Thursday, April 03, 2008
Game Day Post: Oilers at Canucks
The Edmonton Oilers are playing for pride (Joanne Ireland, Edmonton Journal). If the Canucks have any, they'll do the same and take advantage of an Ales Hemsky-less Oilers squad. Regardless of how the Flames' and Predators' games end.
All the cliches have been exhausted and I don't really have that much more to say about tonight's game. I'm just hoping it's not the last game I go to this season that has any significance.
Go Canucks! Go Blues! Go Wild!
From the MSM:
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
All the cliches have been exhausted and I don't really have that much more to say about tonight's game. I'm just hoping it's not the last game I go to this season that has any significance.
Go Canucks! Go Blues! Go Wild!
From the MSM:
- Game day previews from the Vancouver side. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province; Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province; Cam Cole, Vancouver Sun; Matthew Sekeres, Globe and Mail)
- Louie's ready to go. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Pyatt's not. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
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: game day preview, Luongo, Oilers, Pyatt
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Avalanche 4 Canucks 2
In the Canucks' defense-first approach, it's no surprise that they're 30-8-4 when they score the first goal in a hockey game and 18-6-2 when they have the lead after the first period. Here's the problem. Since the trade deadline, those records have been a lot more mediocre. The Canucks are only 3-3-1 when they score first and 5-3-1 when they have the lead going into the first intermission.
Once again, they blew a decent start and pissed away two points. It's the third time they've done that in the last week and pretty much explains the position they're in now - ninth place in the Western Conference and needing to win both of their remaining games and hoping for the Nashville Predators to lose at least one of theirs.
And it's not just the fact that the Canucks are losing games, it's how they're losing them. Lately, they've allowed doubt and panic to seep into their games. One goal against is usually followed by another and sometimes another. Consider these numbers from their last four losses:
What happened to defense-first?
More from the MSM:
Next game:
Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers.
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Colorado+Avalanche
Once again, they blew a decent start and pissed away two points. It's the third time they've done that in the last week and pretty much explains the position they're in now - ninth place in the Western Conference and needing to win both of their remaining games and hoping for the Nashville Predators to lose at least one of theirs.
And it's not just the fact that the Canucks are losing games, it's how they're losing them. Lately, they've allowed doubt and panic to seep into their games. One goal against is usually followed by another and sometimes another. Consider these numbers from their last four losses:
- March 25th vs. Calgary - They allowed two goals in 41 seconds in the third period.
- March 26th vs. Colorado - In the second period, they allowed two goals in 73 seconds and then another two goals in 62 seconds. Those four goals came in a span of only 6:47.
- March 28th vs. Minnesota - They allowed two goals in 5:44 in the first period and another two goals in 5:00 in the second period.
- April 1st vs. Colorado - They allowed three goals in 5:19.
What happened to defense-first?
More from the MSM:
- Game recaps from the Vancouver side. (Matthew Sekeres, Globe and Mail; Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province; Ed Willes, Vancouver Province; Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- Botchford blames Louie. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Cole blames Nazzy. (Cam Cole, Vancouver Sun)
- Game recaps from the Colorado side. (Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News; Terry Frei, Denver Post)
- Decent team is putting it nicely. (Waiting For Stanley)
- Tapeleg earned some bragging rights. (Jerseys and Hockey Love)
Next game:
Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers.
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Colorado+Avalanche
Labels: Avalanche, game recap, Luongo, Naslund
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Game Day Post: Avalanche at Canucks
The second of the Canucks' four must-win games is tonight and it comes against the Colorado Avalanche, a team they've had trouble beating recently (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province). The last time they played the Avs, they were slaughtered 6-3 in Denver. The last time they played the Avs at GM Place, they gave up the tying goal with 15 seconds left in regulation and then lost in the shootout.
The recipe to reverse this trend should be simple. Just play like they did on Sunday.
It's funny what a win can do. Before beating the Calgary Flames, the Canucks looked like they couldn't win a game against the Quad City Flames. Afterwards, they proved that, as long as they work hard, hit hard, go into the dirty areas and win the many little battles - in other words, as long as they're willing to play playoff hockey to make the playoffs - then they can beat anyone.
Because stats at this time of year are pointless:
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
The recipe to reverse this trend should be simple. Just play like they did on Sunday.
It's funny what a win can do. Before beating the Calgary Flames, the Canucks looked like they couldn't win a game against the Quad City Flames. Afterwards, they proved that, as long as they work hard, hit hard, go into the dirty areas and win the many little battles - in other words, as long as they're willing to play playoff hockey to make the playoffs - then they can beat anyone.
Because stats at this time of year are pointless:
- The Canucks have won four of their last five at home.
- The Canucks have failed to gain at least a point in only one of their last twelve home games.
- The Avalanche have lost four straight games on the road, and since beating the Canucks at GM Place on February 27th, have lost five of six road games.
- At 18-10-2, the Avalanche have the best intra-divisional record in the Northwest Division.
- Despite averaging only 12 minutes of ice-time, Marek Svatos has eight points (5G-3A) and a +5 rating in five games against the Canucks this season.
- The other Canuck-killer, Milan Hejduk has four goals and six points in seven games against them.
- Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin lead the Canucks in scoring against the Avs this season. They have nine (3G-6A) and eight (3G-5A) points respectively.
- Taylor Pyatt is the only Canuck with a plus-rating (+3) against the Avs. He also has five points (2G-3A) in seven games against them.
