Welcome Back || January 14th

Well well well...look who decided to stop being a Bettman-face and play some hockey...

If you're like me then you probably started out an expert on the lockout, then about by day 60, your patience and understanding slowly melted away along with the rinks.  Come January, and then all of the sudden the NHL and NHLPA got around to finally figuring out the revolving door and getting a deal done.

Damn you recessive hair loss gene!

Which brings us to the upcoming January 19th season opener against the Anaheim Ducks.  We waited 113 days, missed over half the season, and LADIES AND GENTLEMEN....Ryan Getzlaf's hairline!  All we can hope for is that the game - every game for that matter - goes into overtime and 10 rounds of a shootout.  I mean, we have 44 games to make up for, so they damn well better be 6 hours long.

Hands up if you are doing a hockey pool this year...Now hands up if you are doing a hockey pool and can remember who is is on what team...didn't think so.  Here is a quick refresher for what's happened for the Canucks.

1.  Lock out officially announced.
2.  Lock out officially ended
3.  Roberto Luongo trade rumors begin.

Other than that though, the Canucks have gotten a little tougher on defense by signing Jim Vandermeer and gotten a little 3rd round-ier in signing Cam Barker.  Barker is looking to rebound off of a slowly declining career after being traded to the Wild.

Forwards stay pretty well the same, minus Kesler for the first bit of the season.  Honestly though, that's never really been a problem for the most part.  The Sedin's will continue to score, Raymond will continue to fall on his ass, and Higgins will KEEP HIS DAMN JERSEY DOWN!

There isn't really much to say.  We can complain about the lockout, we can say the fans are going to lockout the league, but we won't.  We are all going to go watch the game on Saturday against Anaheim...and we're going to love it.

"All-Star" Game - January, 30th, 2012

Oh, the days when the All-Star game had any sort of meaning.  Remember when it used to be East vs. West?  Or North American born players vs. the world?  At least you had something to root for then, now, it's pretty well only for the host city.  It was great of Ottawa to be able to cheer on an entire line of Senators, especially for Alfredsson and what he has done for that city.

I guess every team has their players they can cheer for, but it doesn't really prove anything on the competitive side of it.  I understand it's for the fans, and it targets a younger demographic, but the All-Star break is pretty well a week of no hockey in the middle of the season...unacceptable.

I use the word "all-star" loosely as well, I mean, come on, Joffrey Lupul?  Pominville? Dennis Wideman?  I'd love to have Scott Hartnell on my team, he is one of my favorite players just because he is exactly what an all around hockey player should be, but I wouldn't think he is one of the best in the NHL.  Now, he's having a great season so far, but he was probably brought in more for his commentating abilities rather than his on-ice skills.

The All-Star Game is not exactly a place for defensemen to be at all.  The only talent they get to display is how good they are at giving away 3-on-1's and how they don't know how to take the man.  D-men shouldn't be there at all, but since they are, I'm sure there are better candidates than Dan Girardi.  Again, he's a great player, but All-Star? Nay nay.

The good ol' days - Campbell Conference vs Wales Conference

My vote is to go back to East vs. West or North America vs the world, just beacause it involves more people.  More people can cheer for a team, more cities might show more interest.  Otherwise, this whole 'players drafting players' schtick is going to get old in a hurry, then all you have left is a single city cheering on teams that nobody cares about in a game that even less people bother waking up for.

One great thing to see come out of that All-Star game was the demand for the Sedin's.  Everybody wanted to play with them, everybody talked about how it's not fair that they are on the same team.  When you hear players say stuff like that, to think that they would be the most desirable tandem to play with in the league, it makes you proud to a Canuck fan.

Tanev Gets Called Up || January, 20. 2012

With Chris Tanev being called up to replace Sami Salo, he's being paired with Edler (for now).  That either means that Coach AV has a ton of faith in this kid, or he is putting him with Edler so he can cover for Tanev IF he screws up.  From what we saw last year - especially in the playoffs - I think it's got more to do with the first one.

In the past, Tanev was paired with Ballard, and that's usually when Ballard played his best hockey.  Tanev is more of a calm, stay at home defencemen, which helps when you have Ballard run-and-gunning up the ice.  Now that Tanev is with Edler though, what's that mean for Ballard?  I think it's pretty apparent that Ballard and Alain Vigneault don't really get along, for whatever reason.  Now, instead of pairing the one player with Ballard that really boosts each persons skill set, he kind of leaves Ballard in the dust.

I think Ballard will be traded before the dead line, depending on how Tanev looks.  If Tanev plays decent, not even outstanding, but as long as he doesn't give the puck away and makes simple and smart plays, then I think Ballard will be gone sooner rather than later.  That's a lot of cap space to have only play 14-15 minutes per game.  I think Ballard is a great defencemen and will put up some impressive numbers, but not on Vancouver.  Wrong coach, wrong style of play.  A good fit for him might even be Chicago (as much as that hurts to say) but then we'd have to play him and I don't think that would be wise.

Tanev will play just fine, which is great for the future because he will essentially take Salo's spot when he retires.  If Ballard does end up getting traded, who should we get in return? A replacement D-man, or a forward? Or do we just put him on waivers and just shed the salary?  Now it's your turn to talk, let me know what you think.

Report Card || December, 11th, 2011

This season has already seen ups and downs...and ups..and downs.  So I figured it was a good time to give the Canucks my warranty approved evaluation on the majority of the players.  We'll start from the back end...

Goalie:   Luongo: B -  Lou did have a slow start - which is expected, not tolerated, expected - but he found his game right before that weird "upper body injury".  He has even started to pick up some pointers from the back up, as you slowly see Roberto's game evolve for the better.

Schneider: A - The "Ginger Jesus" has been nothing other than a god send this season so far.  When he was in the back up position, he excelled every time he started.  When he was a starter for that stretch of 6 or so games, he did even better.  Schneider would probably be a starting goaltender today on about 20 other teams in the NHL.

Defense:  Alberts: C+ - When he is a defenseman he does just fine, but that last showing as a forward wasn't the greatest.  That doesn't drop his score at all though, Alberts has been a very steady D-man for the Canucks this year, laying the body into everybody whenever he gets the chance and usually plays the simple plays out of his own end.  I am a HUGE Alberts fan simply because he does exactly as what is expected of him.

