Sunday, February 10, 2008
Win One, Lose One
After a horrible, horrible 6-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche last night, the Canucks bounced back with a solid, spirited effort. The two points was nice and it brought them to an eighth place tie with the Nashville Predators in the Western Conferenceit allowed them to stay a point back of the Nashville Predators for the eighth playoff spot, but personally, I was most happy to see them not hang their heads and dwell on the night before.
Because of the obvious lack of offensive flair in their lineup, the Canucks don't score a lot of pretty goals in the shootout. However, Ryan Shannon's goal last night was. My favorite part? It wasn't the creativity or the fact that it was the game-winner. It was that, after Shannon scored, Khabibulin punched him in the back of the head and Shannon simply turned around and celebrated in the Bulin Wall's face.
Boo-ya!
*****
I'm off to Toronto tomorrow morning and will be there all week. The Canucks don't play until Thursday, but in case there's any major news, I'll try and post something real quick from my hotel. I just hope I have some luck finding a pub that'll show the game.
______________
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Chicago+Blackhawks
Because of the obvious lack of offensive flair in their lineup, the Canucks don't score a lot of pretty goals in the shootout. However, Ryan Shannon's goal last night was. My favorite part? It wasn't the creativity or the fact that it was the game-winner. It was that, after Shannon scored, Khabibulin punched him in the back of the head and Shannon simply turned around and celebrated in the Bulin Wall's face.
Boo-ya!
*****
I'm off to Toronto tomorrow morning and will be there all week. The Canucks don't play until Thursday, but in case there's any major news, I'll try and post something real quick from my hotel. I just hope I have some luck finding a pub that'll show the game.
______________
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Chicago+Blackhawks
Labels: Blackhawks, game recap, Shannon
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Canucks 3 Blackhawks 2
Thumbs up: Markus Naslund for surpassing Trevor Linden as the Canucks' franchise scoring leader. He surpassed Trev with an assist on Mattias Ohlund's goal in the first period. Next up is the career assist mark.
Thumbs up: Mattias Ohlund for tying Jyrki Lumme for most goals by a Canucks defenseman. Now in his 9th season as a Canuck, he's got 83 goals of which almost 25% (18) are game-winners.
Thumbs down: Shaw PPV for bungling up their game coverage. I've only ordered the game three times at home this season. One time, they went to the Canucks game late because the early game (which was on the same channel) ran late. Then last night, they lost the feed for part of the first and second periods. Canucks TV PPV's slogan is something about "games you won't see anywhere else". Apparently not even with Shaw.
Thumbs up/down: The win was nice and it moved the Canucks back to first place in the Northwest Division, but I don't think the guys played that well at all. They were kinda sloppy and their passes weren't all that crisp. I thought too that the Blackhawks outskated them and won most of the puck battles, and this showed with the difference in powerplay opportunities between then the two teams.
Thumbs down: During the November to remember, the Canucks were rarely outworked and outskated, and of course, they were nicely rewarded for their efforts. They drew penalties as a result, and for the entire month, had seven more powerplay opportunities (73-66) than the opposition. In contrast, during their October from hell, they had one less power powerplay opportunity (64-63). I know it's only a couple of games into December, but so far the opposing teams have had eight more powerplays (13-5) than the Canucks.
Thumbs down: While I'm bitching about the powerplay discrepancy, I might as well bitch about the refs missing two high sticks on the same shift: one on Ryan Kesler and the other on Jeff Cowan.
Thumbs up: If it's any consolation, at least the Canucks have been doing a decent job on the penalty-kill and have only allowed two powerplay goals against in the last five games (24 times shorthanded).
More from the mainstream:
Tonight against the Nashville Predators.
______________
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Chicago+Blackhawks
Thumbs up: Mattias Ohlund for tying Jyrki Lumme for most goals by a Canucks defenseman. Now in his 9th season as a Canuck, he's got 83 goals of which almost 25% (18) are game-winners.
Thumbs down: Shaw PPV for bungling up their game coverage. I've only ordered the game three times at home this season. One time, they went to the Canucks game late because the early game (which was on the same channel) ran late. Then last night, they lost the feed for part of the first and second periods. Canucks TV PPV's slogan is something about "games you won't see anywhere else". Apparently not even with Shaw.
Thumbs up/down: The win was nice and it moved the Canucks back to first place in the Northwest Division, but I don't think the guys played that well at all. They were kinda sloppy and their passes weren't all that crisp. I thought too that the Blackhawks outskated them and won most of the puck battles, and this showed with the difference in powerplay opportunities between then the two teams.
Thumbs down: During the November to remember, the Canucks were rarely outworked and outskated, and of course, they were nicely rewarded for their efforts. They drew penalties as a result, and for the entire month, had seven more powerplay opportunities (73-66) than the opposition. In contrast, during their October from hell, they had one less power powerplay opportunity (64-63). I know it's only a couple of games into December, but so far the opposing teams have had eight more powerplays (13-5) than the Canucks.
Thumbs down: While I'm bitching about the powerplay discrepancy, I might as well bitch about the refs missing two high sticks on the same shift: one on Ryan Kesler and the other on Jeff Cowan.
