Saturday, April 05, 2008
One More Time With Feeling
Tonight, I hope the fans give Trevor Linden one, good, final hurrah (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun). And if it happens to be the last time we see Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison and Tommy Larscheid, one for each of them too.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Game Day Post: Predators at Canucks
It was fun to have the Canucks' top-six defensemen together for a couple of games *snicker snicker*, but alas, another injury has befallen one of them (Vancovuer Province).
Tonight's as good a night as any to get a win streak going. They win and they're back in eighth place in the Western Conference. They win and the Avs lose to the Ducks and they're back in sixth. They lose and they burn the game in hand they have over the Coyotes who, after beating the Stars last night, are only a point back of the Canucks now.
To say that this is a huge game would be understating it.
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
Mattias Ohlund had an MRI (magnetic resonance image) on Wednesday to evaluate the extent of a knee injury he suffered Tuesday in Denver.Luc Bourdon was called up to replace Ohlund in the lineup.
Tonight's as good a night as any to get a win streak going. They win and they're back in eighth place in the Western Conference. They win and the Avs lose to the Ducks and they're back in sixth. They lose and they burn the game in hand they have over the Coyotes who, after beating the Stars last night, are only a point back of the Canucks now.
To say that this is a huge game would be understating it.
More previews from today's MSM:
- Mason's back in the lineup. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- In light of their recent slump, maybe the Sedins should be more fazed. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- And the rest of the team should be as well. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- The fans certainly are. (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province)
- Shades of 2004. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- Slowly but surely, Mo's getting there. (Elliott Pap, 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, Morrison, Ohlund, Predators, Raymond, Sedin
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Game Day Post: Avs at Canucks
Everyone's talking about tonight's opponent, the new old and improved Colorado Avalanche (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province; Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
Needless to say, it's a big game. The Canucks are only two points up on Colorado, though Colorado has played a couple more games. They've already four games against each other this season. The Canucks won the first two, while the Avs won the last two. Including tonight's game, they play four more times the rest of the season.
I'm not sure if Matt Pettinger will make his Canucks debut tonight. Word is, he's scheduled to fly in sometime today to meet the team and coaches. If he plays, the projected lineup is:
Sedin-Sedin-Naslund
Raymond-Shannon-Pyatt
Burrows-Kesler-Isbister
Pettinger-Rypien-Linden
On the Avs side, Forsberg and Foote are nice, but it ain't 2001 anymore. (I honestly don't know if Floppa is even playing tonight.)
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
Needless to say, it's a big game. The Canucks are only two points up on Colorado, though Colorado has played a couple more games. They've already four games against each other this season. The Canucks won the first two, while the Avs won the last two. Including tonight's game, they play four more times the rest of the season.
I'm not sure if Matt Pettinger will make his Canucks debut tonight. Word is, he's scheduled to fly in sometime today to meet the team and coaches. If he plays, the projected lineup is:
Sedin-Sedin-Naslund
Raymond-Shannon-Pyatt
Burrows-Kesler-Isbister
Pettinger-Rypien-Linden
On the Avs side, Forsberg and Foote are nice, but it ain't 2001 anymore. (I honestly don't know if Floppa is even playing tonight.)
More from today's MSM:
- Morrison and Miller on the mend (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
- Talk about well-prepared. (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
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, Burrows, game day preview, Miller, Morrison
Friday, January 04, 2008
Rangers 0 Canucks 3
The game featured more Pamela Anderson sightings on the jumbotron (4) than goals, and truth be told, the Canucks didn't have that many more scoring chances. Both teams were quite content with sticking to their defensive systems, but that's fine. The good guys won, Luongo got his sixth of the season - one shy of Dan Cloutier's franchise record - and Sean Avery was pretty much non-existent.
From Ed Willes (Vancouver Province):
Add Jaromir Jagr and Scott Gomez to Kesler's notches on his defensive bed post (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province):
About the game around the blogosphere:
A four-day layoff and then Tuesday night's game against the Islanders.
