Saturday, April 14, 2007
Stars 2 Canucks 0
The Stars scored two early period goals last night and then rode an impenetrable defense and a good Marty Turco the rest of the way. They won 2-0 and have now tied the series 1-1.
The Canucks employed a similar strategy for much of the regular season. Talk about getting a taste of your own medicine.
It was Marty Turco's first career playoff shutout; it was probably one of his easiest ones as well. The Canucks offered little in terms of good scoring chances. They threw 35 shots on Turco, but a lot of it were from the outside with little or no traffic in front of him.
Ryan Kesler, Matt Cooke and Alex Burrows - three of the Canucks' grittiest (and annoying) players - all missed the game due to injuries and it showed. At least, those three were capable of breaking through the defense and create some space for their linemates. The Canucks sorely missed them last night.
More from the Mainstream
About the game around the blogosphere
My 3 Stars of the Game
Official Statistics
Next Game
Game 3 goes Sunday in Dallas.
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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, Dallas+Stars
The Canucks employed a similar strategy for much of the regular season. Talk about getting a taste of your own medicine.
It was Marty Turco's first career playoff shutout; it was probably one of his easiest ones as well. The Canucks offered little in terms of good scoring chances. They threw 35 shots on Turco, but a lot of it were from the outside with little or no traffic in front of him.
Ryan Kesler, Matt Cooke and Alex Burrows - three of the Canucks' grittiest (and annoying) players - all missed the game due to injuries and it showed. At least, those three were capable of breaking through the defense and create some space for their linemates. The Canucks sorely missed them last night.
More from the Mainstream
- Canucks errors cost the game. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- The Stars play a chess game that picks the Canucks apart. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- Dane debuts new duds. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Turco sucks... life from the Canucks. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Ribeiro gets over hatred. (Jim Morris, Canadian Press via Vancouver Sun)
- Turco earns series split. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
- First winning scorer likes chances. (Maurice Bridge, Vancouver Sun)
- Quick striking Stars get even. (Mike Heika, Dallas Morning News)
- Stars may fall but they'll rise. (Jean-Jacques Taylor, Dallas Morning News)
- Ott fights back to regain form. (Mike Heika, Dallas Morning News)
- Stars' Swedish twin makes his mark. (Kate Hairopoulos, Dallas Morning News)
- Stars even series. (Tracey Myers, DFW Star-Telegram)
- Stars had to have this, and Turco delivered. (Jim Reeves, DFW Star-Telegram)
- Turco's saves silence critics. (Jennifer Floyd Engel, DFW Star-Telegram)
About the game around the blogosphere
- Canucks Fangirl is gushing over Jannik Hansen, who played his first, ever NHL game.
- Isabella from stick in rink shares her thoughts on Marty Turco.
- Mike the Yankee Canuck drunk liveblogged the game and the remnants were pure gold.
My 3 Stars of the Game
- Marty Turco (DAL): 1st career playoff shutout.
- Sergei Zubov (DAL): 28 minutes of ice-time anchoring a very good Dallas defense.
- Stu Barnes (DAL): Has been very noticeable this series so far. A couple of assists last night.
Official Statistics
Next Game
Game 3 goes Sunday in Dallas.
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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, Dallas+Stars
Labels: Believe In Blue, game recap, Hansen, Stars, Turco
Friday, April 13, 2007
Round 1 Game 2: Less Than Seven Periods Please
Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining. The game one win was nice, and the Canucks, who now have a 1-0 series lead, can hopefully maintain their home ice advantage and win game 2 as well. Hopefully, they won't need seven periods to do so.
When they take the ice tonight, the Canucks will be missing Ryan Kesler, Matty Cooke and Alex Burrows.
Here are more preview pieces on tonight's game:
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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, Dallas+Stars
When they take the ice tonight, the Canucks will be missing Ryan Kesler, Matty Cooke and Alex Burrows.
The playoffs often become a war of attrition and just one game into the NHL post-season, the Vancouver Canucks have had to call for reinforcements.In their place in the lineup: Tommi Santala, Nathan Smith and Jannik Hansen. The Canucks recalled Smith and Hansen yesterday.
The Canucks will be without speedy centre Ryan Kesler and may also be missing high-energy wingers Matt Cooke and Alex Burrows when they face the Dallas Stars tonight in Game 2 of their Western Conference quarter-final series at General Motors Place.
