Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Canucks 2 Blue Jackets 3
Don't look now, but after a 10-game stretch of .500 hockey (5-5-0), the Vancouver Canucks only have a slim, four-point hold on a playoff spot. Last night, they started sloooooow, took some stupid penalties (five of them in the first 11 minutes of the first period) and spotted the Columbus Blue Jackets a 2-0 lead. Yeah, I rushed home from work just in time to see that.
Bah.
After the game, Roberto Luongo stood up and took the blame for the loss (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province):
I only mentioned it in passing a couple of days ago, but I think the injuries are catching up to the team. That it's taken two months before the long-term losses of Morrison, Ohlund, and Bieksa have started to make an impact is admirable. (Luongo, Krajicek, and Salo all missed time in that span too.) For that, credit should be given to the team - and the farm - for stepping up. Alex Edler has been a godsend and his play is being recognized leaguewide (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province; Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun). Jason Jaffray and Mason Raymond both chipped in as well before their effectiveness started wearing off.
Now that both have been sent back down to the Moose, however, the next group of callups (Nathan McIver, Rick Rypien and I'll include Kris Beech as well), save for Beech's goal last night, have yet to make a significant impact. It's not a small thing. McIver hasn't been able to play more than ten minutes a game which means that Mitchell, Salo and Edler are playing 25+ minutes. Rypien hasn't even played ten shifts a game in the two games he's played.
Here's hoping for a turnaround before facing what should be a pissed off Wings team tomorrow.
About the game around the blogosphere:
Tomorrow night in Detroit.
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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, Columbus+Blue+Jackets
Bah.
After the game, Roberto Luongo stood up and took the blame for the loss (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province):
"I'm not going to throw my teammates under the bus," Luongo said. "I've got to do a better job myself and try to make an extra save in the game and maybe we make it to overtime.Props to Louie for saying that, but the fact is, his teammates were plain awful and shouldn't be absolved of any responsibility. Except for Alex Burrows' unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, the rest were the result of being lazy or being beat. Lukas Krajicek and Markus Naslund, especially, took a couple of lazy penalties each after giving up the puck in their zone. What is disconcerting is the fact that, like early in the season, the Canucks aren't winning puck battles and getting very easy to play against.
"I just have to work through it in practice and make sure I get back to what I was doing in December."
I only mentioned it in passing a couple of days ago, but I think the injuries are catching up to the team. That it's taken two months before the long-term losses of Morrison, Ohlund, and Bieksa have started to make an impact is admirable. (Luongo, Krajicek, and Salo all missed time in that span too.) For that, credit should be given to the team - and the farm - for stepping up. Alex Edler has been a godsend and his play is being recognized leaguewide (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province; Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun). Jason Jaffray and Mason Raymond both chipped in as well before their effectiveness started wearing off.
Now that both have been sent back down to the Moose, however, the next group of callups (Nathan McIver, Rick Rypien and I'll include Kris Beech as well), save for Beech's goal last night, have yet to make a significant impact. It's not a small thing. McIver hasn't been able to play more than ten minutes a game which means that Mitchell, Salo and Edler are playing 25+ minutes. Rypien hasn't even played ten shifts a game in the two games he's played.
Here's hoping for a turnaround before facing what should be a pissed off Wings team tomorrow.
About the game around the blogosphere:
- Remember when you can make a spur of the moment decision to watch a game live at GM Place? (The Neutral Zone Trap)
- Paying back Kes. (Puck-rakers)
- Our checkers got outchecked by their checkers. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- 0-15-1 when trailing after two periods. Ouch. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- Pretty boy ain't so pretty anymore. But at least he's back on the ice. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Not often Nik Zherdev gets praised for playing a complete game. (Aaron Portzline, Columbus Dispatch; Tom Reed, Columbus Dispatch)
Tomorrow night in Detroit.
______________
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, Columbus+Blue+Jackets
Labels: Blue Jackets, Edler, game recap, Kesler, Luongo, Pyatt
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Game Day Post: Canucks at Jackets
Taylor Pyatt, protective cage and all, might play, and if he doesn't, Alain Vigneault says Trevor Linden will draw back in (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province). Pyatt has been the Canucks' best forward in the last couple of weeks and it would be a shame if he can't go.
