Canucks 3 Sharks 1

The scene: The Canucks Dressing Room.
The Time: Moments after a 3-1 over the San Jose Sharks.
Coach Vigneault walks in among the players. The players are happy, there is much slapping of backs and the occasional WOO! heard, when the coach speaks:
Alain Vigneault: Settle down guys, settle down. OK, I don't know how to say this, so I guess the best way is to just come right out and say it. This one doesn't really count.
(stunned silence across the room, followed by comments expressing disbelief)
Ryan Kesler: Coach, that's crazy, we beat 'em fair & square...
AV: Sorry guys. I was just on the CDC, and according to (shuffles through papers) um... Ringmaster 316, they have injuries and are without their top goalie. So it doesn't count.
Alex Burrows: Tabernac!
Mats Sundin: Aw man! You made Hordi cry...

And that concludes this edition of Pessimistic Canucks Fan Theater...

So there you have it Canucks fans. Don't celebrate this win. The Sharks didn't have the vaunted offensive powers of Jeremy Roenick, Mike Greer, Marcel Goc, Torrie Mitchell and Claude Lemieux. Their defense obviously missed the spark it would have gotten from Kent Huskins. And let's face it, Brian Boucher is no Evgeni Nabokov. It's not like he is Curtis McElhinney or something.

Using this logic, you can discount the losses to San Jose previous, because the last 2 came with backup goalies. Do you think they say that in San Jose? Hardly. Yes the Sharks are struggling a bit right now. But correct me if I am wrong, but they did still have Joe Thornton? Jonathan Cheechoo? Devin Setoguchi? Dan Boyle? I think you see what I am getting at here. It's almost as though parity only applies to other teams. With the Canucks, and their detractors (hell, with some of their 'fans' as well) there has to be a qualifier. San Jose is only one of the best teams in the league if they have all their players in the lineup. Garbage.

What I saw last night was another 60 minute game from the Canucks, and a sign that really made me smile: San Jose struggled to keep up with our team speed. They took a number of penalties last night, uncharacteristically bad penalties for them, as they tried to keep the Canucks rushers at bay. While they did have some chances, the Sedin/Sedin/Burrows line was held in check. Fortunately the line of Ryan Kesler, Pavol Demitra and Mats Sundin had a tremendous game. The team was fairly disciplined last night, hell I wouldn't even fault them on giving the PP goal to Thornton, as it was a bad break for Johnson, but they really should have given Blake a goalie interference call on that play. I actually thought there was a lot of contact with Luongo, but he doesn't seem to get the calls other goalies do. Probably has something to do with him not being able to sell it like other goalies (coughKiprusoffcough). And how about new Dad Darcy Hordichuk laying out Jody Shelley? That was priceless. Luongo was very very good last night, but still, we haven't seen one of those A games. It's getting closer for sure. Perhaps this next game Monday against the LA Kings, who have been playing desperate hockey down the stretch will see him truly shine?

So now we have Chicago just 5 points ahead, and the Flames are 8. We are now 4 up on Columbus, and 6 on Edmonton, Dallas and Nashville. No time to take the foot off the pedal, but it is nice to see the one thing we have craved as fans from this team: consistency.

While it may be early to judge them on one loss, you certainly can't judge the Flames on one win either. But I really feel as though the trading deadline acquisitions of Jokinen and Leopold are not going to make a huge impact. There is a dark cloud hanging over Calgary's heads: They are DONE if Kipper goes down. Add in that you would swear the team has ZERO confidence playing in front of him and this could spell trouble for the Flames down the road. Funny though, I though Kipper was the Flames goalie that let in 6. Looks like the kid is catching on.

A number of interesting games last night, was there not? From the huge outburst out of Eric Staal (think he is happy to have Eric Cole back?) to the Red Wings giving up 8 for the second consecutive Saturday, it was a pretty entertaining night of hockey. Apart from the Oilers and Columbus, the Canucks got the help they needed. best part was, they helped themselves as they are now 12 wins in their last 14 games.

GAME DAY: Canucks vs. Sharks

This was actually the script written for the podcast, so hopefully it translates well for this purpose...

After a long break, we are back and just in time for a

game that is a huge test for the Canucks, taking on a

suddenly mortal-looking San Jose Sharks squad tonight

at GM place. What can you say about the Canucks play

since getting out of that horrendous month-long funk

in January, the Canucks have been one of the hottest

teams in the NHL. This is due in large part to the

emergence of Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows, and

seemingly in spite of Roberto Luongo, who has slowly

been getting better. You can't help but feel positive

about their chances heading into the playoffs with the

way the team has played. The trading deadline has

come and passed, and while teams in the West loaded

up, Calgary and Edmonton in particular, the Canucks

and GM Mike Gillis held firm and decided to go in with

the team as is, apart from the pre-deadline waiver

pickup of Ossi Vaananen, who should make his Canucks

debut tonight. The Sharks are floundering lately

(ugh... who writes this stuff?), losing 4 of their

last 5 and 3 in a row. Their offensive production has

dried up, and that coincides with Evgeni Nabokov being

out the last 4 with a lower body injury. Backup Brian

Boucher has lost 3 straight starts, so the Sharks may

decide to start Thomas Greiss, who was called up from

Worchester.

