Canucks the hottest team in NHL
Associated Press
12/1/2002
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) - They're the hottest big league team in North America, winners of 10 in a row.
But they've been quietly sneaking up the standings, overshadowed by the races for college football bowl berths and NFL playoff spots.
The Vancouver Canucks planned to go deep-sea fishing Sunday, taking a day off after Saturday night's 5-2 victory at the Florida Panthers. Seven away from the NHL winning streak record set by Pittsburgh in 1993, they finish their road trip with games at the New York Islanders on Tuesday and at New Jersey the following night.
They are 4-0 on their six-game trip.
``It's awesome, isn't it?'' Vancouver wing Trent Klatt said. ``It's fantastic. I can honestly say I've never been on a team that's won 10 straight.''
The Canucks, who have never won the Stanley Cup, are 11-5-4 for 34 points, two short of NHL-leading Dallas. They tied the franchise record for longest unbeaten streak _ they were 5-0-5 from March 5-25, 1977 _ and they went 11-1 in November, their only loss at Dallas on Nov. 6.
``It's hard to believe, but I think we can go better,'' goaltender Dan Cloutier said. ``We haven't played our best yet.''
Matt Cooke had a short-handed goal, and Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and Sami Salo scored on the power play at Florida.
``It wasn't an easy game, our fourth in six nights,'' Vancouver coach Marc Crawford said. ``We knew it was going to be a tough game, so we wanted to get off to a good start. The short-handed goal was very important for us.''
Florida hadn't lost in four straight coming in.
``They were coming at us very hard, and I was impressed with their ability to get in on the forecheck,'' Panthers coach Mike Keenan said. ``They played very physical with their first man. There wasn't one Canuck that let up on the chance to take the body. Even when they had a 5-1 lead, they bodied hard and were going in with the intention to body-check the player they were focused on.''
Vancouver lost in the Stanley Cup finals to the New York Rangers in 1994 and to the New York Islanders in 1982. Last year, the Canucks took a 2-0 lead against Detroit in the first round of the playoffs, then lost four in a row, getting outscored 17-7.
Naslund is leading the Canucks with 15 goals and 28 points. Bertuzzi has 11 goals, 26 points and a team-high 47 penalty minutes, and Brendan Morrison has 10 goals and 26 points.
``We've played pretty well throughout and it's a different facet each night,'' Crawford said. ``Different guys are coming in and contributing.''
Morrison got the first goal Saturday on a shot that bounced off a skate and a stick.
``It's about the angles, man,'' he said with a laugh. ``Nah, it was sheer luck. When things are going your way, they're going your way. You get the bounces and that's what that was there.''
Vancouver is 8-2-4 when scoring first.
``It's a great feeling in here,'' Klatt said. ``We're just doing everything really well. It's funny, too. We're finding ways to win.''
Cheers,
Aquaman