- Last Sunday's heroes, Markus Naslund and Trevor Linden has had a terrible time against Colorado this season. In seven games each, Naslund has three points (0G-3A) and a minus-4 rating and Linden has zero points and a minus-6 rating.
- Team practices are optional the rest of the season... (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- ... and Luongo is taking full advantage. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Inhospitable hosts. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Needing the Twins to step it up. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- Bieksa's back. Hopefully for good. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- A piece on Milan the Canuck-killer. (Marc Weber, Vancouver Province)
- Still anyone's game. (Cam Cole, Vancouver Sun)
- A preview from the Colorado side of things. (Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News)
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: Avalanche, Bieksa, game day preview, Luongo
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Canucks 2 Flames 3
I'm still trying to come up with the right words to describe last night's 3-2 loss to the Calgary Flames. Heartbreaking, disappointing, infuriating, frustrating come to mind. Pissed is another.
I'm pissed off.
The Canucks shouldn't have lost last night. Not with the way they came out and outplayed the Flames in the first period. Not with the way they controlled the play, drew four powerplays, outshot the Flames 21-7 and built a 2-0 lead. They did everything right in the first 20 minutes.
And then they pissed it away.
In the final forty minutes, the Canucks were thoroughly dominated and outshot 33-13. They looked outmatched and out of it. Scarily, it was eerily reminiscent of how they looked against the Ducks in the second round of the playoffs.
The Canucks were outshot 18-3 in the second period, though thanks to Roberto Luongo, they still held a 2-1 lead going into the third. It should have been enough. After all, going into tonight's game, no team had been able to beat them in regulation when leading after two periods. They had a league-best 26-0-1 record when leading after two periods. I guess there's a first time for everything.
It wasn't just the game they pissed away. Had the Canucks hung on for the win, they would have crawled to one point back of the Minnesota Wild for the Northwest Division title with one game in hand. They would have extended their lead to four and five points against the ninth place Nashville Predators (who, by the way, shut out the Columbus Blue Jackets last night) and tenth place Edmonton Oilers respectively. This morning, the Canucks are in seventh place, four points back of the Northwest Division lead and only a two and three point lead against the Predators and Oilers.
Brad Ziemer (Vancouver Sun) probably described this game the best:
If there is one positive after the loss, it's that the Canucks, amazingly enough, still control their own destiny. If they want to make the playoffs and even win their division, all they have to do is win their games. They don't need help from other teams. They just need to worry about their own.
As demoralizing as it was to piss away a couple of points last night, at least they don't have to sit for long and dwell over it. They get back at it against the Colorado Avalanche tonight. I hope the team that showed up in the first period is the team that shows up. And shows up for the entire game.
More from the MSM:
Tonight against the Avs.
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Calgary+Flames
I'm pissed off.
The Canucks shouldn't have lost last night. Not with the way they came out and outplayed the Flames in the first period. Not with the way they controlled the play, drew four powerplays, outshot the Flames 21-7 and built a 2-0 lead. They did everything right in the first 20 minutes.
And then they pissed it away.
In the final forty minutes, the Canucks were thoroughly dominated and outshot 33-13. They looked outmatched and out of it. Scarily, it was eerily reminiscent of how they looked against the Ducks in the second round of the playoffs.
The Canucks were outshot 18-3 in the second period, though thanks to Roberto Luongo, they still held a 2-1 lead going into the third. It should have been enough. After all, going into tonight's game, no team had been able to beat them in regulation when leading after two periods. They had a league-best 26-0-1 record when leading after two periods. I guess there's a first time for everything.
It wasn't just the game they pissed away. Had the Canucks hung on for the win, they would have crawled to one point back of the Minnesota Wild for the Northwest Division title with one game in hand. They would have extended their lead to four and five points against the ninth place Nashville Predators (who, by the way, shut out the Columbus Blue Jackets last night) and tenth place Edmonton Oilers respectively. This morning, the Canucks are in seventh place, four points back of the Northwest Division lead and only a two and three point lead against the Predators and Oilers.
Brad Ziemer (Vancouver Sun) probably described this game the best:
After a roller-coaster season, it probably should come as no surprise that the Canucks are not going to make things easy on themselves as they head down the home stretch of the regular season.The Canucks are like a box of chocolates and all that.
Tuesday's game was in many ways a microcosm of their season. They were very good in the first period and then played terrible the rest of the way.
Who knows which team will show up tonight in Denver.
If there is one positive after the loss, it's that the Canucks, amazingly enough, still control their own destiny. If they want to make the playoffs and even win their division, all they have to do is win their games. They don't need help from other teams. They just need to worry about their own.
As demoralizing as it was to piss away a couple of points last night, at least they don't have to sit for long and dwell over it. They get back at it against the Colorado Avalanche tonight. I hope the team that showed up in the first period is the team that shows up. And shows up for the entire game.
More from the MSM:
- Louie was hot, the team was not. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun; Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- A meltdown of epic proportions. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province; Eric Duhatschek, Globe and Mail)
- Their best players were better than our their best players except for Luongo. (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province)
- Calgary's points of view. (Jean LeFebvre, Calgary Herald; Randy Sportak, Calgary Sun)
- Hannah adds another word to describe the game. (Canucks Fangirl)
- Sean walked into a bar, caught the last two goals... and drank. I would've too. (Waiting For Stanley)
- And this is after a Flames win. Tough crowd. (Hit The Post)
Tonight against the Avs.
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Calgary+Flames
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Family Comes First
Canucks fans need not worry when Roberto Luongo returns to Florida to be with his pregnant wife. After all, this sort of thing happens, and if you ask JS Giguere of the Anaheim Ducks, it just serves to show what is important in life. Besides, the story may even have a fairy tale ending.
