We will be making a few changes yet again here at WAACH, so bear with us as we implement them. Hope you all had an enjoyable holiday, I know we did here at the WAACHhouse.
Big game for the Canucks tonight as they look to get back on track on Dallas, but let's kick things off with more gushing about that incredible game against the Russians last night. The back and forth nature of that game certainly made for some high drama, as Pat Quinn's troops seemed to let their foot off the Russian team's throat everytime they got the lead. It could be a good sign though, maybe they are saving their best for last? There are still some issues that Quinn and the coaching staff will need to address before tomorrow evening's gold medal final: giveaways, and discipline. Those seemed to be the glaring issues for me in last night's game. Canadian players trying to make cutesy plays instead the smart and safe play (lord knows we on the west coast are experts on this topic...), like PK Subban in particular, were guilty of handing opportunities to the Russians when a simple pass or dump in would have sufficed. Let's not kid ourselves, these young men are under HUGE pressure to win at home, and many will never play in a bigger game than Monday night's contest, but they are there because they are the best players this country has to offer at this level, so they must be prepared to bring their A game. I was quite disappointed to hear booing during this game though. They are still kids, and booing them for not scoring on a power play, or because they couldn't stop a tenacious Russian squad from fighting back is mind-boggling. One of the nasty side-affects of being such a hockey mad nation, I guess...
The Swedes seem to be a very fast skating, skilled and opportunistic team, and Canada will need to throw everything they have at them, especially physically to come out with the gold.
The Canucks are back at home after a disappointing shootout loss in Atlanta on Friday. The good news is they play a Dallas team that despite staying over in Edmonton will still be tired. The Stars lack of success this season is a major story, Sean Avery circus aside. They have had some injuries, but a lack of production and sub-par goaltending from equipment standards informant Marty Turco has seen the once mighty Stars fall towards the basement of the Western Conference, tied with Nashville for 2nd last and so far behind division leaders San Jose they may need a GPS just to find them. The Stars are currently without Captain Brendan Morrow, Sergei Zubov, Joel Lundqvist and Fabian (Don't believe the hype) Brunnstrom, and last night lost the services of Landon Wilson after 42 seconds. He is listed as questionable. Global reported that the Canucks will have Mattias Ohlund back in the lineup tonight, after leaving the Atlanta game with an upper body injury. The Canucks are still without Roberto Luongo, Sami Salo, Taylor Pyatt, Curtis Sanford, Ryan Johnson and Rick Rypien.
The Canucks have managed to keep the ship afloat during Luongo's absence, but this win a game, lose a game streak has to stop. A win tonight will be the first time the Canucks have earned points in 3 consecutive games since November. The Stars have played better of late, battling to get to a .500 record, but they certainly aren't playing like the team that once dominated the Pacific Division this season. They did earn 8 wins in December, matching their total for the previous 2 months, but have a long road ahead if they hope to make the playoffs. It is worthy to note that those 8 wins have come since the team removed Avery from their lineup. The Canucks will be expecting a better effort from the line of Steve Bernier, Mason Raymond and Kyle Wellwood, who were pointless in Atlanta and called out by Coach Alain Vigneault to show up for tonight's contest. It's a PPV, starting at 7, and it should be a good one. The Canucks Fan Zone will be live blogging tonight, I just may pop in... not sure yet.
NOTES: Though it seems he regularly commits acts worthy of it, the Ducks Cory Perry was finally suspended by the league, this time for an elbow Friday night against the Flyers, he will miss the next 4 contests... What was funnier than Sidney Crosby's 'ready or not' tussle against Carolina? How about Alexander Semin showing that Rock Band and hockey fights don't mix... Wow. Not even sure what to say about that one...
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