Canucks make huge statement in opening win

On a night filled with an emotional tribute to fallen comrade Luc Bourdon, the Canucks played with an edge and desire that hasn't been seen for a long time here.  No doubt the team came out with a determination to win this game for Luc and nothing was going to stand in they're way. 

From the opening face-off the Canucks outplayed, out the worked, out-muscled, and badly outscored the Flames en route to a 6-0 drubbing at g.m. place.   Alexandre Burrows, one of Bourdon's best friends was probably the best of the Canucks with 2 goals and a huge threat to score on every shift.  While the Canucks made a big statement on the scoreboard, they also made a huge impact on the ice with guys like Hansen, Rypien, and Bernier all making they're presence felt on the ice with they're speed, grit, and aggressiveness.  When the pre-season began the knock on the Canucks was that they had no scoring, no leadership, and very little toughness.  So far this pre-season and tonight's game the Canucks have proven they can score, but also they have shown they are a gritty team that will not be pushed around.  While the season is still very young the Canucks are making many critics eat they're words following an impressive 6 wins in 7 preseason games (getting 13 out of a possible 14 points) and now a blowout win against Calgary, who many had pitted to win the Northwest this season.

Is it too early to tell what the Canucks are made of?  Perhaps, however if you are a Canucks fan you've got to appreciate the way they are playing with guts and determination, they have shown to be a great skating team, with great puck movement, put also a team a poise on the back end and alot of grit and toughness that they lacked greatly last season, put that together with one of the planet's best goalies and you all of a sudden have a team that can be force to be reckoned with.  Time  will tell if the Canucks are maybe peeking too early but one things is for certain, this team has come to play.  No doubt somewhere way above Luc Bourdon is smiling tonight and watching over this team with a real sense of pride and joy.