Just what the doctor ordered for the Canucks… GOALS!

Going into Thursday night’s game against the Nashville Predators, the prognosis did not look good for Roberto Luongo and his ailing Vancouver Canucks. Mired in an ugly funk, they’d be facing a tough defensive team that managed to grind out six games against them in the second round of the playoffs last season, led by fellow Vezina-finalist Pekke Rinne in goal, and arguably the best D-duo in Shea Weber and Ryan Suter.

If Lu were to let in another bad goal early on, would the Preds’ stifling game take over, allowing them to snooze their way to another 1-0 or 2-1 defeat of the Canucks in their increasingly toxic own building? Fortunately, the Canucks’ most potent balm for any of their ailments the last few seasons – a double dose of Sedinery – ensured that wouldn’t happen.

Coach V double-shifted the NHL’s last two Art Ross winners, putting the Preds on their heels and subsequently into penalty trouble, and the hometown boys managed to build up a 4-1 lead just 14 minutes into the game.

True, Luongo looked culpable yet again, badly mishandling a shoot-in to concede a goal early on. But the leadership on this team stepped up, as the Sedins, Ryan Kesler, Manny Malhotra and Keith Ballard all had monster games.

Uh… Ballard… and leadership… in the same sentence?! It’s true, dear doubting reader. For the second game in a row, Keith Ballard was one of the best Canucks on the ice. He even logged the fourth most minutes for the blue shirts. Pinch me. He’s finally earning his keep and fulfilling the potential we knew or suspected he had.

It’s a long way from the press box, where he watched so many games last season. Imagine – barring injury or setback in form, Ballard could actually play 82 games this season, and deserve to play in every one of them. Of course, that’s exactly what GM Mike Gillis had in mind when he signed him to that gaudy $4.2 million annual contract just over a season ago, but better late than never, right?

We Shoots, Weise Scores

Speaking of confidence-builders, Dale Weise, a little-known and largely ignored signing of Gillis’ in the off-season, also had reason to smile, potting his first NHL goal on a nicely placed deflection that gave Rinne no chance, and effectively put the game out of reach.

No wonder that he forgot to discreetly pull out his loud, blue mouthguard before accepting his mates’ congratulations, like Sidney Crosby and so many do after lighting the lamp. But the greasy Weise need have no fear; if he keeps hustling and winning battles for the puck like he did last night, he’ll be getting a great many more opportunities to whip out the mouthguard before the TV moneyshot.

It was also nice to see Kesler notch his first goal of the season, two games in, helping reinvigorate the powerplay that looked dangerous against the Rangers, but couldn’t find the mark. The man advantage last night was dominant, causing the overmatched Preds penalty killers to take yet more penalties, leading to yet more opportunities.

Just as it would have been premature to write off Lu’s season after a couple of early cringe-worthy performances, so too is it too early to declare all of Vancouver’s problems solved.

Still, a 5-1 victory over an historically tough Nashville team is something to build on, and could represent a turning point for this talented club.

At the very least, for Luongo, Vigneault and others, their migraines must be gone by now.