<table width=90% align=center border=0><tr><td><img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/09/henderson_headshot.jpg align=left hspace=4>California has spontaneously combusted and so have the Canucks. No, hang on...

It’s a sunny day, so let’s start on the sunny side, shall we? As Luongo goes, so goes the team. Roberto has played very well the last two games and is beginning to look like our beloved superstar backstopper again. Our new backup was sharp too, in his only start.

I can’t say with any real authority because I haven’t been able to watch the away games in their entirety (damn this having to work for a living), but during the periods I have watched, I don’t think the Canucks have played appallingly badly – well, okay, Mitchell and Miller suddenly taking up pairs ice dancing was bad, especially as it resulted in the winning goal.

Clearly, we need to start taking more shots if we’re going to score more goals. Or more accurately we need to start generating some genuine chances. Which brings us to this week’s media controversy. Oh Markus, when are you going to stop having those outbursts of truthfulness?

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Frankly, I couldn’t agree more with the captain – I’ve been saying the same thing since last season. Controlling the puck means dictating the play and forcing the opposition into taking penalties. Dumping and chasing, for anyone who is not on the third or fourth line, is for losers.

A team that does not have at least one line that can consistently carry the puck into the attacking zone, make perfect passing plays, and get the shot away quickly and accurately will win nothing, especially in the playoffs. Defensive responsibility and ferocious checking are important (at no time did the captain disagree with that) but offensive creativity is every bit as crucial.

Alain Vigneault’s response was predictable, given his love of physical role players, if not a little frank as he suggested his top forwards were soft. “Whereas our grinders, the ones with any points, are doing it by hard forechecking and going to the tough areas. That's the way the way the game is played now; you have to have the willingness to want to do that."

It seems to me that most of top lines across the league give only a passing nod to the tough areas. Zetterberg isn’t doing a great deal of dumping and chasing right now. Alfredsson, Heatley and Spezza aren’t famous for getting rid the puck, then flailing in the corners to retrieve it. Fans want to see dazzling skill. At least, that’s what I want to see when I part with my hard earned bucks.

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I appreciate the very good work our third line has been doing lately. But asking Markus to emulate Rick Rypien every shift is like buying a toaster, then expecting it to make coffee. You are going to be disappointed by the lack of grind (or grinds). Every player should be prepared to battle to win.

Markus should be expected to occasionally go into corners to dig out the puck, should drive to the net sometimes, and I keep noticing him doing those things. But he also needs to be helped in his bid to play to his strengths. And that, once again raises the issue that was not addressed last season, nor over the summer – the need to acquire at least one big strong skilled forward with a scoring touch.

That said, I don’t think we are a million miles away from success. Sami’s back, Kevin’s a proud papa, so the defense is likely to start clicking again. I anticipate improvement soon.

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