You would've thought that if Pyatt couldn't go, then Markus Naslund would simply take his place on the Sedin line. Apparently, AV has other plans: Naslund will be on the wing on the team's top checking line with Kesler and Burrows (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province). Publicly anyway, Nazzy is welcoming this new challenge.
More from today's MSM:
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
You would've thought that if Pyatt couldn't go, then Markus Naslund would simply take his place on the Sedin line. Apparently, AV has other plans: Naslund will be on the wing on the team's top checking line with Kesler and Burrows (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province). Publicly anyway, Nazzy is welcoming this new challenge.
"It's obviously going to be different for me and I do have to be a little more cautious," he said.No doubt this is a gamble. While Kesler's line is primarily responsible for shutting down opposing teams' top lines, they've also consistently produced scoring chances in recent games. What they've lacked is finish. I'm sure Vigneault is gambling that Naslund can adjust to this new role and finish those chances without hurting the team too much on the defensive end of the ice.
"They're obviously out there to shut other people down. But, that being said, they're good enough to take advantage of other teams.
"It's a little bit of a new challenge for me. I do want to be able to play in all different scenarios. I like those guys. They're not just defensive guys. They can skate and they can put the puck in the net."
More from today's MSM:
- Where will the goals come from? (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- Of course, this is the first year in three years that I don't have Zherdev in my hockey pools. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Fans - and teammates - back up Louie. As it should be. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Turning up the cold in Columbus. (Jeffrey Sheban, Columbus Dispatch)
- The Jackets have the second-best home record in the league (15-6-4). The good news is, the Canucks won their only other game there this season. (Tom Reed, Columbus Dispatch)
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: Blue Jackets, game day preview, Naslund, Pyatt
Friday, November 30, 2007
Blue Jackets 0 Canucks 2
Sometimes I pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming. It's not really possible that the man wearing the no. 1 Canucks jersey is in fact wearing a Canucks jersey. The Canucks just don't have goaltenders like Roberto Luongo. There's no slight intended for King Richard and Captain Kirk, but the Luon-god can dominate games - take over games - like no one in a Canucks uni has been able to.
Last night, Luongo extended his shutout streak to three games - 195 minutes and 34 seconds to be exact. He's now stopped the last 86 shots he's faced and finished the November to remember with an 8-2-2 record and a .934 save percentage (269 of 288 shots).
The Canucks played a true team game last night. Neither team gave up an obnoxious amount of quality scoring chances, though Luongo and Frederik Norrena had to be sharp at times. The team knew what was at stake. Especially in the second and third periods when the Blue Jackets started looking like a Ken Hitchcock-coached team, they stuck together, let Luongo see the puck and cleared away any rebounds. With a 2-0 lead, they focused on the defensive end and picked their spots.
I know it's been said many times, but Ryan Kesler played yet another gem of a game. I don't know if it's too early to start Selke talk, but check out these stats from the past three games:
Patrick Kane, Ryan Getzlaf, Rick Nash - 0 goals, 0 assists, -1, 6 PIM, 8 shots
Ryan Kesler - 2 goals, 0 assists, even-rating, 0 PIM, 9 shots
More importantly, the Canucks won again and moved up to second place in the Western Conference and fourth overall in the NHL. They also crawled one game over .500 on home ice - very impressive considering they were an awful 1-6 at the beginning of the month.
The Canucks only have a couple of days to savor this latest victory. Starting Sunday, they start a stretch of eight games in two weeks, seven of them on the road and including a couple of back-to-backs.
About the game around the blogosphere:
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, Columbus+Blue+Jackets
Last night, Luongo extended his shutout streak to three games - 195 minutes and 34 seconds to be exact. He's now stopped the last 86 shots he's faced and finished the November to remember with an 8-2-2 record and a .934 save percentage (269 of 288 shots).
The Canucks played a true team game last night. Neither team gave up an obnoxious amount of quality scoring chances, though Luongo and Frederik Norrena had to be sharp at times. The team knew what was at stake. Especially in the second and third periods when the Blue Jackets started looking like a Ken Hitchcock-coached team, they stuck together, let Luongo see the puck and cleared away any rebounds. With a 2-0 lead, they focused on the defensive end and picked their spots.