Rome:  B - Aahhh Aaron Rome.  What an interesting story you are.  This man is like a robot, never really shows emotion on the ice, just acquires targets - whether its the back of the net or an opponent - and hones in on them.  Other than injury, there isn't much negative to Rome's game.  The only problem is, there isn't much offensive upside either, despite scoring 3 goals in 3 games.  Hopefully that changes though, because in those games he looked very good.

Bieksa:  B - Bieksa is a little like Luongo, in the sense where he can be either extraordinarily great, or just plain ol' bad.  Usually, the bad doesn't show as much as Luongo's would because there is an extra defenseman to cover for him, where there isn't another goalie behind Luongo when he's in net.  Bieksa's physicality and meanness has only emerged recently, but he is most effective when those traits are prominent.  He was a plus 3000 last year for good reason, he should be among the leaders in +\- again this year.

Hamhuis:  A - He logs the most minutes, he is put in every key situation, and now he is showing an offensive side that wasn't there as much last season.  What more can you ask for from a player?  My only gripe, is that he isn't mean enough, but I guess that's why he's usually paired with Bieksa.

Ballard:  C+ - When he wants to be, he can go end to end and beat everybody down the ice.  He could start a rush and get a shot on net, then back check and be the first one back preventing an odd-man rush...when he wants to be.  I never understood why Ballard isn't the best offensive D-man on the roster, I thought that when Ehrhoff left Ballard would be the natural fit, apparently not.

Salo:  A - He's responsible defensively, he's smart, and boy howdy can he ever shoot the puck.  Plus, he only makes 2 million this year, which puts him under the "Bargain" category.  The Canucks are just a much better team when Sami is in the line up.

Edler:  A - Alex Edler picked up where he left off last season before he got hurt.  He was on a Norris trophy pace, but the injury to his back slowed him down.  This year, after all summer to recover, he looks just as dangerous.  He was touted as the next Lidstrom when he was drafted, which is ridiculous because defensemen are going to be winning Lidstrom trophies soon, but Edler is making a strong case for himself.  The plus side, he still has potential to grow.

Forwards:


Sedin's:  A+  - There isn't much you can fault the twins for, they are on a more than point per game pace, and they are the players that set the tempo of the game.  The only real complaint anyone could have is that they aren't "tough" enough, but it's hard to be tough when you have the puck all the time and you're putting up 100+ points a season.

Burrows: B - Took a while for him to find his scoring touch and still hasn't fully returned to his 35-goal form.  He may never get back to that high of a goal total, but he is a great two-way player and is always gives it 100%.  Could tone down the embellishment though, Burrows is probably 50% of the reason the hockey world see's the Canucks as 'divers'.

Kesler:  B - He plays best when he's angry - like we saw against Ottawa - but he isn't angry nearly enough.  Kesler seems to flourish when the Sedin's are being shut down, because the only way to shut down the Sedin's is to get under their skin, and Kesler doesn't like that much.  A big reason why he did so well against Nashville was because the Sedin's ate up all the big defencemen minutes.

Hodgson:  B - One of the more consistent forwards.  Coming into his own form now that he has capable line mates.  He has a great future in the NHL, hopefully the Canucks are able to keep him long term and not just showcase him for a possible trade.

Higgins:  B+  - He scores, he forechecks, and he doesn't complain ever.  Might be the hardest working player each game, Higgins is doing what the Canucks hoped he would do last season.  If Vancouver was able to get three 20-goal scorers on the second line, imagine the nightmare that creates for opposing coaches.

Raymond:  B+  - He hasn't been back long, but since returning from a very scary sounding injury, Mason Raymond has exceeded everybody's expectations.  Hopefully, he can keep this up, because you don't realize how much you've missed Raymond until you see him beat out an icing two or three times a night.

Booth:  B - Like every other Canuck, he had a slow start after getting used to a new team and a new part of the world.  In every way, Vancouver is different from Florida, and that is going to take some getting used to.  His knee injury - on a very dirty hit by Porter - is a tremendous loss because Booth was just starting to catch fire.

Hansen:  B+  - The Danish Army Knife, everybody saw his potential - comparing him to Kesler - but nobody believed that his hands would catch up to his feet.  Hansen has the foot speed, but only recently has he found the scoring finish to become a very good 2nd line player or an excellent 3rd line player.

Lapierre: B - Great forechecker and an even better agitator.  I'm not sure what he says during the games, but I know that if I was playing against him, I'd want to punch him in the face too.  He is the other 50% of the reason why the Canucks are seen as 'divers', so the head-snapping and embellishment has to be toned down, not all the way, just a little.

Weise:  C+  - Could chip in a little more offensively, but what more do you expect from a player who is on the fourth line with limited minutes?  After being brought in off waivers from New York, he has helped out Volpatti with the tough guy role.  Although, he hasn't really won too many fights.

Volpatti: B - Nobody knew what Vancouver had in Volpatti until he went down with season ending shoulder surgery.  He is a big guy who could fight and throw the body around.  Volpatti is really the only thing standing in between the Sedin's and the opponents tough guys.  It's going to be a challenge to find a replacement for him this season.

Malhotra: C - Not quite himself since having that eye surgery.  He was brought for his face off abilities and defensive prowess, but it's hard to justify having him as a centremen when he has lost his face off dominance.  He is slowly getting the timing back and hopefully that comes sooner rather than later because he is going to be seeing less and less minutes if he isn't able to be put into key situations.

Can you spell "toughness" without "Volpatti"? || December, 4, 2011

Aaron Volpatti

Now with Volpatti out for the rest of the season with shoulder surgery, where does that place the Canucks on the "toughness standings"?  Volpatti was Vancouver's only consistent 'tough guy', which should be concerning to those people who blamed the Stanley Cup Finals loss due to lack of toughness.  So what now?

Mike Gillis brought in Dale Weise and he has proven he can throw the body around and fight from time to time.  He has also been a great energy player and makes the most out of every second of ice time he gets, but he can't be the lone hitter on the team.  Lapierre has emerged as a forechecker extraordinaire and will lay into somebody once in a while, but his game has changed - or evolved - into more than someone who runs around with their head chopped off.  Without Volpatti, that dropped Vancouver's list of forwards who are willing to hit on a regular basis by about 25%.  Hansen is the only other forward who will really look for the hit, but it seems he is playing a different role too much of the time to be bothered with that.