Here are more preview pieces on tonight's game:
- Luongo finally takes a short break. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Cooke, Burrows festering in sick bay. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Unfazed Turco aims for better next encounter. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Learning experience for defence's Bieksa. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Hard to fathom game 1 thriller. (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province)
- Fun night but it's time to rething playoff OT. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
- Nourishment, rehydration part of long game plan. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Fired up Canucks captain soldiering on. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- Sudden death? Players love it. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- Sopel's heard enough cracker jokes. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- NHL players drawn to lure of overtime. (Jim Morris, Canadian Press via Ottawa Citizen)
- Hrudey knows goalies' OT pain. (Eric Duhatschek, Globe and Mail)
- Luongo's playoff debut a 2-for-1 special. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
- Pepper Luongo and Stars taste victory. (Jean-Jacques Taylor, Dallas Morning News)
- Health already an issue in series. (Kate Hairopoulos, Dallas Morning News)
- Stars pull another shift on off-day. (Mike Heika, Dallas Morning News)
- 'Big Four' need to make more of a difference. (Jennifer Floyd Engel, DFW Star-Telegram)
- Loss disappointing but not crushing, Stars say. (Tracey Myers, DFW Star-Telegram)
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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, Dallas+Stars
Labels: Believe In Blue, Cooke, game day preview, Luongo, Stars, Turco
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Stars 4 Canucks 5 (4OT)
I'm tired. Physically, emotionally and mentally tired. And it's only one game into this series.
Game 1 was played just like advertised, an evenly-matched game between two evenly-matched teams. And perhaps not surprisingly, they needed four overtime periods to settle it.
I'm running late for work but here are some quick points that stood out last night:
Despite allowing four goals in regulation time, Roberto Luongo was phenomenal and was a big reason the Canucks hung in there. He set a new team record with 72 saves on a new team record 76 shots allowed. Plus, how many games do you think will Louie allow four goals?
Markus Naslund played as good a playoff game as I've ever seen him play. He had two points - a goal and an assist - was solid defensively and even took the body more than a few times. The Stars were able to concentrate and neutralize the Sedins for most of the game but if the Stars now also have to worry about Markus' line, that's a huge benefit for the 'Nucks.
I was surprised to see that Kesler came back. He played okay considering he's missed about four months of play. You really notice his speed and grit out there, and depending on how long Cookie and Burrows are out for, he could play an even bigger role as the series goes on.
More from the Mainstream:
About the game around the blogosphere
My 3 Stars of the Game
Official Statistics
Next Game
Friday night at the Garage for game 2.
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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, Dallas+Stars
Game 1 was played just like advertised, an evenly-matched game between two evenly-matched teams. And perhaps not surprisingly, they needed four overtime periods to settle it.
I'm running late for work but here are some quick points that stood out last night:
Despite allowing four goals in regulation time, Roberto Luongo was phenomenal and was a big reason the Canucks hung in there. He set a new team record with 72 saves on a new team record 76 shots allowed. Plus, how many games do you think will Louie allow four goals?
Markus Naslund played as good a playoff game as I've ever seen him play. He had two points - a goal and an assist - was solid defensively and even took the body more than a few times. The Stars were able to concentrate and neutralize the Sedins for most of the game but if the Stars now also have to worry about Markus' line, that's a huge benefit for the 'Nucks.
I was surprised to see that Kesler came back. He played okay considering he's missed about four months of play. You really notice his speed and grit out there, and depending on how long Cookie and Burrows are out for, he could play an even bigger role as the series goes on.
More from the Mainstream:
- Game's as much fun as the Canucks could have. (Cam Cole, Vancouver Sun)
- Playoffs second chance for Bulis. (Jim Morris, Canadian Press via Vancouver Sun)
- Stubble jumpers. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- Stars lose to Canucks in fourth OT. (Mike Heika, Dallas Morning News)
- Effects of long game won't last long. (Kate Hairopoulos, Dallas Morning News)
- Stars' Turco on thinnest of ice. (Jean-Jacques Taylor, Dallas Morning News)
About the game around the blogosphere
- James Mirtle recaps the game.
- So does Canucks and Beyond, Waiting for Stanley, Yankee Canuck.
My 3 Stars of the Game
- Roberto Luongo (VAN): 72 saves in one game. 'Nuff said.
- Sergei Zubov (MIN): Seemed to be everywhere the puck was.
- Markus Naslund (VAN): Looked determined to make amends for a below-par regular season.
Official Statistics
Next Game
Friday night at the Garage for game 2.
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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, Dallas+Stars
Labels: Believe In Blue, game recap, Luongo, Naslund, Stars, Turco
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Round 1 Game 1: Welcome Back The Postseason
A lot of pundits are calling the Canucks-Stars series to be the most even-matched and least-exciting series of the playoffs.
I don't care. The Canucks are back in the playoffs for the first time in three years and I'm pumped.