I know it's been said many times, but Ryan Kesler played yet another gem of a game. I don't know if it's too early to start Selke talk, but check out these stats from the past three games:
Patrick Kane, Ryan Getzlaf, Rick Nash - 0 goals, 0 assists, -1, 6 PIM, 8 shots
Ryan Kesler - 2 goals, 0 assists, even-rating, 0 PIM, 9 shots
More importantly, the Canucks won again and moved up to second place in the Western Conference and fourth overall in the NHL. They also crawled one game over .500 on home ice - very impressive considering they were an awful 1-6 at the beginning of the month.
The Canucks only have a couple of days to savor this latest victory. Starting Sunday, they start a stretch of eight games in two weeks, seven of them on the road and including a couple of back-to-backs.
About the game around the blogosphere:
- More on the Luon-god from Waiting for Stanley and Canucks Fangirl.
- Puck-rakers has thoughts from the Columbus side of things.
- Hat trick for Luongo (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Luongo blanks Blue Jackets (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- Luongo bars the door again (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
- Luongo show baffles Blue Jackets (Aaron Portzline, Columbus Dispatch)
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, Columbus+Blue+Jackets
Labels: Blue Jackets, game recap, Luongo
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Game Day Post: Blue Jackets at Canucks
It sounds like Tony Gallagher (Vancouver Province) has a man-crush for Chris Pronger:
Now, on to tonight's game.
After watching the last couple of games at home, and Louie and the team going as good as they are right now, I almost feel that I should just get rid of my tickets for tonight as well. Louie's going for three straight you-know-whats - i.e. the 's' word that shall not be uttered - and can even, possibly set a new Canucks record tonight for consecutive you-know-whats.
He's not the only one looking for a new Canucks record tonight. Markus Naslund is one point away from tying Trevor Linden as the franchise's new scoring leader. When I first posted about this last week, nebcanuck commented that people were expecting Markus to Trev last season. He may have taken a season and a few games more in doing it, but when he does, I hope us Canucks fans pay him proper tribute.
We talked about this on The Crazy Canucks podcast last night, but Markus' rediscovered scoring touch has also spawned a seemingly more involved captain. He's never been the rah-rah-rah kinda guy, but in the last few games, he's been more vocal with his teammates on the bench and on the ice. He looks excited to be playing again and that makes me excited to watch him.
More previews from today's MSM:
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
So he'll never be mistaken for Vancouver Olympic mascots Quatchi or Sumi. Deal with it.We won, they lost, I'm dealing with it fine. But, the fact that Pronger has gotten away with murder his entire career doesn't excuse him for it. I don't think the fuss over his hit on Kesler is laughable because, while Kesler is lucky to be okay, the hit could easily have caused some serious injury. Tony might want to ask Tomas Holmstrom and Dean McAmmond what they think of Pronger's shenanigans. I don't think they'll be laughing.
The fuss about Anaheim Ducks defenceman Chris Pronger working over a few Vancouver Canucks Tuesday night has been nothing short of laughable. Has it escaped everyone's notice he's been doing this since he got into the league. Hell, the new rules have toned him down to the point where his stick hardly makes contact anymore.
That cross-check on Ryan Kesler Tuesday night after Kesler scored a goal was routine five years ago. Now the crown is probably considering charges.
Now, on to tonight's game.
After watching the last couple of games at home, and Louie and the team going as good as they are right now, I almost feel that I should just get rid of my tickets for tonight as well. Louie's going for three straight you-know-whats - i.e. the 's' word that shall not be uttered - and can even, possibly set a new Canucks record tonight for consecutive you-know-whats.
He's not the only one looking for a new Canucks record tonight. Markus Naslund is one point away from tying Trevor Linden as the franchise's new scoring leader. When I first posted about this last week, nebcanuck commented that people were expecting Markus to Trev last season. He may have taken a season and a few games more in doing it, but when he does, I hope us Canucks fans pay him proper tribute.
We talked about this on The Crazy Canucks podcast last night, but Markus' rediscovered scoring touch has also spawned a seemingly more involved captain. He's never been the rah-rah-rah kinda guy, but in the last few games, he's been more vocal with his teammates on the bench and on the ice. He looks excited to be playing again and that makes me excited to watch him.
More previews from today's MSM:
- Oh say, can he 'C' (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Star goalies won't face each other (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- It's Spiderman and Superman (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
- Nash learned a key lesson (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Father knows best (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
- Hainsey fit to see extended ice-time (Aaron Portzline, Columbus Post-Dispatch)
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: Blue Jackets, game day preview, Kesler, Luongo, Naslund
