Chasing Lord Stanley

Some, most notably my Canadian neighbors to the north, as well as some obnoxious folks in Chicago and New York, have noticed the obvious. More than the question of sun and rain, the days now answer to the ghost of Lord Frederick Stanley of Preston, Earl of Derby, Sixth Governor General of Canada.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Stanley_Cup_no_background.png/235px-Stanley_Cup_no_background.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Cup)
La Coupe Stanley: The chase is on.

The NHL Playoffs are in their full heat. In the West:


#1 Vancouver vs #8 Chicago — VAN leads series 3-0

#2 San Jose vs #7 Los Angeles — Series tied 1-1

#3 Detroit vs #6 Phoenix — DET leads series 2-0

#4 Anaheim vs #5 Nashville — NSH leads series 2-1

And the East:


#1 Washington vs #8 New York — WSH leads series 2-1

#2 Philadelphia vs #7 Buffalo — PHI leads series 2-1

#3 Boston vs #6 Montreal — MTL leads series 2-1

#4 Pittsburgh vs #5 Tampa Bay — PIT leads 2-1

Quite obviously, I'm following the Canucks; first up is much-needed vengeance, though a series sweep against the Blackhawks seems too much to ask. Still, we can only hope, drink, and cheer: Go 'Nucks!

Detroit and Phoenix are underway in Arizona.

I'm back and forth on Detroit. To the one, I rather like them as a team; what, being named after a shoe, and all. But, to the other, like the Yankees in baseball, or the Cowboys of American football, it's really easy to like the 'Wings. I mean, sure, I'll take Detroit over Phoenix because it's Phoenix, but there are few times I'll root against the Wings, and I'm aware that's really easy to do.

But that's how sports and Americans get along in many cases. To run down the list of favorites in the brackets:


• Vancouver Cancuks — Local team, inasmuch as the Seattle area has one. Our neighbors come down for M's and Seahawks games. We sometimes go up for 'Nucks games. Besides, the Chicago Blackhawks are a very easy team to loathe. They're from Chicago. They're called the Blackhawks. They have an awesome theme song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlBccI52_OY) penned and recorded by Ministry for when they score a goal. It's really easy to hate the 'Hawks. And when they have a habit of wrecking your local team's playoff runs? Say ... no ... more.

• San Jose Sharks — Local team by proxy; my brother added hockey to his sports appreciation repertoire while at school, with the nearest team being the San Jose Sharks. Additionally, it's really easy to root against any sports team from the Los Angeles area.

• Detroit Red Wings — see above. Although I should note that any city that waits to ban the hurling of whole octopi onto the ice after a goal until the practice becomes hazardous for the personnel who have to lug the damn things back out deserves some measure of respect for hanging onto the tradition as long as they possibly could.

• Anaheim Ducks — Okay, so I know what I said about teams from Los Angeles, and it's not so much that I have anything against a musical Mecca like Nashville. I just haven't gotten used to the idea of the Nashville Predators.

• Washington Capitals — I could probably care less, but that might require some effort. However, they are playing against the New York Rangers, which wins them some default support.

• Buffalo Sabres — When I started watching hockey for my own personal enjoyment back in the '90s, I somehow found myself cheering for the Sabres. For some reason, I think I also remember a Sabres-Habs game of some consequence that coincided with the Scotts Mills Quake in Oregon, 1993. Long story. Sentimental attachment. Oh, right, and I despise the Flyers. Period. No room for compromise.

• Boston Bruins/Montreal Canadiens — No, really, pick one. Best Bruins moment? An old ESPN advert for the NHL playoffs. I think it was Cam Neely in the spot. The bit went something like, "Is it true that in the playoffs you'd check your own mother against the boards?" And Neely shrugged and looked sheepish: "I wouldn't throw my elbow," he replied. Seriously, though, for me it's a personal grudge against the Habs and a deference to a tradition either local or familial that despises any professional sports team from Boston. That is, I could probably cheer the Bruins against the Habs, except that the Bruins are from Boston. I did mention, didn't I, something about Americans and sports?