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, New+York+Rangers
From Ed Willes (Vancouver Province):
In an excruciating display of Canucks hockey, the home team didn't record its 10th shot on goal until early in the third period; captain Markus Naslund was replaced on the first line by minor league callup Mason Raymond for the latest in a series of uninspired performances; and Rangers' penalty killers generated more scoring chances than the Canucks' power play.By that, he means that Louie holds the team in the game until they finally score, and when they finally score, they try and hang on for the win. The Canucks are 20-4 when they score first so Ryan Kesler's goal early in the second period was huge. Daniel Sedin's and Jason Jaffray's goals in the third period were just gravy. The Canucks played the perfect road game except for that fact they were at home.
The Canucks, in short, had as much business winning this one as Pauly Shore has of winning a lifetime achievement award from the American Film Institute.
But -- and stop us if this sounds familiar -- Roberto Luongo also stopped everything the Rangers threw at him, Jaromir Jagr just missed a couple of times and Ryan Kesler scored the goal that mattered in the second period when he banked one in off Rangers' keeper Stephen Valiquette.
Pretty it wasn't. Two points it was, and you'd consider if flukey if the Canucks didn't make a habit of winning exactly these kind of games.
Add Jaromir Jagr and Scott Gomez to Kesler's notches on his defensive bed post (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province):
It was no small task. Jaromir Jagr and Scott Gomez came to GM Place rolling. Gomez was on a career-high 13-game point streak and Jagr's streak of eight games in a row with at least a point wasn't far behind. Neither was Kesler's shadow.It was a Selke-worthy performance, but also, it was typical of a lot of his games this season. Ask Ryan Getzlaf, Rick Nash and Jarome Iginla. I'm glad he had it against the Rangers because perhaps now the Eastern media will start taking notice.
He was all over the pair from the opening minutes to the final whistle, matching their combined shot total with three of his own while also scoring the game-winning goal.
About the game around the blogosphere:
- The pride of Duncan talks about the pride of Ladysmith. (Canucks and Beyond)
- I think Mike hates the Rangers. (Yankee Canuck)
- Ummm... Sean? Screensaver password, buddy. (Waiting for Stanley)
- I was surprised Stephen Valiquette had the start last night. I wasn't the only one. (The New York Rangers Blog)
- Some things just don't change *ahem* Marek Malik *ahem*. (Battle of New York)
- Yes, the refs sucked last night (Blueshirt Bulletin), though honestly, I took comfort on the fact that they sucked both ways.
- Some love for the "flying V" and more love for Marek Malik. (Scotty Hockey)
- It's been that long since the Rangers won in Vancouver. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
- The Staal no one really talks about. Yet. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
- Some deserved Luongo love. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- At least he didn't pull out a Sharpie and sign the puck. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Welcome back to the bandwagon, boys. (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Shooting stars? (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Catching up with Mo-mo. (Vancouver Province)
- Catching up with Glen Sather. (Cam Cole, Vancouver Sun)
- Brushing off Tony. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
- The New York side of things. (John Dellapina, NY Daily News)
A four-day layoff and then Tuesday night's game against the Islanders.
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, New+York+Rangers
Labels: game recap, Jaffray, Kesler, Luongo, Morrison, Rangers
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Game Day Post: Devils at Canucks
Marty vs. Louie.
The battle between two possible goalies for Team Canada in the 2010 Olympics goes tonight as the New Jersey Devils pay a rare visit to GM Place.
On the one hand, I'm excited to see this match-up. I'm also very excited to watch Zach Parise play. (This kid's a keeper.)
On the other hand, I, unfortunately, still have memories of the last time I saw the Devils play at GM Place. I was still working there and was working a center ice tunnel when the Devils held the Canucks to eight shots on goal... for the entire game. I remember the Canucks tied a club record with 0 shots on goal during one period as well. It was riveting hockey, I tell ya.
