"If you were going to draw up a script for the Canucks' home opener, it would look something like this. There would be a nice opening ceremony honouring the original Canucks' team, highlighted by lengthy ovations for franchise heroes Orland Kurtenbach, Pat Quinn and Jim Robson. That would be followed by a video tribute to Henrik Sedin for winning the Art Ross and Hart Trophies before Kurtenbach, the team's first captain, presented Sedin, just named it's 13th, with the captain's 'C' at centre ice. A little hokey? Maybe, but you have to know your audience. With the Canucks off to a somewhat sluggish start, the cameras would then swing to Tom Larscheid who's more popular in Vancouver than Triple O burgers. More roars. More good feelings. And this time the team would respond with Mason Raymond working hard to draw a penalty and Christian Ehrhoff scoring the game's first goal. Yes, all that would be pretty good. But, there might still be more. Like a spectacular outing from Roberto Luongo who would make half a dozen saves during an overtime power play in which the puck never left the Canucks' zone. Like a thrilling shootout. Like a nail-biting finish. I mean, you couldn't ask for much more than that. And, if the game should play out that way, you'd think to yourself, "That's a pretty good night for the Canucks." You might also think, "If they don't win a game like this, they'll never win another home game." But don't worry. We don't know how this one got away but we do know they'll win another home game this season. Saturday night, the Canucks' universe unfolded as it should for over three hours before the Los Angeles Kings spoiled the love-fest with a late tying goal by the annoying Justin Williams and, ultimately, a 2-1 shootout victory. Damn Kings. Who invited them in the first place? So instead of the win and everything it entailed, the Canucks had to settle for an imperfect ending to a perfect evening; a bitter pill to swallow after a sweet affair. But let's look at the bright side. The concept of being disappointed isn't exactly new to the faithful. Sorry, that's a little bitter but this one just didn't seem right or fair. From the moment the oldtimers walked out to Luongo's bravura performance during the Kings' power play, the stage was set for a truly memorable night and the perfect launching point to the Canucks' season." http://www.theprovince.com/sports/hockey/canucks-hockey/Willes Kings spoil script/3650813/story.html