• Pittsburgh Penguins/Tampa Bay Lightning — Again, pick one. I suppose I could go with the Pens, since I haven't anything specific against them. It's just easy to disdain a team with such a glorious history. But that's not really worth the investment, right? I mean, the flip-side is that the Lightning are a Florida team, and the last headline I ever want to see would say something like, "America's Wang Shocks Sports Fans". (The best would have been "All Hail Šatan!" but that never happened.)

I have been alternately fuming and cringing for the last eleven months. Of course, I have this nasty habit of not paying attention to details, so I did, in fact, have a pleasant moment when I got the bracket. Canucks win the President's Trophy, and they get #8 Chicago in the first round. For the fans, it's fair to say losing the playoff series hurts more, nearly a year later, than Sami Salo's busted nut (http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=101628). And, yes, something about phantom pains goes here.

Busted nuts and broken hearts aside, though, it's playoff time. And not just any playoff time: It's hockey playoff time!


('Wings up 1-0, 18:03 1st; Salei, assist for Helm, Kronwall)

('Wings up 2-0, 17:19 1st; Miller, assist for Kronwall)

Damn, that was fast. And fine.

Okay, forget this. I can't think right now. It's freakin' NHL Playoffs, baby!

Chasing Lord Stanley

Some, most notably my Canadian neighbors to the north, as well as some obnoxious folks in Chicago and New York, have noticed the obvious. More than the question of sun and rain, the days now answer to the ghost of Lord Frederick Stanley of Preston, Earl of Derby, Sixth Governor General of Canada.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Stanley_Cup_no_background.png/235px-Stanley_Cup_no_background.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Cup)
La Coupe Stanley: The chase is on.

The NHL Playoffs are in their full heat. In the West:


#1 Vancouver vs #8 Chicago — VAN leads series 3-0

#2 San Jose vs #7 Los Angeles — Series tied 1-1

#3 Detroit vs #6 Phoenix — DET leads series 2-0

#4 Anaheim vs #5 Nashville — NSH leads series 2-1

And the East:


#1 Washington vs #8 New York — WSH leads series 2-1

#2 Philadelphia vs #7 Buffalo — PHI leads series 2-1

#3 Boston vs #6 Montreal — MTL leads series 2-1

#4 Pittsburgh vs #5 Tampa Bay — PIT leads 2-1

Quite obviously, I'm following the Canucks; first up is much-needed vengeance, though a series sweep against the Blackhawks seems too much to ask. Still, we can only hope, drink, and cheer: Go 'Nucks!

Detroit and Phoenix are underway in Arizona.

I'm back and forth on Detroit. To the one, I rather like them as a team; what, being named after a shoe, and all. But, to the other, like the Yankees in baseball, or the Cowboys of American football, it's really easy to like the 'Wings. I mean, sure, I'll take Detroit over Phoenix because it's Phoenix, but there are few times I'll root against the Wings, and I'm aware that's really easy to do.

But that's how sports and Americans get along in many cases. To run down the list of favorites in the brackets:


• Vancouver Cancuks — Local team, inasmuch as the Seattle area has one. Our neighbors come down for M's and Seahawks games. We sometimes go up for 'Nucks games. Besides, the Chicago Blackhawks are a very easy team to loathe. They're from Chicago. They're called the Blackhawks. They have an awesome theme song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlBccI52_OY) penned and recorded by Ministry for when they score a goal. It's really easy to hate the 'Hawks. And when they have a habit of wrecking your local team's playoff runs? Say ... no ... more.

• San Jose Sharks — Local team by proxy; my brother added hockey to his sports appreciation repertoire while at school, with the nearest team being the San Jose Sharks. Additionally, it's really easy to root against any sports team from the Los Angeles area.

• Detroit Red Wings — see above. Although I should note that any city that waits to ban the hurling of whole octopi onto the ice after a goal until the practice becomes hazardous for the personnel who have to lug the damn things back out deserves some measure of respect for hanging onto the tradition as long as they possibly could.

• Anaheim Ducks — Okay, so I know what I said about teams from Los Angeles, and it's not so much that I have anything against a musical Mecca like Nashville. I just haven't gotten used to the idea of the Nashville Predators.

