How about them Canucks!

[talloola]

tonight at 7, CBC, hockey night in canada



For the Canucks…

The last time Mats Sundin stepped foot on Rexall Place ice, he was appearing in his first NHL game in nearly ten months. 35 games later and with 25 points (9-16-25) to his credit, the 6’5”, 231 lbs. hulking centre gets a chance to show the fans in Edmonton just how far he’s progressed since a non-descript 15:02 of ice-time and zero-point effort back on January 7th. The 38-year old has been, at times, dominant for the Canucks playing mostly with Ryan Kesler and Pavol Demitra although he has been oddly quiet in recent outings save for a two-assist night in Colorado just over a week ago. He has not managed to find the back of the net since scoring the game-winning goal against the Stars back on March 17th – a stretch of eight games.

The Bromma, Sweden native does have four points (0-4-4) in his last four games but had his three-game point streak come to an end against the Ducks on Thursday night. He’ll be looking to get back onto the scoresheet tonight when he faces the Oilers for the second time since joining the Canucks. In 42 career games versus Edmonton, Sundin has amassed 44 points (20-24-44) and 24 penalty minutes including eight game-winning goals.For the Oilers…

It may have taken Ales Kotalik a little while to get accustomed to his new surroundings in Edmonton, but the 30-year old is definitely starting to get comfortable in recent games. The 6’1”, 227 lbs. right winger, who was acquired at the trade deadline by the Oilers from the Buffalo Sabres, had gone without a point in his first six games with his new club but has netted nine points (5-4-9) in the nine games since then. His recent run also included a career-high five-game point streak (4-0-1) that was unfortunately snapped on Thursday night against the San Jose Sharks. The 2006 Winter Olympian’s 41 points (18-23-41) on the season are just two shy of his 2007.08 mark but still well shy of the 62 points he had in 2005.06 when he set career highs in both goals (27) and assists (37).

The Jindr Hradec, Czech Republic native has had some fairly decent career numbers against the Canucks despite not facing them all too much as a Buffalo Sabre. In six career games versus Vancouver, Kotalik has four goals and four penalty minutes. Two of those goals came this season back on October 17th when he helped his former club defeat the Canucks 5-2 in Buffalo.


Edmonton is all but finished, with no playoffs, but they are hanging on by a
thread, so they will 'try', the teams will always try, being in or out of the
playoffs doesn't change the 'personality' of the games that much, it's just
the standings that matter. Edmonton has lots of talent, don't know why they
didn't do better this season, it is dissapointing for them, and I also would have
liked to see them in the playoffs, 'all' the canadian teams in the playoffs.
The lines will be a little different tonight, (Pyatt's absence). Mason Raymond
will be playing with kesler and sundin, and demitra will be playing with
wellwood and bernier, not sure about the fourth line. That second line
certainly needs a 'jolt', sundin is so slow, although he does win the majority
of his faceoffs, which immediately gives us possession. He is good on the
powerplay, keeps the play moving faster, as they get stuck in that slow passing
too much thinking kind of situation, and he doesn't do that.

GO CANUCKS GO

 

[talloola]

rangers lost again today, montreal has a better chance now, but they need to
win tonight

 

[talloola]

46 to 25 shots on net for canucks, but I don't think a large number of those shots
were very difficult. Edmonton came out very intense, they have had lots of criticizm of late, and apparantly a big talk in the 'room' by the players, and they
put on a new look when they came to play tonight, and it showed, if they had
played that hard all year, they wouldn't be sliding out of the playoffs right now.
They played the way the can, they have lots of talent, individual goal scorers, and
good skaters, and they skated hard tonight.
Canucks had lots of shots, but I didn't think we were the better team, and their
goalie definitely outplayed ours, so that was the difference in the score.
Sam Gagne's goal was nice, but bernier was very lazy on the back check, he could
have been right on him easily, and didn't do it, I know Mitchell was beaten, but bernier could have stopped gagne, and didn't do it.
Burrows had his great effort, but unfortunately he cancelled that out by jumping
on their goalie right after that, sat in the box, and caused another goal against,
that is the third goalie interference penalty in the last week for him, not good.
Edler goofed up by passing that 'last' pass across the middle, and off of burrow's
foot, and right out to hemske, for the empty netter.
Our power play didn't come through tonight, but neither was theirs.
Edmonton had their mistakes too.
Lots of action, some very good play by us, but roloson stoned us, and luongo
didn't stone them.
I enjoyed the fast action, good skating by both teams.
Looking forward to tomorrows game at home against colorado.



