Thought Prime did a good job. Unlike local broadcasts when they have things like Murphy putting you to sleep with his monotone pre camp talk or playing the anthems to kill time, they kept things moving. Visually the production was super. Be hard to go back to the old 20th Century type clarity. One drawback was you couldn't record and then fast forward the commercials and intermissions. Also couldn't look back over plays although I thought they did a good job on the their replays. Lots of good detail.
Far as the game was concerned it wasn't any kind of classic. Canucks saved by that late second period explosion. Third was a gong show by our defense. This team is far away from being anything like a playoff lock and unless they can shore up their backend and get more out of the likes of Miller, they might regret wins like this one come draft time.
Good
Pettersson - just when you reach the point of unremitting despair you see glimpes of what he used to be. Obviously his scoring was critical in this game.
Sherwood - nice goal that got the rally started. Has turned out to be a key player on this team.
Garland - Up to 23 mins, Sometime I wonder if he might a better d-man than some of the butchers we got back there now.
Hughes - better with one hand than anyone else we got. Deserves another Norris (or maybe Hart) since there can be little doubt he is the most valuable to his team. I don't know how many team we beat without him being a star.
BadForbert - It's been close race between Juulsen - Forbert and Desharnais as to whose worst. After watching Forbert stumble around tonight I think Forbert is pulling ahead. About as bad a skater as there is in the League. Would take anyone off the San Jose defense ahead of him or just about any defenseman in the NHL above him. Just terrible.
Juulsen - has given the team patches of good play lately but can't sustain it. Looked awful in this game.
Soucy - play continues to fall off. Taking more and more penalties.
Heinen - just not very good. Was always fringe up to last year where he kind of broke out with Boston. Was a passenger again tonight
Joshua - just got no wheels. Lunging at the puck b/c he doesn't have enough speed to get to the play quick enough. Getting caught standing still too much
.Others
Miller - Hasn't been on top of his game all season and wasn't tonight. Too many poor passes (especially on the PP) and truly never in sync with his line mates. Still forcing the play too much.
Hoglander - good effort but the missed goal typifies his season. Maybe over trying - needs some calmness in his play. Team desperately needs someone like him to start to produce.
Demko - wasn't brilliant but had lots of shots and, in most cases, his rebound control kept the team out of even more trouble. Had the defense backed up into face nearly all game.
Desharnais - continues to show improvement (needs recognition however he is starting from a very low base). Team might try him again with Brannstrom. Pair looked ok, at certain times, this season.
Like to go into Christmas with a little more positivity but the Canucks don't look like they have it this season. The off season by Allvin now must be seen as largely a failure.