Thumbs up: If it's any consolation, at least the Canucks have been doing a decent job on the penalty-kill and have only allowed two powerplay goals against in the last five games (24 times shorthanded).
More from the mainstream:
- Morrison leads Canucks past Blackhawks (AP via Globe and Mail)
- Ugly Canucks get job done (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Line dancing yields Canucks win (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Playing like a broken record (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Weird, ugly yet another win (Ben Kuzma, Vanvouver Province)
- Hockey buzz back in the Windy City (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- No let up by Canucks' Luongo vs Hawks (Len Ziehm, Chicago Sun-Times)
- Bad blast from the past for Hawks (Tim Sassone, Daily Herald)
- As new alternate captain, Toews respects veterans (Tim Sassone, Daily Herald)
- Luongo continues mastery of Hawks (Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune)
- Waiting for Stanley and Canucks Fangirl have their recaps up.
Tonight against the Nashville Predators.
______________
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Chicago+Blackhawks
Labels: Blackhawks, game recap, Luongo, Naslund, Ohlund
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Game Day Post: Canucks at Blackhawks
Hopefully, the Canucks found their legs somewhere between Minnesota and Chicago. The team, pretty much a no-show on Sunday, gets back at it tonight against the Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks are still pissed off. First, the Canucks shut them out a week and a half ago - the first of Roberto Luongo's three straight shutouts - but also, they're still pissed off at Matt Cooke's hit on James Wisniewski (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun):
Wisniewski insists he won't be running around looking for revenge (Len Ziehm, Chicago Sun-Times):
By the way, have you seen the standings going into tonight's game? Not only are the Blackhawks tied with the Canucks with identical 14-10-2 records and 30 points, but also, statistically, they're so much better than they were last year:
The Canucks are 14-2-1 against the Blackhawks since 2002. They've only lost once to them since the lockout season but you gotta think it's getting harder for them to get those W's.
More previews from the MSM:
The Blackhawks are still pissed off. First, the Canucks shut them out a week and a half ago - the first of Roberto Luongo's three straight shutouts - but also, they're still pissed off at Matt Cooke's hit on James Wisniewski (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun):
"The puck was spinning, I went to pick it up, it went in my feet and I looked down and I was close to the boards and I chipped it out and never saw him," he said. "I just remember hitting the glass.Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember seeing that hit and thinking it was a good one. I remember Wisniewski getting hurt but I don't remember it being a hit from behind. As far I saw, he had the puck by the boards and Cookie got him with a shoulder.
"I think some people might have a little more respect when guys are in vulnerable spots ... My back was turned a little bit, I was close to the glass, he could have eased up a little bit. I don't know if there's any reason to try and hurt guys."
Wisniewski insists he won't be running around looking for revenge (Len Ziehm, Chicago Sun-Times):
"I'm not looking to do anything, but I'm not going to pass up on a hit,'' he said after practice Tuesday. ''I might have a clean hit and do what I'd do to any other guy -- but I might put a little more effort into it.''Cookie might want to keep his head up.
By the way, have you seen the standings going into tonight's game? Not only are the Blackhawks tied with the Canucks with identical 14-10-2 records and 30 points, but also, statistically, they're so much better than they were last year:
- Goals scored this season: 2.96 per game (8th in NHL); last season: 2.38 (29th)
- Goals against this season: 2.73 per game (14th); last season: 3.06 (23rd)
- Powerplay percentage: 19.8% (9th); last season: 11.8% (30th)
- Penalty-killing percentage: 84.2% (11th); last season: 82.6% (15th)
The Canucks are 14-2-1 against the Blackhawks since 2002. They've only lost once to them since the lockout season but you gotta think it's getting harder for them to get those W's.
More previews from the MSM:
- Rock 'em, sock 'em Cookie (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Undefeated Sanford scheduled to play today or Thursday (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Time to start pulling away (Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune)
- Crowding Luongo Hawks' strategy (Tim Sassone, Daily Herald)
- For Hawks' offense, risks bring rewards (Tim Sassone, Daily Herald)
______________
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
Labels: Blackhawks, Cooke, game day preview
Monday, November 26, 2007
Blackhawks 0 Canucks 2
The Vancouver Canucks came home from a 1-1-1 road trip and put together a 2-0 shutout win over the resurgent Chicago Blackhawks. It was an entertaining game and both teams generated their fair share of hits and scoring chances. Ryan Kesler set the tone early in the first period when he checked super rookie Patrick Kane into the Chicago bench. Brendan Morrison scored shortly afterwards and the Canucks rode Roberto Luongo's goaltending the rest of the game.
Speaking of Kane, I have to say it was fun watching him and Jonathan Toews do their thing. These kids are good and almost scored the tying goal on a late third period powerplay. That shift in particular, they had control of the puck for almost two full minutes, but couldn't put it past Louie.
And looking through the Blackhawks lineup, they have a lot of kids that are good. Marty Havlat and Tuomo Ruutu - if they can ever stay healthy - are just as skilled and are only 26 and 24 respectively. On defense, it's hard to believe that Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith, the anchor of their defense, are still in their early-20's. (Brent Sopel, at the ripe old age of 30, is the oldest of the group.) In many ways, the make-up of this Blackhawks team actually remind me of the Canucks from the early 2000's.
