Black Ice Vancouver

After Vancouver’s decisive 4-2 win over Atlanta last night I was checking the leader boards after the game and was shocked to see Hank placed third overall in points.

Earlier in the season I predicted that if Vancouver is going to do anything in the playoffs this year they will need–at least–a 90 point contributor on the team. I also argued that Vancouver needs an elite forward if they are to be taken seriously in the post-season.

Things are looking good.

With Daniel out with foot injury it is assumed that Hank will falter, but just the opposite happened–he exploded–taking 25 points in the 20 games Daniel was out. Times Henrik’s increase in totals, with his eerie consistency and you have a very good formula for elite scoring. A fool proof formula.

The game the Sedins play is like no other.

When the twins, combined with Alex Burrows, are firing on all cylinders, they play one of the most beautiful (and one of the most complex) games in the NHL right now. All Daniel’s injury proved is that they are just as good playing together as they are apart–the only thing is, when they play together the game is prettier. Maybe they don’t have the panache of Crosby and Malkin do, or the stamina that Thornton/Marleau/Heatley have, but they do posses, with Burrows, one of the most dangerously sublte scoring games in the NHL.

It is our game, invented in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, and transplanted 3000 km to GM Place where it has quietly become the most consistent point producer in the NHL since the lockout.

There is no question that Henrik is slightly better then Daniel, slightly. Come playoff time, however, that won’t really matter.

Next up – Minnesota

Try to name the three NHL teams that don’t end in S*.

In the time it took me to answer that question last night the Vancouver Canucks (yeah that’s right, we’re not one of them) gave up four goals on 13 shots on the way to a 6-1 roast by the home team — the St. Louis Blues.

Vengeance is mine saith Murray:

The loss was inevitable — Vancouver a tired road-team — St. Louis a team tired of losing.

Lest we forget last spring, where broom jokes were flogged like dead horses.

Alexandre Burrows must have been celebrating his O/T winner from Game Four still because he was on the ice for three of the Blues first four goals. Along with Henrik and still obviously flu-swined Steve Bernier.

All scored within seven minutes of the opening faceoff.

And Andrew Raycroft, clearly pissed that Luongo is back from injury, did his best to insure a Vancouver (hel)l by stepping aside from an Andy McDonald knuckle-puck .18 seconds into the first period.

Fuck the horse, let’s blame it on the pigs.

And make no mistake, we’ll flog this swine flu until the next intifada wrestles back control of the newspaper headlines.

Or balloon boy gets molested by Michael Jackson on the steps of Congress.

Or the economy jerks off into the mouth of the New York Yankees.

Or to heaven we fly on the wings of a pig (thanks Steinbeck!)

And the game last night. Or the team these past couple of road-games. You inquire dear reader?

Not their greatest work. Not their greatest work by far. But rest assured, like every other conflict or controversy we hear about in this 24 hour news cycle, it it will soon be eclipsed by something else, something far more urgent, something far more  breaking, something far more new[s].

Next Up – Detroit

*Wild, Avalanche and Lightning