Urgency Shown Too Late, Nucks Lose 3rd Straight

Winding up a long 6-game road trip in Columbus Tuesday night, the Canucks came up short in a 4-2 loss to the equally banged up Columbus Blue Jackets. Losers of 3 straight before the contest, one would think that a sense of urgency would have been shown earlier than it was. The Canucks were, at best, average through the first 2 periods.



6'2" 215lb Edmonton, AB native Jason Chimera opened the scoring by flying down the left wing, blasting a perfect slap shot over Luongo's left shoulder. Chimera is a talent and is finally getting more ice time. The goal gave him 6 points (3G, 3A) in his 6th game of the season. Look for the 29 year old to have a career year. The Jackets were smart to sign him to a 3 year deal in the off season.

Kristian Huselius loves playing the Canucks. The off-season free agent signing (ex-Calgary) has had more points against the Canucks than any other in the league. He found success again, redirecting a nice feed from Blue Jacket captain Rick Nash to make it 2-0 just over 6 minutes in to the first period.

Once again, the Canucks found themselves down early.

The Canucks went on the power play soon after the Huselius goal. Waiver wire reject, Kyle Wellwood found himself as the recipient of a beautiful Ryan Kesler pass, and easily put the puck in a yawning cage. The whole Blue Jacket team was drawn to Kesler, and nobody bothered to pick up the out of shape Wellwood.

Mike Brown played his second game of the season for the Canucks, and promptly got into his second fight. Taking on Blue Jacket rookie Derek Dorsett, just over a minute after "Wellfed", I mean Wellwood, potted the Canucks first goal. When Brown fights, he only fights one way....rapid fire. This kid can skate, the Canucks will be well served to keep giving Brown ice time.

Alex Edler had a poor game. Maybe the security of a new 3 year contract extension has him thinking that he can take shifts off. With the play on the right wing boards in the Canucks zone, Edler blindly threw the puck around behind the Canucks net. Problem is, no Canuck had a chance of receiving the puck on the left wing. Jacket d-man Mike Commodore pinched and threw the puck in front of the net to Dorsett, who Edler failed to cover, 3-1 Jackets.

Kevin Bieksa laid out 2008 6th overall draft pick Mikita Filatov with a clean, solid open ice hit shortly after Dorsett's goal. Blue Jacket Alexandre Picard took exception to hit, and immediately challenged Bieksa. Bieksa looked as though he asked Picard if he really wanted to dance when Picard dropped his gloves. Picard should have declined. Bieksa started feeding the outmatched Picard off the get go. I love the way Bieksa fights. He stands up straight, grabs the other player's jersey and throws 'em.

http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/47924

Bieksa potted his first of the season in the 3rd. Wellwood picked up the puck behind the Blue Jacket net and made a nice flip pass to Bieksa to make a 3-2 game. Can't deny that Wellwood has hands.

The Canucks played with desperation in the third, but ran in to a very hot keeper in Pascal LeClaire. After a beautiful Sedin goal mouth feed, how he got over to stop Bernier's shot, who was all alone, is beyond me. The Canucks couldn't solve LeClaire and Nash ended it with an empty netter.

Vancouver's top line is snake bit. While ending the night as a minus, they were a threat on almost every shift. It is only a matter of time until they get out of this funk. I only hope Coach V doesn't break up this line. Bernier is a faster Taylor Pyatt who can play with a bit of a mean streak. This line is looking good, but just not converting.

What can you say about Ryan Kesler? He has been the best Canuck this season.

The naysayers will come out with daggers after the Canucks 3rd straight loss. I say, it's too early to throw knives. The first line is close to burying their opportunities. The Kesler line has been excellent. The Pyatt, Raymond, Demitra/Wellwood line is a work in progress.

It will be interesting to see if Wellwood can continue to be in the right spot at the right time. Wellwood has great hands, but obviously has commitment issues, both on and off the ice. He better make the most out of his present opportunity, it may be his last.