense hasn’t been AWOL either.
4. The Sedins and Demitra have found their mojo. Knock on wood that it continues.
5. This team certainly knows how to play defense when it has to. They limited the Penguins to 19 shots against Sanford last game, and while they might not be so lucky against Detroit tonight, it’s a good omen.
Bottom line: the last game that the Canucks lost in regulation was on November 2nd against the Detroit Red Wings whom they face tonight. And that was with Luongo in the net. So while the captain is critically important to this team, it’s safe to say that their achievements are a team-wide effort and not just one man.
The test the Canucks face without Luongo in net, they’ll pass—or fail—as a group.
Update 11:44am PT: Let’s hope my overall optimism is well-founded… Luongo appears to be out for 4-5 weeks.
Filed in: vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: roberto+luongo,
Comments
Ha! Maybe. Or 4 Reasons: offense, defense, sanford & team game.
As for your other comment… geez, that didn’t sound smug at all 
Truthfully, I don’t know. But it’s not like Luongo beat them last time, so I don’t see any reason why Sanford shouldn’t have a shot at them.
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 11/24/08 at 02:12 PM ET
I find comments like Animal Drew’s funny. Especially when I heard simular comments from others before the Pens and the Wild game (both teams are no slouches- Wild were ahead on Vancouver in the NW and Pens were in the cup finals last year...remember). Fans of both teams threw out their usual"the Canucks suck without Luongo” comments. Well Sanford out played Backstrom and then came in cold with Lui down in Pitts and won that game too. Are the Canucks as good with Lui as without...no! But I think it’s time to quit taking the Canucks lightly. I know many pick the Canucks to be only better then LA but now their 1st in the NW, they have plenty of scoring and they have experience beating the Wings already this season! Easy Canuck win? No way! But easy Wing win? Still no way!
P.S. Good blob again Alanah!
Posted by Buffdaddydarren from Sakatoon on 11/24/08 at 03:38 PM ET
Err....I mean “ good bloG”. Man is my typing bad! LOL
Posted by Buffaddydarren from Saskatoon on 11/24/08 at 03:40 PM ET
Fair comments, both.
Good luck to you, hopefully the Livonia native Ryan Kesler doesn’t squeak in another GWG from the sideboards....OH THAT WAS PAINFUL TO WATCH.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 11/24/08 at 03:41 PM ET
Buffdaddydarren -- All good points. And I forgive you for the “blob” typo!
Animal Drew -- Clearly, our definitions of “pain” are entirely different…
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 11/24/08 at 03:58 PM ET
OUCH! Another OT loss to ‘Nucks, well shut my mouth...maybe you should give Sanford an “A”
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 11/25/08 at 09:23 AM ET
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About Canucks & Beyond
Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003, 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 is one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast, as featured at Canucks.com.
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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Other Canucks Blogs
reasons #1,3,4 are all saying the same thing. Change the title to “3 Reasons...”
Miss Alanah, not to sound smug or overconfident, but how do you think Sanford’s “roll” is going to hold up against the defending cup champs tonight?
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 11/24/08 at 02:05 PM ET