Besides the interest behind the Marty vs. Louie subplot, I'm not sure what to expect from this game. Neither team plays the trap necessarily, but both certainly play a defense-first system. Both are in the top half of the league in shots against - that is, they allow fewer shots against than half the league - and in the bottom half in shots for. Not surprisingly, both teams are in the top half of the league in goals against and in the bottom half for goals for.
Are we in for a titanic defensive battle? Perhaps. And it won't hurt to have a large pot of caffeine handy.
More from today's MSM:
- Getting better all the time (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Top two goalies know how to read the play (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Nothing else matters but winning to these boring Devils (David Pratt, Vancouver Province)
- Salo uncaged and ready to unleash (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
- Morrison casts himself disappointed (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
- Mr. Big Shot firing blanks (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Morrison aiming to be back a few weeks before playoffs (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Devils' Pelley returns to play in his home province (Tom Gulitti, northjersey.com)
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: Devils, game day preview, Morrison, Salo
Monday, December 17, 2007
Mo Recovery Time Needed
From Iain MacIntyre (via National Post):
It took nearly eight years for Brendan Morrison's consecutive-games streak to end, and it could be two months or longer before he gets to start another after recovering from wrist surgery.
Vancouver Canuck general manager Dave Nonis said Wednesday the tendon surgery, though not complex, requires "significant" recovery time and the National Hockey League club has no expectations for Morrison's return beyond the 32-year-old being available before the playoffs.
"It's significant," Nonis said. "From what we've been told, it's not a difficult (operation), nothing that we need to worry about. But he will spend significant time in a cast. And after that, there's rehab.
"We knew of this possibility weeks ago. We didn't know if his injury would deteriorate but it wasn't going to get better with rest, so we were hoping he could get through the season with it. But of late, it was getting progressively worse."
While some Canucks fans probably rejoiced at this news - I'm talking specifically about those who have wanted Mo traded for a couple of years now - this is not a small loss. Mo is about as versatile a player as they come these days. He sits fourth in team scoring with 20 points (8G-12A) in 30 points. He plays a regular shift, he plays on the powerplay (as a forward and on the point), and he plays on the penalty kill. Really, it seems the only position he hasn't played this year is in goal.
The good news is, the Canucks have so far been able to cover Mo's absence by committee. Jaffray and Raymond have been decent, and also, the likes of Ritchie and Linden have been able to take on some extra minutes. As long as they can continue to do that, I don't expect Nonis to make a move just yet.
Contrary to popular belief, the Canucks actually don't get salary cap relief for Morrison's injury. If anything, it makes their cap situation worse. His salary will still count towards the cap, as will the salary of whoever it is that replaces him on the roster. (Right now, that's Jaffray.) The only thing the CBA allows the Canucks to do is to go over the cap to replace him; however, as soon as Morrison is healthy, they'll have to shed salary to get back under it.
As it stands, the Canucks have $2.37 million in cap space (as per nhlnumbers.com). With approximately 60% of the season remaining, they can take in almost $4 million worth of salary. But while they certainly have the room to replace him if they want to, doing so would then cut into the amount of salary they can take in at the trade deadline. If the Canucks choose to ride it out with Jaffray, Raymond and maybe Rypien, that $2.37 million in cap space equals to more than $9 million in salary at the trade deadline.
Trade now or trade later? The obvious preference is the latter. First off, I'd love to see more of the Moose kids succeed at the NHL level. But also, salary cap-speaking, a Michael Ryder now may cost them a Marian Hossa later.
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
Labels: Morrison
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Canucks 3 Ducks 2
I had a work function last night and asked the wifey to tape the game for me. Alas, she went for a facial and didn't set the VCR so I missed out on what, from what I heard and read, was a great game for the kids.
I realize it's only been one game, but still, it's refreshing that the Canucks have some decent depth at every position now. When Bieksa and Salo went down six weeks ago, Alexander Edler, Mike Weaver and Luc Bourdon filled in just fine, and of course, Edler is still a regular in the lineup these days. Mason Raymond and Jason Jaffray were good last night and had a couple of points each. Curtis Sanford stole the show with 33 saves, 16 of them in the final period when the Canucks were outshot 16-1.
