MEMOIRS FROM A ROAD TRIP (SO FAR)
DON’T BLAME TANMAN
“Safe is Death” is a phrase John Tortorella coined back in his days as coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and while I haven’t heard him utter it in Vancouver, it is certainly clear he wants his players to err on the side of aggression. That approach bit the Canucks in the rear Sunday night in Columbus and Tortorella knows that’s going to happen now and then.
Tortorella says Chris Tanev did exactly what the coaching staff wants him to do on the play that led to the winning goal, when a Chris Tanev pinch allowed the Blue Jackets to capitalize on an odd-man rush.
“It’s the right play,” Torts said of the Tanev pinch. “Higgy is back and we have numbers back. I don’t think we have to give Johansen the middle. I think Edler can stay in there and keep him to the outside. Higgy is back and the puck goes through him and it’s in our net. No, the pinch is fine. He didn’t get the puck, we’d like him to get the puck, but I still think we have the people back.”
I asked Johansen post-game if he knew it was a forward trying to defend the play and he said he had no idea. All he was looking at was Umberger and trying to find a lane to give him the puck. Mission accomplished.
BROTHERLY LOVE DEBUT
Did you know (I had certainly forgotten) that Daniel and Henrik made their NHL debuts in Philadelphia? When we walked into the Wells Fargo Center last week, Canucks equipment dude Red Hamilton brought up that little bit of information. So I asked Henrik what he remembered about the night of October 5, 2000. His reply?
“Not much.”
Henrik says he was a little nervous heading into the game and then when he looked at their line-up he got a little more nervous (scared?). I can see why.
That Flyers squad employed Kevin Stevens, Keith Primeau, Rick Tocchet and John LecLair among others. Daniel and Henrik both played about 13 minutes that night (with line-mate Trent Klatt) and didn’t record any points. The Sedins would both record their first NHL points three days later when Daniel scored on a pass from Henrik in Tampa Bay.
ZOOMIES
Strolling through the Canucks locker room at the Penguins practice facility last Friday I caught a glimpse of Alex Burrows in the corner peering through some binoculars. Except they weren’t binoculars, they were Zoomies.
Yes, we’ve all seen the incredibly awesome commercial for these hands free wonders of technology.
I asked Burrows if he bought them and he said, “No, they are Boothers”.
Of course they are.
Who else on the Canucks would have Zoomies? Booth told me someone left them in his locker. He suspected it was a joke insinuating he doesn’t see the ice well enough but I think we all know that who ever left them for Booth, it was all about his love of hunting.
PLAY IT BY EAR
When Thomas celebrated what he thought was a goal versus the Canucks in Buffalo, I don’t know anyone who was in the building who didn’t think it was a goal at that moment.
Scratch that. I do know one person.
Chatting with Ryan Kesler as we were going through airport security, Kesler claimed he knew it was a no goal right away because he specifically heard it ring off both posts. Yeah, right. I assumed Kesler was telling a little white lie until Canucks assistant coach Glen Gulatzan confirmed that Kesler immediately went to the bench after the play and said the puck did not go in the net. This was before any sort of replay.
So, um, sorry for doubting you, Ryan.