Desperation Time for Canucks Fans : DO WHAT YA GOTTA DO

Alright Canucks fans, it's backs-against-the-wall time. It'll be tough to take two straight against the 'Hawks, but I have faith that the boys can pull it off.

So far in this series the Canucks have won both games I've watched at a bar, and lost the three I watched at home or at a friend's place. So, naturally, I will be returning to the same bar where I watched Games One and Three for the game tomorrow night. Not that I'm superstitious or anything.

I am also going to wear every piece of Vancouver Canucks clothing I own (not including items in storage) as well as boxers with shamrocks on them - all in the hopes that it will help support the Canucks to a huge victory! It will look ridiculous, but that's fine - the playoffs are not about fashion (perhaps that's why Sean Avery's teams never go anywhere in the post-season?). My outfit will look something like this:

Aside from the shoes, socks, jeans and belt, every piece of clothing is Canucks/shamrock related (the boxers will NOT be Britney-style over the pants, they're just there for the photo). I will have my Canucks hoodie on underneath my jersey, and be wearing my hat. Not sure if I will actually wear the scarf the whole night, but I may. The towel will be waving at every opportune moment, the view of the people behind me be damned.

So that's what I feel I've gotta do. My message to Canucks fans is "DO WHAT YA GOTTA DO!"

If you believe in voodoo then poke the hell out of your Nikolai Khabibulin and Dustin Byfuglien dolls. If you are superstitious then stick a horseshoe on a lucky rabbit's foot and hope for the best. Personally, I never ever pray for the outcome of a sporting event - but if you're religious and feel comfortable praying for a Canucks victory then by all means ask for a little divine assistance!

Here's hoping for a Game Six victory and a chance to take the series back here on home ice. GO CANUCKS!!!

Handing Out Some Awards on Day 1 of Free Agency

The “Say What?!” Award: Colorado Avalanche

Andrew Raycroft? Really? The man who was 2-9-5 with a 3.92 GAA last season and who was booed out of Toronto will be going to toe-to-toe for the starting job with Peter Budaj, who was inconsistent enough during the season to give Jose Theodore one more chance to resurrect his career. Which, by the way, paid off fairly handsomely for Theodore today. This signing baffles me. Colorado needs a bona fide keeper to compete in the tough Northwest Division, and unless Raycroft or Budaj steps up in a big way the Avs could be in serious trouble next season. No wonder Joe Sakic is contemplating retirement.

The Shrewd Move Award: New Jersey Devils

Bringing Brian Rolston back to the fold for reasonable money ($20.25 million over 4 years) significantly upgrades the New Jersey forward corps heading into next season. Rolston was one of the most highly-touted UFAs this year: he had his credentials pimped by The Hockey News and was aggressively courted by the Tampa Bay Lightning who traded for exclusive negotiation rights but failed to sign him. With Bobby Holik also returning to the Devils after a lengthy absence, Devils’ fans are likely having visions of a ‘90s renaissance.

The “‘Til Death Do Us Part” Award: Chicago Blackhawks

Brian Campbell is on the books for an average of $7.1 million for the next eight years (ie. 2016 – even the International Olympic Committee doesn’t plan that far ahead). Better hope Campbell works out in the Windy City, and that he’s not a liability at age 37 when his contract finally expires. Then again it looks like the Hawks will be jettisoning Nikolai Khabibulin and his $6.75 million annual salary, assuming they can find a buyer, so perhaps they will look to shop Campbell and his monster contract when he becomes an inconvenience. The question is: by that point, will anyone take him?

The Feel Good Nostalgia Award: Toronto Maple Leafs

Bringing back Curtis Joseph to back up Vesa Toskola, even as the franchise prepares to bid adieu to Mats Sundin, is more than a solid roster move at a reasonable price ($700,000 on a one-year deal) – it is also a great PR move for a Leafs organization that is losing its captain and best player, and has egg on its face after bungling the Bryan McCabe situation. Joseph was one of the most popular Leafs of the last 25 years, and twice led the team into the Eastern Conference Finals. His return is sure to please Leafs fans at least on a nostalgic level, and he should be a valuable veteran presence on a rebuilding Toronto team.