Inspired Canucks Win Big On Bourdon Tribute NIght

Canucks opening night featured a tribute to Luc Bourdon, who was tragically killed in a motrocycle accident this past summer. The tribute was nicely done. Started with Canuck TV rinkside announcer Scotty Rintoul doing an excellent piece on Bourdon. Rintoul did an excellent job and started off the tribute in in a very nice way. Having Tom Cochrane sing "My Boy's Gonna Make It to the Big Leagues" during the video tribute was a nice touch. Touching to see Bourdon's family receive the last game jersey he wore. The family who received the jersey at last year's "Jersey Off Our Back" night, presented Bourdon's mother with it.

One thing that I was disappointed in, was that there was not a moment of silence. I thought there should have been one, and would have made the tribute perfect.

All in all, the emotion of the moment could be felt throughout the capacity crowd.

With the tribute, and it being opening night, the atmosphere was electric. It was time to see if the Cancuks pre-season was a sign of things to come, or if it was a fluke.

The Canucks were possibly too charged up, because they came out lacking cohesion. Calgary dominated the first period and the Canucks were extremely fortunate to come out of the period with a 1-0 lead. With the aid of four Canuck minor penalties, the Flames were all over the Canucks. As he has done so many times before, Canuck Captain Robert Luongo held the fort with his superb play in net.

With just under 4 minutes to play in the 1st period, the twins were on a 2 on 1. Daniel carried the puck down the left wing with Conroy skating hard to try and catch up. The Calgary d-man played the 2 on 1 nicely and Kipper made a nice save on Daniel's shot. The rebound followed Daniel to the end boards, with Conroy guilty of letting Henrik dart over to the left side alone, Kipper had no chance as Daniel quickly fed Hank the puck, Hank made no mistake in putting it over the still down and out Kipper. Conroy made a lazy, lazy play, leaving his check, Henrik all alone. Keenan couldn't have been happy and should have given the veteran an ear full.

Everybody expected Calgary to dominate again in the 2nd, but the Flames came out flat and 23 seconds in, Bernier one timed a nice feed from Hank, who was down low. Kudos to Bieksa for pinching in from the point, getting a step on his check, an unexpectant Bertuzzi, to create havoc for Giordano in front of the net. Giordano didn't know who to take, Bieksa or Bernier, Bernier was open, and Hank found him, 2 zip, complexion of game changed right there.

The Canucks' overall team speed is faster this year, and the line of Kessler-Burrows-Hansen exemplifies that. Burrows potted his first goal of the game on a rebound off a Kesler shot that Kipper tried to steer to the corner, however, he steered it right to Burrows, who put it over a desperate Kipper. This goal seemed to deflate the Flames, coming just a minute 24 after Bernier's tally.

Keenan put out Andre Roy, who is a monster, and Vigneault replied with Hordichuk and the 4th line. Roy and Hordichuk lined up on opposite wings. Immediately after the face off Roy went after Hordichuk and challenged him, Hordichuk didn't want anything to do with Roy. This frustrated the Flame goon, he was looking for a fight in almost every one of his few shifts (6:14 of ice), and tried to goad Canuck new comer, big d-man, O'Brien into a scrap when they lined up across from each other in the Canucks zone, but O'Brien saw no need and just ignored him.

Another Calgary gaffe led to the Canucks 4th goal. In the Flames zone, Conroy headmanned the puck to Cammelleri who was darting up the middle. Cammelleri must of thought he was going to get hit, cause he took his eye off the feed and let it go off his stick directly to another new Canuck, Ryan Johnson. Johnson immediately fed it to the left handed shot Burrows, who turned to receive the pass, and beautifully one timed a slap shot through Kipper. Great to see Bourdon's best friend on the Canucks, Burrows, pot his second of the game.

Burrows was also at his agitating best last night. In the 3rd, as Kipper was freezing the puck, Burrows was alone in front of him, Flame d-man Phaneuf didnt like this and grabbed Burrows from behind and Burrows went down easier than than a cheap hooker on Hastings.

Other notable moments were Bernier taking on Phaneuf after Phaneuf made a hard hit on a Sedin. Phaneuf fed him, as Bernier was outmatched, but good to see the kid go after the tougher Phaneuf. And everybody in the building, including Lombardi was surprised to Jannik Hansen, drop the gloves to go with Lomabardi after Luongo and Langkow exchanged jabs after a whistle, in front of the net. Lucky for Hansen, the linesman had a hold of Langkow, preventing him from really getting at Hansen. Wasn't much of a fight as Hansen got a double roughing and Langkow 2 for roughing. Will have to start callling Hansen "Killer".

Very impressive win by the Canucks. It's only the first of 82, but everything since training camp has been positive about this club. We'll see if it continues......