Tracy and I will be going to our first playoff game together since our first date - game 1 vs. St. Louis in 2003 when the Canucks lost 6-0. (I could be superstitious, you know.) Last night, we talked about what would happen if the Canucks stink it up again tonight. Put it this way. It'll be bad news for her in terms of going to another playoff game in the future (though I suppose it's great news for any of my other friends who are looking to go to one). Think Marty feels the pressure of finally winning a playoff series? Or Louie who is playing in his first playoff game?
A lot of preview pieces on the web today. Here they are:
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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, Dallas+Stars
I don't care. The Canucks are back in the playoffs for the first time in three years and I'm pumped.
Tracy and I will be going to our first playoff game together since our first date - game 1 vs. St. Louis in 2003 when the Canucks lost 6-0. (I could be superstitious, you know.) Last night, we talked about what would happen if the Canucks stink it up again tonight. Put it this way. It'll be bad news for her in terms of going to another playoff game in the future (though I suppose it's great news for any of my other friends who are looking to go to one). Think Marty feels the pressure of finally winning a playoff series? Or Louie who is playing in his first playoff game?
A lot of preview pieces on the web today. Here they are:
- Maggie picks the Canucks. (TSN.ca)
- Series will be, er, excitementally challenged. (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province)
- Playing with a controlled edge. (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Visiting team often has big edge in opener. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
- Naslund pumped... well, for Naslund. (Vancouver Province)
- One heckuva renovation job among the Canucks. (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province)
- We've got the best fans in the game. (Ian Austin, Vancouver Province)
- Canucks playoff tickets can be had -- for a price. (Nicholas Read, Vancouver Sun)
- Canucks fans urged to cheer responsibly. (Doug Ward, Vancouver Sun)
- Tonight's the night. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Game face forward. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- Pressure's on Turco to deliver. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- Kesler expected to return against Stars. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- Defence likely to be factor. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
- Luongo time coming. (Steve MacFarlane, Sun Media)
- Matt's the man. (Jim Morris, Canadian Press via Chronicle Herald)
- Canucks an ideal foe for Stars. (Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News)
- Stars' focus: Shots, traffic, goals. (Mike Heika, Dallas Morning News)
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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, Dallas+Stars
Labels: Believe In Blue, game day preview, Kesler, Luongo, Naslund, Stars, Turco
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Believe In Blue
Hindsight being 20/20, the Canucks missing the playoffs last season was perhaps the best thing to happen to this franchise. Count me among those who were emotionally-attached to the previous core of players. Count me now among those who believe in this current group.
If the Canucks had made the playoffs in 2006, how much tinkering would Dave Nonis have done in the offseason? Would he have traded Todd Bertuzzi? Would he have acquired Roberto Luongo or stuck with a still developing Alex Auld? Would he have re-signed Ed Jovanovski? Would Marc Crawford still be the coach?
Thankfully, the answers don't really matter really because this season has already made us forget about last. What this group of Alain Vigneault, Luongo, the Sedins and everyone else has done this season is nothing short of amazing. Consider the new individual records they set:
- Roberto Luongo - 47, most wins in a single season
- Roberto Luongo - 76, most games played in a single season
- Roberto Luongo - .921, best save percentage in a season
- Roberto Luongo - 2.26, lowest GAA in a season
- Henrik Sedin - 71, most assists in a single season
The team also set these new franchise records:
- 49, most wins in a single season
- 105, most points in a single season
- 192, fewest goals allowed in a single season
What makes these records even more amazing is the fact that at Christmas time, the Canucks had a very average 17-18-1 record. They got better as the season went on, found ways to win and ended the season on a 32-8-6 run.
This is as cohesive a Canucks team as I've seen since I became a Canucks fan. They're well-coached and they've all bought fully into Alain Vigneault's system - a team-first approach that is key in any playoff run. In the first couple of months of this season, I thought maybe they'd grind it out for one of the final playoff spots and then eke out a win or two; a Northwest Division title later, I think they're better than that. A lot lot better.
Today's Canucks-related links:
- Talk softly, carry big stick. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Edge in series pretty much all even. (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Nothing new about OT for Canucks, Stars. (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Turco says he's shed that Cloutier-like pian. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
- Blueliners declared fit. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- The National Scream. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- Duel of decades. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Canucks for dummies. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Luongo ready for real season. (Jim Morris, Canadian Press via Victoria Times Colonist)
- Luongo relishes the role of new sheriff in town. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
- Turco hopes only past gets by him. (Mike Heika, Dallas Morning 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, Dallas+Stars
Labels: Believe In Blue, Luongo, Salo, Turco
