Every once in a while 'Nucks and Pucks will offer links to some of the best hockey stories of the past few days. It's a chance for me to share the great hockey sites, blogs, and writers that entertain and inspire me. Enjoy!
Luongo's career-defining opportunity: Luongo's assumption of the starting job for Canada is an opportunity for the goalie to silence his critics and carve out a legacy for himself. Of course Canucks fans are hoping he does that this spring as well. [Puck Daddy]
Great ratings for US/Canada game...: MSNBC draws 8.2 million viewers for last Sunday's game, tying the Obama inauguration for most-watched program in the network's history. [Sports Media Watch]
... but not so great coverage: However, NBC's hockey coverage is not without many, many, many problems. Puck Daddy is offering readers a change to air their many complaints about the network's Olympic hockey coverage. For the absolute funniest thing I have read in a long time, please check out the very last anecdote - amazing, hilarious stuff about a fan gaining grudging respect over the years from the old Italian guys at his local in Brooklyn for his insistence that the bar put hockey on TV, only to lose it because NBC sticks with curling before switching over to the hockey game. [Puck Daddy]
Who DIDN'T watch in Canada? Meanwhile, North of the 49th, the US/Canada game drew a 10.6 million viewers. That's roughly 1/3rd of the country, for those of you scoring at home. So if we make the Gold Medal game (knock on wood) does the country unofficially shutdown on Sunday? [Vancouver Sun]
The best "worst Olympics ever" piece you will read: If you've never read Down Goes Brown before, your funny bone has been missing out on an excellent workout. Here, the site presents the reasons that the 2010 Games have been the worst ever. My favourite: "Over halfway through the Games, the much-hyped Canadian men's hockey team has failed to win even a single medal." [Down Goes Brown]
The road to the Gold: Finally, over at the other, far more popular and far better hockey blog I sometimes write for, you can find a handy chart outlining how the brackets stack up for the rest of the men's hockey tournament. Depressing reality of the day: if Canada beats Russia tonight, they still have to go through either Sweden or (less likely) Slovakia to get to the Gold Medal game. Well, at least they'll have to earn it, right? [Nucks Misconduct]
There are two ways to spin the game last night: Canada couldn't get it done against a less-talented team, made too many mistakes and didn't play hard enough; or, a plucky, aggressive and skilled US team outworked and outhustled the favoured Canadians to score a well-earned upset. So which is it? Well, as with many questions, the answer lies somewhere in between.
Canada, in a sense, lost this game. Martin Brodeur was spotty in goal, leading to calls for Roberto Luongo to assume the starter's job for tomorrow's game against Germany. Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger showed their age, particularly Pronger who was keyed on by the US forecheckers who shrewdly recognized his slowness and propensity for bad turnovers. However, Canada also threw over 40 shots at Ryan Miller, had an aggressive forecheck, and significantly outchanced the US.
Meanwhile, the US team certainly earned the victory. However, without the lights-out goaltending of Miller it might have been a different story. Similarly, the Americans benefited from a lucky deflection (first goal), Brodeur channeling Mark McGwire and failing to clear the zone (second goal) and auditioning for the Summer Olympics with a beautiful headfirst dive to pokecheck the puck away from Pronger, leading to the third US goal. So while the US was incredibly opportunistic, Canada gifted them many of the chances that turned into goals.
Overall, it was a hell of a hockey game with all the intensity of a Stanley Cup Finals match. Canada's road to the Gold Medal game just got a lot harder, as (assuming they handle Germany) that road will lead through Russia and then either Sweden or Slovakia. But this is where the tough get going - Canada is, I believe, the most top-to-bottom talented team in the tournament, and if they play to that level I believe we will see them facing off for Gold on Sunday.
The US, meanwhile, looks pretty good to at least medal, if not make the Gold Medal final. The US has to face the winner of Switzerland/Belarus, before likely facing Finland or the Czech Republic in the semi-finals. If the US medals it would be a very impressive for a new generation of US stars who are young, talented and still not in their prime. With (relative) youngsters like Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Dustin Brown and the defensive tandem of Johnson & Johnson (Erik and Jack) coming into their own, the US has the potential to be a force on the world stage for years to come.
Here are some other random thoughts about last night:
I thought Brodeur was brutal out there. He seemed to get overly excited about not being restricted in his ability to play the puck (international rules do not limit the goalie's abilityy to play the puck, unlike the NHL) and made some sketchy plays early on. The second goal was the result of Brodeur batting the puck out of midair instead of playing it safe and holding on to it. He also spent a lot of time flopping around on the ice instead of squaring up to the shooter and playing the angles. Brodeur is arguably the best goalie of all-time, but he doesn't look sharp right now, continuing his shoddy play in the run-up to the Games. If he had just played solidly, not even spectacularly, we probably would have seen overtime last night.
