well, it appears i didn't miss much in with the canucks the past two weeks, when i was on holidays. A win, a couple lossees, nothing to write home about. I'm back now, and hopefully the canucks start winning at home, and winning on a more regular basis. Its almost getting painful now........
Go Canucks!
Vancouver Canucks 2
San Jose Sharks 4
I did not watch this game, I did not listen to this game, i just tuned in to see the score at the end of the game. It sounded like it was a semi good game up until the third period, when for whatever reason, the Canucks let up, or San Jose just played that much harder. I haven't even read the recap, and its late and I've been up since 430 this morning. So I must get some sleep. We'll get the two points next time. We hope. Go Canucks !
THEY SAID IT
“We have to have that same effort and commitment every night. It’s an 82 game season and there are going to be lots of ups and downs and that was a pretty big down last game [against the Flyers]. It was good to respond this way.” - Roberto Luongo on his team bouncing back on Friday against the Oilers after their humiliating defeat on Wednesday to the Flyers. (Canadian Press)
Vancouver Canucks 4
Edmonton Oilers 1
Canucks Record 3-2-0
Deja' vu :
Hockey Night in Canada : CBC is streaming the game online. Not superb quality, but i can't complain.
The first period - Cowan and Stortini? (sp) drop the gloves seconds after the opening faceoff. I'd say it was a draw, with Stortini, ending up on top of Cowan. ho hum first period, with a spark of excitement when Brendan Morrison scored on a feed from Markus Naslund, in the last minute of the first period. Finally the Canucks are utilizing the last minute of the period, instead of letting their opponents utilize it.
1-0 Canucks after 1
Nice work on raffi torres by mike weaver, eliminating a shot on goal..... hmmm impressive !
Luongo's mask is super cool!
Naslund has lots of jump tonight !!! his speed just drew a penalty!
What an awesome powerplay, the oilers weren't able to leave their zone at all. 2 minutes and 20 seconds after the penalty is called, Daniel Sedin scores. 2-0 Canucks. What determination!
Daniel Sedin again beats Dwayne Roloson 3-0 Canucks - perhaps a controversial goal, it did appear that Naslund was impeding Roloson, but the on site officials didn't think so so hey i'm not complaining! :D The Broadcasters had a big discussion about this, and came to the conclusion that it was Roloson, being impeded by his own player, who tripped Naslund. So it was a good call by the officials.
Mike Weaver seems to be having a pretty decent game so far.
Jeff Cowan apparently suffered a leg injury in his fight in the first period. Has not returned to the game.
3-0 Canucks after 2
Chants of "OILERS SUCK" going around the arena. I can't help but laugh when I hear that.
Canucks get a 5 on 3 power play - nothing comes of that.
another canucks goal. a gift wrapped rebound from a sedin shot. Taylor Pyatt, makes it 4-0 Canucks
a little roughing ensues, Two Canucks in the box, Kesler and Burrows. Sheldon Souray, got two, five, and a ten minute misconduct. Buhbye Sheldon...........The Oilers have a power play. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!! Making some saves, being the Luongo we remember from last year. Canucks kill it off. Just under 10 minutes to go.
Oilers called for a penalty on Pitkanen, Canucks head to the power play.
and...... The oilers score shorthanded. Morrison lost the puck, cogliano scores on the rebound. Goodbye Shutout :( I was thinking 'shutout' too early I suppose.
Power play over, the only team to score on the Canucks powerplay, was the oilers. <sigh>
Edmonton's coming on now - Luongo has to be sharp.
4:30 minutes to go.
and Ohlund takes a penalty. well, the oiler player stepped on his stick and tripped. Oilers on the powerplay, for the 5th time. they are 0-4 so far tonight.
3:00 minutes to go.
The Canucks kill the penalty.
1:00 minute to go
The Canucks win 4-1 and sweep the Oilers in their Home at Home series.
Two goals for DANIEL SEDIN, three assists for HENRIK SEDIN, two assists for Naslund. And goals by Brendan Morrison and Taylor Pyatt rounded out the scoring.
Too bad Luongo lost his shutout.
i'm out - 430 comes awfully early.........
