Top 30 Moments: 21-30

A look back at some of the most memorable story lines and memories from the 2007-2008 Vancouver Canucks Season

Tuesday, 22.04.2008 / 11:00 AM / Features
By Sunny Dhillon

The curtain has closed for the 2007-08 Vancouver Canucks. A season that began with such optimism ended with the team missing the playoffs for the second time in three years. As disappointing as the end result was, there were some great memories hatched along the way. Here’s a look at the top 21-30 Canucks moments from the past season.

30) December 12, 2007 @ Anaheim
Jason Jaffray and Mason Raymond both register their first career NHL goal.

On December 12 against Anaheim both Jason Jaffray and Mason Raymond struck net for the first time in the big league. Jaffray added a tip-in against the Rangers on January 3 for good measure. Asked afterwards if he usually fist-pumps on deflection goals, said Jaffray, “I might get a little heat from the guys for [my reaction] but I get excited when I score goals. That’s just how I am, I guess.”

Rookies find the scoresheet in win




29) October 6, 2007 @ Calgary
Daniel Sedin nets overtime marker with five seconds to play, Canucks pick up first win of the season.

The first of Vancouver’s 39 wins was among its most dramatic. The team blew a 3-1 third period lead against the Calgary Flames and then needed a diving effort from Daniel at the tail end of overtime to pick up two points.

Diving for the two points






28) October 21, 2007 @ Columbus
Sanford makes 35 saves, collects first victory as a Canuck.

In his first start in a Vancouver uniform, Curtis Sanford did something it took his predecessor Dany Sabourin five tries to do: win. But it wasn’t easy. The Columbus Blue Jackets outshot the Canucks 14-0 in the second period and extended that stretch as high as 20-0. Backstopped by the Sandman, Vancouver escaped with a 4-1 win.

Sanford stands tall for first victory






27) December 22, 2007 @ Phoenix
Vancouver wins a shootout… finally!

After dropping their first four shootouts – they had just four losses in the breakaway competition the entire previous season – the Canucks finally came out on top. Trevor Linden, who finished the year a team-best 5-for-9, scored to send it to extra shooters. That’s where Taylor Pyatt won it by snapping a wrister five-hole on Ilya Bryzgalov.

Shootout struggles subside 






26) November 16, 2007 vs. Minnesota
Luc Bourdon tallies his first career NHL goal.

This could easily have been included in the same section as Jason Jaffray and Mason Raymond. But partly because those two men both scored their markers on the road in the same game, while Bourdon scored at GM Place, and partly because of the higher expectations levied on Luc since he’s a first round pick, this goal simply meant more to Canucks fans than the other two. Bourdon took a feed from Byron Ritchie and blasted a one-timer over the glove hand of Minnesota Wild netminder Niklas Backstrom.

Bourdon tickles the twine



25) February 21, 2008 @ Nashville
Roberto Luongo stops a season-high 49 shots against Nashville, Canucks win 3-2 in a shootout.

It wasn't the typical defensive style the Canucks are familiar with as Vancouver was outshot 51-30 and rode its goaltender to the win. Luongo made a great save on Greg de Vries with just over two minutes remaining in regulation, then made an even better one on Radek Bonk with his team shorthanded in overtime. Mason Raymond scored the eventual winner in the shootout (more on him later).

Bingo-Bango-Bongo




24) February 21, 2008 @ Nashville
Bieksa’s back!

Coming off a rookie season in which he became something of a cult hero, Kevin Bieksa probably couldn’t have imagined a more frustrating start to his sophomore campaign. His team finished the first month of the season with a 5-6-0 record and in the first game of November, Bieksa’s calf was lacerated by the skate of Nashville’s Vernon Fiddler. He would miss nearly four months before returning February 21 against that same Nashville team, much to the delight and excitement of his Vancouver fans.

Back with a vengence



23) December 20, 2007 vs. Dallas - January 15, 2008 @ Columbus
Daniel Sedin, offensive machine.

During an eight-game December-January stretch, Daniel scored eight times. The rest of his team tallied just twelve goals over that same span, with two of those markers coming via the shootout. After cooling down just slightly, Daniel extended his stretch to ten goals in twelve games.

Sedin shines






22) December 8, 2007 vs. Pittsburgh
The Crosby Show hits GM Place.

It was an event three seasons in the making. Sidney Crosby and his Pittsburgh Crosbyneers finally came to Vancouver as part of their Western Canadian road swing. While no game could live up to as much hype as this one had, it came pretty darn close. Crosby was awarded a penalty shot in overtime and was robbed by a sprawling Roberto Luongo. Crosby got a second crack at Bobby Lou in the shootout but he was, again, turned away. Kris Letang played the spoiler by winning the game for PIT in the sixth round of the SO.

Sid the Kid in Vancity



21) November 21, 2007 @ Minnesota
Hats off to Markus Naslund.

All the talk heading into Vancouver’s November 21 tussle with Minnesota was about the slash levied by Mattias Ohlund on Wild forward Mikko Koivu the last time the two teams met. All the talk heading out was about Naslund. The Vancouver captain netted his tenth hat-trick as a Canuck, tying him with Tony Tanti for the franchise record, as Vancouver knocked off Minnesota 4-2.

Markus makes history

39-33-10
Vancouver Canucks 2007/2008 Season Record
 
213 - Total Goals For

215 - Total Goals Against

88 - Placed 11th in the Western Conference with a total of 88 points this season