If you remember last year, Giguere had to leave the team in the last week of the regular season for the birth of his son (Marcia C. Smith, OC Register).
With all the talk in the last couple of days about what the Canucks would do when Gina's water finally breaks (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun; Marc Weber, Vancouver Province), well, it's simple really. Roberto will fly to Florida to be with Gina and Curtis Sanford will take the reins and Drew MacIntyre or Cory Schneider will back Sanford up. Family comes first and the rest will take care of itself.
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If you remember last year, Giguere had to leave the team in the last week of the regular season for the birth of his son (Marcia C. Smith, OC Register).
On April 3, Giguere was enjoying a rare day off from hockey in his Newport Beach home when, about noon, his pregnant wife felt her water break.But that wasn't all. Little Maxime had a rare eye condition and JS had to stay behind for the Ducks' last road trip of the year and the start of the playoffs. After numerous tests and scans, doctors finally diagnosed the condition, and as we all know now, performed successful surgery. JS also returned to the Ducks and eventually won the Stanley Cup.
Their son was arriving three weeks early. Known for his quick reaction time on the ice, Giguere called their doctor, packed some bags and drove to Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills.
"I had always planned on being home for the birth," said Giguere, who married Kristen in the summer of 2003 after the Ducks' last trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. "It's too important not to be there."
He called Kristen's parents, who rushed to the delivery room, video cameras in hand. He tied on a paper gown and stood beside his wife, holding her leg as she labored.
Then, at 12:20 a.m. April 4, he watched Maxime Olivier Giguere — all 6 pounds, 8 ounces and 21 1/2 inches of him — wiggle into life.
Later that morning Giguere text-messaged his teammates, who had joked all season about Giguere's fatherhood arriving during the playoffs.
With all the talk in the last couple of days about what the Canucks would do when Gina's water finally breaks (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun; Marc Weber, Vancouver Province), well, it's simple really. Roberto will fly to Florida to be with Gina and Curtis Sanford will take the reins and Drew MacIntyre or Cory Schneider will back Sanford up. Family comes first and the rest will take care of itself.
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Labels: Luongo
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Game Day Post: Canucks at Oilers
Thanks to their most recent run - 10 wins in 12 games - the Edmonton Oilers have crawled to within five points of a playoff spot (Joanne Ireland, Edmonton Journal):
It's time to see if our Vancouver Canucks have any sort of killer instinct. A Canucks win tonight would essentially kill Edmonton's playoff chances. Going into tonight's game, the Canucks' magic number against Edmonton is 12 points; they have 9 games to get there. If they win tonight, that magic number goes down to 8 points in 8 games. Even if the Oilers could sweep their remaining games after tonight - and thus extend their run to 17 wins in 20 games (yeah sure) - they would still need a lot of help. 8 points in 8 games is only 50% of available points and the Northwest Division teams have been taking around 61% of the available points all season long.
Everyone remembers the last time the Canucks and the Oilers met - very entertaining game and lots of shenanigans in the dying seconds. Some are expecting much of the same (Robert Tychkowski, Edmonton Sun):
More from today's MSM:
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The implications of tonight's task are staggering given that a win over the Vancouver Canucks will vault the Edmonton Oilers to within three points of eighth place in the Western Conference.Needless to say, there's a lot of optimism in Oil Country right now.
A loss, on the other hand, will result in a stubborn seven-point deficit.
Talk about a swing game.
It's time to see if our Vancouver Canucks have any sort of killer instinct. A Canucks win tonight would essentially kill Edmonton's playoff chances. Going into tonight's game, the Canucks' magic number against Edmonton is 12 points; they have 9 games to get there. If they win tonight, that magic number goes down to 8 points in 8 games. Even if the Oilers could sweep their remaining games after tonight - and thus extend their run to 17 wins in 20 games (yeah sure) - they would still need a lot of help. 8 points in 8 games is only 50% of available points and the Northwest Division teams have been taking around 61% of the available points all season long.
Everyone remembers the last time the Canucks and the Oilers met - very entertaining game and lots of shenanigans in the dying seconds. Some are expecting much of the same (Robert Tychkowski, Edmonton Sun):
"It was just two teams going back and forth at each other," remembers Kyle Brodziak, one of seven Oilers who dropped the mitts that night. "Both teams really wanted to win that game and nobody was backing down. That's how it escalated."I'm sure the game will be hard-hitting and all that, but unless the score's lopsided for either team, I doubt that we'll be seeing Fight Night at the Rexall this time around. There's simply too much at stake for both teams to be running around like stupid. Just in case, however, the Canucks will be ready (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province):
"I think it's going to be a similar game to the last time we played them," predicted Brodziak. "It's a crucial game, both teams are hungry for the win, and they're a pretty hard-nosed team. We definitely can't back down from them in any way. We have to come out with the same urgency and same grit that they do."
"We're going to ice a lineup that can take care of itself and go in and play a hard game." -- Canucks coach Alain VigneaultWith Mason Raymond out for at least the rest of the regular season, Ryan Shannon will also draw into the lineup and play next to Henrik Sedin and Taylor Pyatt (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province).
Rick Rypien was in the minors and Nathan McIver a spectator the last time the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers met in a memorable melee.
The Bruise Brothers won't be bystanders tonight in the Alberta capital. Rexall Place could be turned into Wreck-All Place if punch-ups play a part in the push to the playoffs.