Dale Weise

Now the Canucks have about 90% of their roster not looking to finish their checks.  You could argue that their philosophy should be "beat them on the power play", but that is a very dangerous thing to rely on.  Boston won the Stanley Cup because they had a little bit of everybody, and they all did their jobs.  Their fourth line got under our skin, the third line forechecked and shut down top players, their first and second lines scored.  That's exactly what has to be done.  You can't have 3 1/2 lines trying to play like top 6 players, there are roles on a team for a reason.  Sure, every line should help contribute offensively (in a perfect world), but their main goal should be to do what they got hired to do.  We didn't bring in Weise or Volpatti to try and light the lamp, they are there for energy and grit.  Now it's just Weise, and he can only do so much.

So now what?  Who do we bring up to try and strengthen the bottom six?  Right now, the Canucks are as physically intimidating as your grandmother on Christmas after a few too many 'eggnogs'.

Your turn to talk, what do you think the Canucks should do to bring in some toughness?

Schneider Needs to be Benched... || November, 27, 2011

My congratulations to Cory Schneider, getting his 3rd straight win and putting up numbers that would make Tim Thomas' stat line look pitiful in comparison.  Schneider is making it pretty well impossible to get a puck past him, yet the Canucks need to bench him.  Here's why.

Schneider's salary this season: $900,000 (restricted free agent next season)
Luongo's salary this season: $6,716,000 (he's here for a while)

This season's goalie situation is looking quite similar to Boston's a couple years ago, when Tuuka Rask took the number 1 spot away from Thomas, but then Timmy T earned back his rightful spot and put up record breaking numbers.  Is that what the Canucks are hoping for this year?  I don't think so.  I don't think they're willing to have Luongo sit on the bench the majority of the season.  As good as Schneider is playing, he is the back up and should be, as long as we have Luongo on the same roster.  Roberto is the type of goalie that you can put into a situation cold, and expect him to perform.  He needs to play, and play lots.  Remember him in the middle of last season?  Remember that run of 17-1-2 the Canucks went on exactly 365 days ago?  That wasn't out of no where, that was a giant snowball effect.  Luongo got some momentum behind him and basically bulldozed his way into super human territory.  That's the Luongo we need right now.

Here's some situations:

1. We keep Luongo and Schneider, play them 50/50 and then hope for some trade offers on Schneider by the trade deadline (maybe a first round pick or a top-6 forward).

2. We keep them both again, but play Luongo about 60-70% like a regular number 1 goalie would play.  Still hope for some attractive trade offers for Schneider.

3. Schneider stays as number 1 for this season and hope he can get us deep into the playoffs.  Luongo will have to earn his spot back. Hopefully re-sign Schneider at the end of the season.

4. This is the most unrealistic scenario:  We play the hell out of Schneider, snubbing Luongo of any credit and playing time.  Try to force him to waive his no-trade clause so we can trade him, keeping Schneider as our new number 1.

I don't see any way that the Canucks are going to be able to keep both goaltenders starting next season.  The longest I see us keeping Schneider is after the playoffs.  Then Vancouver could go the Kyle Turris route, and re-sign him then trade him after showcasing his skill.  There is no way that Schneider is going to want to be a back up for much longer.  You don't think he isn't loving this opportunity he's getting right now?  This minor Luongo injury is probably the best thing that's happened to his career.  Now that he's had a taste for it, he's going to want to be a number 1 goalie.  You don't go to an all you can eat rib buffet, just to have a single mouthwatering hickory rib and then sit there and watch everyone else eat...

I'd love to see us keep Schneider and get rid of Luongo, I believe - and always have - that you can win a Stanley Cup with a good goalie and heavy firepower.  My dream scenario would be to trade Luongo, re-sign Scneider for anywhere between $3-5M (remember, Niemi signed a new contract after winning the Stanley Cup that had a cap hit of $3.8M).  Then use the extra money that we saved from Luongo's contract to get a top-6 forward.  There would have to be a lot of things to go right (or terribly wrong) for that to happen, but it'd be interesting.

What's your dream scenario?  Let me know what you think the Canucks should do or are going to do in the  comment section. (I read them all and really appreciate it)

What Rivalry? || Why Blackhawks vs Canucks is the Best Rivalry in the NHL

Most teams in the NHL have their rivalries.  In some cases, it's because of proximity, like the Battle of Alberta with Calgary and Edmonton.  Other cases involve years of historic battles like Boston and Montreal, or any of the original six teams, really.  So how come fans get so amped up when the Canucks play the Blackhawks?

It's becoming 'can't miss hockey', because you know there is deep-rooted bad blood between these two teams. But why?

It all started back in 2008-09.  Vancouver rolled over the Blues in the first round, winning the first four games.  While the Flames took Chicago to 6 games before the Blackhawks finally put them away.  Then it began.  The date: April, 30th, 2009.  It was a day like every other day, but what people didn't realize, was this was the day one of the most hatred-fueled rivalries was spawned.

The Blackhawks eliminated the Canucks from the playoffs in 6 games.  The following year, almost like de-ja-vu, Chicago beat Vancouver in 6 games in the second round.  The only thing that helped with the sting of the loss was that Chicago ended up winning the Stanley Cup that year, so nobody was better than the Blackhawks.

Just last season, the Canucks come off of a franchise year.  Setting records in almost every statistical category imaginable.  The goalies were tops in the league, special teams were pretty well unstoppable/impenetrable.  Finished the season with a franchise record 54 wins and 117 points.  Things were going well, to say the least. Meanwhile, Chicago barely scraped into the playoffs.  The only reason they even made it in was because Dallas couldn't win when it mattered most.  If Dallas won their final game, they would have been in, stealing the final playoff spot from Chicago.  Regardless though, it worked out for the better.

Again, the Canucks were meeting Chicago in the playoffs.  Only this time, Vancouver was expected to just flatten the Blackhawks.  Boy, were we wrong.  Canucks win the first three, Blackhawks win the next three (in very convincing fashion), then it all lead up to Burrows becoming the home-town hero with his phenominal overtime, game 7 goal.  That series almost numbed everybody for the rest of the playoffs, because nothing, NOTHING, is more exciting than that playoff series.  Everything that led up to it, the roller coaster of emotions, the controversial hits, the scrums after the whistle...literally, everything.  That was the last time I remember hugging another man that wasn't my father.  Just watch, if this doesn't give you chills, then you're dead inside.