Great to see Ryan Kesler stepping up for Team USA. He was out on the ice in key situations, played on the first powerplay unit and scored one of the most impressive empty net goals I have ever seen. Hopefully the Canucks get him signed long-term this summer, because this guy is a heart-and-soul guy who I wouldn't be shocked to see captain Team USA if NHLers play in 2014.
Speaking of 2014, I feel that last night's game might go a ways towards convincing the NHL to let its players go to Sochi for the 2014 Winter Games. The upset win is getting (relatively) huge play in the US press, and America makes the Gold Medal game it will be a huge boost to the sport in the US. Hard to imagine the NHL spurning that domestic love when it comes to the next Olympics.
Canada will be in trouble against Russia if they can't sort out their defense. Pronger had some brutal turnovers, Niedermayer was too often slow and out of position, and Boyle had problems with coverage. Don't be surprised to see Mike Babcock relying more and more on some of the young d-men on the team - so far Duncan Keith and Drew Doughty have been more impressive than their older, more decorated and more experienced teammates.
In case you haven't been watching, a number of Vancouver Canucks have been starring for their national teams at the Olympics. In Canada's opener against Norway, Roberto Luongo was solid in a 15-save shutout win. Today, the Sedins chipped in with a combined three points to help Sweden overcome Belarus 4-2. And, last night, Pavol Demitra scored the shootout winner for Slovakia in their upset win over Russia:
Ryan Kesler (USA), Christian Ehrhoff (Germany) and Sami Salo (Finland) are also starring in the tournament, which has thus far seen some amazing hockey action. Canada vs. USA on Sunday should be a doozy.
Keep it up boys, you're doing your countries and the Canucks organization proud!
My friend Becky (R.A. DePalma in the Comments) emailed me about an ESPN article, suggesting that the USA might have superior goaltending to Canada at the 2010 Olympics. From Becky:
I just wanted to know what you think of this statement from a Scott Burnside article: (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=4369012)10. Right now, who has the better goaltending lineup for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics? The Canadians likely will go with Martin Brodeur, who hasn't advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs since 2003, and Roberto Luongo, who imploded in the second round this past postseason and has never played in a conference finals game, let alone a Stanley Cup finals matchup. The Americans will go with Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas and Ryan Miller, who has backstopped the Buffalo Sabres to two berths in the Eastern Conference finals since the end of the lockout. Just asking.I wanted to post the question of what do people think about this on your blog...I think that it is foolish to say that Thomas and Miller are better than Luongo and Brodeur just because they have had more post-season success. Was it Luongo who imploded or the Canucks defense? Do we possibly think that the Canadian defense will be the same? And what illusion is it that Olympic hockey is between the USA and Canada. There are many other countries contending for that championship.
So, as Becky asks, what are your thoughts about goaltending for Canada, the US or any other team? Feel free to join the conversation in the comments sections.
Personally, I think Canada has the deepest selection, but that at the tournament many other countries have great goalies who can step up and lead a charge if they get hot. Here's my breakdown of the netminding situation for some of the countries in the tournament:
Canada - I don't think you can go wrong with either Brodeur or Luongo. I know some people (including Scott Burnside) are worried about the relative lack of playoff success by the two goalies in the past few seasons. However, anyone who is championing Cam Ward over these two should remember that he didn't exactly light it up in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Penguins: the Pens outscored the Hurricanes 20-9 in four games (a GAA of 5.00 for those of you scoring at home). By comparison, the Canucks were outscored 23-19 in 6 games (a 3.83 GAA) by the Blackhawks in the Second Round. The two Finals goalies were both Canadian, but would you really feel comfortable with Chris Osgood or Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes in Vancouver? Yeah, me neither.
In the end, I think one of Luongo or Brodeur will seize the moment and be The Guy for Canada - and I think either of them will do a lights-out job of trying to push their team to Gold Medal glory.
United States - I think Ryan Miller is a very good goalie, but I wouldn't put him in the same category as Luongo, Broduer, Henrik Lundqvist or Evgeni Nabokov. Still, if he can get hot or if Tim Thomas can continue his remarkable run from the past season, then the US might become a Cinderella in this tournament.