More from today's MSM:
- Nine games versus the Northwest. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- I agree with this one - I hope the Canucks don't finish in seventh place. Actually, I just hope they don't play the Pacific. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
- Baby talk out of bounds for Luongo. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
Labels: game day preview, Luongo, Oilers, Shannon
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Canucks 1 Ducks 4
Something that was mentioned during last night's broadcast but not talked about much afterwards was Chris Pronger's alleged stomp on Ryan Kesler's calf (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun):
Not that the Canucks offered much resistance. As dominant as they were against the Kings the other night, they were just as passive last night. The Sedins got pounded in front of the net. Naslund got pounded by Francois Beauchemin on a (nice) open ice hit. And the worst part was that there was no retribution. The Canucks looked scared, played scared and looked like they just wanted to head straight to Phoenix.
More on the game from today's MSM:
Tonight against the Coyotes.
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Chris Pronger stomped on Ryan Kesler, and the Anaheim Ducks stomped on the Vancouver Canucks.Tom Larscheid was the one who mentioned it on air and I don't know if Kes is the type to make this kind of thing up. (I can't find the video anywhere, but I'd appreciate a link if any of you find it.) The thing is, I wouldn't put it past Pronger to do something like that. We all know that he's a heckuva defenseman. We also know that he's a heckuva bully.
Kesler, fortunately, was alright. We'll see about the Canucks, who provided little initial resistance and were beaten 4-1 here Wednesday, halting their three-game winning streak and stalling their National Hockey League playoff drive.
Kesler, cross-checked from behind by Pronger after scoring earlier this season, appeared to be deliberately stepped on by one of the league's dirtiest players when the Canuck fell at the Duck captain's feet after delivering a check in the second period.
"He stomped on me," Kesler said. "He got me on the calf."
If true -- and it appeared to be -- it was an especially despicable act by Pronger, whose teammate Corey Perry is currently out six weeks after suffering a skate cut to his leg.
Not that the Canucks offered much resistance. As dominant as they were against the Kings the other night, they were just as passive last night. The Sedins got pounded in front of the net. Naslund got pounded by Francois Beauchemin on a (nice) open ice hit. And the worst part was that there was no retribution. The Canucks looked scared, played scared and looked like they just wanted to head straight to Phoenix.
More on the game from today's MSM:
- Bigger, stronger, faster, hungrier. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province; Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- At least Louie got a little bit of rest. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province; Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- That's home ice advantage. (Dan Wood, OC Register; JP Hoornstra, LA Daily News)
Tonight against the Coyotes.
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Anaheim+Ducks
Labels: Ducks, game recap, Kesler, Luongo
Friday, February 29, 2008
Game Day Post: Blue Jackets at Canucks
The Vancouver media tried to create a bit of controversy yesterday when they played a sound clip of Roberto Luongo, who obviously wasn't too happy at Wednesday night's loss, over and over and over again.
What was funny about this whole thing is that a lot of the same people that said that Louie shouldn't have said that after the loss to Colorado are the same people that complain about the Canucks lacking a vocal leader.
Well, now they have one.
More 'Nucks-related pieces in today's MSM:
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
"We had about six chances to get it out and either we shot it off our own guys or we didn't get it out," Luongo said. "The next thing you know there's a shot from the point and Sakic is all alone at the side. I was able to get the first save, but he chipped the second one over me. It's unacceptable, inexcusable, that should never happen in an important game like that. So we just pissed away two points tonight."First, Louie responded (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province):
"First of all, I don't throw my teammates under the bus," said Luongo. "We all work hard and try to do the right things out there and work for each other. Obviously, it was a tough way to lose and I was upset. I take losing seriously and I don't enjoy it. We're a team and I respect my teammates and what they do out there. I'd never single out anybody."Then his teammates backed him up:
"Why would I take it personally? Sakic shouldn't score at the end of the game," said Mitchell. "Players like that [Luongo] with a fire in their belly hate to lose and I love those players. That's the difference between a winner and a loser. You're on the right team when your best player wants it that bad."Controversy over, ok?
(snip)
"We've got a lot of quiet guys in this locker-room and it's always good when Louie steps up," said Burrows. "When we see that he's mad, guys want to give it a little bit more."
What was funny about this whole thing is that a lot of the same people that said that Louie shouldn't have said that after the loss to Colorado are the same people that complain about the Canucks lacking a vocal leader.
Well, now they have one.
More 'Nucks-related pieces in today's MSM:
- Trying to avoid the shootout. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province; Matthew Sekeres, Globe and Mail)
- R-E-S-P-E-C-T. (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province)
- Burrows needs to cut down on those potato farmer jokes. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Baumer's back... with the Moose. (Randy Turner, Winnipeg Free Press)
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
Friday, February 22, 2008
Canucks 3 Predators 2 (SO)
For the first time in four months, the Vancouver Canucks finally had their top-four defensemen in the lineup. How'd they do? Well, they allowed 51 Nashville shots on Roberto Luongo.
The good thing is, Luongo was the best Canuck last night. He stopped 49 of those 51 shots plus another 3 in the shootout. As we've gotten used to by now, he won a game the Canucks simply had no business winning. In the team's current three-game winning streak, he hasn't allowed more than two goals per game.
In what was probably his best game as a Canuck, Mason Raymond scored a beauty of a goal, added an assist and scored the shootout winner. His line with the other little engines that could, Ryan Shannon and Matt Cooke, combined for 5 points (1G-4A) and 5 shots on goal. To be honest, I cringed when Vigneault put this line together a few games ago. I was worried that opposing teams would just bowl them over. So far, they've been able to utilize their speed to elude them and use their skill to keep the puck away from them.