GO CANUCKS GO

 

[JLM]

That's one loss I didn't mind too much, Edmonton had to win to stay in the race and I'd rather see Edmonton in the playoffs than Anaheim or Minnesota. Also I would be surprised if they had lost their edge due to the untimely death of Pyatt's fiance and the fact that Pyatt himself wasn't in the lineup.

 

[talloola]

That's one loss I didn't mind too much, Edmonton had to win to stay in the race and I'd rather see Edmonton in the playoffs than Anaheim or Minnesota. Also I would be surprised if they had lost their edge due to the untimely death of Pyatt's fiance and the fact that Pyatt himself wasn't in the lineup.

Yeah, I'd like edmonton in the playoffs too, but I think it's too late, and the way
anaheim is playing right now, they can beat every body, and they beat San Jose
last night, and looked like a much better team. Damn.

 

[talloola]

minnesota lost to detroit 3-2, was tied till very late in the 3rd, then minny made
a mistake in the neutral zone, datzuk to hossa, and in the net.
very hard for minny now, they have a big hill to climb.

 

[shadowshiv]

minnesota lost to detroit 3-2, was tied till very late in the 3rd, then minny made
a mistake in the neutral zone, datzuk to hossa, and in the net.
very hard for minny now, they have a big hill to climb.

I thought for sure that Minnesota would have claimed the victory after tying the game up 2-2. One mistake, like you said, has probably cost them their chance to make the playoffs.

Gaborik got his 10th goal! Can you imagine how many he would have if only he had remained healthy all season? Not to mention how different their position in the standings may have been.8O

San Jose can make amends for their horrible game(man, they need Marleau back and playing like he was before!) last night, as they are playing Anaheim again tonight.

Vancouver needs to win tonight. Columbus plays Chicago tonight, so I am torn as to who I want to win that game. Being in a different division, it won't matter if Chicago or Columbus wins. But it would be nice if they could gain two points on Calgary and jump back into 3rd. They need home ice for the playoffs.

 

[talloola]

I thought for sure that Minnesota would have claimed the victory after tying the game up 2-2. One mistake, like you said, has probably cost them their chance to make the playoffs.

Yeah, I was really cheering for them.

Gaborik got his 10th goal! Can you imagine how many he would have if only he had remained healthy all season? Not to mention how different their position in the standings may have been.8O

He is a great player, I want him on the canucks next season, 'could happen'
you never know, I was hoping that sundin would retire this summer, but he
played better last night, so, don't know what will happen there, but we need
the cap space for 'gabby'.

San Jose can make amends for their horrible game(man, they need Marleau back and playing like he was before!) last night, as they are playing Anaheim again tonight.

I wonder when marleau will be back, and their other players too.

Vancouver needs to win tonight. Columbus plays Chicago tonight, so I am torn as to who I want to win that game. Being in a different division, it won't matter if Chicago or Columbus wins. But it would be nice if they could gain two points on Calgary and jump back into 3rd. They need home ice for the playoffs

Yeah, I would like them to win the north west now, they are so close, so they
should go for it. Luongo has to become more consistent, he was loose again
last night.

 

[shadowshiv]

I agree about Luongo. He was a big reason for the loss yesterday. He gave up yet another goal in the first minute of the game!8O

 

[talloola]

I agree about Luongo. He was a big reason for the loss yesterday. He gave up yet another goal in the first minute of the game!8O

chicago defeated columbus 1-0 in overtime, boy the teams are close in abilities,
I couldn't give a guess on anybody in the western conference, or the eastern
for that matter, for the playoff run.