GO CANUCKS
Vancouver Canucks - 5
Edmonton Oilers - 2
Canucks record 2-2-0
Before the game tonight I found out what Jesse Boulerice would have to pay for the cross check to the face of Kesler from the previous game. 25 games, I personally think it should have been more. He broke his stick on kesler's face - seriously, these head shots are getting out of control.
30th anniversary for Tom Larscheid behind the booth at the Canucks games.
A much better effort to start this game tonight. The Canucks jumped out to a 2-0 lead, on goals by Henrik Sedin, and Rick Rypien. Well, now thats looking like a good call up now isn' t it?? They led 2-0 until the waning seconds of the first period, when Sheldon Souray scored to put the Oilers on the board. Starting the second period - the canucks take a penalty, i think. I had gone out to get myself some dinner :D and got back in my car to hear ALEX BURROWS score shorthanded. 3-1 Canucks. Cue goaltending change for Edmonton. Welcome to the game Birthday boy Dwayne Roloson.
The canucks have yet to test roloson - Luongo just ROBBED Steve Staios. WIDE OPEN NET, but somehow Luongo got back with his glove - WOW
Once again, the Canucks give up a goal on the power play in the latter part of the second period to Raffi Torres. ( i like saying his name - Raffi Torres- okay i'm a nerd) oh wait, Morrison just scored. wow I wish I was watching this game. two shots in the period, two goals. Go figure.
End of the second, score 4-2 Canucks............ 4 shots in the period for the Canucks, 2 goals. not bad odds.
The third period - would the Canucks have enough to bring it on home, and gain a valuable two points?? Thank goodness for Luongo - i think so far, that's the difference in this game. We have the goaltending, the Oilers don't.
What a hum drum third period so far. The Canucks have taken a penalty, killed a penalty, not to much happening right now. The Canucks doing a good job keeping the Oilers off the scoreboard. Willie Mitchell went into this game a -3, and if the game ended right now, he'd be a +1. That's the Willie Mitchell, we know and love. Whats up with Bieksa this season? I'm wondering if he is not as healthy as he would like as all to believe. Four games into the season, he definitely isn't the Bieksa of last season. Makes me suspicious. But if he is hurting, why not sit him? wouldn't playing just make it worse? Maybe there is nothing wrong, maybe he's just taking time to find his feet this season.
The Canucks really need to work on their faceoffs. The Oilers are just killing them in the faceoffs tonight.
Oilers coming on right now - <wince> You know, I'm quite tired of hearing the name Raffi Torres - it seems he's the only Oiler playing hard tonight. But then he generally does have good games against the Canucks.
4:13 left in the game. The Canucks just iced the puck. I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE, I'M A BELIEVER !!!!
Canucks playing well right now, playing smart, and disciplined. Good crisp line changes, short shifts. Keep it up Boys !!!!!
2:30 minutes left in the game.
Markus Naslund scores - a softie of a goal that somehow found its way thru Dwayne Roloson. 5-2 Canucks. A terrible goal, but they all count. It appears that the Canucks will bring this on home, and come home to face the Oilers Saturday night on Hockey Night In Canada.
4.4 seconds remaining on the clock. A faceoff to the right of Roberto Luongo. The result no longer in doubt. The Canucks have defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-2.
1st star: Roberto Luongo
2nd star : Raffi Torres
3rd star : Alex Burrows
Vancouver Canucks 2
Philadelphia Flyers 8
Canucks record 1-2-0
On the first visit to Vancouver by the flyers in over 6 years, they reminded me, why I don't like the flyers coming to town. Where was the desire, the effort, the grit, the determination ....... where was my team from last year? Our stellar defence? yeah that was non existent, our top notch goaltending, on which all our hopes rest. yeah i couldn't find it either. Granted I wasn't paying the strictest attention to the game, i was at work, but i'm fairly certain i didn't miss anything. Except maybe the hit to the head of kesler by Jesse Boulerice.
“Obviously he was out to get me, and he got me,” said Kesler, who moments earlier threw a big hit along the end boards on the forecheck.
“I'm just lucky my jaw isn't broken, hopefully it's not fractured. Obviously it's a dirty play and you don't like to see that happen to anyone. ... It shouldn't be in the game."