Again, it's only one game, but hey, I'll savor the win and hope they can do it all over again tonight.
More from the mainstream:
Tonight against the San Jose Sharks
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Anaheim+Ducks
I realize it's only been one game, but still, it's refreshing that the Canucks have some decent depth at every position now. When Bieksa and Salo went down six weeks ago, Alexander Edler, Mike Weaver and Luc Bourdon filled in just fine, and of course, Edler is still a regular in the lineup these days. Mason Raymond and Jason Jaffray were good last night and had a couple of points each. Curtis Sanford stole the show with 33 saves, 16 of them in the final period when the Canucks were outshot 16-1.
Again, it's only one game, but hey, I'll savor the win and hope they can do it all over again tonight.
More from the mainstream:
- Fill-ins fine on same line (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Jaffray jacked about debut (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Injection of enthusiasm (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- All good things must come to an end (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- Jaffray makes impact (Adam Wazny, Winnipeg Sun)
- Ducks fall to Vancouver, 3-2 (Dan Wood, OC Register)
- Sanford, Canucks stop Ducks (J.P. Hoornstra, Daily Breeze)
Tonight against the San Jose Sharks
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Anaheim+Ducks
Labels: Ducks, game recap, Jaffray, Morrison, Sanford
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Game Day Post: Moose at Ducks
Okay, okay, maybe that's overstating things a bit, but with Luongo, Morrison, Isbister and Cowan out and Drew McIntyre, Jason Jaffray, Mason Raymond and Mike Brown in, the Canucks sure look a lot more Manitoba Moose-y than usual. That's the worst case scenario. There were some media reports last night saying that Luongo and Morrison are still possible, in which case things may not be too bad. I guess I'm just bracing myself.
Last season, the Canucks, with Salo and Mitchell injured, dressed a defense consisting of Ohlund, Krajicek, Bieksa, Edler, McIver and Coulombe. At that time, Ohlund was of course the lone veteran and the rest had played a combined 163 games in the NHL. (IIRC, Edler had two games experience and McIver and Coulombe were playing their first NHL games.) Anyway, their opponent that night was also the Ducks and the 'Nucks subsequently loss 6-0 at GM Place. I just hope that the team can suck it up this time around, and really, do they have a choice?
Looking at the positives, Jaffray (19 GP, 10G-11A-22P) and Raymond (17GP, 6G-8A-14P) are two of the Moose's leading scorers and Vigneault is most likely to give them plenty of opportunities to produce. Jaffray is pure offense and even led the Moose in scoring last season. He didn't get a call-up because he didn't have an NHL contract. For the first time, we'll see if he can play at the NHL level or if he turns out to be just another Lee Goren. Raymond, we've seen before and we already know he needs to work on being consistent and on his finish. I hope he has.
More previews from today's MSM:
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
Last season, the Canucks, with Salo and Mitchell injured, dressed a defense consisting of Ohlund, Krajicek, Bieksa, Edler, McIver and Coulombe. At that time, Ohlund was of course the lone veteran and the rest had played a combined 163 games in the NHL. (IIRC, Edler had two games experience and McIver and Coulombe were playing their first NHL games.) Anyway, their opponent that night was also the Ducks and the 'Nucks subsequently loss 6-0 at GM Place. I just hope that the team can suck it up this time around, and really, do they have a choice?
Looking at the positives, Jaffray (19 GP, 10G-11A-22P) and Raymond (17GP, 6G-8A-14P) are two of the Moose's leading scorers and Vigneault is most likely to give them plenty of opportunities to produce. Jaffray is pure offense and even led the Moose in scoring last season. He didn't get a call-up because he didn't have an NHL contract. For the first time, we'll see if he can play at the NHL level or if he turns out to be just another Lee Goren. Raymond, we've seen before and we already know he needs to work on being consistent and on his finish. I hope he has.