The Sharks have a number of injuries besides Nabokov,

including the recently acquired Kent Huskins, who is

on the IR recovering from foot surgery but he may be

in the lineup tonight, as well as his former Ducks

teammate Travis Moen, both of them came over at the

deadline...


The Canucks have been rolling with two solid lines

lately, Ryan Kesler has really clicked with Mats

Sundin and Pavol Demitra, despite hot & cold

performances from Sundin. And what can you say about

Alex Burrows on the top line with the Sedins. They

have looked dangerous everytime they're on the ice,

and make the Sedins as big a threat as they were when

they were teamed with Anson Carter. The defense has

really solidified, and are producing, especially Kevin

Bieksa, who is playing some of his best hockey lately.

Roberto Luongo has as mentioned been slowly getting

better, but the last couple games he has looked like

he is regaining his form. The Canucks are currently

10 points behind the Flames for 1st in the NW, but

hold 2 games in hand. The Flames got blown out 6-1 by

the Carolina Hurricanes last night in a game that must

worry the Flames and their fans about their ability to

continue should goalie Miika Kiprusoff get injured.

Curtis McElhinney has not won a start in the NHL, and

the Flames defense certainly doesn't look to be

interested in playing in front of him if last night is

any indication. We will take a quick look at the

Moose and Salmon Kings in our farm report coming up in

a bit, but first here is the keys to the game tonight:

the Canucks have won 11 of their last 13, battling

their way back into a playoff spot and winning in a

number of different ways, from dominant performances

against Chicago and Ottawa to come from behind wins

against St.Louis and Phoenix, the Canucks are in full

on battle mode every night right now. I had conceded

that the Canucks had tuned out Coach Alain Vigneault,

but he certainly seems to have the Canucks focused and

playing their best hockey of the season. And after

the last match against the Sharks, where they lost it

in the last minute of the game after leading the whole

way, you know they want to not only send a message to

the Sharks but the rest of the NHL: this team is for

real.
Key 1- 60 minute effort- San Jose has been accused of

not playing complete efforts lately during this losing

streak, but even a small lapse by the Canucks to let

this team have a chance could prove disastrous. An

effort like the one against Minnesota, where they

completely neutralized them throughout the game is

needed, team defense, effective forechecking and

discipline to avoid letting the Sharks get numerous

power play chances will go a long way to ensuring a

Canucks victory
2- Third line must emerge- You can go a long way with

2 effective lines, but teams that are dominant have a

3rd line that can damage you as well. The line of

Bernier, Wellwood and Pyatt must not only be effective

in checking the Sharks dangerous offensive weapons,

but make the most of their chances in the offensive

zone. They got a very timely goal from Bernier in the

last game, they must build on that, and Wellwood

getting back in the groove will make the Canucks a

dangerous threat as we head to the postseason
3- Great save Luongo!- not something we have heard a

lot lately, but he has played well enough to give the

team a chance to win. As they get closer to the

playoffs however they will need him to be able to

steal a win or two, and this could be one of them.

The Canucks have as a team stepped up as Luongo has

continued his on the job rehab from the injury

suffered in November, and all signs point to him

having a break out game. Let's hope it's tonight.

One of the reasons GM Mike Gillis stood pat during the

trading deadline was an unwillingness to depart with

the few prospects we have in the system. We will keep

you updated on how the prospects are doing with the

Farm Report every week:
The Manitoba Moose continue to roll, leading the AHL

with a 42-17-0-5 record, and have won 6 of their last

10. Jason Krog leads the team in scoring with 21

goals and 43 assists, while they continue to get strong

goaltending from Curtis Sanford (5-1-2) and Cory

Schneider (22-5-1), Schneider leads the league with a

1.76 GAA and a .932 save percentage. The Moose are

set up well for a long playoff run, especially if they

have home ice for the duration of their playoff run,

which is good for the Moose, but not so good for the

parent Canucks if they wish to call up players like

Krog, Michel Ouellet or Micheal Grabner for the

playoffs. The Moose are taking on the Providence

Bruins tonight, then have 5 days off before a back to

back with the Hamilton Bulldogs next weekend.

The Victoria Salmon Kings seem to be doing the exact

opposite of the Canucks. While the Canucks were mired

in their losing streak, the SKIngs were turning heads

in the hockey world with a 15 game winning streak.

Once the streak snapped though, they have struggled as

they have been on the road for a long stretch. The

last game of this staggering road trip is tonight in

Idaho against the Steelheads, as they look to build

some momentum for a return home and hopefully a return

to their winning ways. The SKings are now in 3rd in

the West Division, 4 points back of Idaho and 3 behind

Alaska. The are still in a playoff spot, but going

2-7-0-1 in their last 10 has made them vulnerable to

missing the post season if they can't turn it around.

