Canucks 2 Wild 1

Another seemingly impossible win, another game where Jacques Lemaire complains to the press about the Canucks. In three losses to the Canucks this season Lemaire has deemed it necessary to let the press know that evil forces were at work, aiding the Canucks in their victories. Last night, it was the Canucks coaching staff:

"The only thing I have a hard time to accept is their coaching staff is always on top of the referees talking to them — always talking to them," Lemaire said after the Canucks' 2-1 victory at the Xcel Energy Center.

Lemaire and his players believed the Wild's Derek Boogaard had drawn an obvious tripping penalty in the third period. Vancouver's Willie Mitchell reached in with his stick and upended the 6-foot-7 Wild enforcer, but there was no call — and no power-play chance for the NHL's second-best power-play team.

"You saw the game tonight there," Lemaire said of that play. "I can't talk about the referees. You saw what happened."

However, Lemaire went on to say he believes Canucks coach Alain Vigneault and his staff are effectively badgering NHL officials.

"Somebody talks to them all the time," he said, "and you know I just feel at a time it pays off. That's what they're doing. And especially this team, that's the way they do it. It's every game."

I think it's pretty sad that Lemaire is doing this. He is arguably one of the best coaches in NHL history. I say arguably, because he has consistently, in both Minnesota and New Jersey, iced the most boring teams in memory. They were actually playing a trap while trailing in the first period, and apart from the press right at the start of the 2nd that saw Koivu tie it, really didn't muster much more than that for the rest of the game. They were held to 17 shots by a Canucks team that renewed their commitment to team defense and never let their foot off the gas. Congrats to Corey Schneider for his 1st NHL win, and a big thumbs up to Jason Jaffray, who had the game winner, and was an assist away from the Gordie Howe hat trick. We will have a little more on this game tomorrow as well as a preview of the Sunday match against the Avalanche. After that, we are taking a bit of a hiatus until after Boxing Day.

Canucks 3 Wild 2

Are you freakin' kidding me? As I had mentioned in the pre-game post, I didn't think this one would go down as a win, but it would be great to hang on for a point. No one told the Canucks that, as they battled back twice to tie it and then to paraphrase Joey Kenward on the Team 1040 last night "Henrik scores!! Or was that Daniel? I don't care, it was a Sedin and it's 3-2 Vancouver". Classic. Now unlike some who pander to the eternal pessimists out there, (*coughDanRussellcough*) I think it is a very big deal that the Canucks were able to win that game last night. Playing their 3rd game in 4 nights on the road, with a 3 hour flight and a time zone change tacked onto it, the Canucks went into a place where they were 6-1-2 in their last 9 visits with Curtis Sanford and without Sami Salo and Kevin Bieksa and won it. They did it with hard work, a great job of line matching by Alain Vigneault (congrats on win #100, Coach!) and great nights from 2 players in particular: Willie Mitchell and Pavol Demitra. Funny that not only did Mitchell not get recognized for his efforts last night in the 3 star selections, but neither did Curtis Sanford. Can't blame them though, as it's hard to look good when you have the league's premier player Cal Clutterbuck on the ice. Seriously. Clutterbuck was an even, with 3 shots and 8 hits. Fine, 8 hits. Good for him. But he had 9:34 TOI. Then we go to Mr. Mitchell: 1 assist, +2, 24:01 TOI, 2 hits and 4 blocked shots. But maybe they just wanted an excuse to get Mr. Clutterbuck on the scoresheet, because you won't find him anywhere else except the program. Is this a big deal? No. But it speaks volumes about the perception of things in the Cult of Lemaire (tm). Can't say enough about Curtis Sanford. he certainly showed how hard he can battle, and it was truly inspiring to see how hard the team was battling for him last night. Sanford is a relentless worker in practice, and it certainly gives the Canucks a boost to have him come in and give them the chance to win such a huge divisional matchup. Good on Steve Bernier to get off the Schneid as well... He has been busting his ass out there, so a goal, especially the timing of it was huge. So that's 5 of a possible 6 points on this road trip, and they head into Pittsburgh with a well-rested Roberto Luongo to take on Crosby, Malkin and the Penguins tomorrow morning at 11 am PST. Yeah, ask me how happy I am about that. The game is on Sportsnet with Shorthouse and Garrett, and Joey and Tommy have the call on the Team 1040.