However, I don't think Burnside's insinuation that the US has superior goaltending to Canada because Thomas won the Vezina and Miller helped the Sabres to two Eastern Conference Finals carries any water. Brodeur won the previous two Vezinas to Thomas (narrowly beating out Luongo in 2006-07, a season in which Luongo was also runner-up for the Hart and Pearson Trophies). And if you're going to claim that 2006-07 was too long ago to have relevance to this deabte, then check out the last time Miller played in the Conference Finals. Oh yeah, it was also the last time the Sabres made the playoffs.
Russia - Russia is pretty solid in net, thanks to Evgeni Nabokov. If he falters, youngster Semyon Varlamov proved in the playoffs that he can play at a high level for at least a short period of time. And don't count out Nikolai Khabibulin, who will be 37 by the time the Games begin. While many are slagging the Oilers for signing the 'Bulin Wall, he did record the third highest GAA in the league last season and helped the Blackhawks to the Western Conference Final - no mean feat. Khabibulin wasn't invited to the Russian orientation camp, but I would imagine that a strong start to the NHL season would put him in contention.
Sweden - Henrik Lundqvist, who helped Sweden capture the Gold Medal in 2006, is one of the best goalies in the league. As long as he's healthy, the Swedes will be a favourite - along with Russia and Canada - in 2010.
Finland - Finland is a bit of a goaltending factory, so the team is guaranteed to have solid netminding. Unfortunately the rest of the Finns' line-up is not as strong, but with the likes of Niklas Backstrom, Miikka Kiprusoff, Pekka Rinne, Vesa Toskala, Kari Lehtonen and Antero Niittymaki to choose from, you have to assume they'll be solid between the pipes. Did you know that Finland's only Gold Medal ever in men's ice hockey came in the 1995 World Championships. In all the tournaments they've competed in (World Championships, World Cups, Canada Cups, Olympics) since 1939, they have just the one first place, nine second place and six third place finishes.
Czech Republic - The Czechs are not as strong between the pipes since the retirement of Dominik Hasek, but still have Tomas Vokoun to backstop them. If he falters, the fortunes of the Czech team could head south very quickly.
Goaltending isn't everything, but in a short tournament whose latter rounds are single-knockout it can prove to be the key to success. Anyone who remembers the 1996 World Cup, whose MVP was US goalie Mike Richter, can attest to the huge impact that top-notch goaltending can have on an already-talented roster.
Okay, those are my thoughts. What are yours? Who has the best goaltending heading into the 2010 Olympics?
Well the "Free Agent Frenzy" (as TSN markets it) has been on for over 24 hours, and there have been some notable happenings.
For Canucks fans the big news is that Daniel and Henrik Sedin are returning to the fold, at $6.1 million per year for five years. That is considerably lower than what they could have demanded on the open market, and represents a solid commitment to the twins, along with Roberto Luongo (expected to sign a long-term extension soon), as the team's core moving forward. I have already expressed my desire to keep the Sedins in Vancouver, and consequently I am very happy that this deal got done.
The other significant news is the departure of long-serving stalwart Mattias Ohlund to the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he will serve as a mentor to the young Victor Hedman. Ohlund was a rock on the Canucks blueline for 11 seasons, and departs as the franchise's leading scorer amongst defensemen. It was clear for most of the season that the Canucks were not going to retain Ohlund's services, and while it is sad to see him go there is, happily, no ill will on either side. Expect Ohlund to get a rousing ovation from the GM Place faithful next time Tampa comes through town.
In other minor news the club bids farewell to Jason LaBarbera, who filled in solidly during Luongo's injury last season but who deserves a chance to try to win a starting job. Hopefully he gets that chance with the Phoenix Coyotes. The Canucks also signed three depth defensemen in Nolan Baumgartner (who played for their AHL team last year), Lawrence Nycholat (who was lost on the waiver last season) and Matt Pope. None of these six are likely to be in the starting lineup come the Fall, but do provide some useful insurance in case of injury.
Other notable names on the move have included Marian Hossa (Chicago Blackhawks), Marion Gaborik (New York Rangers), Jay Bouwmeester (Calgary Flames), Mike Cammalleri (Montreal Canadiens), Nikolai Khabibulin (Edmonton Oilers), Martin Havlat (Minnesota Wild) and Mike Komisarek (Toronto Maple Leafs).
