Vancouver Canucks Defeat the Maple Leafs 5-3, Next Up Are the Minnesota Wild

The Vancouver Canucks once again entertained the nation on Hockey Night in Canada, outlasting the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 5-3 game. 

On a five-game road trip through the Eastern Conference, the Canucks had the rare opportunity to put on a show for viewers back east, who usually don't stay up to watch the Canucks play in the late games. 

In the marquee game last weekend, the Canucks crushed the Ottawa Senators to a 4-1 tune, although Ottawa tried to goon it up and literally crush the Canucks. 

This weekend, the Canucks again got to play in the marquee game at 7pm EST and played an extremely entertaining run-and-gun match in Toronto against the Maple Leads. 

The battle between the two highest-ranked Canadian teams featured Phil Kessel, the leading scorer in the NHL with 39 points, along with three other players in the top 10 for NHL scoring. 

Henrik Sedin and Joffrey Lupul, both with 36 points, are tied for fourth in NHL scoring. Clearly the inferior twin, Daniel Sedin has a mere 35 points, only good for eighth in the NHL. At that rate he'll never defend his Art Ross trophy. 

However, it was the other member of the Sedin line, Alex Burrows, who would steal the spotlight. 

In the last minute of the second period, Burrows channelled his inner Henrik to thread a perfect pass through a pair of Leafs defenders right onto the stick of a streaking Daniel Sedin for the tip-in goal. 

Then late in the third period, Burrows snapped home the game-winning goal. This time he channelled his inner Daniel, darting into the slot to accept a Henrik Sedin pass and then rifling a wrist shot through a screen. 

Also of interest was that noted Burrows hater Ron MacLean actually apologized on air for his constant diatribes. This was probably at the directive of management, as the apology seemed forced, and at no time did MacLean actually say he was sorry.  

Still, while he sounded like a little kid who was forced to apologize to a sibling with a stern parent looking on, MacLean did apologize—which is good, since the constant harping on Burrows was getting old.  

Most Canucks fans already think MacLean is biased, and I'm sure other fans watching Hockey Night in Canada don't care about Burrows. Even Don Cherry told MacLean to get over it last week. 

The Canucks ended up going 3-1-1 on the road trip, defeating all three Canadian teams (Habs, Leafs and Senators), but falling in regulation to Carolina and in a shootout to Columbus. 

While earning seven out of a possible 10 points is definitely a good trip, dropping points against some of the worst teams in the league with uninspired play is disturbing.

But on the plus side, at least most Canucks fans were spared having to watch those midweek losses to Columbus and Carolina, since the games started at 4 pm local time in Vancouver. 

Next up for the Canucks is a key divisional game against the Minnesota Wild on Monday, December 19th, the first game of a four-game home stand. 

The Wild are currently the top team in the NHL, but more pertinently, they are five points ahead of the Canucks for the Northwest Division title.  

The Canucks do, however, have a game in hand, so if they can win this crucial four-point game against the Wild, they will be in good position to overtake them. 

The last time the Canucks and Wild played, the Wild thumped the Canucks 5-1 on November 3rd, a game that was a low point in the season so far. Since then, the Canucks have gone on a 13-5-1 run.  

Can they avenge the previous blowout and defeat the Wild?