I'm just chalking this one up in the forgetable category. Lets hope this is rock bottom, and its only up hill from here. Pretty painful, but I'm trying to remind myself we are only three games into the season. A bright spot - ( grasping at straws here) our powerplay, isn't too bad, although that 5 on 3 power play we had in the latter stages of the third period, when we somehow managed to allow the Flyers to score 3 on 5 - yeah not gonna go there.
Aaron Miller interviewed by the TEAM 1040 " we were awful tonight ........if the efforts not there, nothing else will work either"
Yeah that pretty much sums it up. They were awful.
Its over, lets forget about it, and NEVER PLAY LIKE THAT AGAIN!!!!!
Vancouver Canucks 4
Calgary Flames 3
Overtime win
Canucks record 1-1-0The Canucks exhibited a little more effort in this game tonight, but didn't really start taking the play to the Flames till the second period. The Flames scored first within the opening 3 minutes of the first period. I was thinking, oh no, not again.
After the Flames opened the scoring, the Canucks settled down mostly, and once the second period came, the Canucks controlled the play and started scoring. Helped in part by some powerplays. Mattias Ohlund opened the scoring for the Canucks to tie the game at 1. Markus Naslund, and Ryan Shannon scored on powerplays shortly thereafter. Heading into the third it was 3-1 Canucks. They had the game in the bag, one would think. Apparently they thought so as well. Soon, it was 3-2 Canucks, and then on a questionable call on Naslund, The Flames scored to tie the game at 3. The Canucks got a powerplay, and should have scored, and would have scored if it was not for Dion Phaneuf's handy dandy stick on the goal line, it would have been Canucks 4, Flames 3, it was not to be, at that point anyway. Frantic action the last few minutes, the Canucks down in the Calgary zone, banging away, but the game is headed to sudden death. Matt Cooke had a great chance to end the game in regulation, but Kiprusoff was there to save the day for the Flames. Final shots 27 for the Flames 26 for the Canucks. Hard to believe that going into the third period the Canucks had a 3-1 lead.
Overtime begins, Canucks called for too many men on the ice - unbelievable !!!!
Alex Burrows had a shorthanded breakaway, but was stopped by Kiprosoff. Wouldn't that have been a 'sweet' ending. Canucks manage to kill the Flames Powerplay. Good job boys.
Last minute of overtime - will we see our first shootout? Naslund draws a penalty, with 13 seconds left in the overtime period. Is it enough time to score?
YES, it was enough time to score, With 5 seconds left in the overtime period, the Canucks on the powerplay, Daniel Sedin scored and the Canucks win 4-3.
What a "SWEDE" Ending
The home opener, has come and gone. I must say, this night did not transpire quite the way I hoped it would. I was lucky enough to have tickets to the game, and I must say I was extremely disappointed with the first period, and the end result, not quite what I pictured, when the Canucks seasons hopes were bright and undiminished.
Talk about being brought back down to earth. This game definitely did that. Don't get me wrong, i'm not pushing the panic button - it is only the first game - maybe the team had the home opener jitters, Perhaps Mason Raymond, and Ryan Shannon, were nervous playing in the NHL at home in the first game of the season. Maybe - maybe - maybe. It doesn't really matter, I dont want to hear excuses do you?
Through out the whole game, one of the only players to stand out - for me anyway, was Ryan Kesler. And only because of his speed. The other players stood out for the wrong reasons, Ryan Shannon, how many gaping empty nets are gonna be there for you? How could you miss? I could have scored, and I dont even skate very good. Naslund, How many 'nudges' will you throw, before you remember what a good 'check' is? I could have thrown heavier checks than you did tonight. Sedins? please dont start playing pretty yet - at least not until we have the lead anyway - SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT - Morrison, thank you for scoring, at least it wasn't a shutout.............
Now i get to face the San Jose fans at work, yikes, not looking forward to facing them, after all my talk before the game......
I'm a little frustrated, but come tommorrow morning, all will be well, and i'll be ready to face the world, and the Flames head on.