On a side note, the game took on a bigger meaning as the Flames shutout Colorado 1-0. The win moves the Flames into a tie with the Wild, but they retain 2nd due to games in hand.

GAME DAY: Canucks @ Wild

In the fabled 8th borough of New York City, the Canucks are hoping they have something left in a huge divisional matchup against the 2nd place Minnesota Wild. We all know this scheduling sucks, so let's get past this and do what they did last night and focus on the task at hand.

The last time these two teams met, the Canucks shut them out 2-0, and Roberto Luongo outdueled Niklas Backstrom. Tonight, it may be Curtis Sanford in goal however, as the Canucks may want to rest Luongo for the Saturday morning game against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. Backstrom was 3-0-2 against the Canucks lifetime at the Xcel Energy Center, and will be looking to keep his winning ways going, as he has won 2 straight in the shootout, including the Penguins Tuesday night. This will mark Pavol Demitra's first game against his old team. Demitra has returned with a vengeance from the IR, with goals in 2 straight games and 5 points in the 3 since his return from the rib injury. Sami Salo left the game limping last night and is questionable for tonight's game. Kevin Bieksa and Rick Rypien are still on the IR. Marion Gaborik, Kurtis Foster and Josh Harding are out for the Wild. This game is quite honestly not too winnable. The Canucks played last night then took the 3 hour flight to Minnesota, while the Wild have been resting since the shootout win over the Pens. I am expecting a loss, but with some hard work we could maybe see a point out of this. Getting to OT would be huge for the Canucks, who lead the Wild by 1 point. Here's what they need to do to have success tonight:

1- Play your game: Sure we would love to have a quick start, but it's not likely. So what will be needed is to weather the first 10 minutes. Jacques Lemaire will have his troops fired up and they will throw everything they can at a tired Canucks squad. If they can get out of the first half of period 1 unscathed, they have a shot.

2- Discipline: There are bad feelings brewing deeper and deeper each time we play the Wild, and no doubt their fans will be looking for some retribution for the 2-0 loss earlier this month. Jacques Lemaire accused the Canucks of playing "boring hockey" in that game. Seriously. It's amazing he doesn't get laughed out of the press conferences with lines like that. But with the PK still needing some fine tuning (the Rangers were 2 for 6 last night), the Canucks, especially Shane O'Brien need to stay out of the box and not let themselves get suckered into confrontations. Pick your battles.

3- Play their game: The whole Minnesota model is clog up the middle, forecheck tenaciously and try and capitalize on mistakes. Sounds like a plan to me. It may not make for the most exciting game, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and if it means giving them a taste of their own medicine, so be it. The points are what's important, and this team has shown it can play a number of styles. Give them a trap of their own to deal with and make sure to provide support for Sanford (or Luongo, as I am not entirely sure they won't just go with him) with lots of support.

Like I said, I don't expect them to win this one, but it is not out of the realm of possibility. A confident team can do some amazing things, and the Canucks are certainly that after dismantling the best in the East last night. After this the Canucks head back East for that Saturday morning matchup against Sid the Kid and the Penguins.

