Not only did the goaltender propose to longtime girlfriend Nikki Alexander on Wednesday, but he posted his second shutout in his last three starts on Friday in Vancouver's 2-0 victory against red-hot Calgary.
His other goose egg came seven days ago against the Edmonton Oilers, who visit General Motors Place Saturday (CBC, 10 p.m. EST).
Canucks goalie Dan Cloutier has two shutouts in his last three starts. (CP Photo)
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The Canucks have kept Edmonton off the scoresheet for six periods this season. Backup netminder Johan Hedberg stopped 14 Oilers shots in a 3-0 victory on Oct. 11.
"It's an exciting time for Clouts," forward Todd Bertuzzi told the Vancouver Sun. "It's nice to see. He has been our go-to guy ever since he got here. Guys respect that and count on him."
Since his return 11 days ago from a strained groin, Cloutier has allowed just nine goals in five starts (3-1-1) with a .929 save percentage. He is 13-8-3 overall this season with a 2.13 goals-against average and two shutouts.
Cloutier's success has rubbed off on his teammates. Despite scoring only 24 goals in its last 11 outings, Vancouver has only lost one of its last nine games (5-1-3) and is unbeaten in its last seven (6-0-1) against the Oilers.
With Friday's win, the Canucks upped their lead in the Northwest to five points on second-place Calgary. Edmonton (12-16-6-0) is last in the division with 30 points and is 2-9-3-1 in the last 15 games.
The Canucks are finally getting production from players not named Naslund, Bertuzzi and Linden.
Winger Todd Bertuzzi snapped a 10-game goal drought in Monday's 4-4 tie against Los Angeles, while six others - Mike Keane, Jarkko Ruutu, Artem Chubarov, Brendan Morrison, Brent Sopel and Mattias Ohlund - have found the net during the undefeated run. Captain Markus Naslund has scored 11 times in 14 games, but is pointless in two.
Meanwhile, the Oilers are winless in four and have scored 18 goals in 10 games this month. A disappointing 4-8-4-0 away from Rexall Place, Edmonton hasn't beaten Vancouver in seven games since a 2-0 win in March 2002 at GM Place.
The team's signing of free-agent centre Adam Oates in mid-November was supposed to mean a boost in scoring, particularly on the power play.
However, the Oilers have scored just 20 times in the dozen games that Oates has been around for. And the 41-year-old has managed a disappointing two assists. Futhermore, the Edmonton power play is 30th in the 30-team NHL and has just three goals in 50 tries since Oates came aboard.
But the veteran forward isn't the only Oiler in a funk. Winger Ryan Smyth has just two goals in his last 17 games, Radek Dvorak one in 12 and Raffi Torres one in 16.
After Saturday's game, Vancouver plays in Colorado on Monday and Chicago Wednesday. The Oilers return home for two games, starting Sunday against Calgary.