The good thing is they have their next 8 games at

home, before heading down to Stockton and Bakersfield

to wrap up the season in the last week of March.

Wes Goldie is the teams leading scorer, and his 43

goals is 2nd best in the ECHL, and Todd Ford is 15-12

in the nets for the Kings. The next series for the

SKings starts on the 11th as the begin a 4 game

homestand at the SOFMC against Ontario...

So have the Canucks made the right decision by not

bolstering the lineup with a Jay Bouwmeester or

another forward? Time will tell, but the fact that

the team is not just comfortable with the lineup they

have, but also mindful of developing the prospects

they have and not wanting to mortgage the future and

gamble with short term success is a good thing in my

eyes.

After tonight's battle with the Sharks, the Canucks 3

games next week, 2 of them on the road as they make a

trip down to LA to take on the Kings Monday night and

then over to Anaheim on Wednesday. Wednesday's game

is a PPV btw, and the Canucks players are taking their

moms on this trip... they return home on Friday for a

return engagement with the Kings at the Garage...



We really do appreciate all of you who take time to

listen and check out the blog if you'd like to get a

hold of us, you can email us at waachcast@gmail.com

Game Day: CANUCKS @ Montreal

9 days after their last dance, the Canucks return the visit as they wrap up the Eastern swing with a visit to the Bell Center. The big question tonight isn't which Canucks team we will see, but which Canadiens team we will see. The Habs looked good on Saturday, especially Alex Kovalev, who had 3 points after taking a couple days off (read: sent away to get his head together) by GM Bob Gainey. In a season that was mean to glorify the achievements of the Habs, there seems to have been more distractions and embarrassments than anything else. The latest kerfuffle is the news reports linking the Kostitsyn brothers and Roman Hamrlik to a Montreal crime boss. Add in the team's recent slide (4 wins in their last 16) and the crumbling self-esteem of goalie Carey Price and you have a schizophrenic hockey club to battle with tonight. One thing that has helped the Habs is the addition of Mathieu Schneider, who solidifies the blueline and has definitely helped their struggling PP.

So it is a much different Habs squad the Canucks will face tonight. After Saturday's emotional (read: scripted by the writers of the WWE, on loan to Mr. Bettman) shootout win in Mats Sundin's return to Toronto, will the Canucks be able to stay motivated for the chance to go 4 for 4 on this road trip? It's easy to see why they couldn't. Emotional letdown, fatigue, even a slight sense of complacency (though with the exception of the Sharks and Red Wings, no one in the West should be complacent right now) could all be a factor. But when you look at the significance of the game to 2 of the Canucks, you also get the feeling this could be a very special night. Last time the Canucks rolled into Montreal, Roberto Luongo, still in his ER gown after taking a slap shot to the throat in practice the day before shutout the Habs in his hometown. Alex Burrows is also eager to wrap up this Eastern tour in front of family and friends with a big night.

Should the Canucks come out on top tonight, they have only the lowly Tampa Bay Lightning to deal with to wrap up the month of February, and the possibility of going 10-1-0 for the month, which goes a long way in erasing the memory of a truly horrific January.

One thing that has really made a difference with the Canucks lately is their play on the road. They are now 16-10-4 away from GM Place, and at 8-1-1 in their last 10 the hottest team in the NHL. The improved play of Kevin Bieksa, Willie Mitchell and Shane O'Brien has been a key in all this. Bieksa has turned heads of late with huge offensive production, and praise from the likes of Red Fisher and Don Cherry. Now if we can get Edler, Salo and Ohlund back to where they should be, this team looks to be in good shape down the stretch.

The trade deadline is looming, wnd while GM Mike Gillis has said the Canucks don't look to be buyers on deadline day, I wouldn't rule it out. We have cap space, and the addition of a top 6 forward, as well as a mobile defenceman would certainly enhance the Canucks chances of a long playoff run. There is still a tough March schedule and a few key games in April to go, but it looks like Alain Vigneault has righted the ship. The thing that encourages me is that this team still hasn't played their best game, IMO. I am thrilled to see them finding the way to win night after night, but Roberto Luongo has yet to come out and truly dominate a game. Perhaps tonight we will see that.

After many threats to do so, the podcasts will be returning soon, once I have dealt with a nasty chest infection that has me on the IR at work. In the meantime I will be updating things on the site (a few new Canucksblog links to come) like the standings...

The game goes @ 4:30 on Sportsnet tonight, and as always there is liveblogging on Canucks.com in the Fan Zone. I may even pop in if I can snag Laurie's laptop :)

Now you're all gonna get it...