Bring on the Flames - and hopefully a few more goals
I remain a loyal Canucks fan , just a disheartened one tonight.in just under a week, the Canucks 2007/08 season will be underway. Here we sit, nearing the end of September, well i guess it is the end of september, awaiting the start of the new season. What will this new season be like ......... I wonder. What will this team be like ....... I wonder.
Here's hoping somewhere between now and then, we manage to recover from all our injuries, Mason Raymond somehow makes the team, Naslund finds his scoring touch, and Luongo stops threatening to quit, if they enlarge the nets.
Go Canucks Go
The new uniforms unveiled. This is the best shot i could get, before i had to leave for work. Basically they are the blue and green, with a black and white logo, and the addition of vancouver over top of the logo. My first impressions I like it, i love the colors, they look good. We shall see if I continue to think so! :D
Canucks Re-sign Trevor Linden
Earlier, than last season, but still too late for my liking, but the end result i'm happy with. Trevor Linden is to remain a Canucks for another season. This brightened my day considerably!!
Trevor Linden, the face of the franchise for another season.
I was just getting ready to leave work when I decided to quickly log in to Canucks.com to see if anything had happened. I was ecstatic to see that finally, the Canucks had done the 'right' thing, and signed this guy. Some will say that he's a has been, but i dont know who could say that after looking at how he played in the playoffs. He still has a lot of offer, and apparently Dave Nonis, and Alain Vigneault agree.
Welcome to the next season Trevor !!!
BRING ON THE START OF THE SEASON - I"m ready for it - ARE YOU??
Vancouver, B.C. - Vancouver Canucks Senior Vice-President and General Manager Dave Nonis announced today that the Canucks have re-signed centre Ryan Kesler to a three year deal. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Well it seems that reports that Larscheid to retire after the end of this past season are wrong. Wrong or Larscheid was convinced to change his mind.
Right now - One more year seems to be the recurring extension.
I'm pretty thrilled about this. The radio broadcasts just wouldn't be the same without Tom Larscheid, and his Larscheidisms.
I'm looking forward to next season for another reason now !
GO CANUCKS GO !!!!
Shane Doan showed them didn't he? As Canada becomes World Champions - AGAIN
Beating Finland 4-2 in the Gold Medal Game.
Way to go TEAM CANADA!!!!!!
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Well, its over.
Roberto Luongo lying prone on the ice, after Neidermayer scored to end the game and the series said it all. This guy played his heart out in this game. Its too bad his teammates for one reason or another couldn't do the same.
There are the general excuses, flu, illness, injuries, fatigue. The Canucks were vastly outplayed in this game. Outshot 63-27 or something crazy like that. They had no business even bringing this game to Overtime. Without Luongo back there - yikes this game would have been over half way thru the first period. Granted, it was a mental lapse of a few seconds by Luongo that allowed the winner to go in, no blame is being shovelled his way from me thats for sure !!! I guess when it comes right down to it, the Canucks lost to the better team, and not even having an amazing goaltender in net for you can change that.
how scary was it to see Sabourin start overtime? Nothing against Sabourin, he's a good goalie, but - he's not Luongo!
I'm kind of at a loss for words. I'm sad that the canucks playoffs are over, but i never expected them to get this far. They kept playing, and somehow finding ways to win. There is good things in store for this team !!
BELIEVE IN BLUE
must go to bed now - will finish this tommorrow!
Listening to the radio on the way home from work this afternoon. Was interesting to say the least. We shouldn't be looking for a moral victory in all this - or say they were saying? I wouldn't say I"m looking for a moral victory, it totally sucks that they lost, but i'm trying to dwell on the positives right now.
Overall, I'd say given the expectations at the beginning of the season - this season was indeed a success, and the off season should prove to be interesting !
Hilites, and interviews
SCENE & HEARD: It will be awhile before Dallas Stars goaltender Marty Turco has dinner again at Umberto Menghi's signature eatery, Il Giardino on Hornby Street. Not that Turco has anything against the food or service at the charming Tuscan-style villa. He loves the place. But as Turco's superstitions go, forget it.