I'm a little scared by the number of Western Conference teams that look to be much better next year, seeing that as of right now the Canucks have not gotten any better (though, thankfully, not gotten much worse thanks to keeping the Sedins). It remains to be seen if Mike Gillis can acquire defensive depth to replace Ohlund and scoring to complement the Sedins (a Mats Sundin return is not out of the question), or if the latter of these needs can be met internally by Cody Hodgson, Michael Grabner or, unlikely this coming season, Jordan Schroeder.
Meanwhile, in our division Calgary has added Bouwmeester to a defence corps that also includes Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr, although they did lose valuable scoring in Cammalleri. They may again be hamstrung by cap issues and lack of depth, as they have a lot of money invested in a small core of players. Edmonton arguably gets an upgrade in goal, adding Khabibulin to replace the outgoing Dwayne Roloson. Minnesota essentially swaps one incredibly-skilled-but-incredibly-fragile forward for another, losing Gaborik and adding Havlat. Colorado has upgraded somewhat by drafting Matt Duchesne and acquiring Craig Anderson to address their woeful goaltending.
But other teams in the West are looking like they will be much stronger next year. The Detroit Red Wings are consistently a strong team, and that is unlikely to change. The San Jose Sharks are looking to bounce back from a disappointing postseason, and should once again be a dominant team. The Anaheim Ducks will remain a dangerous opponent. The St. Louis Blues, Columbus Blue Jackets and L.A. Kings all have good, young cores and look to move up the standings this year. And Chicago just got that much more deadly with the addition of Hossa.
So, while the regular season is still three months away, it appears as if the West will be a tough conference once again. Here's hoping the Canucks find a few more pieces before then.
Well, GM Mike Gillis might have pulled off another steal in the First Round of the NHL Entry Draft. Hot on the heels of last year's 10th overall selection of Cody Hodgson, the Canucks plucked Jordan Schroeder - who many experts considered to be a Top 10 pick - 22nd overall.
Schroeder comes to the Canucks from the hockey factory that is the University of Minnesota. At UM he demonstrated considerable offensive prowess, and would have probably been a Top 5 pick if two factors had not worked against him: he had a mediocre World Junior Championships this year, and he is, um, on the smaller side for NHLers at 5'8". Still for an 18 year-old 5'8" kid he weighs an impressive 178 pounds - in a couple of years this guy is going to be a tank.
Also, size doesn't really matter in the NHL. Right Kyle Wellwood?
I am very happy with this pick. The Canucks were expected to go after an offensive defenceman, but when a talent like Schroeder falls into your range you have to jump on the opportunity. Along with Hodgson (and hopefully Henrik Sedin), he will ensure the Canucks are strong in the centre ice position for years to come.
You can read a full scouting report on Schroeder here. My friend Dan pointed out that the University of Minnesota's top three centreman are all now property of the Canucks (and at least two of them hail from MN). Odd, especially (as pointed out by the TSN crew) given the hostility between the Minnesota Wild and the Canucks.
In a positive symbolic act, none other than Roberto Luongo announced the Canucks' pick. Not only was this a grand slam with the hometown Montreal crowd, it was also a good sign that the Canucks captain will sign an extension to keep in the Green and Blue for years to come. There a a variety of options on the table, but here's hoping that the $6.8 million per season for six years comes to pass. Lou is under contract through next season, meaning that this deal would keep him here for seven more years. $6.8 million is a reasonable cap hit compared to other elite NHL goalies, and is much more palatable than the rumoured $8 million per season.
If you missed the draft... well congratulations, because that's four hours of my life I will never get back. I kid - it was reasonably entertaining. However, if you missed it, here is the the selection of Schroeder:
"Canucks, Vancouver. Is kind of embarrassed that the team is basically a different way of saying Canadiens. Thinks Steve Moore had it coming. Owns every one of the teams 27 different jerseys."
Okay, "had it coming" might be a tad strong, though I was quite upset by Moore's previous hit on Naslund. And, personally, I'm not at all embarrassed that Canuck means Canadian! It means we don't have to resort to putting the Canada flag on our jerseys like a certain Alberta team I can think of (anyone else think the Flames come off as a bunch of college kids travelling around Europe who try to be "cool" by rocking the maple leaf on their backpacks?).
Unfortunately the entry on the Canucks appears to be the second smallest after the Maple Leafs ("Cherishes the team’s most recent Stanley Cup win in “The Love Guru”"). Surely there is more that makes up the identity of Canucks fans? Here are my suggestions for further entries (some serious, some humorous):
Still has mixed feelings about the Orca.
Still talks about the '94 Stanley Cup run like we actually won the Cup.
Will always hate Mike Keenan for coaching the Rangers in '94, for the way he treated Trevor Linden, and for recently coaching the Calgary Flames. And for just being Mike Keenan.