Luongo's back, and dog help you all... After what seemed to be an eternity, some of those nights filled with the kind of goaltending we thought was long gone from these here parts, Roberto Luongo's groin is ready to umm... rock. And not a moment too soon, either. The Flames have moved 5 points ahead, and the Avalanche are only 4 back. But with our All-Star goalie healthy, and Mats Sundin getting closer to form each game, this could spell a return to the kind of hockey we saw 2 seasons ago at this time, when the Canucks, led by Luongo were the best team from Christmas on. The Canucks will likely start Lu on Thursday against Phoenix, but I certainly wouldn't rule him out to play tomorrow night against the Brodeur-less Devils. Certainly this will help light a fire under these guys who can't be happy with the way the game ended up Saturday night. They played with the best team in the league for 50 minutes, at times much better than the Sharks, but came out empty handed. Having a goalie who can shut the door will certainly help. You can't help but think Curtis Sanford has played his last game for the Canucks, with the way Jason LaBarbera came in here. What we needed from Sanford was for him to play against other teams the way he played against us when he was with St. Louis. We never really got that from him, save for a game or two. Great guy, good in the room, but this team can do better and they showed they can rely on LaBarbera in his appearances thus far, making the Sandman the odd man out. Nice to see Ryan Johnson back as well, as he will certainly make the PK stronger, and having his faceoff ability (as well as ferocious shot blocking) is always a bonus.

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 recall Alexandre Bolduc

from Canucks.com:
Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that centre Alexandre Bolduc has been recalled from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.

Bolduc, 23, has appeared in 12 games this season, posting eight points (2-6-8) and a rating of +8.

Last season, Bolduc played in 70 games for the Manitoba Moose recording a career high 37 points (18-19-37). A graduate of the QMJHL, Bolduc split time between the Moose and the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL prior to joining the team full time in 2007-08.

The 6’3”, 200 lbs. native of Montreal, Quebec was originally drafted by St. Louis Blues in the fourth round, 127th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and signed as a free agent on July 2, 2008.

Bolduc was recalled in light of the upper body injury that forward Steve Bernier sustained during last night's overtime win against Detroit.

Keep an eye on the Canucks.com news widget on the side of the page for updates...

Canucks 3 Red Wings 2 (ot)

Forgive me if you've already heard this, but WOOOOOO! Not their best game for sure, but the effort was there. Detroit was certainly trying to test Curtis Sanford as much as they could, but just like that game in Minnesota, this Canucks team doesn't know how to quit. Taylor Pyatt had a huge game tonight, lots of hustle, great defensively and created a number of chances. That goal was so huge not just because it tied the game, but it sent a message to the Red Wings: this ain't over. And even when Datsyuk scored late in the third (and I am sorry, but I have to say the senior officials in the NHL lately have been mind-numbingly atrocious) I could feel the Canucks would score. And what a way for Daniel to get his 400th point. Great deflection, and then the best part is they don't quit, but actually press for the winner in regulation. In the OT it was all Canucks, and then Frandsen finally gets called for the interference Detroit had been getting away with all night long, and the PP goes to work. Pavol Demitra was the key there, continuing to call for the puck, and doing a hell of a job quarterbacking the power play. You knew Salo was gonna get another chance after hitting the post, and he nailed that one so hard I thought it would go right through the mesh. Salo made an impression on nhl.com, as they named him 2nd star of the night. Of course he got beat out by Cal Clutterbuck (oh deja VU!!!), but at least Clutterbuck got on the scoresheet this time. So now it's a couple days rest and a date with the Calgary Flames, who we haven't seen since those back to back asskickings we gave them at the start of the season. Fireworks aplenty are coming, kids. More post-game coverage tomorrow.

Sami Salo back in the lineup

On a day when we kinda sorta found out about Roberto Luongo's injured groin, the Canucks did recieve some kinda sorta good news, Sami Salo is ready to return to the lineup tonight against Detroit. Salo's constant trips to the dressing room are worrisome indeed. He is a great defenseman but he goes down more than (insert dated sexist joke featuring some celebrity that has recently been in the news for their sexual misconduct). Here's to him staying healthy. This is a bolstering of the Canucks lineup for sure, as he can be a very intimidating presence on the power play, which can open up shooting lanes for others. Sometimes it's the threat that makes the difference, right?

Less than 2 hours to gametime and it feels like the playoffs. Maybe I just need to eat.

Rumor: Luongo out 4 to 5 weeks **Update**

While it hasn't been confirmed, you would think that the man's agent would be a fairly reliable source. The link is in French, but they say a press conference scheduled for 2pm from GM Place.

It's not nearly as bad as it could have been. Guess it's time for Canucks fans to meet the goalie of the future. We will provide a wrap-up of the press conference later this afternoon, and may even do some live blogging tonight (if not, then Saturday against the Flames for sure).

The Canucks have now said there will not be any announcement until tomorrow. The Score is reporting the 4-5 week timeframe but apparently Luongo's agent is now denying it

Team 1040 reports that Luongo is listed as week to week with a groin strain...