But the story of the night was Kevin Bieksa's return (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun; Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province; Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province). He, of course, missed 47 games and played the night before with the Manitoba Moose. He played a modest 15 minutes, but you can tell he needs to get used to playing the guys again. He had a miscue with Louie early in the game and left his man open on the Predators' second goal. But overall, Bieksa was okay. He definitely adds a different dimension to the defense. Case in point was him going after Jordin Tootoo, who took a bit of a run at Henrik Sedin. Bieksa probably would have beat him had Tootoo not lay down and play dead.
The win moved the Canucks up to seventh place in the Western Conference standings, four points up on the ninth place Phoenix Coyotes. They're starting to heat up as well. They've won four of their last five games and only has one regulation time loss in their last nine games (5-1-3). Just in time too.
About the game around the blogosphere:
Saturday night against the Detroit Red Wings.
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The good thing is, Luongo was the best Canuck last night. He stopped 49 of those 51 shots plus another 3 in the shootout. As we've gotten used to by now, he won a game the Canucks simply had no business winning. In the team's current three-game winning streak, he hasn't allowed more than two goals per game.
In what was probably his best game as a Canuck, Mason Raymond scored a beauty of a goal, added an assist and scored the shootout winner. His line with the other little engines that could, Ryan Shannon and Matt Cooke, combined for 5 points (1G-4A) and 5 shots on goal. To be honest, I cringed when Vigneault put this line together a few games ago. I was worried that opposing teams would just bowl them over. So far, they've been able to utilize their speed to elude them and use their skill to keep the puck away from them.
But the story of the night was Kevin Bieksa's return (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun; Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province; Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province). He, of course, missed 47 games and played the night before with the Manitoba Moose. He played a modest 15 minutes, but you can tell he needs to get used to playing the guys again. He had a miscue with Louie early in the game and left his man open on the Predators' second goal. But overall, Bieksa was okay. He definitely adds a different dimension to the defense. Case in point was him going after Jordin Tootoo, who took a bit of a run at Henrik Sedin. Bieksa probably would have beat him had Tootoo not lay down and play dead.
The win moved the Canucks up to seventh place in the Western Conference standings, four points up on the ninth place Phoenix Coyotes. They're starting to heat up as well. They've won four of their last five games and only has one regulation time loss in their last nine games (5-1-3). Just in time too.
About the game around the blogosphere:
- Zanstorm's pissed... at the Sedins. (Waiting For Stanley)
- Hannah's happy we squeaked out a win. (Canucks Fangirl)
- Mo stories from the father-son road trip. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- Some quick trade talk. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun; Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- I personally don't care what network Jim Hughson ends up with, as long as he's doing Canucks games. (Vancouver Province)
Saturday night against the Detroit Red Wings.
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Nashville+Predators
Labels: Bieksa, game recap, Luongo, Predators
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Canucks 3 Wild 2 (OT)
That's more like it!
I don't want to get ahead of myself too much but last night's 3-2 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild makes me feel a lot better about the Canucks' postseason chances. While Saturday night's win was more of a pure blood and grit kinda win, last night's had more of a playoff feel to it. Both teams matched lines, both teams slowed the game down, and both teams approached the game more strategically.
The Canucks won and deservedly so. Just like on Thursday night, they controlled a lot of the play and certainly created more scoring chances. Thankfully, this time they came out with the two points.
On even-strength, Ryan Kesler's line played well against Marion Gaborik's line. Sedin, Sedin and Naslund were clutch. Louie was clutch. The Little Engines That Could - Ryan Shannon, Matt Cooke and Mason Raymond - played great and even chipped in with a goal.
Shannon, especially, is beginning to look more comfortable. Unlike at the start of the season, he looks more patient with the puck and more competitive without it. In other words, he's letting the game come to him instead of vice-versa, and in the five games since his call-up, he has three assists and is a plus-2.
By the way, someone explain to me the Wild fans' animosity towards Mattias Ohlund. I know he slashed Mikko Koivu and Koivu missed 24(-something) games after that, but surely they haven't forgotten that that was a response to Koivu' dirty shot to Ohlund's head moments before that. Personally, I loved Ohlund's game last night - he had 26 minutes of ice-time, an assist on the game-winning goal and a plus-2 rating. It didn't shut up the fans, but I'm sure it pissed them off.
About the game around the blogosphere:
Tomorrow night against the Nashville Predators.
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Minnesota+Wild
I don't want to get ahead of myself too much but last night's 3-2 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild makes me feel a lot better about the Canucks' postseason chances. While Saturday night's win was more of a pure blood and grit kinda win, last night's had more of a playoff feel to it. Both teams matched lines, both teams slowed the game down, and both teams approached the game more strategically.
The Canucks won and deservedly so. Just like on Thursday night, they controlled a lot of the play and certainly created more scoring chances. Thankfully, this time they came out with the two points.
On even-strength, Ryan Kesler's line played well against Marion Gaborik's line. Sedin, Sedin and Naslund were clutch. Louie was clutch. The Little Engines That Could - Ryan Shannon, Matt Cooke and Mason Raymond - played great and even chipped in with a goal.
Shannon, especially, is beginning to look more comfortable. Unlike at the start of the season, he looks more patient with the puck and more competitive without it. In other words, he's letting the game come to him instead of vice-versa, and in the five games since his call-up, he has three assists and is a plus-2.
