<img src="http://canucknation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/vannj52.jpg" class="imageFloatLeftFramed"> Last night's game between the Devils and the Canucks was just that – a regular season NHL game. It wasn't a "showdown" between Roberto Luongo and Martin Brodeur to see who should be the starting goaltender for Canada in the Olympics. It was an opportunity to see two of the best goalies in the game facing off against each other. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Hell, the way the game started, you'd think that Brodeur not only wouldn't get the starting job, but would be dropped from the roster completely. But then you'd think the same thing about Luongo if you watched the last five minutes of the first period, too. But that's not the way that Steve Yzerman or Hockey Canada work. And that's not the way people should be thinking about it, anyway.

Alex Burrows has settled in quite well with the Sedins again, picking up his 7th goal of the year. The Sedins had four points between them on those first three goals, and it was sure great to see Sami Salo rip one in from the point. Without a doubt, the Canucks outplayed the Devils for almost the entire first period, just having those lapses at the end to make the game appear a little closer than it actually was.

It was fundamentally sound, if not the most exciting thing to watch, save for the final outcome. There were no obviously glaring errors that showed up. Definitely a good thing.

One thing that kind of struck me was how empty the Prudential Center seemed to be. I saw a whole lot of empty seats for a game against a decent team that doesn't turn up too often in Jersey. I mean, it's not like it was St. Louis in town. I checked the box score on NHL.com, and I wasn't imagining it: 13,586 in attendance. This for a team that's 8 games above .500 and 3 points out of first in their division? Or maybe New Jersey's always like this? I don't know.

I think tonight's PPV game against the Flyers will have a little more emotion in it. Roberto Luongo will probably be starting tonight and then Andrew Raycroft will most likely be getting the start against Carolina on Saturday morning. 10:30am? Jeez, it only used to be Sunday games in Boston that started at weird times.

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