• Washington Capitals — I could probably care less, but that might require some effort. However, they are playing against the New York Rangers, which wins them some default support.

• Buffalo Sabres — When I started watching hockey for my own personal enjoyment back in the '90s, I somehow found myself cheering for the Sabres. For some reason, I think I also remember a Sabres-Habs game of some consequence that coincided with the Scotts Mills Quake in Oregon, 1993. Long story. Sentimental attachment. Oh, right, and I despise the Flyers. Period. No room for compromise.

• Boston Bruins/Montreal Canadiens — No, really, pick one. Best Bruins moment? An old ESPN advert for the NHL playoffs. I think it was Cam Neely in the spot. The bit went something like, "Is it true that in the playoffs you'd check your own mother against the boards?" And Neely shrugged and looked sheepish: "I wouldn't throw my elbow," he replied. Seriously, though, for me it's a personal grudge against the Habs and a deference to a tradition either local or familial that despises any professional sports team from Boston. That is, I could probably cheer the Bruins against the Habs, except that the Bruins are from Boston. I did mention, didn't I, something about Americans and sports?

• Pittsburgh Penguins/Tampa Bay Lightning — Again, pick one. I suppose I could go with the Pens, since I haven't anything specific against them. It's just easy to disdain a team with such a glorious history. But that's not really worth the investment, right? I mean, the flip-side is that the Lightning are a Florida team, and the last headline I ever want to see would say something like, "America's Wang Shocks Sports Fans". (The best would have been "All Hail Šatan!" but that never happened.)

I have been alternately fuming and cringing for the last eleven months. Of course, I have this nasty habit of not paying attention to details, so I did, in fact, have a pleasant moment when I got the bracket. Canucks win the President's Trophy, and they get #8 Chicago in the first round. For the fans, it's fair to say losing the playoff series hurts more, nearly a year later, than Sami Salo's busted nut (http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=101628). And, yes, something about phantom pains goes here.

Busted nuts and broken hearts aside, though, it's playoff time. And not just any playoff time: It's hockey playoff time!


('Wings up 1-0, 18:03 1st; Salei, assist for Helm, Kronwall)

('Wings up 2-0, 17:19 1st; Kronwall, assist (??))

Damn, that was fast. And fine.

Okay, forget this. I can't think right now. It's freakin' NHL Playoffs, baby!

don't worry the canuks will sweep the blackhawks. they are to shredded for dumping people above the cap. I say this as a chicago fan

Canucks fan here, born and raised. From Vancouver Island, currently living in Vancouver city. The atmosphere on game day is electric.

Canucks fan here, born and raised. From Vancouver Island, currently living in Vancouver city. The atmosphere on game day is electric.

You know, what really pisses me off is that my brother and his girlfriend were just up for Oilers game, and while I'm certainly happy that they brought back some Growers Granny Smith Cider (although I'm just learning the stuff comes in a two-litre bottle, and I'm not sure how I feel about that) we have exactly one can of CCB Red Racer Pale in the fridge, and a half-rack of Kokanee in the pantry.

Seriously, later today the 'Nucks are going to try to sweep the 'Hawks, and if I'm drinking Canadian, it's either Kokanee or cider?

Oh, well. We'll drink Oregon beer (Laurelwood or Hopworks), and make it a regional vibe. Or maybe Last Drop (http://www.lastdropbeershop.com/) will have a good tap to pull.

But still, they went to Canada for a 'Nucks game and didn't bring back any beer? What the fuck is up with that, eh?

I suppose the upside, though, is that being in the Seattle area, we get the CBC broadcast.

But, yeah. The schedule tomorrow looks like:


√ Pick up daughter from school
√ Beer run to Last Drop
√ 'NuckNuckNuckNuckNuck


• • •



don't worry the canuks will sweep the blackhawks. they are to shredded for dumping people above the cap. I say this as a chicago fan

Yeah, it's a rough year for 'Hawks fans.

Yeah, it's a rough year for 'Hawks fans.

least I'm not a cubs fan

least I'm not a cubs fan

Small mercies.