For the Canucks, I thought Sami Salo played a good game, with full face gear and all, and so did Willie Mitchell. Mattias Ohlund and Lukas Krajicek both returned to the lineup, and for the first time in a while, the team has a (fairly) healthy group in the back end.
Up front, the team outshot Chicago, though admittedly, they were helped by a lot of powerplays. Come to think of it, the Blackhawks were playing their third game in four nights and coming off a shootout lost to Edmonton the night before, so they were probably running on fumes.
Regardless, it was another good win for the good guys and a home win at that. The team, which, at the beginning of November possessed a 1-6 record at home, are a more respectable 5-6-1 now. They'll finish the month with a couple more home games - Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks and Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
More from the mainstream:
______________
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Chicago+Blackhawks
Speaking of Kane, I have to say it was fun watching him and Jonathan Toews do their thing. These kids are good and almost scored the tying goal on a late third period powerplay. That shift in particular, they had control of the puck for almost two full minutes, but couldn't put it past Louie.
And looking through the Blackhawks lineup, they have a lot of kids that are good. Marty Havlat and Tuomo Ruutu - if they can ever stay healthy - are just as skilled and are only 26 and 24 respectively. On defense, it's hard to believe that Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith, the anchor of their defense, are still in their early-20's. (Brent Sopel, at the ripe old age of 30, is the oldest of the group.) In many ways, the make-up of this Blackhawks team actually remind me of the Canucks from the early 2000's.
For the Canucks, I thought Sami Salo played a good game, with full face gear and all, and so did Willie Mitchell. Mattias Ohlund and Lukas Krajicek both returned to the lineup, and for the first time in a while, the team has a (fairly) healthy group in the back end.
Up front, the team outshot Chicago, though admittedly, they were helped by a lot of powerplays. Come to think of it, the Blackhawks were playing their third game in four nights and coming off a shootout lost to Edmonton the night before, so they were probably running on fumes.
Regardless, it was another good win for the good guys and a home win at that. The team, which, at the beginning of November possessed a 1-6 record at home, are a more respectable 5-6-1 now. They'll finish the month with a couple more home games - Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks and Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
More from the mainstream:
- Luongo bounces right back (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Hot issues (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Canucks Nation Weekly (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Stay out of the comfort zone (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- Canucks are made to work (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- Luongo's shutout gives Canucks a win (CP via Globe and Mail)
- Luongo silences Hawks (Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune)
- Tripped up in finale (Len Ziehm, Chicago Sun-Times)
- Short-handed Hawks fall (Chicago Daily Herald)
- Waiting For Stanley raves Ryan Kesler's play.
______________
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Chicago+Blackhawks
Labels: Blackhawks, game recap
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Canucks 2 Blackhawks 1 (SO)
I hope when the Canucks flew back last night, that Jan Bulis bought Roberto Luongo dinner. And dessert. And wine.
Bulis went for a merry little skate in the final seconds of overtime, coughed up the puck - to Marty Havlat, no less - and gave him a clear breakaway. Roberto Luongo stoned Havlat cold with two seconds left and the Canucks won the game 2-1 in the shootout.
The Blackhawks seem to relish their role of spoilers. They played another good game and suffocated the Canucks in large stretches of the game. In fact, for a while the game was eerily reminiscent of the previous game between the two teams.
Luongo was the difference. He made big save after big save after huge save to give the Canucks a chance to win it in the end. His biggest save? His "unbelievable larceny" (Jim Hughson's words) on Denis Arkhipov. Check it out:
More from the Mainstream
Big divisional matchup against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.
______________
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Chicago+Blackhawks
Bulis went for a merry little skate in the final seconds of overtime, coughed up the puck - to Marty Havlat, no less - and gave him a clear breakaway. Roberto Luongo stoned Havlat cold with two seconds left and the Canucks won the game 2-1 in the shootout.
The Blackhawks seem to relish their role of spoilers. They played another good game and suffocated the Canucks in large stretches of the game. In fact, for a while the game was eerily reminiscent of the previous game between the two teams.
Luongo was the difference. He made big save after big save after huge save to give the Canucks a chance to win it in the end. His biggest save? His "unbelievable larceny" (Jim Hughson's words) on Denis Arkhipov. Check it out:
More from the Mainstream
- A post-game piece from the Chicago side of things. - Tim Sassone (Daily Herald)
- How much is Sami Salo worth on the trade market? - Iain MacIntyre (Vancouver Sun)
My 3 Stars of the Game
- Roberto Luongo (VAN): 35 saves in regulation time and overtime plus another two in the shootout.
- Duncan Keith (CHI): Defenseman was noticeable and effective on both ends of the ice.
- Brendan Morrison (VAN): Scored the shootout winner, but his line with Matt Cooke also made things happen.
Official Statistics
Next GameBig divisional matchup against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.
______________
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Chicago+Blackhawks
Labels: Blackhawks, game recap, Luongo