By the way, someone explain to me the Wild fans' animosity towards Mattias Ohlund. I know he slashed Mikko Koivu and Koivu missed 24(-something) games after that, but surely they haven't forgotten that that was a response to Koivu' dirty shot to Ohlund's head moments before that. Personally, I loved Ohlund's game last night - he had 26 minutes of ice-time, an assist on the game-winning goal and a plus-2 rating. It didn't shut up the fans, but I'm sure it pissed them off.
About the game around the blogosphere:
- Zanstorm's a lot more optimistic. (Waiting For Stanley)
- The Canucks won and Hannah did too. (Canucks Fangirl)
- Unlike on Thursday night, lady luck, puck luck or whatever was on the Canucks side. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- It's a bit of a longshot, but the Northwest Division title is still in sight. (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Scraping for points. (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Backstrom deserves a lot of credit for Minnesota's point. (Bruce Brothers, Pioneer Press)
- More on the Luongo pads controversy. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun; Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal; David Shoalts, Globe and Mail).
Tomorrow night against the Nashville Predators.
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Minnesota+Wild
Labels: game recap, Luongo, Wild
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Catching Up
I know I've got a bit of catching up from the happenings of the last week so bear with me and random babbles:
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
- Earlier this month, the Canucks had one win in nine games. Now, they're 3-1-1 in their last five, they're back in seventh place in the Western Conference, and everyone in Canuckland is breathing a bit easier. (Easier than last week anyway.)
- I'm sure there's no need to point this out but tonight's game against the Minnesota Wild is another big one. I actually managed to catch last Thursday's game at a sports bar in Toronto and I thought the Canucks, overall, outplayed the Wild and deserved the full two points.
- I got back in time to catch Saturday night's game against the Oilers. Heckuva game, and like everyone, I was most impressed with the boys' effort. I was also least impressed with Craig Mactavish's coaching techniques and his Oilers players' shenanigans. Sending Zach Stortini out when the game was virtually over was a dipshit move. So were Brodziak and Greene goading Mitchell and Linden into fights with two seconds left, Steve Staios slashing Alex Burrows after his goal and Jarret Stool taking a run at Burrow three Mississippis while Burrows was celebrating. Incidentally, Staios was fined by the NHL for that slash (TSN.ca).
- Another one bites the dust. Taylor Pyatt's travelling with the team but won't play tonight or maybe Thursday because of an "upper body injury" (that really looks like a shoulder injury). That's extremely disappointing. Pretty Eyes was playing some of his best hockey and has been one of the more consistent forwards over the last couple of months. Jeff Cowan will take his place in the lineup. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Maybe Kay Whitmore is still holding a grudge against the Vancouver Canucks for trading him for Joey Kocur, but I don't understand his constant flip-flopping over Roberto Luongo's pads. Yes he can wear it, no he can't, no he has to trim them first, no he has to cut them. Oh, meantime, all the other goalies can wear it. Make up your freakin' mind. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- I received an email from Malcolm, a Canuck Place family volunteer. I've supported Canuck Place in the past but he is doing something extraordinary. Not only does he give his time to help the kids that stay there, but on September 6th later this year, he's participating in the Canuck Place Adventure Challenge, a fundraiser event that consists of a 6 km kayak, a 32 km bike ride and an 8 km run. All this for Canuck Place. In the meantime, he's documenting some of his stories, and if you get a free minute, make sure you stop by. (Canuck Place Adventure Blog)
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
Labels: game day preview, good karma, Luongo, Oilers, Wild
Friday, February 01, 2008
Vancouver Canucks vs. The State of Florida
This is my 1,000th post. I can't believe that, after all my random ramblings, you guys keep coming back. Quite simply... thank you.
*****
I was hoping for some sort of fairy tale story for my 1,000th post. You know, the one where Roberto Luongo comes back after a week off, sweeps the road trip and rights the Vancouver Canucks ship that's lost its way in the last month.
After starting 2008 with wins against both New York teams, the Canucks have won just twice more (both against St. Louis). As crappy as we thought their 5-7 record in October was, their 4-7-1 record in January was one point worse.
I'm at a loss for words. For some reason, they just can't put things together. Alex Burrows had a good game, I thought, but few others did. Taylor Pyatt has been the best Canuck over the past few games. Maybe Mattias Ohlund too. Both were okay last night. The Sedins created some good sustained pressure but didn't have many scoring chances. Luc Bourdon looked good in some parts of the game, but took himself out of the play in others. Overall however, it's been a while - I'm thinking since the Rangers game - since the Canucks have played the proverbial 60-minute game.
More on last night's game:
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
*****
I was hoping for some sort of fairy tale story for my 1,000th post. You know, the one where Roberto Luongo comes back after a week off, sweeps the road trip and rights the Vancouver Canucks ship that's lost its way in the last month.
After starting 2008 with wins against both New York teams, the Canucks have won just twice more (both against St. Louis). As crappy as we thought their 5-7 record in October was, their 4-7-1 record in January was one point worse.
I'm at a loss for words. For some reason, they just can't put things together. Alex Burrows had a good game, I thought, but few others did. Taylor Pyatt has been the best Canuck over the past few games. Maybe Mattias Ohlund too. Both were okay last night. The Sedins created some good sustained pressure but didn't have many scoring chances. Luc Bourdon looked good in some parts of the game, but took himself out of the play in others. Overall however, it's been a while - I'm thinking since the Rangers game - since the Canucks have played the proverbial 60-minute game.