Which leads us to now, Vancouver and Chicago.  Kesler vs Toews.  Kane vs cab drivers.  After three meetings in the amplified playoff atmosphere, these teams have gotten to know one another quite well.  Which brings me back to the original point, why is it the best rivalry in the league?

Not only do these two teams legitimately hate each other, but both of them are consistently great teams.  They are both near the top of the conference, if not the league.  They are both cup contenders, and will be for the next few years.  With both teams locking up a lot of their players long term, it compounds the animosity when the same players are facing each other all the time.

Vancouver fans have the pleasure of making the signs with the exhausted looking Vince Vaughn, while Chicago fans can try to drown out a 747 jet in the "Madhouse".  Either way, it's a great rivalry, but more importantly, it's even better hockey.

_____________________________________________________________________________

My prediction for tonight:  Vancouver kicked Chicago's ass last game, but I can't see that happening two times in a row.  I still think the Canucks will win, but Chicago will put up a fight.  Schneider is in net for the Nucks, but there is no reason to believe that he is going to get shelled.  Final score:  Vancouver 4, Chicago 3.

Post your predictions in the comment section!

New York Islanders vs Canucks || November, 13, 2011

#RomeforNorris.  That is all.

Aaron Rome is continuing his surprising point streak, and in convincing fashion.  He isn't just piling on assists, he's getting goals too.  Before this season, Rome had 2 goals and 10 assists in 131 career NHL games.  This season, in just 4 games since returning from injury, he has 3 goals and 2 assists.  Rome has a better points per game average than Daniel Sedin right now, and finishes tied for 5th in the league in that category.  Now, we can't expect him to keep up this pace, because remember, he IS a defenceman.  Although, there isn't really any reason he can't keep up his goal scoring ways.  All his goals so far have been very on purpose.  They aren't just shots from the point that find their way in, they are goals you score from being aggressive and being in the right place at the right time.  I guess this could be the reason why Vigneault played him over Ballard last year, but who knows.

As for the tilt against the Islanders, that was almost a perfect game.  There weren't any brain lapses, just the odd break out or two by New York.  Usually led by the first line, which is to be expected with the kind of talent and speed they have up front.  Luongo was borderline unbeatable, which is hard to do in a game like this because of the extended stretches of not seeing any action.  His best save would have to be the glove save off Grabner, after a quick little give and go, Lou robs him with the glove.



Aside from Rome taking over the water cooler talk, the Canucks played a solid, two-way game.  They were responsible in their own end, didn't take any penalties, at all.  There wasn't any terrible giveaways, although in the first period, there was a lot of back-and-forth in the neutral zone.  Nobody seemed to be able to get anything done.

Hodgson had an excellent game, you noticed him for all the right reasons and not just because he scored.  It was a promising game and a win that they deserved.  Vancouver should have won that game, and they did.  That's how it's going to have to be if they want to finish atop the standings again.  They need to win all the games they should, and then most of the games they shouldn't.  But if Rome wants to play like this all year, there shouldn't be any reason why the Canucks can't finish first again.

Anaheim Ducks vs Canucks || November, 11, 2011

As quickly as the Canucks loved the 5 minute man advantage, they learned to hate it just as fast.  What gave them a huge lead against Chicago, killed them in the same fashion.  Rome took a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for his elbow - which didn't seem to deem 5 minutes, but hey - and that was the beginning of the end for Vancouver, or was it? (DUN-DUN-DUUHHHHH)

It just wasn't the back ends night, I guess.  It's supposed to be Vancouver's strong suit, mobile defensemen moving the puck efficiently and quickly out of our zone and through the neutral zone.  The big glaring mistake that seemed to get the ball rolling was the Hamhuis give away to Cogliano, who one-touched it to Koivu and picked top corner.

After the scoreless first period, I don't think there were very many people guessing that the next two periods would end up like they did.  Ducks just dominated the Canucks, combining giveaways and some lucky breaks - and tons of fire power - to score four in the second frame.  You see the score, and immediately think that it was a goaltender breakdown, yet Luongo played pretty well.  You couldn't really blame him for those goals, although I didn't like the Holland goal, beating Luongo over the glove-side shoulder.  Other than that, they were just good goals.


So, the third period starts, Schneider starts in net, and the Canucks take to the ice for the first time in this game.  Vancouver decided that they wanted to give their hometown fans - in Anaheim - something worth cheering about.  It started with the too-many-men call against the Ducks, when Bieksa capitalized on it with a point shot.  I think it tipped off Hodgson's stick, but I don't think anybody really cares.  Hansen was next, trying to tell Coach V that it was a mistake taking him off the Sedin line.  His first goal was a perfect deflection in front, tipping it through the wickets of Hiller.  Hansen's second was just pure hard work, scooping up the rebound and swinging it past Hiller as he was falling to the ice.  Now the travelling band of Canuck fans had something to cheer about.

One minute left, Schneider on the bench after only facing 2 shots in the entire period, 6-on-4 after a careless and dangerous slashing penalty on Perry (which should be reviewed in my opinion) and the Canucks are scaring the crap out of the Ducks.  Chance after chance, Anaheim didn't have any idea what to do, they were just clogging the middle hoping to block the shots.  Kesler had the best chance with about 30 seconds left, tried to beat Hiller backhand, but Hiller stretches out and stops it with the cheater on his glove.  One more chance, the Canucks work it around the outside, back to Edler, who tries a one touch pass...and he missed it.  The puck slides all the way down to the end, with only enough time for Salo to get a howitzer off from centre. That shot didn't get enough credit by the way.  He unleashed all hell into that shot, just think about that from the blue line.

I'm sure the Ducks will take that win and move on, but it can't feel like a win for them after the slaughtering they took in the third.  Then again, they did the exact same to Vancouver in the second period, so they did deserve it.  The lone reason they won that game, Hiller.  If he didn't stop Kesler at the end there, it would have gone to OT, and with the momentum wave that the Canucks were cruising on, there was no stopping them.  It was a good finish to a terrible game.

P.S.  That slash by Perry on Sedin needs looking into.  Perry broke his stick on Sedin's wrist.  Looked like a frustration move on his part.

LA Kings vs Canucks || November, 10, 2011

They looked angry, frustrated, plain ol' pissed off.

