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Kesler avoids revenge angle regarding Kronwall

Vancouver Canucks v Phoenix Coyotes

GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 25: Ryan Kesler #17 of the Vancouver Canucks awaits a face off during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on November 25 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Canucks defeated the Coyotes 5-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Christian Petersen

In the Vancouver Canucks most recent meeting with the Detroit Red Wings, Niklas Kronwall showed why his last name has morphed into a verb with a huge hit on Ryan Kesler. Go ahead and bask in its violent glow one more time:

The Canucks won the game 4-2, but much of the talk regarding that Dec. 22 contest revolved around the big body check and Kesler’s distaste regarding Kronwall refusing to drop the mitts afterward. (Maybe Kesler was really just angry that he ignored Henrik Sedin’s warning about Kronwall, which Helene St. James details here in the Detroit Free Press.)

When asked about getting back at Kronwall/the Red Wings for the hit, Kesler simply said that he “needs to keep his head up” and then went into cliche mode. (In this case, he went the “we need two points” route, but you can read all about it here if that talk really floats your boat.)

Deep down, Kesler might have revenge on his mind, but letting the game itself get more attention isn’t the worst thing. After all, the Red Wings (69 points) and Canucks (66 points) represent the top two teams in the Western Conference, so don’t begrudge Kesler for trying to eschew the juicier revenge storyline for a drab old clash of the titans angle.