It’s an Un-Power Play

By on December 23, 2015

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It was the last game of a six game road stint for the Pacific Division Vancouver Canucks. The Lightning have been pretty successful against the Canucks with a record of 7-5-2 all time at home, but 10-13-3 overall with two ties.  Tonight the Canucks would give every opportunity for the Lightning to come away with the 11th overall win over Vancouver.

Ben Bishop was between the pipes tonight for Tampa Bay, making 57 of 60 saves in his last two starts vs. Vancouver last season.

At 2:28 in the first the Canucks start to build on their penalty minutes when  #10 Mike Angelidis for Tampa and #9 Brandon Prust square off and fight. Shortly after at 2:49 #6 Yannick Weber goes to the sin-bin for holding the stick. It’s a Teco Energy Power Play!  The Lightning were unable to capitalize on the man advantage, no worries they will get more.

At 8:50 a minor penalty slashing to #24 Ryan Callahan and the Canucks are gonna test the Lightning’s penalty kill.  The Vancouver gang does not light the light and the Bolts are still in it tied at zero.  

Holding by #27 Ben Hutton at 10:18 gives the Lightning their second power play.  Like I said they will get more.  

After two power plays the Lightning only had one shot on goal.  Anemic power play, Foreshadow… foreshadow…

At 15:57 in the first the Vancouver Canucks # 47 Sven Baertschi was the first one to light the lamp tonight, #17 Vadim Vbrata & #55 Alex Biega with the assists. An even strength  goal that resembled a power play goal because of uncanny possession of the puck by Vancouver.

At 18:31 minor slashing penalty to #44 Matt Bartkowski to put the Bolts on their third power play of the game. No goal.

With 18 total penalty minutes, and only 11 shots on goal in the first period, Vancouver 7. Tampa Bay 4 and the score 1-0 Vancouver. It looked like this was gonna be a low scoring, hard hitting game.

At 7:59 in the second a minor penalty by Daniel Sedin hooking. Puts the Bolts once again on the power play. Not one shot on goal by Tampa leaves the shot count even at nine and score remains 1-0 Canucks.

Once again at 11:26 in the second a minor hooking penalty to #24 Adam Cracknell of Vancouver to put the Bolts on their fifth power play of the game. Once again, broken record alert,  the Canucks shut down Tampa’s power play.

Finally, at 19:38 in the second period, the Bolts are on their 6th power play of the game…..GOAL!!!!!! #42 Jonathan Marchessault (his fifth goal of the season,) assists to #86 Nikita Kucherov and #6 Anton Stralman.

It was a tied game 1-1 going into the third period.

At 3:11 two minute minor for tripping to Canucks #6 Yannick Weber. At this point in the game, Vancouver Canucks are lucky that the Lightning’s power play was not on tonight. This is the seventh chance they have given them. The Canucks killed off the seventh chance, only to have #33 Henrik Sedin commit a tripping minor at 6:08 to put the Bolts back on the power play.

If that’s not enough rough and tumble #15 Derek Dorsett cross checking and #86 Nikita Kucherov for roughing at 7:48 in the third. 

As #24 Ryan Callahan enters the Canucks zone, #17 Radim Vrbata commits a 2 minute minor hooking penalty to keep the Bolts on a power play.

If Jon Cooper had a crystal ball he would have spent the morning skate working on Tampa’s power play.

The “wacky” play continues with two more penalties being committed by #89 Nikita Nesterov and #36 Janik Hansen. Unfortunately for the Bolts, the Canucks Sedin brothers team up to score their second goal of the game. (Daniel goal, Henrik the assist.)

True to form at 18:18 in the third Vancouver commits yet another penalty,  too many men on the ice. Giving Tampa now 20 minutes (in this game) at a man advantage.  “How do you feel when your 1 for 9, there’s a pretty good chance your not gonna win the game,” said Jon Cooper about the dismal power play.

The Bolts, once again are unable to capitalize, hand the Vancouver Canucks 2 points!

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