GAME DAY: Canucks vs Wild

Two games in a row, two more consistent efforts and 2 shutouts to show for it. But the Canucks have a much more difficult task at hand tonight as they take on the division leading Minnesota Wild at GM Place. This would be, for those of you who are counting, The Most Important Game Of The Year Part 3. Minnesota has gotten off to a flying start this year with the tried and true methods of the Cult of Lemaire(™), stifling, yawn-inducing defence; tenacious forechecking; solid goaltending; and the ever present threat he might let Derek Boogaard take a shift and punch a hole in someone. And yet for as well as the Wild have played, and as inconsistent as the Canucks have been, a win can launch Vancouver over Minnesota into 1st, as the teams are separated by a mere loser point the Wild picked up. Vancouver's season will depend once again on how well they do against their divisional rivals. 2 years ago they were great, and made the playoffs. Last season they weren't and, well you see what I am getting at. Roberto Luongo is playing his best hockey of the season right now, his goalless streak sitting at 138 minutes and 34 seconds. Minnesota hasn't been shutout since Feb of last season, but considering the trouble this team has scoring goals, it could very well be tonight. Some of the Canucks will no doubt have the last meeting of these 2 teams in the back of their mind, which the Wild won 4-0, part of that horrendous slide that ended the Canucks season. Luongo will need to buck a trend against Minnesota, his worst record against any one opponent is Minnesota, including going 3-4-1 last season. One bit of good news is the Wild will still be without one of their best Dmen tonight. Brent Burns is out with an upperbody injury (remember when they only used to not tell you during the playoffs?) and will miss the game. For the Canucks, Alex Burrows missed yesterday's practice but is expected to be in the lineup, and Janick Hansen could return as well from his groin injury. More good news on the horizon as Pavol Demitra may get cleared to return to practicing Monday, he has begun skating and is healing ahead of schedule. Rick Rypien is still on the IR after his sports hernia tear. The Wild will also be without Marion Gaborik, Owen Nolan and Kurtis Foster, Tomas Mojzis is listed as day-to-day. This has all the makings of a classic battle: 2 teams with an intense dislike for each other, first place on the line, one of the top scoring teams against a defensive juggernaut. Something has to give and it will tonight.

Minnesota 2 Canucks 1

Remember last year, when the losses came in games where we outplayed the opponent and deserved to win, but just didn't? Deja-vu eh? They outshot and outhit the Wild last night, but apart from Sami Salo's beauty point shot on a 3rd period power play, the Canucks didn't get the bounces last night, while the Wild did, especially on the opening goal. The thing that struck me last night was the lack of flow and emotion in the game. Very few scrums after the whistles, no fights. It was like they were playing a team from the East or something. Those of you "you can't blame the refs" people need to chill now. The calls in that game were mind boggling. Chris Simon initiates contact with Luongo twice, no call. Alex Burrows is steered into Backstrom, into the box. And when you add in that finishing your check is now a penalty, except when Derek Boogaard does it, well there's your lack of flow. Seriously, you could use a sundial to time how late Boogaard's hits were, yet no penalty time was given to that missing link on skates. Overall though, it was not a bad game from a hockey standpoint, just frustrating we didn't get a point out of it, and in the process dropped to 7th as the Flames now have the game in hand. I had promised pictures, but as is the case with every road trip we take, something always gets forgotten. The babysitter for our fabulous dog Ed (remind me to post a pic of his Canucks colored dog bed lol) bailed on us just as we were about to leave, pissing me off and making me forget to grab the camera. Sigh. But it was the only blemish on an otherwise awesome trip to the big city. Laurie's first Canucks game was memorable (though a certain Alex Burrows owes her a goal lol), and a trip to Scrape Records to pick up the re-release of Iron Maiden's Live After Death dvd will wrap it up nicely. New podcast coming when we get home, as well as a new Mass Hypnosis podcast...

Wild Fans: Boo this!

Feb 19 podcast -pre Wild

listen here


It was a game not only have we not seen out of the current version of the Canucks, but one we haven't seen in quite a while. Saturday night's emotionally charged affair with the Oilers was a huge boost, and we have propelled into 7th place, but in order to stay there they will need to beat the division-leading Minnesota Wild on the road... it's Gameday on WAACH

Feb 14th and a new Podcast is up.

Although they needed the break after that long road trip, you can't help but wonder if this 4 days off could kill the momentum gained by the Canucks in a gutsy comeback win over the Blackhawks Sunday night. But we could be getting some good news as Willie Mitchell may return in time for the Canucks' Valentine's date with the Wild. Can't you feel the love?

We're just not that into you...

It's another game against the Wild, and as has been their style lately, they are using the press to convey their love/hate relationship with the Canucks. Micheal Russo of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Star-Tribune has dropped the Mother of All Bombshells: The Canucks are one of the dirtiest teams in the league, and it's their agitators that are hurting the players in the league. I was surprised to see they didnt have aerial photos of our agitator training facilities housed in rail cars, or sworn affidavits from a guy that used to sell popcorn at GM Place and Dave Nonis' paperboy.

