Just Another Regular Game .. Or Not (JARGON) is a new feature to this blog. These posts will feature the best (and worst) of the regular season performances by the Canucks, in anticipation of the playoffs.

Luongo defeats Red Wings in shootout – Canucks snap Red Wings record home win streak.

It’s not often there is a highly anticipated match in the NHL regular season. You can probably count these games on one or two hands for Canucks fans – any meeting versus the Bruins, Hawks, Sharks and Red Wings. This was Game 61 for the Canucks. They appeared to have snapped out of their “slump” a few games ago versus the Maple Leafs, and looked to be skating well since then.

This game featured the Canucks as the best road team in the league, versus the best home team in the league. There has been a lot of talk of the Red Wings home record this season, as they now hold the NHL record for consecutive wins at home – Detroit had won 23 straight games at Joe Louis Arena. The last time the Red Wings lost at home was on November 3, 2011, when they were defeated by the Calgary Flames.

#Coho4Calder! No wait, nevermind!

Cody Hodgson scored his 16th game of the game, tying the game 2-2. His shot deflected off of Niklas Kronwall’s skate to beat Jimmy Howard. On the very next shift, the Red Wings crashed the net on Luongo with Hodgson’s line out there, and regained the lead. It looked like the Red Wings streak would live on.

#Windaturd! Alright just #TieDaTurd

Just when you thought the Red Wings would win the rest of the games in the regular season, and the Canucks would head back into a regular season slumber, not so fast Sherwood breath! #DonTaylorTweet

The Sedins always seem to amp up their game for the Red Wings, and Thursday was no exception. Henrik to Daniel in the high slot, with Burrows doing the dirty work screening Jimmy Howard in front, with Luongo pulled and just 16 seconds left on the clock. That tied the game 3-3 to send the game into overtime.

Luongo you suck! Long live Luongo!

This would have been a good game for a Wagonwatch post, as Luongo looked somewhat shaky getting beaten on a floater in the first by Darren Helm. However, Luongo played well enough to get the Canucks into overtime. The Canucks looked to dominate in stretches of the 1st and 3rd periods, but Jimmy Howard was very good and held his team in the game. Luongo was excellent in the shootout, stopping Jiri Hudler and Todd Bertuzzi.

Burrows-backhand-top-shelf

This is a phrase my kids recite when we’re playing NHL shootout ball hockey in our basement. Don’t even think about telling me how to raise my kids! With all the money being spent on the more useless scientific research out there, will there be a scientific study to prove exactly how “clutch” Alex Burrows is? All the goalies know the move. Burrows opted to flash the forehand fake this time before moving to the backhand top shelf, and saved the leg kick move for the next goalie.

It was one heck of a game. This writer pulled a hamstring jumping up from the couch, but even though I’m labelled day-to-day with a lower body injury, it won’t stop me from writing blog posts 24 hours late!