The Canucks dominated the first period, which led to a coasting of the second and third. The first period should be used video evidence on how to play hockey in the future.  Our powerplay was efficient to the point of astonishment.  The way the puck was moved - not only around the outside, but through the defense in the middle - was amazing.  It all started with the elbowing penalty they took with Trevor Lewis caught Bieksa in the face - Bieksa ended up missing quite a bit of the period getting stitches.  From then on, the Kings frustration shone through, especially when Doughty decided to assault Kesler in front.  As that was happening, I was wondering what he was thinking.  Doughty got a couple punches to the back of Kesler's head, then a couple crosschecks, then looked back to ref as if he was testing him.  Finally, one last monster crosscheck and that was enough.  Everything Doughty did in that sequence was a penalty, and then when he finally got one, he seemed dumbfounded that he was in the penalty box.

Salo played his first game back since taking some time off to let his tender groin heal (yes I know what I just said, and we will all be adults about this and move along...).  The calming presence of Salo was one thing that our powerplay was missing.  His goal was a textbook, defenseman goal.  Head up, moving forward into the slot, waits for the screen to be in place, then wires it in far side.  The scary thing about that show though, is that he didn't hammer it.  That was almost a half swing, which makes me scared for the people who are going to block his shots in the future, because if he really steps behind one, you might die.  Literally, die.

After the first period, it seemed like the Canucks were putting it on cruise control just a little bit.  Didn't have the same type of domination as the first, but still very much in control of the game.  I almost got the feeling that if the Canucks went up 4-1, that the Kings would start playing dirty.  L.A. looked so frustrated in the first period and it carried over into the second and if the Canucks put the game out of reach, that would have been enough to make them snap.

The third period, the Kings came to play.  Luongo was good all night, but the third was when he had to make some of the more unusual saves he will have to ever make.  My favorite, was when Bieksa got pushed down into the crease, and at some point during Luongo scrambling, Lou ended up on top of Bieksa and still made the save.  The was the most scrambling I've seen Luongo do, but it wasn't the kind of flopping around that he does in October's.  It's the kind that he does in January and February, where it seems like you can't get anything past him.

This was a great start to a back-to-back situation.  Vancouver did what they were so good at doing last year - causing frustration.  Playing keep away on the powerplay like you do when you play basketball against a younger sibling.  Scoring almost at will, like every goal they scored, they knew it was going in.  Nobody seems surprised when they score now, it's almost like an acknowledgement that their process was complete, rather than a celebration of an unexpected goal.

Nucks vs. Ducks tonight! Anaheim has one of the scariest first lines I can think of, in terms of size and skill, but Vancouver always seems to handle it, so we will see.  My prediction for the score: 4-2 Canucks, with an empty netter at the end.

Give me your predictions in the comments!

When We're All Healthy... || November, 8, 2011

Raymond being helped off after his injury during the Stanley Cup Finals

The Canucks aren't playing at 100% right now.  Both, figuratively and literally.  The only reason that Hodgson really has a roster spot at this point, is because of Mason Raymonds broken back.  Now, Raymond is set to come back this season (hopefully), which would force Hodgson, essentially, out of a job.  Hodgson plays on the wing with Kesler instead of the injured Raymond, alongside Higgins or Booth.

Also, Burrows is out with back spasms, but I can't imagine that being anything more than a couple weeks of slow rehab.  So, you have either Booth or Hansen - or anybody for that matter - moving up with the twins.  Kesler centering Hodgson and Higgins/Booth, then the third and fourth lines are pretty set.  What happens when Burrows and Raymond come back?

Hodgson is a top 6 forward, that's his game.  He can't grind like Weise, or skate like Lapierre, but he's got the vision and the hockey-smarts to play in a top 6 role.  One option is to have him stay as a wing on the second line, and slowly work Raymond in on the third, but then what happens when Raymond is ready to go? His speed is too much to pass up on.

Another option is to put Hodgson in the centre spot, intermittently, with Malhotra.  Manny hasn't been playing like himself ever since coming off the eye surgeries.  You have to give Malhotra some slack though because of what he's been through, but how long do you let it go that he has been under-performing?

Another idea is to just trade Hodgson.  He has had a decent start to the season, I think he has showcased his skill and his potential enough that other GM's out there have an idea of what he can do - 3 G, 4 A in 15 games.  He was a top-10 draft pick, and being a centreman, teams are always willing to move somebody on their roster for a quality, young pivot.

If you have any other ideas, please share.  If the Canucks are going to be serious contenders again, then every position on every line has to be as strong as you can make it.  Who would you choose to have on the second line: Hodgson or Raymond?

Chicago Blackhawks vs Canucks || November, 6, 2011

This makes me happy

In what is turning into one of the better rivalries, if not the best, in today's NHL, Chicago and Vancouver failed to disappoint.  Tonight's game was fast paced, hard fought and didn't lack the scoring, as usual. The game had pretty well everything you could ask for: fighting, goals, big hits, hatred (lots of hatred).  The look on Bolland's face after he gets into scrums makes me smile.  He has this cranky scowl on his ugly mug, only matched by Brent Sopel's regular face.

The big story in this game, the deciding factor, was Vancouver's power play.  Wow.  The Canucks go 5-for-6, Booth gets his first goal of the season on it (you could see the relief on his face after he scored).  Rome gets one, everybody basically pitched in on the man advantage.  The Sedin's were working their twin-magic like they usually do, while Hodgson had a decent night as well.  One thing I noticed was that it wasn't our third and fourth lines doing all the heavy lifting.  They contributed, but they weren't forced to carry the team across the finish line. Volpatti sparked the team when he tango'd with Dan Carcillo, while the entire fourth line just fore checked the hell out of Chicago.

Now, Luongo did let in that stinker of a goal from Frolik.  I mean, that was a terrible, terrible goal to let in.  Micheal Frolik came over the blue line along the boards and just kind of flicked it on net, and it somehow found its way through Lou's pads. The first thing I thought was that he was going to be rattled, but I guess it no longer being October actually means something.  Luongo was good, he was very good actually.  Especially at the end of the second, where he made a splendiferous glove save as the clock was winding down.  The refs actually decided to put 1.3 seconds up on the clock after that save forced the puck over the glass.  Usually, that's a waste of time, but in this case, nuh uh.  Bieksa and Jamal Mayers decided to go at it with the extra time added.  It wasn't a pre-planned fight either, it was a hate fueled bout, with Bieksa coming out with the win (according to hockeyfights.com).



