There’s a Seinfeld episode (circa 1994) where Jerry regularly “broke even”. If you remember it, Jerry came out even while playing poker; he was offered a new gig minutes after one was cancelled; and he found $20 in his pockets after Elaine threw $20 out the cab window. In some ways, Jerry in that episode mirrors the Canucks season so far.

At the start of this season, the Canucks not just outworked their opponents; they were rewarded with a little bit of puck luck.

Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison tied games late in the third period; Sami Salo and Daniel Sedin won them in overtime.

The Blackhawks threw 32 shots on Roberto Luongo three weeks ago and he stopped every single one of them. In many other games, he gave the Canucks an opportunity to win.

Against Dallas last Monday, Kevin Bieksa scored from center ice and forever erased memories of Nicklas Lidstrom’s goal from the same spot; Taylor Pyatt scored with 45 seconds left to win the game.

Things haven’t gone as well lately.

In the last couple of weeks the Canucks suffered late-game meltdowns instead of producing late-game heroics. Andrew Brunette, Kristian Huselius and Johan Franzen all scored in third periods to steal wins for their respective teams.

In Minnesota, Todd White scored a goal that should have only been allowed if he had scored it on a soccer pitch.

And against Detroit, Alex Burrows’ tying goal was disallowed because Jan Bulis breathed on Dominik the Diver.

Through 19 games, the one constant to the Canucks’ season has been their strong work ethic. Even in their losses, they were usually the harder-working team and often produced more scoring chances. Alain Vigneault’s challenge is to make sure his team stays the course - whether they score five goals a game or two, and whether they win or lose.

The Canucks may have lost six of their last seven games, but playing the same system, they had also gained points in eight of their first 12 games. They’re playing the same way now as they did earlier this season, but the results are different. Has their luck just evened out? Or is it something else?

source: http://blog.canucks.com/?p=187