The article is laughable, grasping at straws in an attempt to show that players who try to get other players off their game is something just a few teams do, and gosh darn it the Canucks are among the worst. "The thing is: Why's the NHL worrying about Boogaard when Matt Cooke, Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows are the ones who run around every night? Is it possible that the NHL is this unaware of how the Canucks, back to face the Wild today, and several other teams have turned agitating into an art?" A nice compliment, but these guys are hardly in the league of Kenny 'The Rat' Linseman or Esa Tikkanen. Cooke is widely known as a top-class agitator, I will give them that, but labeling Kesler as dirty with his (gasp!) 18 penalty minutes this season is a fine example of sensationalistic journalism, and nothing else. I love the talking point thrown in about Boogaard, how he has never been suspended for running someone from behind. Russo is right, he hasn't. It's kind of hard to get suspended when you spend nearly 57 minutes a night on the bench. They insist Cooke's hipcheck on Nick Schultz was an attempt to take out his knees, but the replay showed while the hit was a bit low, it wasn't nearly that malicious. Cooke has been a dirty player in the past, but Canucks coach Alain Vigneault seems to have reigned in Cooke, showing him more ice time in exchange for a more controlled style of play, and staying out of the penalty box. Brian Rolston comments "The problem is [agitators] play this way because they can't do anything else," The problem is that every team has players like this in their lineup, even though they don't like to admit it. Stephane Veilleux is not in the Wild's lineup because he will challenge Marion Gaborik for the team lead in scoring. The best part of the whole article is the re-telling of the Gaborik/Kesler incident: "The most productive agitators are the ones who subtly play on the precipice of crossing the line and don't get caught. They make an impact because they antagonize and frustrate players such as Marian Gaborik, who finally had enough of the pesky Kesler and elbowed him in the head last month.

Kesler, an agitator who's also a quality player, skated away. Gaborik skated to the penalty box."

Oh, I get it now. We should just let Gaborik go to the net and not check him. Frustrating him is bad, bad, BAD! Besides, if we do, this star player will lose his cool and take a run at you, leaving his feet to elbow you in the head. My memory is a little hazy at times, but it seems to me that this is what the NHL really needs to worry about, and not guys like Ryan Kesler playing hardnosed defense. The Wild are as guilty as any team in trying to draw penalties. It's part of the game. But they need to complain about it, because some rivalries need a kick in the pants to make it interesting for the fans. Their fans, at least.

So this afternoon Mattias Ohlund returns to Minnesota for the first time since the incident. There will be much histrionics from the fans, attempts to extract some measure of revenge will be taken. If the Wild were smart (and judging by this article and the rantings of some of their fan base one has to wonder), they would spend more time trying to figure how to beat us for the first time this year, something no one in the Northwest Division has been able to do, save for two shootouts to the Oilers. Pregame podcast will be posted shortly... make sure to check out other past editions while you're there!

Canucks 4 Wild 2 Boogaard 0

On paper it looked like doom for the Canucks, coming off a shootout loss in Edmonton the night before, having to take on one of the NHL's best home teams with little rest and a goalie whose last game was 1 month ago. Someone forgot to tell that to Markus Naslund. The Captain was stellar with a hat trick (not to mention a disallowed goal on a quick whistle and a slapper from the point that hit the post), playing as fine a game as I've seen him play post-Steve Moore incident. Curtis Sanford was solid despite giving up a couple to Marian Gaborik, and we also got an absolute beauty end to end rush from Ryan Kesler. Nazzy now has goals in 4 straight games and leads the team with 10. And as for the most anticipated aspect of the night, the "revenge" on Canucks players by Wild knuckledragger Derek Boogaard on Pinky & the Brain? Boogaard had 3:53 of ice time and was a -1, while the twins set up 2 of Naslunds 3 goals and were both +2.
Guess that showed us. Full credit to AV and the coaching staff who did a fine job of getting the guys ready and keeping them focused, pulling down what is no doubt the biggest win of the year. The Canucks now sit atop the Northwest Division, 1 point behind San Jose for 2nd place in the Conference with 24 points. Next up for the Canucks is a visit to Curtis Sanford's old stomping grounds in St. Louis to take on the much improved Blues team on Friday. Oh and hat tip to Squirrel E. Doom on CDC for the photo.