GAME DAY: Canucks vs Red Wings

As the Vancouver Canucks await word on the severity of Roberto Luongo's injured groin,
they have another pressing concern, that being the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings looked their usual selves in dismantling
the Calgary Flames Saturday night, and no doubt will want to test Curtis Sanford early and often. The Canucks are looking to win
their 4th straight tonight, and are playing a very confident brand of hockey right now despite the injury to their captain. Both teams
are among the hottest in the NHL right now, the Canucks sitting just 3 points behind the Wings for the 2nd seed in the West, and both are 7-1-2
in their last 10 games. The Red Wings have been the best road team in the NHL so far this season with a 10-1-1 mark, but Vancouver's 6-2-1
home record is no small potatoes. This is a short homestand for the Canucks as they play Calgary Thursday in the 1st half of a home and home
that sees the Canucks start a 7 game road trip Saturday in Cowtown. While the Canucks will be playing their backup tonight, the way this team
rallied around him both in Minnesota and Pittsburgh after Luongo went down has been nothing short of inspiring. You will see evidence of that tonight
when they hit the ice, and I bet you actually hear from this fabled 7th man they keep talking about. The games against the Wings are always highly entertaining
no matter how well the Canucks are doing, but you can't help but feel this team is on a mission to prove everyone was wrong about them.

Along with Luongo, the Canucks will be without Sami Salo, Kevin Bieksa and Rick Rypien. The Wings could be without Tomas Holmstrom, who has missed 2 straight with back
spasms, and Dan Cleary has missed 6 with an eye infection (ew!). They are still without Chris Chelios, on the IR with a fractured tibia.

The Canucks have at least a point in their last 9 games, an impressive run after that first disastrous road trip. The team has been getting some outstanding efforts
from a number of players, especially the line of Daniel and Henrik Sedin with Pavol Demitra, who have been on a tear since Demitra's return from a rib injury, and the
league took notice, naming Henrik 2nd star of the week for his 7 assists on that 4 game Eastern road trip. Despite wins against some very good teams, the Canucks will have
their hands full with the Wings, who have lost just twice in regulation. The Red Wings were the last team to beat the Canucks in regulation, a 3-2 win in GM Place that despite
the loss seemed to signal a bit of a turn around for the club. This is the Wings last visit for the season, so it should be a dandy.

Questions about Curtis Sanford's ability to step in and win big games seem to have been answered, as he has allowed just 3 goals on 48 shots in 2 consecutive victories. The Canucks
have Corey Schneider on the bench tonight, and depending on the severity of the injury to Luongo, you have to think he will get some playing time on this call up, especially on the road trip.
Some milestones could be reached tonight, as Daniel and Henrik are both sitting at 399 career points, and Steve Bernier is 1 short of 100.

Keys to the game:
1- Quick start: The fans will be looking for something to calm their fears, especially if the news about Luongo is bad today, so getting a couple behind Chris Osgood, who is a certified Canuck
Killer will be huge. Look for th Wings to concentrate heavily on the PHD line (23 points last week) perhaps freeing up the HBK line to do some damage.
2- Treat it like a road game: This seems to make a lot of sense, actually. The Canucks played some smart, fundamentally sound hockey on the road last week. They were great defensively, did a
decent job of staying out of the box, and towards the end even had a better effort on the PK. You cant give Detroit opportunities with the man advantage, so we need to make sure that the emotions are kept
in check and we stay at 5 on 5, where statistically we are better than them this season. We may not get many chances on the PP, but we need to make the most of them, as the Wings PK is pretty even with ours.
3- Focus: Just like the game against the Rangers, there are subplots that can be distracting. The Canucks did an incredible job of treating it like any other game and keeping focused on the real issue: 2 points
in the standings. They have a chance to move 7 up on the Flames and Wild, best to make the most of it.

Though it will be great when Salo and Bieksa return to the lineup, the Canucks D, led by Willie Mitchell and Mattias Ohlund have been stellar as of late, but it's been the grunts like Shane O'Brien, Alex edler
and Lawrence Nycholat who are getting it done. The shot blocking this team has been throwing up lately is so nice to see, and a sign this team is doing everything they can to help out their goaltender, regardless
of what number is on his jersey. Gametime is at 7pm and you can catch it on Sportsnet pacific and the Team 1040.

A little side note, we have added the Canucks.com news widget to the site, so you can see breaking news when it happens. We will be making one for our site soon too.

The Luongogeddon has arrived!!!!

Stoic, leader-type guy: Ok... if I can get everyone to just be quiet for a second, we can see if we can muddle our way through this. Now, it's important that everyone stays calm. Here is what we know. Roberto Luongo has suffered some type of leg or groin injury... (camera pans to audience in mass hysteria, screaming. Some cry, others just stare blankly. One man jumps through the window to certain death on the concrete below).
Stoic, leader-type guy: People...people, please! You have got to calm down! We can get through this together, but you have to just chill the hell out!
Hysterical mid-30's man: You said this couldn't happen!! You said it wouldn't happen!!!
Stoic, leader-type guy: (Leaning over and slapping the man across the face) Dammit, man! Get a hold of yourself! Now, does anyone have any ideas? (Camera pans across the room, people showing a variety of emotions on their faces)
Hysterical mid-30's man: Well I don't know about you guys, but I can't deal with this, man! It's all too much... (he turns and walks towards the door, faster until he begins to run, not looking back)
Stoic, leader-type guy: Well? Anyone else think this is too much? Now's your chance to leave. If not, then let's get to work. We have to do something so this whole damn thing doesn't fall apart.