I mean, out here, we have the Mariners and the Seahawks. That's it. We used to have the Supersonics, but nobody really cared until it was too late.

The Mariners are in a permanent "rebuilding" phase—I call the club a "talent hole" where good players and coaches go to ease the transition into being useless.

The Seahawks? Well, we kept Hasselbeck last season, and don't have much of a plan for life without him. Maybe they're just banking on a lockout. "We'll be looking for a quarterback every single year," said GM John Schneider recently. They should have been looking in prior years, too. As it is, we Hasselbeck is unsigned as of this morning. So is Charlie Whitehurst. As it is, we have Michael Robinson, a former Penn State QB currently on our roster as a fullback.

In other words, we're getting Matt or Charlie, and that's that.

Unless, of course, we get the erratic, injury-prone, unrefined Jake Locker, a natural local favorite.

Such is the state of professional sports in Seattle.


http://sports.cbsimg.net/u/photos/football/nfl/img14857584.jpg (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/14857585/seahawks-needs-a-qb-and-speed-to-make-him-better)
Pro sports in Seattle: Is it any wonder we're cheering the Canucks?

So we look to the Canucks. A team with real superstars. A team with a real vision. A team that knows how to be competitive, and keep its organization in good working order. A team with championships in its heritage.

It's nice to be able to cheer for a team that actually has a chance. Sure, we have to leave the country to find them, but Canadians are good people; they don't mind.

(I won't try to figure out what happened to the Bears in the playoffs. That was just an ugly, ugly day for them.)
____________________

Notes:

Prisco, Pete. "Seahawks needs: A QB, and speed to make him better". CBS Sports. March 25, 2011. CBSSports.com. April 19, 2011. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/14857585/seahawks-needs-a-qb-and-speed-to-make-him-better

One hour and counting.


√ Pick up daughter from school
> Beer run to Last Drop
√ 'NuckNuckNuckNuckNuck

And time keeps on tickin', tickin', tickin' into the future.

'NuckNuckNuckNuckNuck!

Man, that was ugly. The only one to show up was Luongo, and while he held fast in the first, he couldn't keep it up and ended up getting torched.

They're going to have to play hockey next game...

... that was ugly ....

So ugly ... so ugly.

It was like they didn't recognize the ice beneath their skates.

This was a textbook example of "Game 4" psychology in effect, on both sides. The 'Hawks played for their season and pride. The 'Nucks phoned in the funk.

But, yeah—


They're going to have to play hockey next game...

—it's like: We get it, guys. But does it have to be so ugly?

Oh man, I feel like I was in a traffic accident last night. I've got whiplash from being jerked around so hard.

I'm a Sharks fan.

They narrowly won Game 1 against the Kings in OT in SJ, then stunk up the Tank in a 4-0 loss in Game 2.

So the series moves to the Staples Center and the Sharks took up right where they left off, giving up 4 goals to LA in the first few minutes of the first. The game was toast, a joke, already a lost cause. I almost switched off my TV.

Hell, was so depressed that I almost committed suicide. That was eight successive goals against without any San Jose scoring at all. The Sharks were rolling over in the playoffs... again.

Then... something... happened. Maybe coach Todd McClellan forced spinach down their throats, Popeye-style. Or maybe a trainer finally discovered the piece of Kryptonite that LA had hidden in the SJ locker room.

San Jose stormed out of the locker room and scored FIVE goals in the second. That's a team record for goals in one period. LA scored one more and the second ended tied 5-5.

The third was played without any scoring (imagine that) and the game went into OT. And then the Sharks won!!!

And I stumbed away from my TV feeling like I'd just been slammed into the boards. Over and over.

Hockey players are supposed to put hits on each other. Not on their fans.

Oh man, I feel like I was in a traffic accident last night. I've got whiplash from being jerked around so hard.

Yeah, I hear that was farging insane last night. Apparently only the fourth time in NHL history a team has crossed a four-goal chasm in a playoff game.

And that they did it to the Kings? Yeah, I wish I had been watching that one.

