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CANUCKS HOCKEY BLOG

Friday, January 05, 2007

Game Day: Oilers at Canucks

Now that the Canucks have a five-game win streak going, everything is fine in Canuckland:

They get a B.

Sure, I'm a pushover in the classroom. I believe in whole language and whole learning, and developing the student more than force-feeding his brain for the sake of achieving test scores to placate the Fraser Institute and pushy parents who think pre-school is the new Grade 3.

But look at the Vancouver Canucks and see where they were after last season -- dysfunctional and disregarded -- and where they started in September, appeared to be headed in November and where they seem capable of going now, and you should be impressed that halfway through its National Hockey League season this team is 22-18-1 and getting better.

Belittle their lack of scoring. Bemoan their inconsistency. Beware of injuries to any of their key players because the Canucks can't afford any. Belabour Markus Naslund's performance. They still get a B from me.
Ahhh yes. Markus Naslund's performance. Call it a case of blind loyalty from this diehard, glass is always half-full fan, but I think tonight, when the Vancouver Canucks face the Edmonton Oilers, is when Markus Naslund will come out of his scoring slump. I won't promise to get a tattoo if he scores (like another fellow blogger and podcaster), but 20% of the season is just way too long for a guy like Markus not to score a goal.

The Oilers will be out looking for revenge. Only a week ago, the Canucks beat them 6-2 in their own home and on national TV. They have Petr Nedved back minus the model wife (and by model, I mean only the occupational kind). They also have Ryan Smyth back from injury - and all he's done is rattle off nine points in a five-game point streak, including four points last night.

To stop Smitty and company, the Canucks will again rely on Willie Mitchell and Kevin Bieksa, whose solid play is continuing to garner attention.

Puck drops at 7 PM. The game is only available on pay-per-view.

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Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.

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posted by J.J. Guerrero, 6:11 AM

2 Comments:

At January 05, 2007 2:39 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'll give you $10 if you get that Markus tattoo... Okay, okay, I'll go as high as $20.

C'mon!

 
At January 05, 2007 4:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, good blog. Was wondering if you heard who will start for VAN? Probably Luongo I guess, but it looks like Maarkanen for EDM.

 

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