 

[talloola]

today 6:30 or 7:00 not sure, TSN

For the Canucks…

One positive coming out of last night’s loss in Edmonton has to be play of Kyle Wellwood. After enduring a long two-month stretch where he couldn’t buy a goal, the 25-year old now has goals in consecutive games for the first time since a three-goal streak from November 29th to December 4th. The tally for the 5’10”, 180 lbs. centre was also his first power play marker in 10 games. Entering last night’s tilt, he had just one power play goal in his last 38 games played despite sharing the team-lead in power play goals with nine – a total he increased to ten thereby regaining sole possession of first place on the team with that goal against the Oilers.

The Windsor, Ontario native also managed four shots on net against the Oilers – the highest single game shot total he has managed since posting six versus the Dallas Stars on February 13th. He’ll be hoping to bring his scoring touch into tonight’s game against the Avalanche. In six career games versus Colorado, Wellwood has one goal and no penalty minutes.For the Avalanche…

While even John-Michael Liles will admit this year is one he would rather forget, the 28-year old rearguard has been having another solid campaign on the scoresheet. The fifth-year NHL veteran, who was a fifth round pick of the Avs back in 2000, finds himself in the familiar spot of leading all Avalanche defencemen in points for the third straight season with 38 (11-27-38). The 5’10”, 185 lbs. blue-liner is just one goal shy of tying Adam Foote for third place in the franchise record books for most goals by a defenceman and needs just three more points to become only the fifth D-man in club history to record 200 points.

The one dubious career mark the Indianapolis, Indiana native will unfortunately set this season is a career-low for plus-minus. He enters tonight’s game tied with Milan Hejduk for a team-worst minus-21 rating. He had previously never finished an NHL campaign with a negative plus-minus rating. Those numbers haven’t been helped in his outings against the Canucks this season, where he has recorded a minus-five rating in four games this season to go with two assists. In 34 career games versus Vancouver, Liles has netted 21 points (4-17-21) and 14 penalty minutes.

We should win this game, but I wonder, hope all goes well, if they can't do
it, they will need a shot in the butt from someone.
Last nights game was confusing, we were by far the better team, but their
goalie was by far the better goalie, hope tonight isn't the same, I'm beginning
to wonder 'which' luongo will show up.

 

[shadowshiv]

Certainly doesn't look like Vancouver wants to win tonight. I don't understand it. You would think they would play with a little more heart tonight, especially with home ice advantage on the line.

2-0 Colorado with 7:59 left in the second period.

 

[gerryh]

2-0 for Colorado at the end of the 2nd.

 

[shadowshiv]

2-0 for Colorado at the end of the 2nd.

11 shots for Vancouver after 2 periods(5 shots in the first, 6 shots in the second). Pathetic. They should be ashamed of the way they are performing tonight.:roll:

 

[JLM]

11 shots for Vancouver after 2 periods(5 shots in the first, 6 shots in the second). Pathetic. They should be ashamed of the way they are performing tonight.:roll:

Can't figure them out, definitely not the time to be going into a slump.

 

[shadowshiv]

Can't figure them out, definitely not the time to be going into a slump.

It's the exact same thing with Pittsburgh in the East. They had the ability to control their own destiny and get home ice, but they have gone on a slump as well. They have to be careful or they might not even make the playoffs(doubtful, but the small chance is there).

 

[JLM]

It's the exact same thing with Pittsburgh in the East. They had the ability to control their own destiny and get home ice, but they have gone on a slump as well. They have to be careful or they might not even make the playoffs(doubtful, but the small chance is there).

Just checked Pittsburgh's stats, I'd wager my first born they'll make the playoffs, actually their recent record is comparable with Canucks - well over .500 in the last 10 games.

 

[shadowshiv]

Just checked Pittsburgh's stats, I'd wager my first born they'll make the playoffs, actually their recent record is comparable with Canucks - well over .500 in the last 10 games.

I agree with you for sure! I was just saying that there was a (very) slim chance that Pittsburgh could miss the playoffs, whereas the Canucks have already clinched a berth.:smile:

 

[shadowshiv]

Wow! Weird little glitch on nhl.com. It just showed that it was a "final" even though only two periods have been played.8O:lol: I've seen glitches on that site before, but it is a first for that particular one.;-)

 

[gerryh]

I would say that that is it for Vancouver.....it is now 3-0 for Colorodo.