Conveniently forgets that Linden is actually from Alberta and grew up a Flames fan.
When speaking with Leafs fans will counter the "Well the Canucks have never won a Stanley Cup" argument by noting that Toronto has not won one since before the Canucks existed as an NHL franchise.
Has thought "we have a chance this year!" every season since 2001, only to be bitterly disappointed come April/May.
Loves Stan Smyl even if he/she never saw him play.
Regularly contemplates what could have been in the 2003-04 season if Todd Bertuzzi hadn't, well, you know...
Knows that the 7th Man banner at GM Place was really, really lame and avoids talking about it all costs.
Is happy that Matt Cooke won a Cup, even if it wasn't with the Canucks.
When complaining about Roberto Luongo having an off game, forgets that his predecessors included Felix Potvin, Dan Cloutier, Bob Essensa, Peter Skudra, Garth Snow, Arturs Irbe and Alex Auld. Upon remembering this fact, kisses the ground and thanks his/her lucky stars.
Do you have suggestions for the list? Any defining Canucks' fan characteristics you care to share? use the comments section to add suggestions to the list.
The title of this post is a reference to the commentary of the Penguins legendary, high-octane announcer Mike Lange:
Lange has given us some gems over the years, from "Get in the fast-lane grandma, the bingo game's ready to roll!" to "He smoked him like a bad cigar!" to, on the occasion of the Pens' first Cup victory, "Lord Stanley, Lord Stanley, get me the brandy!" And he had reason to celebrate again last night, as the Penguins atoned for last year's loss to the Red Wings by taking an exciting Game 7 2-1.
It is a great story for these young Penguins (who, by the way, the announcers did not constantly refer to as "too young to know any better" - hopefully that moniker is never heard again in NHL broadcasting unless, for some reason, a Timbits Hockey team takes on the Leafs, Senators, Lightning or any other team they may have a chance against).
First of all, there is the NHL's wonderboy Sidney Crosby becoming the youngest captain to lift the Stanley Cup. And he was the main reason that the Penguins even survived the first and second rounds, carrying the team on his shoulders against the Flyers and Capitals. He led the playoffs with 15 goals and finished second to teammate Evgeni Malkin with 31 points.
Malkin emerged as a playoff force, leading the playoffs with 36 points and becoming the first Russian to capture the Conn Smythe Trophy - which, incidentally, he can place on his mantle next to the Art Ross Trophy he earns this year for leading the league in scoring in the regular season.
Malkin turns 23 this year, and Crosby will be 22 by the time the 2009-10 season starts. These guys haven't even hit their prime yet, and seem poised for many years of greatness with the Penguins.
Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was excellent in Game 7, and shook the label of not being able to win the big game (hmm, I wish another French-Canadian goalie would do the same thing). Grinder Max Talbot emerged as the Stanley Cup hero, scoring both goals for the Penguins. And the Pens played a solid team game to defeat the very talented Wings.
Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins, your 2009 Stanley Cup Champions.
And congratulations to the NHL's marketing department for producing this commercial, which captures some of the heartbreak of the Penguins to the Red Wings in last year's Final and somehow makes this year's victory seem all the sweeter for them:
Here's hoping they'll pull off something similar with the Canucks and Roberto Luongo this coming October, and the Canucks will proceed to knock off the Blackhawks in the Conference Final.
I will have to write more about it I guess, but my off-the-cuff thoughts right now (it's 2:00 AM) about the series:
First off, I will give the 'Hawks credit - whenever it seemed like a normal team would quit, they just kept coming. I was entirely sick of the whole "they're so young they don't know any better" judgment that infused the Hockey Night broadcasts, but there is no doubting that the youthful enthusiasm of the 'Hawks carried them through the rough times and helped spark their remarkable comebacks.
I was not thrilled with the officiating in the past few games. Yes, I am biased in the Canucks favour. But it seemed to me that the Canucks had a number of marginal calls go against them, while at times the Blackhawks had to be one degree removed from bloody murder to get a penalty. I do not think that this was a conspiracy or anything like that, I just think that the Canucks got a bit ulucky in terms of what the refs did and didn't see/call.
The two-seconds-after-the-pass hit on Alex Edler in the first set up a 2-on-1 break for the 'Hawks that could have caused a goal, despite the blatant interference. Ryan Kesler got brutally laid out on a completely unnecessary hit that went uncalled, despite the fact that Kesler was down and bloodied for some time. When the Canucks responded with a similar hit by Rick Rypien they got whistled for it. Meanwhile, the "hooking" call on Shane O'Brien in the 3rd was marginal at best.