Ok, so my future as a screen writer is in serious doubt. But I really feel that this is not the end of the world. The reports of Luongo in the dressing room joking around afterwards seem to indicate at least for now it may not be serious. Obviously you can't make a diagnosis from that, but given how passionate Lu is, it's a good sign. The way this team has played since returning from that 6 game roadtrip has been quite impressive. They have gone 10-2-2 in their last 14, after going 2-4-1 in their first 7. The PHD line of Pavol Demitra with Daniel and Henrik Sedin have been on a tear, notching (if my math is correct) 23 points since Demitra returned to the lineup from his rib injury. The play of Curtis Sanford in the last 2 games is certainly a bright spot, with huge wins over Minnesota and now Pittsburgh. And defensively the Canucks have rattled off some impressive efforts, leaving teams utterly frustrated in their wake, none moreso than the Penguins today. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were a combined -3, with 1 and 3 shots respectively. The play of Willie Mitchell and Mattias Ohlund lately has been awe-inspiring. Mitchell was his usual rock solid self, logging almost 27 minutes, and Ohlund was a +3 with almost 25 minutes TOI. My favorite stat however, was the shot clock. The Canucks held the Pittsburgh Penguins and all their firepower to 19 shots on goal. I truly believe that this is not just a team on a hot streak, but the true manifestation of this year's dark horse. I know there is a lot of hockey to be played here. And with the Luongo injury, a lot of uncertainty. But for the time being Curtis Sanford and Corey Schneider will be called upon to handle the load. For now, they can rest in their own beds, await the news of their Captain's status, and prepare for Monday and the Red Wings. Oh, did I mention they are going on a 7 game road trip later in the week? You can't accuse them of being boring, that's for sure. Oh, and Matt Cooke played 25 seconds before douchebagging Alex Edler. You stay classy, Cooke. Shame all that amazing work you do in the community gets flushed away by your actions on the ice.

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.

Canucks 6 Rangers 3

Non-factor. That's what I said about Markus Naslund. The Canucks would focus on winning the game, and Markus Naslund would not make an impact on the game one way or another. And while he did have a strong 3rd period for the Blueshirts, Naslund was indeed a non-factor. To be fair, I don't think you could say any Ranger really played well last night, making you wonder if this team took the Canucks seriously at all. I love it when that happens, because those nights seem to see the Canucks score 6 goals. A strong start was what they needed and they certainly got it from Kyle Wellwood, who was sprung by Mattias Ohlund and made a beautiful deke to put it past Lundqvist. Alex Burrows showed he is a big game player, as he potted 2 in his first appearance at MSG. The star of the game in my eyes though was Mattias Ohlund. 3 assists and a +4, with all the trade winds swirling around him right now he went out and played his best game of the season, a classic Ohlund performance where he was strong defensively, a calming influence who seems to dictate the pace of the game. And he had a couple beautiful setups (especially the Wellwood goal). Roberto Luongo stopped 39 of 42, including 16 in the 3rd period, as the Canucks once again looked great on TSN. We really need to think about making them the official broadcaster, in spite of Pierre McGuire. Nice to see the fans really not given anything to work with last night, as the MSG crowd can be downright intimidating. Kudos to the coaching staff for getting everyone in the right mindset for the game. It's always a big deal when you take down one of the top teams in the league. Better yet, it's always good when you make people realize they were wrong, and YOU'RE one of the top teams in the league (and not just because you have the best goalie). Oh, and for the record, that was a goal. Not sure what is going on with the refs on this road trip, but we are certainly getting the short end of the stick on some calls that replays seem to show as being cut and dry. Finally, congrats to Ryan Johnson on getting his 1st as a Canuck. Now let's get Hordi set up, eh?

GAME DAY: Canucks @ Rangers

It's a day some thought would never happen. Facing off against Markus Naslund. I don't feel like getting into an examination of did the team do right by him, what are they thinking, etc. None of that matters. There are 2 valuable road points on the line tonight. Beating Naslund, while on everyone's minds, is secondary. The Canucks can move back into 1st in the Northwest with this victory, and after an inconsistent outing against the Islanders, will likely be a lot more focused tonight, and ready to take a boisterous MSG crowd out of it early. They did get off to a fast start on Long Island and will need to do the same tonight. The difference is, no letting their foot off the Rangers' throats this time, like they did with the Isles.

