Foreplay/Long Time

In a game that mirrored the Game 2 loss in so many aways, it was about time the Vancouver Canucks caught a break where the officiating was concerned.

Yes, the Nashville Predators, their fans, the talking heads from around the league and every anti-Canuck with a soap box to stand on are villifying the Canucks and the referees for what was perceived to be a soft call in overtime against Nashville defender Shea Weber that ultimately lead to the Canucks winning the game 3-2.

So let's address this first. This was the first time in 10 playoff games that the Canucks received less penalties than the opposition. Let's take a moment to let that sink in: 90% of the games have seen the opposing team get more time on the power play. To take it a step further, let's look at Game 2, specifically in overtime, where there were several questionable non-calls on Predator infractions against the Vancouver Canucks. No penalties were called, and eventually the Predators did win the game.

In last night's overtime session, Kevin Bieksa was dumped on a borderline hit just moments before Weber was called for his penalty. The announcers for CBC guessed (correctly, in my mind) that this was a makeup call. I would be inclined to agree. I thought Weber and Kesler were having a good puck battle, and both were slightly guilty of an infraction--Kesler for pinching Weber's stick so he couldn't retrieve it, and Weber for being less than polite in requesting his stick back (read - punching Kesler in the head repeatedly).

Any other time, in an overtime game, that usually gets let go. But the Predators were living on borrowed time as it was, having been lucky enough to avoid several infractions in overtime of Game 2, and a blatant one just moments before in Game 3.

Anyone who's been following along knows my position on the popularity of the Canucks outside of British Columbia and the far reaching members of Canuck Nation. Suffice to say, this subject has been a lightning rod since Kesler tipped home his second goal of the game last night. But for the moment, let's just bask in the satisfaction of someone other than a Canuck supporter jumping up and down and screaming over the officiating.

Now, onto the game.

Perhaps the most intriguing storyline headed into Game 3 was the lack of offense from Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Indeed, those who look at simply the stat sheet from last night will likely continue to be disappointed in their play, but that would be doing them a disservice. I thought the Twins(along with Alexandre Burrows) formed a teriffic unit all night long for the Canucks. They were in quick on the forecheck, they controlled the puck in the opposing zone and they created multiple scoring chances. They also initiated the play that resulted in both the 1st and the 3rd goal--Henrik gaining the zone in the second period before passing to Daniel who found Ehrhoff, who patiently waited until Predators' goalie Pekka Rinne had done his best impression of a pretzel before sliding the puck to Kesler for a tap-in. Bang. 1-1 tie. Only one Sedin gets credit for an assist.

It happened again in overtime. The Twins--along with Ryan Kesler, Christian Ehrhoff and Mikael Samuelsson--were playing a big game of catch along the boards with the puck. Henrik made a great pass over two sticks to Ehrhoff who relayed the puck to Samuelsson. Samuelsson then did what he has only done rarely in the playoffs--he simply and quickly unloaded the puck. It wasn't a hard shot nor a fearsome shot, but it was on net. Kesler did the rest by tipping it home. Again, the Twins were in on the play, but neither gets an assist.

So while their own personal stat sheet may not look much better after last night, Canuck faithful can take solace that they were vital components of two of their three goals, including the overtime winner.

Another storyline to follow is that of goaltender Roberto Luongo. Again (and I hate tooting my own horn) I said before the series began that this would be a series of redemption for two goaltenders who struggled in the 1st round. And again, that continued in Game 3. Luongo made some absolutely splendid saves and was the receipient of another unlucky bounce as Joel Ward's wraparound ping-ponged its way through a sea of skates and into the net. Luongo has only allowed four goals through three games in this series to date and is certainly looking like the Vezina calibre goaltender we all know. The series isn't over, but Luongo is off to a very good start.

But now onto the big story. I am not "just" talking about Ryan Kesler, but his entire line, which I felt was the best in the game: Kesler, Chris Higgins and Mason Raymond.

From the drop of the puck these three were everywhere. They were buzzing, creating chances, hustling, hitting, forechecking, backchecking...they did it all. Pick a coach's cliche remark about a hardworking player, and all three of these players exemplified it last night.

But the real story will be Kesler, who--finally--picked up his first two goals of the post-season. Although his finest play may have been the mid-air drop pass to Chris Higgins for the Canucks' second goal, what will really be remembered was his tip-in of Samuelsson's point shot to win the game. At least, it will be remembered until the puck drops for Game 4.

Game 4s are interesting, and I hold the theory that they are the most important game of most series'. You either have a team eliminating another by sweeping 4-0, a team putting another in the corner by going up 3-1, or you have a whole new ballgame with the series knotted 2-2. In this series, it will be one of the latter two possibilities. That game will go on Thursday, and should be the most intense yet.

But for the moment, it's been such a long time for Kesler. He hadn't beat a goaltender to score a playoff goal since 2009 (his only playoff goal last year was into an empty net).

Hopefully the floodgates are about to open for him.