The Canucks did not lose because of the officiating. They lost because of what Chicago did when they had the chance. The 'Hawks turn the screw like no other team I've seen before. But as a fan, it was tough to see what seemed to be inconsistent officiating give the 'Hawks multiple opportunities to get back into games the Canucks might have otherwise closed out.
I am still steamed over the "hook" on Dustin Byfuglien in Game 2, which was in fact Byfuglien just losing his footing and smashing into Roberto Luongo, that gave the 'Hawks a powerplay with the Canucks up 2-1. A half-minute later the Canucks shot the puck over the glass, giving Chicago a 2-man advantage upon which they converted to tie a game they would go on to win.
Anyway, I am probably just bitter at this point. I don't feel that the Blackhawks did not deserve to win the series... but similarly, I do not feel that the Canucks deserved to lose it. And the way in which they lost was extremely frustrating.
These Chicago Blackhawks make me think of what I imagine the 1980s Edmonton Oilers were like. It doesn't matter the score, they just keep coming at you again and again, and the capitalize on any mistake you make. I don't know that they will be good enough to knock off Detroit (or maybe Anaheim) in the conference finals, but I do think that they are the most terrifying team left in the post-season. No lead is ever safe against this team.
So here's to the Canucks 08-09 Edition, a team that fit Prototype B of Canucks squads - lovable losers who overachieve (Prototype A is lovable losers who underachieve, but this team only comes around once or twice every decade).
If someone told me in September that the 'Nucks would make it to Game Six of the Round Two I would have seen that as a reasonable and respectable conclusion to the season for this version of the team. Unfortunately, expectations were raised due the Canucks fantastic last few months of the season and quick dispatch of St. Louis in Round One. But, if we can improve from here (ie. Gillis re-signs the Sedins, Luongo plays a brilliant and healthy season, and Cody Hodgson plays like Steve Yzerman Jr.) then who knows how next season will go? Right?
'Cause, well, "next season!" has been the only rallying cry I've ever known as a Canucks fan.
Well the conference semi-finals are underway, and there some brilliant match-ups - most notably, what should be an amazing Pittsburgh-Washington series. So without further ado, here are my picks for the NHL Playoffs' Round Two:
Eastern Conference
Boston Bruins (1) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (6) - Bruins in 6
The Bruins manhandled the Canadiens in the opening round, but that isn't saying much given the fact that the Habs were essentially The Titanic on ice this season. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, have all the momentum in the world after their spectacular comeback against the Devils in Game 7. However, the 'Canes are not good enough to stand up to this deep and tough Bruins squad, though I think they will steal a couple games. Oh yeah, and if you haven't seen the Game 7 comeback yet then check this out, it is amazing stuff:
Washington Capitals (2) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (4) - Penguins in 6
Superstar Ovechkin vs. superstar Crosby. Hart Trophy candidate Ovechkin vs. Hart Trophy candidate Malkin. A Russian rookie between the pipes for the Caps. Two of the most exciting teams in the NHL, each of them with a huge hate-on for the other. This should be an amazing series with all kinds of storylines and subplots. The Caps are a great team, and if Sergei Fedorov continues to play like it's 1994 then they could take it. But I think the Pens will get to Simeon Varlamov and rattle his confidence, and I think they are a deeper and better team. And if you need any more reasons to watch, just think how awesome it will be if Crosby and Ovechkin get in a fight.
Western Conference
Detroit Red Wings (2) vs. Anaheim Ducks (8) - Red Wings in 7
Anaheim is a scary opponent (hands up Canucks fans who are stoked not to be playing the Ducks in this series). Just two seasons removed from winning the Cup, and with a roster stocked with the likes of Ryan Getzlaf, Chris Pronger, Scott Neidermayer, Corey Perry, Teemu Selanne and Bobby Ryan, the Ducks are well-placed to score another upset. However Detroit is still Detroit. They have the deepest roster in the league, a handful of superstars (headlined by Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Lidstrom) and are the defending champions. I think the Ducks will give them a good run, but am picking the Wings to prevail.
Vancouver Canucks (3) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (4) - Canucks in 5
I am counting on the 'Hawks to win one on home ice, but I do not like their chances in this series. Luongo is on fire, despite allowing three goals last game, and the depth players are stepping up huge for the Canucks. I would like to see the 'Nucks defencemen throw their weight around more against the skilled Blackhawks players, and I expect that we will see Mitchell, Ohlund, Bieksa et al. do just that against Kane and Toews in the coming games. The 'Hawks are a good team, but the Canucks are that much better and more experienced. Sock it to 'em boys!