All in all, this was a game that needed to happen.  Vancouver played to their potential.  They looked like themselves of yesteryear, with the power play going almost 100%, and everybody did their part to a T.  Except, Luongo did let in that stinker, but he is semi-forgiven for it because he stood on his head after that.

My favorite part, how quiet it got in the "Madhouse" after the Canucks scored a few.  I love hearing crickets in that place.

St. Louis Blues vs Canucks || November, 4, 2011

Canuck fans know that we should be blowing all of these teams out, we know that Vancouver isn't playing close to their potential.  When they do, it's a blow out.  Look at the Calgary game.  We played probably, 90% of what we could, maybe less.  It wasn't even close.  That's what we, as fans, are used to seeing.

So when we watch games like this one, against the Blues, where we know that we can be playing better - it hurts us.  Especially coming off of the teams self-proclaimed "worst game they've ever played".  Although, the Canucks are a special team right now, we have some of the most potent offensive tandems - not flashy necessarily, but potent - and we have maybe the best goalie pairing in the league.  Although, for the latter point, sometimes it doesn't seem that way, but in reality, we do.  St. Louis are one of those bubble teams for making the play offs, yet we can't seem to figure them out right this season.  Vancouver can't seem to figure out themselves at this point.

Yes, this game was a fast paced one, I barely noticed the whistles it went by so quickly.  You can't really pin it on Luongo, because he did his part.  It was the team as a collective whole, everybody just wasn't clicking.  Too many people are trying to make things happen by themselves rather than doing what they did so well last year, which was a 5-man unit moving up the ice like a tidal wave.  Teams couldn't stop them.  The Canucks was the best team in the league last year when it came to the quick transition game.  It was so efficient and flawless that, when you see them struggle to do it now, you wonder how anybody does it...ever.

The only real positive thing to being a Canucks fan right now - and in that case, Bruins fans too - is that you know that you are going to play better.  The team is so good that it is almost physically impossible not to play better than they are now, on a consistent basis.  Bruins fans though, not so much, you guys just bullied your way into a championship.  We all know that if the...ANYWAY, I digress.

Vancouver will find it's groove.  They will dominate the league, maybe not like last season, but they will finish on top again.  Vancouver will be one of those teams that other teams don't want to play because it would be like playing a machine on auto-pilot.  There is no stopping it. However, that's just not happening right now, which is the frustrating part.  You know, as fans.  I'm sure the Canucks have their own problems to deal with.

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Grow your Mo!
http://ca.movember.com

Minnesota Wild vs Canucks || November, 3, 2011

Well that certainly wasn't the same Minnesota Wild team we played last time.  Rather than trying to bore us into submission, they came out guns a blazing.  Now they weren't exactly flashy guns, but they did beat us handily.  It seemed like the Canucks were expecting the same team that they played back on October 22.  Canucks scored first, which is a positive, but that was about the only good thing to come out of this game.  Oh, that, and Corey Schneider standing on his head, more on that in a bit.

Vancouver looked alright in the first five minutes of the first period, and then all of the sudden, they just turned themselves off.  The forwards couldn't get through the neutral zone cleanly, the defense was cracking under pressure from the Wild fore check. The team that we witnessed for the previous two games was but a mere glimmer in the past.  The second period alone was probably the worst period of hockey every played by the Canucks - this season at least.

Enough of the bad though.  You could try and take positives out of that game, but the reality is, every skater was practically invisible.  The only sustained pressure of any sort came from the fourth line (again), while the defense pinched in well? I don't know, take from it what you will, it was bad.  OK! Enough!

On to the good stuff.  The lone shining star in this game was Corey Schneider.  Despite letting in 5 goals, he did have 40 saves.  Heatley alone had more scoring chances than all of the Vancouver team combined, and he stopped them all.  The one game that Schneider really shows up for - and I mean REALLY shows up to play - and the team in front of him thought it'd be a good idea to try and let him do it himself.  If it wasn't for Schneid's, it would have been easily 10-1.  I know I've said this before, but every time Schneider plays, he makes a very strong case for him being a number 1 goalie.  John Garrett commented on Corey's play, while somehow subtly trashing Luongo all at the same time.  He said (after Schneider made the save off his shoulder that deflected off the crossbar), "That's the advantage of coming across with your shoulders up and square".  Oh, Mr. Garrett...

Near the end, you could tell the Canucks had enough.  They must have just been out of gas, because they didn't care to take the game into their hands, just the frustration came peeking through.  Minnesota's Cal Clutterbuck (dangerous name to say while enjoying one too many adult beverages) had been running around all game, as he is known to do - he even took a shot at the linesman.  So, with about 5 minutes left in the third, Ballard decided it was enough.  Clutterbuck went in for a check on Ballard, head on.  Ballard see's him coming and ducks under him, almost like a hip check, but in a defensive fashion.  It was a bit of a dirty trick, reminded me of what Brad Marchand did in the playoffs - that dirty rat.  Anyway, that hit by Ballard, to me, summed the mood of the game up.  It seemed like they knew they were beat, they knew from the very beginning, and all they could do was get their shots in while they could.

You'd never expect that from a Minnesota team that tries to play possum for as long as possible, to score 5 goals on any given night, but stranger things have happened.

Vancouver can try and redeem themselves Friday evening/afternoon, when they go visit St. Louis to try and claim some revenge.  Look for Kesler to step his game up, I predict that he will go into beast mode like he did against Nashville in the playoffs, and carry the Canucks on his shoulders across the finish line.

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Remember, it's Movember!  Do what you can, a mustache can go a long way.
http://ca.movember.com/

Calgary Flames vs Canucks || November, 1, 2011

That's a little better.  Almost like clockwork, the Canucks seem to have worked their way out of the October funk, and right back into mid-season form.  With twelve goals in the last two games, they are boosting their dismal plus/minus numbers, as well as closing in on the point gap left by Ehrhoff.  Alex Edler has 6 points in two games, while Vancouver's obvious leading goal scorer - ahem, Chris Higgins - continues his hot streak.



