Vancouver edges Chicago 3-2

The game last night was quite exciting, even if the teams playing it need a lot of work. Vancouver edged the Blackhawks 3-2, extending Chicago's losing streak to nine.

Tuomo Ruutu scored the only first-period goal, giving Chicago a 1-0 lead. Ruutu has been out most of the year with a back injury. However, the Blackhawks gave up a shorthand goal in the second period to Nolan Baumgartner. Markus Naslund scored just over a minute later, putting the Canucks in front to stay.

Jarkko Ruutu converted a penalty shot late in the third for the Canucks. Martin LaPointe added a Chicago goal to cut the margin to one.

While Vancouver won, they struggled against the Blackhawks' backup goalie, Craig Anderson. The Canucks only got 16 shots the whole night, a woeful number against a backup. But a win is a win.

I realize that fans of Canada aren't necessarily fans of hockey. But it does help you understand a bit about Canada to get into the game. Football, both American and Canadian, and hockey always seemed to be the games where fans can let off steam. Knowledgeable hockey fans cheer good hits on the boards. And hockey fans like a good fight, as long as it relates to the game.

Both teams were a little testy, seeing the other team as its lone chance to win a game. The amount of fighting was fairly standard for the contest.

I did hear a guy to my right (I sat in the upper ring of seats at the United Center) yell out "How 'bout the good ol' USA" after the Canucks were announced. But I don't think most Chicago fans care that it's a Canadian team. I did see a few Canucks fans. I would have liked to talk to them, but we didn't really sit anywhere near them. There weren't all that many people at the game, at least compared to the arena capacity.

It's difficult to relate how significant "Hockey Night in Canada" is in that country. The old baseball "Game of the Week" isn't comparable in the U.S. and the heyday of "Monday Night Football" comes close, but it's still not a good match. Each Saturday night, the CBC shows a doubleheader of the NHL, primarily featuring Canadian teams. And if you don't think hockey is still important there, the start of the hockey season miraculously ended the CBC lockout.