Actually I'm pretty okay with this. The big rumour was Kevin Bieksa, Mason Raymond and a 1st-round pick to Florida for Jay Bouwmeester, which is very steep unless Bouwmeester was guaranteed to resign with the Canucks.
So standing pat, putting faith in Luongo and Co. and not giving away prominent roster players for unproven playoff-performers (cough, Calgary, cough!) seems like a decent move. It was a slow deadline, with so many teams still in playoff contention and fears of a reduced cap scaring away GMs from long-term contract commitments, so making no moves doesn't seem like the worst thing to happen.
It is, however, quite dull. So for entertainment purposes here is a SportsCentre Top 10 Own Goals. They're not all hockey, but they are all highly entertaining. Plus who can complain about seeing the infamous Steve Smith own goal one more time?
It was quite the year for the Vancouver Canucks, a year that ran the emotional gamut. Hopefulness, tragedy, bafflement, bemusement, resignation, excitement, nostalgia, disbelief - these, and more, were the feelings to which Canucks fans were subjected in 2008. With that, let's count down the Top 5 Canucks Stories of 2008:
5. Canucks Give Roberto Luongo the 'C' (But He's Not Allowed to Wear It) Just over a week before the start of the 2008-09 season, Coach Vigneault announces that the Canucks' keeper will also be their captain. To call this move unorthodox is an understatement - no goalie had captained his team in over 60 years, and the NHL has a rule that forbids a goaltender from acting as the captain during a game. Luongo, therefore, does not wear the 'C' on his jersey (though his new helmet features the letter prominently) or speak to officials during the game. Luongo justified his selection by reeling of five shutouts and an 11-5-2 record in 19 games before suffering a groin injury in a late-November game.
4. Naslund, Morrison Depart as UFAs It was the end of an era. At one time Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison and Todd Bertuzzi were the most feared line in hockey. With the now-nomadic Bertuzzi already long gone, the final 2/3rds of the West Coast Express played their final season with the Canucks. Former captain Naslund left for the New York Rangers, while Morrison signed with Anaheim where he was (briefly) reunited with GM Brian Burke. Naslund left as one of the best all-time Canucks, holding the club record for goals and points.
3. RIP Luc Bourdon Tragedy struck the Canucks community on May 29 when 21-year old prospect Luc Bourdon was killed in a motorcycle accident in New Brunswick. Bourdon's career had been on the upswing, as he played 27 games with the Canucks during the 07-08 season. He was honoured in a moving pre-game ceremony before the Canucks home opener this season.
2. Mats Sundin (Finally!) Signs With the Canucks The Swedish all-star managed to please not only Canucks fans, who are ecstatic, but also countless hockey fans who had grown sick of his 6-month saga as an unrestricted free agent. The Canucks originally offered Sundin a 2-year, $20 million contract in July. Sundin eventually signed with the team in December. In the meantime many deadlines were set and missed, teams dropped from the Sundin derby like flies, and the field was whittled down to the Rangers or Canucks. In the end Vancouver won what was essentially a war of attrition, leveraging its cap space and relatively strong start to the season over other teams which were forced to abandon the Sundin chase. Sundin's impact on the club remains to be seen - his signing, however, was certainly one of the huge storylines of 2008.
1. Canucks Miss Playoffs, Fire Nonis, Hire Gillis Okay, so I'm cheating here by rolling three stories into one. Nonetheless, they are interlinked and as such I'm going with it anyway. The Canucks stumbled to the finish line in 07-08, sliding all the way to 11th in the Western Conference. This represented a huge step backward for the club, which had hoped to build on it promising 06-07 campaign in which they made the second round of the playoffs. Firing Dave Nonis, who, y'know, was only responsible for fleecing the Florida Panthers out of Roberto Luongo, was a surprising and seemingly knee-jerk reaction from the team's owners and drew some criticism from fans. Hiring a player agent with no GM experience had fans sweating bullets.
Gillis has had a wacky but effective start to his tenure. He made his monstrous pitch to Sundin, and then stuck to his guns in his dogged pursuit of the Big Swede. He made a goalie the captain. And he introduced a wide range of unusual measures to the club, including monitoring players' sleep patterns and hiring a dietician to assess their individual nutritional needs (I think they put Kyle Wellwood on the celery diet). Gillis stopped short of group meditation and burning incense in the locker room, and so far his moves are looking pretty shrewd. The Sundin and Luongo cases have already been discussed in this post. His other player-friendly moves, which also included upgrading the players' lounge at GM Place, have apparently been well received by players and helped build a sense of trust between players and the organization.
