The Vancouver Canucks were awful, and then they weren’t.
Rope a dope is no way to live.
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Just ask Muhammad Ali. He knew that all too well.
It works as a strategy if you’re trying to win a fight against one of the great anti-heroes of all time, but trying to do it every night? That’s not going to end in much of a love story.
Worse yet, they were badly outshot and badly outplayed in the first period by a Columbus squad that was playing their second of back-to-backs and third game in four nights.
It was just 2-0 after the first. It should have been 4-0, but for Kent Johnson missing the net and Jordan Harris also misfiring on what should have been a rush goal.
Columbus had 17 shots on goal in the first period. The Canucks had just two.
But Columbus ran out of steam in the remaining 40 minutes.
The Canucks’ rope-a-dope paid off, taking a 5-2 win that was neither gorgeous nor delicate.
Fast, fast, fast
In the first period they showed none of this. They got absolutely outskated.
In the long run, this is a lesson they have to learn.
Something to prove?
The Blue Jackets had 16 shots Tuesday night in their entire game in Calgary, a 3-0 loss to the Flames.
In the first period of Friday’s game at Rogers Arena, the Blue Jackets managed 17 shots just in the first period.
They had been beaten badly on Thursday in Edmonton, too. They came out on Friday night looking nothing like they did in Alberta.
A Lankinen story, again
Columbus should have scored four times in the first and none of them would have been on Kevin Lankinen.
But the fact is the Blue Jackets missed two of those shots and on the numerous other quality chances they generated off the rush, the Canucks’ goalie did yet another masterful job.
PK mastery
Columbus misfiring on the power play was another story in this one.
The Canucks’ penalty kill has been solid, if unspectacular so far this season.
But they way they controlled the defensive zone on this night is reason to think they’re on to something.
They stopped all six Columbus power plays in their tracks.
Shaking it off
There were no tears drops on the Canucks’ sweaters and they stayed calm.
Pius Suter is Mr. Fix-it
The Canucks’ current second-line centre just does so many things well.
Suter makes smart plays all over the ice, has a great set of scoring hands and he can play any role you need at any time.
Remember when he was a fourth-line winger to start the year?
He’s helping fill the gap left by Miller right now.
NEXT GAME
Sunday
1 p.m., Rogers Arena, TV: ESPN Pacific, Radio: Sportsnet 650