Oh, well. The 'Hawks couldn't allow themselves to be swept, at home. I mean, that's part of the psychology, right? They ain't sweepin' us. If they're gonna put us down, they gotta take us back to Vancouver to do it.

Hey Tiassa, long time no see.

After watching the Kings fall in a blaze of sorrow, I watched the Rangers pull up 3-0 against my Caps* and thought 'nah, it won't happen again'. Then it did. What a goddamn awesome hockey game last night! And what fun the playoffs is! Sorry to be such a cliche, but there just ain't no thang like the NHL playoffs. It sounds corny, but it's true.

*I was born in Toronto and live in Montreal, so calling them "my" Caps might be a stretch. But until it's Habs/Caps, I don't need to make any difficult decisions.

Most excellent, sir, to see you.

Ah, my day is improving. I got a mystery message at 9:30 last night asking if I could get some friends to the airport at 6:00.

I didn't pick up the message until a bit after 1:00 AM.

So I asked the obvious question: "6:00 ... AM?"

Turns out it's PM. And there's a Game 5 mentality going on. Take my car, use my house, drink my beer, smoke my ... er, right. Host the party in my absence.

Okay, I can do that. The only question is making it to and from the airport in an hour. And that's provided that we leave on time.

It's in Vancouver, tonight, and while I don't go for national anthems in general, there is little to compare to "O! Canada" in Rogers Arena.

For instance, Chicago. You know what their national anthem tradition is? Make as much noise as possible during "The Star Spangled Banner".

I mean, sure, I like it, but it's got nothing on the overwhelming reverence and adoration and genuine love that echoes through Vancouver on hockey night.

Normally I'd revel in those extra few minutes before face-off, and the fact that I didn't have to be blazing back through Seattle traffic. But ... yeah. I actually consider "O! Canada" at Rogers Arena part of the hockey experience.

Some towns, you don't miss face-off, or the first pitch, or the kickoff. In Vancouver, you don't miss the anthem.

(A note to those who don't know what I'm referring to, except, of course, you're not reading this, anyway, since it's a hockey thread and all ... but, yeah, if you've never witnessed the anthem in Vancouver, it's something else. We Americans have nothing like it.)

I guess I'm hoping for the Canucks, but I don't really give a shit since my team is out (hint: they are getting really good at pulling the first draft pick).

BTW T, Edmonton was the city that started EVERYONE singing the Anthem. when the made the playoffs (finals - GASP), the singer would do the first couple bars then just hold the mike up to the crowd.

I'm not having a good time right now. WTF is this shit?

After the Pens losing at home 8:2 I thought that was maybe by purpose. Since they were leading the matches by 3 to 1 showing that they are much netter, they can easily throw 2 games in a row and take the extra money and revenues coming with the extra games, and win the 7th game at home to a sold out crowd...

Sounds crazy??? It is just good business....

Question: Will the Vancouver Canucks bother showing up for the game?

Or has Chicago already won the series?

Go Wings. :D

OK, hockey/baseball rant:

I hate sports where there are like 80-130 games in a season before they reach the play offs (so any given game has no importance) and anyway, half of the teams making it there, so really a team has to suck giant ass not to reach the play offs.

Now once in the play offs, it actually gets interesting, so maybe there should be no season, just play off right from the start. Even in the play off there are too many games, for hockey, 5 should do it...

But anyway....

Canucks! 2-1 overtime! Alexandre Burrows in one of the greatest goals I've ever, ever seen.

Chicago's Corey Crawford (G) deserves a nod. All anyone is going to remember of this game is that he lost, but that was a legendary performance, save the final score.

Canucks! 2-1 overtime! Alexandre Burrows in one of the greatest goals I've ever, ever seen.

Chicago's Corey Crawford (G) deserves a nod. All anyone is going to remember of this game is that he lost, but that was a legendary performance, save the final score.

meh would have been better had it not been set up by a shitty attempt to clear but great shot to seal the deal. at least I got the bulls to watch.

Both Burrows and Toewes with some of the greatest playoff goals I've seen in ages.

Great game!

Who wants to bet that the Pens will win tonight?

Sharks and Canucks escape the first round! (Barely, after rolling up big leads in their series, then almost blowing it.)