It just seemed to be Vancouver's night tonight.  Most of the passes had eyes, like Hodgson's goal from Lapierre and Daniel's goal from Hank.  There is no way that Lapierre's blind centering pass should have made it to Hodgson (see video), but it did, because it was just one of those nights.  The Sedin's connected (again), which pretty well put the game away.  Burrows' goal from his rear-end was just pure, old fashioned hard work.  That's exactly what he needs to be doing when he plays with the Sedin's.  You can't match the twins for skill, all you have to do is sit in front of the net and swing your stick wildly, hoping you connect with the puck. And of course, Edler.  Ahhh, Eddie, what would we do without you?  Alex Edler continues to tear up the score sheet, this time with a couple assists and a goal.  The latter coming from a wrist shot from the point, bouncing and deflecting it's way past Kipper.

Burrows doing his best Tomas Holmstrom impression

Then we get to Luongo.  Always a hot topic in this fair city of ours.  Actually, he played really well.  Looked sharp, never seemed to lose sight of the puck.  The only thing was, he let in one of his famous last minute goals.  How many times last year did he have a shutout going, then with less than a minute to go, he lets one in.  I'm sure he would have been leading the league in shutouts last season if it wasn't for the 5 or 6 goals that snuck past him with 30 seconds left.  Either way, shutout or no shutout, he played really well. He stopped more pucks than the other goalie (isn't that the real goal?), and showed more confidence than he has in the games earlier this season.

One final thing, notice when Booth had his stick slashed right out of his hands.  Instead of throwing his hands up in the air and looking at the ref's, he just thought nothing of it, and played the puck with his feet.  I've said this before, that it seems like the Canucks - mainly Kesler - have been looking for calls more often than not.  Why not just play the puck?  This kind of goes hand-in-hand with what Don Cherry recently said.  That the Canucks can be seen as whiners sometimes.  I don't think were whiners, but I also don't think that throwing your arms up in the air and giving the ref's puppy eyes helps with that image either.

Anyways, Vancouver is looking a whole lot better than what their record shows.  Yes their last two games have been really good, but their record is far from it.  If they keep this kind of record throughout the season, they probably won't make the playoffs.  Now, that won't happen, but I'm just saying.  October is over, November is here, let's start winning some hockey games.

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P.S.  Grow your mustache for Movember!  It's for a great cause!  - http://ca.movember.com/

Washington Capitals vs Canucks || October, 29, 2011

Vancouver just needs to have Ovechkin in the building to fix their scoring woes.  The Washington Capitals are among the top of the standings and are the early benchmark in the league, just like the Canucks are when they go into other teams buildings.  Vancouver exploded for seven goals and, despite letting in 4 goals, I don't think anyone would argue that Luongo had a pretty good game (funny how a win will change everybody's attitude towards him).

Edler looked like the player that everybody expects him to be, while the 4th line is exceeding all expectations.  Don't say you knew that the 4th line was going to be this good because Lapierre might be the most consistent  Canuck this year so far - and nobody predicted that.  Lappy had 2 goals as well as Higgins and Edler with a pair each.

This isn't the best that the Canucks have played this year, they have played this well before.  The difference is, they played this well for a full 60 minutes.  There were no mini-coma's, where everybody just drones around for 10 minutes and then all the sudden they're losing 4-2.  It was a full three periods of hard, fore checking, getting shots through people and on the net, finishing your checks kind of hockey.  After this game, it felt like there were 2 first lines and 2 third lines.  Kesler didn't end up playing 26-minutes because he didn't have to.  The fourth line was on par for ice-time with the third and the defensive pairings were all about the same.  Well, except for Bieksa and Hamhuis, but once Rome comes back into the line up, expect that to change.

Now, there was a moment that all Canuck fans have been waiting for.  Half way through the third, the Canucks lead 6-4, Brooks Laich takes a shot on net, Ovechkin lurking in front.  Rebound bounces off Luongo, landing a couple feet outside of the crease.  Ovi pounces on the puck and gets a quick shot off, but Lou says, "Nay nay!".  The (in)famous quick glove flashes out and snares it out of the air (with a little Hollywood to let everybody know).  In the words of the Jim Hughson, "Grrreat save Luongo!".

The flare Luongo put on that save is going to be the turning point of his game.  That told me that it wasn't a fluke, and he's saying to Ovechkin, "Get that $h!t out of here!".  That's what we, as Canuck fans, want to see.  The swagger, the confidence.  When Luongo thinks he's the best in the NHL, he IS the best in the NHL. Now, you could argue that he did let in 4 goals, but none of them - except maybe the penalty shot - could be blamed on him.  The first one is just bad luck, it bounces up over his head off of his back and in.  The second Ovechkin goal is just a rocket, he's scored about 500 other goals just like that, and there is a reason he has done it that many times.

Scoring seven goals is always a good thing, especially against a team like Washington.  Letting in four isn't really the greatest scenario, but we know that Vancouver is going to tighten up defensively.  If this game was any indication, it's going to take a couple tweaks here and there, but everything should be just fine.

Luongo vs Schneider || The Controversy...

Vancouver Canuck fans seem like they would rather lose with Schneider than win with Luongo in net right now.  So to settle this little debacle, let's take a look at some numbers.

Corey Schneider has played in a total of 40 NHL games, started in even less of those.
Luongo has had 40 or more wins in a SINGLE SEASON twice in his career.

Schneider's professional NHL career numbers are: .920 SV% and a 2.45 GAA.
Luongo's: .919 SV% and 2.53 GAA.  Mind you he played in Florida for half of his career.

Fans are crying for Luongo to be traded or even just flat out benched.  Benching a Luongo would be the same as killing the only trained medical physician during a viral epidemic.  You can tell him that he has played poorly, but I'm sure that he already knows that.  Players like Luongo don't get to where they are now - once regarded as one of the best goalies in the world - by not being hard on themselves, and demanding perfection.

I'm not saying Schneider isn't any good.  Actually, I'm of the belief that you don't even need a high priced goaltender to make it in the NHL.  It helps, but the goalie only has to be good enough.  If you use the money that you saved on your goalie, to buy more firepower up front, then it's hard to stop everything when you have two first lines.  This is probably why I'm not a GM somewhere.

I like Schneider, he is a great goalie and will be a spectacular starting goalie one day...just not for the Canucks.  Luongo is also a GREAT goalie, I think the only problem people have with him is the money he is making.  If he made 20% less than what he signed for, he would be a steal.  As far as goalies go, having a situation where the question is, "Who should start?  Because we have two number one goalies", then it shouldn't be a problem in the first place.