More previews from today's MSM:
- Luongo doubtful for game in Anaheim (Matthew Sekeres, Globe and Mail)
- Resiliency in high demand (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Streak of 542 consecutive games the measure of pain tolerance (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Ironman streak more trouble than it's worth (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
- Who needs sleeping pills with this hockey? (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province)
- Niedermayer finds retirement overrated (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Sanford on the spot (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- Excited about callups (Adam Wazny, Winnipeg Sun)
- Just a tap away (Adam Wazny, Winnipeg Sun)
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
Labels: Ducks, game day preview, Jaffray, Luongo, Moose, Morrison, Sanford
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Avalanche 1 Canucks 2 (OT)
I know it's late, but after Friday's 2-1 OT win versus the Colorado Avalanche, Tracy and I took off for the long weekend to visit family and hang out with some good friends. We're back now, and I have to say that after three consecutive wins, things are much, much better in Canuck-land. The weather may be crappy, but when the Canucks are winning, even the rain smells good.
With their win on Friday, the Canucks passed the Calgary Flames for 3rd place in the division. They also moved to within four points of the second-place Minnesota Wild, who they play twice in the next week. I'm looking forward to the next five games to see if they can gain any more on the Northwest Division.
Friday's game was easily the most entertaining I've seen at GM Place this season. Both teams played great. There were numerous chances at both ends and only some good saves by both Roberto Luongo and Jose Theodore kept it a low-scoring affair.
From the Canucks' side, the Sedins had another great game against the Avs. They lit them up for six points a week ago; on Friday, Henrik scored both goals.
Once again, Ryan Kesler played a heckuva game. He didn't show up on the score sheet but man, he was skating like the wind out there. He certainly created some good chances by using his speed.
The defense was also solid. Alex Edler was steady, Aaron Miller's getting better and Willie Mitchell was very good. I know I've criticized Mike Weaver in the past, but to give credit where credit's due, he was also very good.
It was a nice team effort all around. Let's have more of those please.
Catching up on some pieces from the 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
With their win on Friday, the Canucks passed the Calgary Flames for 3rd place in the division. They also moved to within four points of the second-place Minnesota Wild, who they play twice in the next week. I'm looking forward to the next five games to see if they can gain any more on the Northwest Division.
Friday's game was easily the most entertaining I've seen at GM Place this season. Both teams played great. There were numerous chances at both ends and only some good saves by both Roberto Luongo and Jose Theodore kept it a low-scoring affair.
From the Canucks' side, the Sedins had another great game against the Avs. They lit them up for six points a week ago; on Friday, Henrik scored both goals.
Once again, Ryan Kesler played a heckuva game. He didn't show up on the score sheet but man, he was skating like the wind out there. He certainly created some good chances by using his speed.
The defense was also solid. Alex Edler was steady, Aaron Miller's getting better and Willie Mitchell was very good. I know I've criticized Mike Weaver in the past, but to give credit where credit's due, he was also very good.
It was a nice team effort all around. Let's have more of those please.
Catching up on some pieces from the MSM:
- Burrows bulks up to win (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Best offence isn't a good defence this season (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Healthy Miller picks up play (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- Left-winger Cowan back after hip injury (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- Bourdon learns to play simple game (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
- PK unit gets better of late (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
- Morrison out to prove critics wrong (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- GM Place ice a carnival-like circus of sorts at practice (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- As Sedins go, so do Canucks (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Canucks finding successful passage through Northwest (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Forwards better going backward (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Raymond back in the hunt (Ken Wiebe, Winnipeg 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: Avalanche, Bourdon, Burrows, Cowan, game recap, Miller, Morrison, Sedin
Friday, October 19, 2007
Game Day Post: Kings at Canucks
It's a refreshing change that the team coming into The Garage is the team with the goaltending problems. The Kings have our previous coach and they have our previous goaltending problems. Nothing against Marc Crawford, but it is a bit of a coin-ki-dink, don't you think?
