I need more Bernier icons, aru~

[spotto]

The third recap is set, and this time with something special, a goal! 8D

In this very exciting game between the Stars and Canucks, their third meeting of the season, many hits and goals were exchanged. Unfortunately I no longer had TSN on my television, so had to resort to the Team 1040 on the radio to follow live. Luckily TSN puts the game for viewing afterwards, so I managed to watch that on my computer screen and now have good knowledge of the game! I wish I could watch this game live though because it was extremely exciting...a playoff atmosphere game with lots of intensity and emotion. Even players not even known to be tough and gritty were duking it out! Daniel Sedin and Pavol Demitra each got penalties for roughing! And with the nine-home-game-winning streak on the line, how did Steve Bernier do this game?

FIRST PERIOD
The first period started off pretty rough, with the Dallas Stars' resident agitator, Steve Ott, going around doing his thing. I heard he had a broken hand though, but it would've been nice if Steve Bernier someone from the Canucks fought him. The Canucks had a lot of penalties this period, not enough to clog up the period, but it seemed a lot compared to their relatively-disciplined play of late since these penalties were mostly unnecessary stupid penalties. Bernier though, took none. What he DID do this period was the thing you'd expect of Bernier, big hits, working the puck at the dirty areas in the corner, oh and getting chances and not burying them. Someday Bernier, someday. He had a beautiful chance in front of Turco on the powerplay, and it wasn't so much Bernier that it was Turco that the puck didn't go in the net. Any other goalie might not have saved that because that was one pretty impressive save. Oddly enough seconds later Daniel Sedin scored on that PP unit because his shot banked off the defender Robidas. It's interesting how such good plays are stopped but lucky flukes like that get in.

Another good play by Bernier in this period was a very nice hip-check in the neutral zone against Sutherby (was it Sutherby? eh. He got hit by SOMEONE, I remember that.) Bernier seems to make a pretty nice hit every game, or what I've noticed so far. Not enough to make the highlight reel, but enough to get notice by fans and commentators alike, I've once said. I feel a pretty big one coming soon though, someday Bernier, someday. This period ended at a deadlock, 1-1. It was a pretty even period, and quite entertaining too. The game continued on into the second...

SECOND PERIOD
In the second, the Canucks managed to jump ahead by two goals! One amazing goal by Kesler, getting through the defence and backhanding the puck into the net while getting hooked by the defender. How many people besides Alexander Ovechkin can do that? The second was a powerplay goal by Sundin, who was standing there alone at the side of the net. I've noticed how many goals he's gotten at that area, and nobody seems to check him, like they just let him somehow sneak towards that area despite his 6'5'' build. Oh well, it brings goals!

Bernier was also active in this period, like usual. I haven't noticed a quiet night by him in these three games I've covered, so I wonder if it's been like that all year. (I didn't pay attention to him all the time for the entire season, P: but that fight with Phaneuf in the first game of the season was awesome. I was chanting: "BERNIER! BERNIER! BERNIER!" with the crowd too then. And that was the moment I started to realize that this player would gain a spot in my very competitive heart sooner or later :P)

He had a wonderful chance in front of Turco once again, but was stopped. This time set up by Raymond and Wellwood, his regular linemates. Sooner or later he'd pot a goal or two in right? What with all these chances Bernier is getting!? We'll see. I also noticed how the Stars had the pressure and puck in the Canucks' zone but Bernier stole it from them and got it out...that's the second time in two games I noticed that, hmm. I'm pretty sure other players do that too, but I wonder how much they do that. Also, according to the PBP log, Bernier drew one of the penalties, but I didn't notice.

Now, with a nice lead of 3-1, we head to the third period.

THIRD PERIOD
The third period was not without its excitement either! Steve Ott made the game that much closer with a 2-on-1 goal. So the game was that much closer. There was also an intense 5-3 the Canucks managed to kill off. Ohlund took a penalty, which he seems to be doing every game... (but he did get a pretty cool standing ovation for becoming the all-time-points leader in Canucks defensemen O: ) The special teams impressed me this game, actually.

Bernier chipped a puck in the offensive zone so he could change, but he was on his side of the line, causing an icing. He argued, the Canucks argued, but it was to no avail. I was amused when he was arguing. You know how you can't hear what they're saying (unless they yell really loud. I've heard the word "Fuck" on national TV from a hockey game many times before, lol) so it just looks funny when they're yapping their mouths like that, and no sound is coming out. Anyway he had to stay on the ice, the Stars actually won the faceoff despite the fact that they've lost a good majority throughout the entire game, but nothing came from that, not even a chance. Bernier managed to tip the puck out, and it ricocheted off a Stars' defencemen's stick, so they were able to change.

Minutes later, on the third line's next shift, the point man on the Dallas Stars' stick broke, causing Raymond to jump on the loose puck and zoom off into the distance, and unlike the usual, Wellwood, Bieksa, and yes, Bernier, were zooming by with him too! It was a 4-on-2 rush! When they gained the zone, they played tic-tac-toe! First it was Wellwood to Bieksa, to Raymond, and finally, to Bernier, and he yes, finished! A BEAUTIFUL GOAL by BERNIER, but mostly beautiful because of the wonderful passing! Many fans were calling this the best Canucks goal of the year, and if it truly becomes that (by some video the site makes, for example) then I will be very proud of Bernier, but of course, his line also deserves merit as well. AWESOME GOAL, that is Bernier's fifteenth!

No pictures again, but because Bernier had a goal that hit the highlight reel, so the embedded highlights!

The game ended at a wonderful score of 4-2...that's the third time it ended like that! All my logs have ended with a score of 4-2! Isn't that interesting. The Canucks broke their home-winning streak record and now have won at home in ten straight. They also beat Dallas for the first time this season! Special mention to Martin Brodeur for becoming the goaltender with the most wins of any goaltender, surpassing Patrick Roy in the Chicago vs. New Jersey game. He is clearly a superstar.

And finally, Happy St. Patrick's Day (or rather Happy St. Marty's Day, as a sign read)