St. Louis Blues vs Canucks || October, 26, 2011

First off, tonight was the Canucks night for Hockey Fights Cancer, so I feel almost obliged to send you their way in case you're feeling generous.  Cancer has affected everybody one way or another, so this is for a great cause.  Go to http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=25343 because it's the human thing to do.

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The St. Louis Blues graced us with their presence tonight. Little known fact, St. Louis is home of the invention of the...wait for it...ice cream cone.  You're welcome.  

First thing that comes to mind when Corey Schneider gets the start is, "I wonder what Luongo thinks about when Schneider plays well?"  You think he feels threatened at all or does he feel pretty secure with his contract.  Either way, despite what EVERYBODY is talking about, Luongo is still a top tier goalie, just not in October.  I don't think any of the Canucks are top tier anything in October.  It is one of those things we have to live with.  Could be worse, St. Louis came out of the gates storming last year and ended up missing the playoffs by quite a bit, so there is that alternative.

I noticed a whole lot of pucks being mishandled at the blue line and when we went to shoot, we fanned on them.  It looked like the ice conditions might have been a little on the Florida side of things, but it only seemed to affect the Canucks.  The Blues don't play a very fancy, skilled game to begin with, so they weren't too worried about it.

Despite the loss, Schneider looked sharp.  Steen's first goal was just a good goal; who seemed to have emerged as a Canuck killer recently.  Every team has a Canuck killer now, where is the Canucks Blues killer?  Or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins killer?  Regardless, Steen was a man on a mission.  He got the second one as well, a bouncer that just had eyes and found its way through Schneider.  Berglund scored the third goal off of a nice pass from Kevin "Shattenkirk-in-my-pants", which left Schneider helpless.  Although, if that was Luongo, I'm sure that it would have been his fault because of his lack of positioning.  Actually, Schneider's positioning in this game was really quite good.

When the Canucks play mediocre teams that are just on the cusp of making the playoffs, they seem to play down to their level.  St. Louis just out worked them as soon as they got the first goal.  They knew that they had to hold onto that lead, so they worked and worked and worked.  The Blues grind so much that they could turn a California sequioa tree into a #2 pencil.  Now, the Canucks did have scoring chances.  I counted three of them.  The only problem is, two if them don't even count as shots on goal because they hit the post.

St. Louis just plain ol' out worked Vancouver when it got down to the corners.  The Canucks were faster, more skilled, but when it came to grinding it out, the Blues came out with the puck.  It doesn't help either that they ran into a hot goaltender, but the most difficult shots he faced were wrist shots 40 feet away, you're making him look better than he is.  Coach V is going to have to have a stern talking to the team after this game.  Losing like they did, like they were just happy to be keeping pace with the Blues, isn't acceptable.  October isn't Vancouver's favorite month.  Elite teams should be able to play well no matter what it says on the calendar, but for whatever reason, that's not the case with the Canucks.

Edmonton Oilers vs Canucks || October, 25th, 2011

He was lights out in the first and then his light went out in the second.  True to October-Luongo form, mental breakdowns and what seems like lack of fight, proved to be the downfall of poor ol' Roberto.  It's still early and I know that he does this all the time, but if you pay top dollar for a product, you expect that product to be worth every penny.  The "Schneid's" came in a salvaged a hockey game for us, which again, makes it tough to keep starting Luongo.  If this continues on well into November or December, then I bet there will be some changes some where.

On the bright side, David Booth's debut as a Canuck was promising.  He was fast, really fast actually.  He almost beat Khabibulin to an iced puck so I think he is a bit of an upgrade over Samuelsson...so far.  Booth should be a whole lot better than what vacated the spot he is occupying now.  I see him as a very similar player to Kesler, just a notch below though.

Aside from the slow first period and the 6 minutes of slumber in the second, the Canucks dominated.  The Oiler's capitalized on Vancouver's mistakes and then hung on to the lead for dear life.  In the third period, Vancouver was the team that they needed to be the entire game.  Maybe it was Schneider being behind them or that the Sedin's finally got into some sort of groove (Burrow's goal was spectacular, he might be the luckiest winger in hockey right now).

So, the goalie controversy continues.  The fickle fans don't help the cause, especially the few thousand that made the flight to Edmonton to boo Luongo on his way to the bench.  Schneider is a more than competent back-up goaltender, but nobody knows about his full-time capabilities...yet.  Edmonton was too fast for only a handful of minutes, and that is all it took to beat the Canucks.  Vancouver is right back at it again tomorrow night though, when St. Louis will pay them a visit hoping to continue their win streak to three.

P.S.  I'm surprised Taylor Hall's head is still connected after Edler just destroyed him - clean hit too.

Minnesota Wild vs Canucks || David Booth acquisition

Mike Gillis was so bored during the Minnesota game, that he decided to give everybody something to talk about by trading Samuelsson and his big off-season pick up Sturm, for David Booth and Steven Reinprecht from Florida.  Wow was that a slow game.  The Wild are notorious for being the worst team in hockey to watch - entertainment wise - but wow.  Every time I get ready to watch a Canucks vs Wild game, I think to myself, "Well it can't be as bad as the last game."  Every time, I'm wrong.

A friend of mine said that it seems like Salo's shot is even harder and more accurate this year, and it's hard to argue with that when he's got goals like that OT winner. He had a little time to set up and rifled it into the top corner past Backstrom.

The Wild are lucky that they play in a city that actually cares about hockey, otherwise they would draw less of a crowd than the Dallas Stars when there is a playoff baseball game the same night.  Anyways, that's all there is to say about that, moving along...

The main components to this trade are the Canucks gaining a top six forward in David Booth and the Panthers dumping salary.  Samuelsson and Sturm both equal to just over what Booth is making alone, plus the Canucks owners - the Aquilini's - are basically eating Reinprecht's salary for dinner by sending him to the minors. Sturm was a bust, at least from the short sample of work we saw, and Samuelsson was getting along in hockey years and was still nursing off season surgery.  Booth is young, fast, can score and has played with both Higgins and Kesler before.  Reinprecht, well, he's old too and we probably won't be seeing him unless we absolutely have to.  Although, Vancouver always seems to dip a little further in the talent pool than they'd like to during the course of the season, but only time will tell.