Turco picked up the tab for eight of his teammates last Sunday on the eve of Game 7 in the Canucks-Dallas playoff series. Funny thing is, Il Giardino isn't open Sundays. But Turco insisted. He had wined and dined the same eight teammates earlier in the week and when the Stars won Game 5 the next night at GM Place, Turco wasn't taking no for an answer prior to Game 7. The Dallas players would sit in the same seats, order the same meal and drink the same wine.
After several desperate calls from Turco, the chef and two senior staff members agreed to open the restaurant for his private sitting. All in, it would cost Turco close to $10,000 to have the lights turned on, the grills fired up and the tab delivered for the nine hearty diners.
Dallas, of course, lost 4-1 the next night and Turco to this day is unaware that there was a Canucks souvenir collectible coin -- Roberto Luongo edition -- securely taped to the bottom of his chair. Turco should have known. As the team's rallying cry goes: "We are all Canucks".
© The Vancouver Sun 2007
IN THE PRESS By Josh Plummer APR.27.07 The best thing about the Canucks defeating the Ducks on a Friday night is there won't be an overload of negative press to have to suffer through on Saturday morning. The Vancouver Sun will have their weekend edition, but at least the beat reporters won't be able to focus on trying to destroy the spirit of Canuck Nation like they did after the Canucks dropped game one on Wednesday night. Most scribes from The Vancouver Sun and The Province, and almost every other talking head on television broadcasts from across the country said you could stick a fork in the Canucks - they were done like dinner against a supposedly quicker, bigger and more talented Ducks squad. Thanks to the mainstream media, the pulse of this city during the last two days has been nothing short of listless and lethargic. Thank goodness the Canucks were on the road in Anaheim and didn't have to read what the rest of us were exposed to. That's assuming the Canucks players read the hometown papers at all. I know if I was a player, the only use I'd have for the local papers is for housebreaking my piddly puppy. Our guys really got fired up by everything that was being said about the big, bad Ducks and how they were going to stomp all over us, said head coach Alain Vigneault after Friday night's 2-1 OT victory. Nobody gave us a chance because we have a depleted line-up. Being a newspaper beat reporter covering a local sports team must be a difficult gig because maintaining a fresh positive spin doesn't sell copies nearly as well as dragging the Canucks through the dirt does. Can you imagine if the Sun or Province wrote about how the Canucks were blown out in game one, but still managed to generate more scoring chances against the Ducks in one game than they did in one week versus the stingy Dallas Stars? Or how the Canucks were still riding the emotional wave of their game seven victory over Dallas less than 48 hours earlier but have no fear, the hometown boys will regain their focus and get back to playing Canucks hockey in game two? It would never happen. At least the Canuck players and coaches realized what the media didn't. After the first game, we said to ourselves there's opportunity there, we just have to find them and make plays, said Trevor Linden, who assisted on the OT game winner. �It was nice to get it done tonight. We came out of game seven and we didn't seem to have the edge to carry us through. Their speed kind of overwhelmed us a little bit and we were much better at that tonight - we handled it better. We understood just what it's going to take. I'm not sure why, but it's much easier to be a defeatist and write the Canucks off than it is to instill optimism in a hockey crazed city. I know it's not the job of beat reporters to lift the spirits of Canucks fans, but I'm pretty sure their job isn't to crush spirits either. We knew that we could play better, said Vigneault of the game one loss. There was a lot of talk that we were overmatched and they were a much better team than we were. It seemed that after that first game the series was already over with. Based on the negative reporting in this series, it's no wonder some players say they don't bother reading the papers. It's tough enough trying to win a seven game series on the ice. |
Stanley Cup Playoffs
clipped from www.cbc.caWhile Luongo will get most of the credit for Vancouver's win, it was Mitchell who prevented Dallas from getting the equalizer with less than three minutes remaining.
Stars centre Mike Ribeiro wired a shot that trickled through the legs of Luongo, but Mitchell instinctively cleared the puck away before it could completely slide past the goal-line.
Officials reviewed the play but maintained the puck did not cross the line.
"I would have gone nuts if it was called a goal," Mitchell said.
Added Linden: "Willie came to the bench and said it wasn't in. You always ask the guy who made the play. He's not going to lie to you."
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2006/2007 Playoffs