After winning their first game in London, the Kings have only won one out of their next seven games. Last night, they blew a two-goal lead and lost 4-3 to the Calgary Flames. So far this season, they're allowing a whopping 4.25 goals per game (2nd worst in the league).
Not that the Canucks are playing perfect right now either. The trademark defense that only let in 2.40 goals per game last season is currently allowing one more goal per game (3.50) and ranks 25th in the league. Obviously, this is one stat the team needs to improve on.
My keys to the game:
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After winning their first game in London, the Kings have only won one out of their next seven games. Last night, they blew a two-goal lead and lost 4-3 to the Calgary Flames. So far this season, they're allowing a whopping 4.25 goals per game (2nd worst in the league).
Not that the Canucks are playing perfect right now either. The trademark defense that only let in 2.40 goals per game last season is currently allowing one more goal per game (3.50) and ranks 25th in the league. Obviously, this is one stat the team needs to improve on.
My keys to the game:
- Start strong and don't give up momentum.
- Don't give the kids - Cammalleri, Frolov, Kopitar and Brown - too many scoring opportunities.
- Can we still draft Kopitar?
- Puck possession has to get better. (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Raymond's Manitoba stint minor. (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Salo saddles up for little steps at practice. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Can't duck the puck. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Morrison soldiers on. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
Labels: game day preview, Kings, Morrison, Raymond
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Two More Days
I'm still in Sainte-Adele, Quebec, and to be perfectly honest, I'm looking forward to going home tomorrow night. Two weeks is just way toooooo long to be away. The good news is, I'm going to be home in time for the Canucks home opener - this, I'm very much looking forward to.
I'll post my thoughts on the upcoming season when I get back, but in the meantime, here are some of today's preview pieces:
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
I'll post my thoughts on the upcoming season when I get back, but in the meantime, here are some of today's preview pieces:
- Great expectations. (Ken Wiebe, Winnipeg Sun)
- Morrison keeps his streak alive. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- Vancouver calls on Morrison, Naslund to return to form. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
- Sedins shake off 'sister' slurs with quiet, hard work. (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province)
- Everyone may love Raymond. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
- Linden's trade to NY one for the ages. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
Friday, September 14, 2007
Camp Quick Links - 09/14/2007
I'm late for work so I'll comment more later. In the meantime, there's lots and lots and lots of Canucks coverage from training camp in today's MSM:
- Luongo unhurt in training camp collisions. (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
- Twins must redouble effort. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- This Dane's not great, but he sure is good. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Working on defensive depth. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Rypien ready to fight for job. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Less fighting, more skating at training camps. (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
- Old boys network begins to improve team. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
- Fall guys. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- Rick's letting Ryp. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- Future, meet the present. (Cleve Dheensaw, Victoria Times Colonist)
- Now, it's all about fitness. (Sharie Epp, Victoria Times Colonist)
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Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
Labels: Ellington, Hansen, Linden, Luongo, Mitchell, Morrison, Naslund, Rypien, Sedin, Sharrow, training camp 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
One More Kick At The Can
Every season is an important season for any player, but for a few members of the Canucks organization, this could be a more important one. Tommy (Larscheid) and Trev and Matty (Cooke) and Markus and Mo could be playing their final games as Vancouver Canucks (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail).
These are some of the longest-serving guys in the organization. (Matty Ohlund too but he's got one year left on his contract.) Except for a few years in the early 80's, Tommy has been broadcasting Canucks games since 1977 (wiki). Trev is entering his 16th season in a Canucks uni; Markus his 11th; Cookie his 9th; and Mo his 7th. None of them are signed past this season.
It will be the end of another era when these guys leave the organization. They formed a large part of the team's core and identity when Ronning, Courtnall, Gelinas and McLean left in the late 90's. After this season, surely another group of players will do the same, and in fact, we are already seeing guys like Willie Mitchell, Kevin Bieksa and Ryan Kesler take on more visible roles.
