No, not the shutout streak, unfortunately.  Robert Luongo now has a 7 game losing streak against the Colorado Avalanche after a 2 – 1 shutout loss last night.  He was able to extend the length of time since he last allowed a goal, though, to 242:36.

Watching the game last night, it looked more like the Canucks were going to make Luongo work to extend his streak, being badly outshot in the first period.  Makes you wonder if the captain stood up after the first period and tore a strip off of a couple of people for basically abandoning him back there.

It was good to see Taylor Pyatt finally get his second goal, penalty shot or otherwise.  But penalty trouble was still something that the Canucks have to work on.  They were able to kill off a 62 second 5 on 3, but they’ve got to stop putting the puck over the glass and taking these stupid delay of game calls.

If they’re going to get the puck up that high, even throwing it up the middle shouldn’t be a problem.  Maybe something to think about.

Next up is Toronto on Saturday night, with the new third jersey.  Apparently the Canucks were going to unveil the jersey tonight, so we’ll try and get an image posted as soon as one becomes available.

Well, now. I’m glad I was right about the outcome and wrong about the score. (And yeah, I realized that Bert didn’t play last night, so he wasn’t going to score).

For all of those who claim that the Canucks have no one who can score, I’d like to invite you to explain what happened last night, then. Obviously they aren’t going to put six into the net each night, but the fact that neither the Sedins, nor Steve Bernier played, and they sat the regular defensive corps, that was a pretty damn impressive win.

If Jannick Hansen and Mason Raymond don’t start the season here, there’s something seriously wrong with what Alain Vigneault and Mike Gillis are thinking. I mean, all Hansen did was score two goals on three shots in only 11:30 of ice time – less than any other skater for the Canucks last night. The guy deserves a shot at starting the season here. Mason Raymond, too. Another three points for him as well, and he was just flying. It was fun to watch. Even more fun than watching the Blues spank the Leafs.

About the only negative aspect of last night’s game was the penalty trouble that the Canucks got into late in the game, with Taylor Pyatt, Mike Brown, and Alex Burrows all going off in a span of one minute and 18 seconds, leaving the Canucks to play two men down for a long time. At least the game was well in hand, but, come on, usually it’s the team that’s down by 5 goals that takes the stupid penalties at the end of the game. Staying out of the penalty box at inopportune times is something else the Canucks have to work on.

Thankfully, Roberto Luongo played incredibly on the PK, and nothing else got by him. Not bad for a guy who wasn’t even scheduled to play last night.

And the Canucks are 5-0 – the only unbeaten team left in the pre-season. Sure would be nice to see this momentum roll over into the start of the regular season with 4 or 5 wins in a row coming out of the gate.

Sharks are in town tonight, and Bobby’s going to the game, so he’ll have his thoughts posted after the game or tomorrow morning.

6 – 0 isn’t too much to ask.

From the pressbox:

• Demolition of Flames ‘a lot of fun’ – Jason Botchford – The Province
• Kesler Hails Hansen After Two-Goal Night – Jim Jamieson – The Province
• Canucks Offense Too Much For Flames In 6-1 Loss – TSN

According to Canucks.com, it looks like Sami Salo will play either tonight against the Wings, or Friday against the Capitals. Hopefully this will be the shot that the defensive corps needs after falling way off from where they were for the second half of last season.

Taylor Pyatt is going to play after getting clipped by Mason Raymond’s stick the other night, although Kevin Bieksa flew home to be with his wife, who’s giving birth to their first baby. Congratulations.

A number of people said that maybe the Canucks just needed to get away from GM Place for a bit and pick up some wins on the road. I was among those people. But so far they’re 1-1 with two games left that aren’t going to be simple wins. It’s time for them to start focusing on what they’re capable of doing, and if they play with the same work ethic they employed last year, they’ll be OK. I guess we’ll see tonight.

J.J. at the Canucks Hockey Blog has his thoughts on tonight’s game as well.