More on last night's game:
- Remember when the Canucks couldn't lose to the Southeast teams? (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Louie not making any excuses. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Believe it or not, we're only 12 points from being in the Steve Stamkos sweepstakes. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Their big-3 was better than our big-3. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- There were as many fights as goals last night. (Damian Cristodero, St. Petersburg Times; The Tampa Tribune)
- Shut 'em out, Louie. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province; Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Again, thanks Mike Keenan. (Ben Kuzma, Vancovuer Province; George Richards, Miami Herald)
- He deserves a warm welcome back. (George Richards, Miami Herald; Steve Gorten, South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
- Meh... he'll snap out of it. (Brian Biggane, Palm Beach Post)
- Olli Jokinen might not play tonight. (Steve Gorten, South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
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: game day preview, game recap, Lightning, Luongo, Panthers
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Blues 2 Canucks 3 (SO)
After stopping Andy Macdonald in the shootout and winning the game for the Canucks, Roberto Luongo skated out of his net and did a little fist pump. The rest of the team skated out, greeted him and patted each other in the back. The losing streak was over and everyone was excited and relieved.
To me, the most telling part of the game was just how much the fans stuck with the team, even when they were trailing in the third period. There was no bronx cheer from the crowd, even after a Louie gave up a couple of un-Luon-god-like goals, but instead, plenty of encouragement. Maybe we're beginning to shake off our reputation as a goalie graveyard after all.
The Canucks needed that win. If they had lost, they would have entered the All-Star break with five straight losses with the possibility that Columbus and Nashville would knock them down to 10th in the Western Conference. As it stands, they have a three-point lead on both teams and a chance to rest easy for a week.
More from the mainstream:
January 29th against the Dallas Stars.
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, St.+Louis+Blues
To me, the most telling part of the game was just how much the fans stuck with the team, even when they were trailing in the third period. There was no bronx cheer from the crowd, even after a Louie gave up a couple of un-Luon-god-like goals, but instead, plenty of encouragement. Maybe we're beginning to shake off our reputation as a goalie graveyard after all.
The Canucks needed that win. If they had lost, they would have entered the All-Star break with five straight losses with the possibility that Columbus and Nashville would knock them down to 10th in the Western Conference. As it stands, they have a three-point lead on both teams and a chance to rest easy for a week.
More from the mainstream:
- Finally, a come-from-behind win. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province; Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun; Matthew Sekeres, Globe and Mail)
- Matty Ohlund is a monster performer. (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
- Louie looked shaken and stirred early but recovered nicely late in the third period and the shootout. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun; Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province; Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province; Ed Willes, Vancouver Province)
- In the shootout, the Blues are the anti-Edmonton. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
January 29th against the Dallas Stars.
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, St.+Louis+Blues
Labels: Blues, game recap, Luongo, Ohlund
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Mole Hills and Mountains
All of Vancouver is up in arms because Alain Vigneault *ahem* called out Roberto Luongo during after yesterday's practice (Brad Ziemer, National Post):
In fact, after Monday night's game, Luongo himself admitted as much (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province):
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"I know Roberto really wants to get onto the same roll that he was on to prior to this and he probably would be the first one to tell you that since probably the Islanders game (on Jan. 8) the goaltender that he has faced, except for probably that Detroit game, has had a slight edge there," Vigneault said. "The facts are simple. We need our best players to be at their best. And Roberto is one of them."Has Roberto looked average the last few games? Yes. Does he deserve some criticism? Perhaps. Should we be making a big deal over what Vigneault said? Not at all.
In fact, after Monday night's game, Luongo himself admitted as much (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province):
"Listen, I'm trying to do the best I can out there," Luongo said in a soft voice. "I'm working hard.And I have no doubt he will. There's no need to make a mountain out of this mole hill.
"I'm a human being like everyone else. It's hard to be on top of your A-game for 82 games.
"Obviously I gave up bad goals tonight, but you can always do better."
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Game Day Post: Canucks at Red Wings
It looks like Alain Vigneault finally realized his team needs to score more and recalled Mason Raymond from the Manitoba Moose; Rick Rypien and Mike Brown were sent back down (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province). Looking at the numbers, Trevor Linden and/or Brad Isbister should draw back into the lineup.
This gives the Canucks a couple more options up front. It doesn't really matter who plays with the Sedins, but whoever doesn't gives the second line some potential for offense. Good thing too. I love what Matt Cookie brings to this team but if I have to watch him whiff at a puck in front of the net again, I'll go nuts.
My line projections:
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
This gives the Canucks a couple more options up front. It doesn't really matter who plays with the Sedins, but whoever doesn't gives the second line some potential for offense. Good thing too. I love what Matt Cookie brings to this team but if I have to watch him whiff at a puck in front of the net again, I'll go nuts.
My line projections:
- Sedin, Sedin and Pyatt
- Naslund, Beech and Raymond
- Cooke, Kesler and Burrows
- Isbister, Ritchie and Linden
- Happy 1000th game, Markus! (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- The Wings have a great team. On the ice and off it. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
- It hasn't been a happy new year so far. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Beechy's just trying to fit in. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- More Sundin talk. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- The window of opportunity is not just this year and the next. It's for as long as Roberto Luongo is in a Canucks jersey. (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province)
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
Labels: Beech, game day preview, Luongo, Naslund, Raymond, Red Wings
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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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.
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Columbus+Blue+Jackets
Labels: Blue Jackets, Edler, game recap, Kesler, Luongo, Pyatt
Friday, January 11, 2008
Canucks 1 Sharks 3
There's no way around it. The Canucks sucked last night. The Sharks this season are what the Ducks were for the Canucks last season. For whatever reason, the Canucks just don't have a solution for big, bad San Jose.