More importantly, if this is indeed these guys' final season, then it will also be their last opportunity to be the ones to bring the Stanley Cup to Vancouver. Part of the reason we remember the Ronnings and McLeans of the team's history so fondly is because of '94 Stanley Cup run. As good and as lovable as these guys have been, they haven't had nearly the same amount of success. Linden was of course part of the '94 run, but unfortunately for Naslund and the others, their tenure with the team may be defined by the fact that the Canucks have only won two playoff series since they came on board.
This could be their one, final chance to change that.
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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
Labels: Cooke, Larscheid, Linden, Morrison, Naslund, training camp 2007
Monday, February 19, 2007
Avalanche 4 Canucks 5
For only the fourth time during this 17-3-3 post-Christmas run they're on, the Canucks allowed four or more goals to an opponent. Last night, they were outshot - the 16th time in their last 23 games they've been outshot - and outplayed by a Colorado Avalanche team that played in Calgary the night before. But like everything that is seemingly going right in the Canucks' favor right now, the Canucks won 5-4 anyway and put a pretty big nail to the Avalanche's playoff coffin.
With last night's win, the Avs and the Edmonton Oilers have to play almost perfect hockey the rest of the way to even have a sniff at making the playoffs. Consider this: even if the Canucks play to a .500 record in their remaining 23 games, the Avs and the Oilers have to win 18 of their remaining 23 games to pass them.
Last night, it was the offense to the rescue. More specifically, it was Brendan Morrison, Matty Cooke and Trevor Linden to the rescue.
Now, if they can only find some regular linemates for Naslund.
More from the Mainstream
Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks.
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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, Colorado+Avalanche
With last night's win, the Avs and the Edmonton Oilers have to play almost perfect hockey the rest of the way to even have a sniff at making the playoffs. Consider this: even if the Canucks play to a .500 record in their remaining 23 games, the Avs and the Oilers have to win 18 of their remaining 23 games to pass them.
Last night, it was the offense to the rescue. More specifically, it was Brendan Morrison, Matty Cooke and Trevor Linden to the rescue.
With linemate Trevor Linden hitting the 1,300 plateau for career NHL games -- only six active skaters have logged more -- it was as if Cooke sensed the moment in a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.Morrison, especially, seems to have shaken off any effects from his off-season hip surgery and was again one of the team's better players.
Cooke scored once and set up two goals by linemate Brendan Morrison as the Vancouver Canucks strengthened their grip on the Northwest Division lead. The three-point effort matches a career high for Cooke, who was quick to give a motivational assist to Linden.
Brendan Morrison surely heard the scuttlebutt about how the Vancouver Canucks desperately needed another centre and why they should have sacrificed him in a trade when Peter Forsberg was on the market.Morrison now has 13 points (5G-8A) in 12 games, including seven points in his last four games.
Morrison had an answer for those so-called experts last night when the 31-year-old local product had one of his strongest games of the season, scoring twice and assisting on another goal as the Canucks beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 in an old-fashioned shootout.
Now, if they can only find some regular linemates for Naslund.
More from the Mainstream
- Brandon Reid was sent down prior to the game; Tommi Santala was called back up. - Elliott Pap (Vancouver Sun), Ben Kuzma (Vancouver Province)
- Scoring four goals on the road does not always equal a road win. - Elliott Pap (Vancouver Sun)
- Another Hart-to-Hart talk. - Ed Willes (Vancouver Province)
- Some talk from the Colorado side of things. - Terry Frei (Denver Post)
About the game around the blogosphere
- Mike the Yankee Canuck drunk liveblogged the game. Make sure you swing by and check out the damage.
- Waiting For Stanley and Canucks Fangirl also have their respective recaps.
My 3 Stars of the Game
- Brendan Morrison (VAN): One goal, one assist and one of his best overall performances this season.
- Matt Cooke (VAN): Tied his career-high of three points and dished out six (recorded) hits for good measure.
- Andrew Brunette (COL): Two goals in a losing cause.
Official Statistics
Next GameTuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks.
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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, Colorado+Avalanche
Labels: Avalanche, Cooke, game recap, Morrison