While no one was expecting a goaltenders' duel Monday night, we can expect to see one tonight. The Rangers Henrik Lundqvist is one of the big reasons the Rangers are off to such a great start. And we all know what Roberto Luongo has been up to recently, so this one could be a real treat for those who love those highlight reel saves. While Naslund has been off to a great start in the Big Apple, their top player right now is Nikolai Zherdev, who is leading the team in nearly all offensive catagories. He really seems to be adjusting to life in the Big City after languishing in obscurity in Columbus. Despite the Rangers record, and the Canucks road woes, this game is winnable. Here's what the Canucks need to do to take the 2 points tonight:

1- Quick start: As mentioned, the Canucks must establish a lead quickly. It always helps when the road team gets a good start, and especially in a hostile environment like MSG, getting the fans out of it early and then ensuring that they keep sustained pressure, with lots of shots and cycling in the Rangers end, they will have success. The best defense is a good offense, and not allowing the Rangers the puck certainly will do the trick.

2- Physicality: The Rangers are big, fast and strong. So are the Canucks. So Darcy Hordichuk may be called upon tonight to take matters (read Colton Orr) into his own hands tonight. Hordi hasn't had to scrap too often thus far, but has been impressive when needed. So expect some fists to fly in this one.

3- Prevent Nazzy from having a huge game, but...: Don't lose sight of the other weapons. Obviously the Canucks will spend some of the night with Ryan Kesler and his line all over Naslund, but the Rangers have a number of weapons that can hurt you, so they will need to be on top of their defensive game tonight.

This one is gonna be a beaut, there is no doubt. And should they win, there is no time for celebration as they will board a plane for Minneapolis immediately after the game. The schedule makers for the NHL really need to examine how anyone could consider this road trip in particular, acceptable. Anyways, complete post game wrap up tomorrow, along with a preview of a huge divisional showdown against Minny.

Canucks 1 Islanders 2 (SO)

Welcome once again to the local chapter of the 'This really isn't the worst thing that ever happened to the Canucks' support group. Should they have won that game Monday night? Absolutely. A team 7 points down in the standings from you may not be the worst team in the league, but still, it's a general rule of thumb. But was it so inconceivable that they would lose to the Islanders? Yes, they're in 28th place, but they're not that far out of a playoff spot. They have a sub .500 record, but had played well since Rick DiPietro's injury (read into that what you will). They have a hot goalie right now in Joey McDonald, and no doubt were fired up by the comments in the Vancouver media about how this game would be a cake walk (I believe the term 'perennial doormats' was used, showing that not only do the Canucks press corps not believe in quotes that go on dressing room walls, but they don't realize how much more often the Islanders make the playoffs than the Canucks). Now as far as the win goes, apart from a brutal second period, I think probably their worst period of hockey all season, the Canucks played a pretty decent road game. They tried not to take penalties (hands down some of the worst and most bizarre rule interpretations I have ever seen... between the puck that hit a camera over the glass and the throwing of the puck up the ice, those 2 are the worst blown calls I have seen in some time) and the PK was good. There were some issues with the ice, not the reason why they lost, but it was bad enough that it did impact both teams, they missed passes and often saw pucks hop the line. The Islanders goal to tie it though was hardly a sign they were dominating. It was a shot on net that went in off Shane O'Brien. So why is it that people lose their minds over this? I think the media certainly set the fans up for a fall. Of course the Canucks should be confident going into the game, they had been playing very well, and have had success against the team recently. But to imply the game was unloseable (is that even a word?) was crazy. All it did was show that no team can afford to play less than a 60 minute game in the NHL. Take a period off, you usually pay for it. And losing in the shootout is not losing in my eyes. It's a tie. And we got a valuable road point. So everyone take a deep breath. We are in for a treat tonight, and one I think that now we have adjusted to the 3000+ mile road journey we are ready for. Bring on the Rangers!

GAME DAY: Canucks @ Islanders

After a fairly successful homestand that saw Roberto Luongo re-establish himself as a goaltending force in the NHL, the Vancouver Canucks head out on a 4 game road swing to see if they can re-establish something else they have enjoyed over the last few years: an ability to dominate Eastern teams. They certainly didn't dominate the shot clock Saturday against the Leafs, but they didnt spend all night on defense either. This struggling Islanders team however may be just the thing they need to get geared up for the big matchup Wednesday afternoon at MSG against Markus Naslund and the Rangers. The Islanders are once again floundering, but are coming off back to back wins against the struggling Ottawa Senators. They have yet to win 3 in a row this season so you know they will be pushing hard in this one. The Canucks have won their last 2 on the road, the most recent one the Halloween shootout shocker against the Ducks. Pavol Demitra's return to the lineup Saturday was huge as he set up 3 of the 4 Canucks goals, and Luongo as mentioned was strong when he needed to be. He is 4-0-1 in his last 5 with a 0.59 GAA. The Islanders have yet to win back to back at home this year, and may be starting Joey McDonald tonight, who has never faced the Canucks in his career. The Isles have a good PK, ranked 9th in the league, but their PP is 26th, so an improving Canucks PK should be able to handle them. Doug Weight has been everything the Islanders had hoped when they brought him over in the offseason, leading the team with 15 points, but apart from Trent Hunter, there isn't much else to speak of on this Islanders squad. There are some Canucks connections in the lineup, as former Nucks richard Park and Mike Sillinger (he is on IR, though) are in the lineup, as well as Jeff Tambellini, son of former Asst. GM Steve Tambellini. With G Rick DiPietro on IR once again, this one could be easy as long as the Canucks come out strong, stay focused and play their style of road game. They need to address the task at hand before they start thinking ahead to Wednesday. The game goes tonight at 4pm PST on Sportsnet with John Shorthouse and John Garrett, and Joey Kenward and Tommy Larscheid have the call on the Team 1040 as always.