Finally, Gillis made some other sound hockey moves. He plucked Kyle Wellwood from waivers, and the reclamation project has 14 goals in 36 games (insert me blowing my own horn here). He signed Pavol Demitra, who has been solid thus far in 08-09. And, in what may turn out to be the Canucks' best draft pick in a decade, he drafted Cody Hodgson with the 10th overall pick in the 2008 draft. Based on his excellent NHL training camp, stellar OHL season and brilliant World Junior Championships, Canucks fans have every reason to be optimistic about the up-and-coming prospect. There is, then, silver-lining to the disastrous conclusion to the 07-08 season. Even Don Cherry agrees!
Honourable Mention: Trevor Linden Retires, Canucks Retire His #16 I know it seems shocking that this story did not make the Top 5, but like I said the Canucks had a momentous 2008 for both good and bad reasons. No story has occupied 'Nucks and Pucks more than the retirement of Captain Canuck. Linden was the subject of this blog's first ever post, and of a two-part Top 10 list of his greatest moments upon his the retirement of his #16 jersey in December. Nonetheless, it does not rank as one of the top five most important stories of the year - though symbolically for the history of the franchise it would likely rank as number one. The fact that I am attempting to justify its exclusion from this list speaks to the huge impact that Linden has had on the Canucks organization and its fans - but his retirement had a lesser role in defining the Canucks' fortunes in 2008 than did the five events on this list.
It's been a fun week here at 'Nucks and Pucks, with some good banter in the comments section (I consider 1+ comment to be a popular post - look, it's a small-time blog, 'kay?) and some irate Facebook messages from friends. Tonight was, of course, the Main Event as the Canucks and Maple Leafs faced off at GM Place in front of a sellout crowd and a national TV audience on Hockey Night in Canada. The result speaks for itself:
Clearly the Canucks wiped the floor with the Leafs. After weathering an early storm, including the spectacular sequence in which Captain Luongo barred the door on a Leafs' 2-man advantage without a stick, the Canucks struck back. Kyle "Steve Sullivan" Wellwood struck back against the team that waived him by netting the first goal. From there the floodgates opened, and by the midway point of the second period the game was already 4-0. The Canucks went on auto-pilot the rest of the way, unfortunately surrendering two goals in the game's final 6:07 and allowing the Leafs to escape the West Coast with a modicum of respect.
Despite leaving the game with a pathetic .556 save percentage on the night, Vesa Toskala was not as bad as the stats suggest. Not that that it was exactly possible for him to be worse than that SVP suggests. But if you watch each Canucks goal, you'll see that he is truly culpable on only one of them. On the other three he was the victim of the Maple Leafs weak attempts at defense:
Goal #1: Wellwood was allowed to walk to the net thanks to some shoddy defensive coverage by Matt Stajan. He then tipped the puck top shelf, a tough one to stop.
Goal #2: Blame Toskala for this one. A brutal rebound was left on the doorstep for an opportunistic Ryan Kesler to fire home. Though it would've helped the Leafs', and Toskala's, cause if someone had taken the man in front.
Goal #3: Tomas Kaberle, I thought better of you. I know it was Willie "One Goal a Season" Mitchell, but seriously, you can't just mosey back into your zone like that.
Goal #4: Daniel Sedin scored this goal standing about 10 feet from the Leafs' net in the middle of a square of four Leafs "defenders." Just brutal defensive coverage.
Oh yeah, and Luke Schenn got filled by Rob Davidson. Actually, I think this fight is symbolic of the game: an early stumble by Vancouver was easily corrected by a number of devastating blows to the Leafs, whose late effort to take down the 'Nucks couldn't mask the fact that they got pummeled by a superior opponent. Enjoy!
I started 'Nucks and Pucks in June 2008 as a forum to air my views about the Canucks and hockey in general. I hope you enjoy the site, and if you have any comments, questions or feedback please email me at nucksandpucks@gmail.com.
I grew up in Vancouver and have been a hockey fan since I was a baby. I love the Canucks and have stuck with them through good times and bad, which has entailed a considerable amount of heartbreak. My passion for the 'Nucks only increased when I moved to Toronto for university in 2001, as living in Leaf Country made me even prouder of my team. I am currently doing my PhD at University of Toronto.