I don't know if the Canucks were tired, but the Sharks were bigger and quicker last night. They were beat to the puck a lot and took seven penalties, five of them of the hook and hold variety. It didn't seem to matter what lines Alain Vigneault threw out there, but none of them worked.
Some random thoughts:
Tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes
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I don't know if the Canucks were tired, but the Sharks were bigger and quicker last night. They were beat to the puck a lot and took seven penalties, five of them of the hook and hold variety. It didn't seem to matter what lines Alain Vigneault threw out there, but none of them worked.
Some random thoughts:
- Jeff Cowan returned to the lineup for the first time since early December; however, I hardly noticed him. Mike Brown would've at least got himself into a scrap to try to wake the boys up.
- I know it's only been a couple of games but Mason Raymond looks out of place on the Sedin line. He had a couple of shots tonight but both came on the rush rather than off the cycle. Plus, his skinny frame makes it hard for him to win a lot of corner battles.
- The defense, especially youngsters Alex Edler and Lukas Krajicek, had tough games.
- On the positive side, I thought Taylor Pyatt had another good game. Also, Ryan Kesler's goal was his career-high 11th goal this season.
- Let's hope the 'Nucks and Sharks don't meet in the playoffs. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun; Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Henrik's going to the All-Star game. (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province; Matthew Sekeres, Globe and Mail)
- No, Iain. There's nothing wrong with Louie missing the All-Star game. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- Some nice words on Jason Jaffray. (Gary Lawless, Winnipeg Free Press)
- Nabokov 4, Luongo 0. (David Pollak, San Jose Mercury News)
Tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, San+Jose+Sharks
Labels: game recap, Jaffray, Luongo, Sedin, Sharks
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Extended Break For Louie
We all heard yesterday about Roberto Luongo decision to skip the NHL All-Star game in Atlanta to be with his wife, who is pregnant with their first kid. I've got a bunch of links following, but I don't have much more to add except to say that I don't mind Louie skipping the All-Star game. Family always comes first, and to be faced with a choice to be with his wife at this time or to play in a game where, quite frankly, they really don't need goaltenders, I think he made the right choice. Besides, as Louie himself said, there should be more All-Star appearances in store for him in the future.
More All-Star-related reads from: Chantal Eustace (Vancouver Sun), Jason Botchford (Vancouver Province), Jason Botchford (Vancouver Province), Jason Botchford (Vancouver Province).
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More All-Star-related reads from: Chantal Eustace (Vancouver Sun), Jason Botchford (Vancouver Province), Jason Botchford (Vancouver Province), Jason Botchford (Vancouver Province).
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Labels: Luongo
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Game Day Post: Islanders at Canucks
As Gordon McIntyre (Vancouver Province) points out this morning, the Canucks owe Mike Keenan the New York Islanders for much of their lineup today.
Much like Iron Mike dismantled the Canucks that season, Mad Mike did the same with the Islanders a couple of years later. Here's Elliott Pap (Vancouver Sun):
Why the Canucks will tonight:
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
Butterfly effect: When a remote event, like a butterfly flapping its wings, over time has huge consequences elsewhere.It's an interesting trip down memory lane for sure. I was still working at GM Place when the first Linden deal happened and the atmosphere for the next couple of games felt almost surreal. No one in the stands believed Trevor could ever play for another team and the trade really came out of nowhere. The Canucks were supposed to be a very good team that year and had an opening day lineup that featured Mark Messier, Pavel Bure, Alexander Mogilny, Jyrki Lumme, Dave Babych, Adrian Aucoin, Gino Odjick and Kirk McLean. They weren't, of course, which was why Trevor was traded and we saw the likes of Enrico Ciccone, Jamie Huscroft and Garth Snow in the free Willy jersey.
Who knew when Mike (Iron Butterfly) Keenan blew up the roster in 1998 he'd be laying the foundation for much of the Canucks' success today?
When Keenan traded Trevor Linden to the New York Islanders a decade ago he set in motion an indirect process that saw the return of Linden, the drafting of the Sedins and the acquisition of Roberto Luongo.
Much like Iron Mike dismantled the Canucks that season, Mad Mike did the same with the Islanders a couple of years later. Here's Elliott Pap (Vancouver Sun):
Both Luongo and Weekes were dealt on June 24, 2000 -- draft day -- clearing the decks for Milbury to select Rick DiPietro first overall. The Isles adored the way DiPietro handled the puck and we all know Luongo hasn't exactly mastered that aspect of his position.It's almost too bad this game is on Sportsnet instead of TSN because I love it when James Cybulski asks Mike Milbury about the Luongo deal.
Nonetheless, it took DiPietro another three seasons to establish himself as the No. 1 man on Long Island while Luongo immediately became the Panthers' top backstop.
Florida also obtained Olli Jokinen from the Isles in the Luongo deal. Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha went the other way. No wonder Milbury is now out of hockey and cracking wise on TV.
Why the Canucks will tonight:
- They catch another break from the league's schedule-makers. The Islanders played last night in Edmonton while the 'Nucks haven't played since Thursday. Tonight will be the Islanders' third game in four nights.
- The Islanders have Marc Andre Bergeron on their blueline.
- I won't say the "S" word but Louie LOVES playing at home.
- Raymond's playing the twins, Naslund's playing with Jaffray and Pyatt. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Uh-oh Edler. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province; Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- Something about Mitchell and candy. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
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Labels: Edler, game day preview, Islanders, Linden, Luongo, Mitchell