As a kid I was also a big Islanders fan (a childhood friend's dad played junior hockey in Kamloops with legendary Islander tough guy and Stanley Cup OT hero Bobby Nystrom). My first Canucks game was against the Islanders in 1977, and after the game we got to meet the Islanders in the dressing room. I think Nystrom had a hat trick in that game. They certainly aren't the team that dominated the league for a number of years back then, but they still have a special place in my love for hockey.

Canucks vs. Leafs Post Game

Boy they made it so close. The Canucks are lucky they have Luongo. Wellwood's goal was a fluke, and I think there was interfer... uh, sorry. I seem to have been temporarily possessed by a Leafs fan for a minute there. Fact is, all the score does is flatter the Leafs even more. They had no business winning that game, because they didnt mount any type of sustained pressure. Sure they outshot the Canucks, but they didn't dominate the play. If anything, they should thank their defense for doing such a good job of clogging up the slot so the Canucks couldnt get shots through on the point. Hey at least one of their scouts was paying attention...
Pavol Demitra had an impressive return, setting up 3 of the 4 goals, including the opener from Wellwood, who was in the lineup because of Demitra's rib injury in the first place. As far as the story of the game though it was the 5 on 3 powerplay that the Leafs had in the first. Roberto Luongo, playing without a stick stopped the Leafs 5 times, and not long after Wellwood got the Canucks on the board. The defensive duo of Shane O'Brien and Lawrence Nycholat were solid last night, and Nycholat's set up of Daniel Sedin for the 4th Canucks goal was downright impressive. Who knew he had that kind of set up ability? Favorite moment of that game however, besides the fans chanting "Leafs Suck" after various organ tunes, was the Willie Mitchell goal. Big Willie has been busting his ass this year, and is well on his way to a career high for points, but had been goal-less so far. So it was fitting that his goal was not only a beauty, as he charged up the middle to tap it home, but it was the game winner. Luongo may be the Captain, but as far as the skaters go, Mitchell leads by example with heart and desire every night on the ice. The Taylor Pyatt bashing continues, and Steve Bernier continues to be snakebit. Pyatt didn't play bad IMO, and as far as Bernier, you can feel it building up, and we will probably see a long streak coming from him. So with that Eastern roadtrip out of sight and another one approaching, the Canucks are now 7-2-1 in their last 10, neck and neck with the Wild for 1st in the Division. First up on the trip is the Islanders, followed by a game we've all had circled on the calendar: the Rangers and Markus Naslund. This game is not just huge because it's against our former Captain, but because this will send a message to the league and many of those sports writers who still think it's the Vancouver Luongos: This team is far better than you thought, and while it's not necessary to apologize, should they beat the Rangers, you can at least admit you were wrong. Yeah I get a little worked up about this stuff. I'm a fan, no apologies.
The new jerseys made their debut last night, and I think I speak for most when I say the Johnny Canuck shoulder patch should have been the main logo. I like 'em, but they would have been the best jersey in the league with JC on the front.

There could very well be a podcast for that game Monday, it all depends on how many puppies we still have around the house (the shameless attention hogs that they are, they're always trying to hog the mic).

Canucks vs. Leafs Second Period

To paraphrase a CDC poster: "the new gold standard of how much your team sucks is when Willie Mitchell scores on you". While Toronto is obviously trying, the Daniel Sedin goal was a back-breaker. For as few shots as the Canucks have managed, the play certainly hasn't seemed so lopsided as you would guess from looking at the score. Nice stat about the Canucks not giving up an even strength goal since the Halloween game against Anaheim. The Leafs haven't really played a bad game, they just haven't gotten any breaks, can't do anything with their PPs, didn't get any help from their goaltending and have poor penalty killing. But other than that, they're right in it.

Canucks vs. Leafs First Period

All in all an entertaining first period. Roberto Luongo may have played the most amazing stretch during that 5 on 3 since he came to Vancouver, and that's saying something. Gotta feel good for Kyle Wellwood, potting one against his old team, you know that one stings. Toskala does not look good so far, and it may be a good thing for him that once again we are struggling to get shots through. I am looking for some rolaids because I know I will need them after the spin Cherry puts on what was a disastrous 1st period for the Leafs. They may not recover the lost momentum from that 5 on 3. Good on Luke Schenn for sticking up for his teammate, but loved the way Davison was feeding him lol.