Sweet Lu’s Homecookin
Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks rallied from three goals down to comeback against the Montreal Canadiens in a crushing 4-3 shootout victory at the Bell Center.
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The Habs jumped out to an early two score lead in the first period on a pair of goals from rookie defenceman, the first of which appeared to bother Roberto Luongo.
After a pair of point shots with accompanying traffic put the Canucks down two goals to none, Montreal’s third goal of the game from Erik Cole exposed a noticeably ratted Roberto Luongo.
The starter could only look to the heavens after Cole’s low wrister snuck through the goaltender’s legs, giving the Canadiens a seemingly safe three goal lead. Minutes after Cole’s crushing tally, Mason Raymond’s sharp shorthanded goal gave the Canucks life halfway through the hockey game.
Raymond took advantage of Montreal’s lenient power play unit and ripped a wrist shot past Carey Price.
It seemed that he and linemate Jannik Hansen pressured the hometown Habs while on the penalty kill all night long.
Cody Hodgson scores the game winning shootout goal on Carey Price Vancouver won 4-3 - (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)
Vancouver’s special teams continue to be their strong suit after converting on one of four power play opportunities Thursday in addition to the shorthanded tally that sparked the comeback. The Canucks kept the Canadiens scoreless on the man advantage after allowing four power play opportunities of their own.
Carey Price was clutch all night opposite Luongo who was forced to re-focus his game after a trio of goals against threatened to crush the keeper’s confidence.
Despite Price’s best efforts to keep his team in the game, the Canadiens could be facing changes in the locker room following Thursday’s collapse to the Canucks.
Blowing a three goal lead certainly doesn’t reflect well on Head Coach Jacques Martin who has appeared increasingly incompetent over the past few games from behind the Canadiens bench.
V’s Thoughts
The Canucks appeared to have left their legs in Vancouver for the beginning on Thursday’s contest against the Canadiens but found their feet quickly after Mason Raymond sparked the improbable comeback.
Roberto Luongo is lucky to have such a skilful set of skaters playing in front of him, on many nights his early collapse would have cost the Canucks two points.
Sweet Lu may have settled into a groove during the second half of Thursday’s contest but cannot afford to leave the Canucks on the comeback trail again like he did against Cole and the Canadiens.
BOXSCORE | Q’s POST GAME RECAP
Vancouver 4, Montreal 3
When: 7:30 PM ET, Thursday, December 8, 2011
Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec
Referees: Justin St. Pierre, Kevin Pollock
Linesmen: Scott Driscoll, Pierre Champoux
Attendance: 21273