Now if Montreal can get by Boston tonight, everything's right with the world.

Until next week... when it starts all over again.

My first loyalty is to the local Sharks, but after them I usually root (that's right Australians, that's what I do) for Canadian teams. There need to be Canadian teams questing after the cup (I think most of them believe that it's the holy grail).

Sharks and Canucks escape the first round! (Barely, after rolling up big leads in their series, then almost blowing it.)

The 'Nucks series was as grueling and stressful as a spectator could possibly ask.

Quite obviously, I'm thrilled for the 'Nucks, but this isn't anything to go rubbing the 'Hawks noses in. The 'Nucks won despite themselves. Toews' late goal was breathtaking, but it never should have happened; he never should have had the chance. Shorthanded, and with what, a minute and a half left? Never should have had the chance.

And Crawford .... Wow.


• • •



meh would have been better had it not been set up by a shitty attempt to clear but great shot to seal the deal.

But that's also how games, and even championships, are won and lost. Toews' goal would have been better had it not been set up by the Canucks' refusing to do their damn jobs. But capitalizing on mistakes is what you're supposed to do, and Toews certainly did.

Likewise Burrows. It was in the replays, watching him glove that puck, and how it came down on the ice in front of him, and rolled perfectly where only he could get to it, and at a perfect speed to force him to stay ahead of the closing defender in order to get his shot off, and at a perfect angle that made it very hard for Crawford to see how the shot was coming.

Everything about the turnover, puck placement, and shot was absolutely lucky. But at the championship level, that's exactly the kind of luck you make.

Just like Toews scoring the shorthanded goal that he never should have had the opportunity to shoot. You make that kind of luck.

And last night, it was the Canucks' turn to make that luck, and Alexandre Burrows did.

Who wants to bet that the Pens will win tonight?

Well, both me and the bookies got it wrong. At least I don't have to watch hockey anymore...

The Brackets

In the West:


• #1 Vancouver vs #5 Nashville
• #2 San Jose vs #3 Detroit

And the East:


• #1 Washington vs #5 Tampa Bay
• #2 Philadelphia vs #3 Boston

Picks:


Vancouver and Detroit will advance from the West; Washington and Philly from the East.

Favorites:


The Eastern Conference is easier: I would like to see the Washington Capitals go all the way to the Cup finals. Other than that, I don't really care what happens in the East. Grueling, even damaging series between then and now, sure, but I don't care if Washington has to beat Philly or Boston in the semis.

For the West, though, obviously I would like Vancouver, but it's really hard to pick a favorite in the SJ/Detroit game. I expect Detroit will win, but to the one, I have a minor sentimental connection to the Sharks; to the other, the Red Wings are the storied club here, so I generally cheer for the upstart. Still, though, California sent more teams to the playoffs this year than the whole of Canada, so it would be nice to see the Sharks, and thus all of Cali, knocked out before the semis.

Four hours and counting until face-off at Rogers Arena. Eggshells? Butterflies? Pins and needles? How about rusty nails and broken glass over hot coals?

We need the Sedins to come back and play like they know they can. As do Kesler and Burrows. Yes, the Predators have an insanely good goalkeeper in Pekka Rinne, but he faltered in the first round (.876, 3.29), and the team in front of him scored the fourth fewest goals in the Western conference. If the 'Nucks offense can come on, the Predators will buckle. Dave Gross (http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Breaking+down+Western+Conference+matchups/4685574/story.html) reminds:


The Canucks will see plenty of Weber and Ryan Suter, who were on ice for nearly half of every game in the opening-round win over Anaheim. It’s a sharp drop off after that though.

And if the Predators buckle, Pekka Rinne will break.

To the other, Gross also reminds that, "Vancouver's blue-line is near the top", though that overlooks the fact that they utterly collapsed at critical points in the 'Hawks series. That one should never have gone to Game 7, and Toews should never have had the shot in the closing minutes of regulation time. If the Canucks' blue line hangs keeper Roberto Luongo like they did against Chicago, Vancouve will not so much buckle and break as dissolve entirely.

In the regular season, the 'Nucks ran 54-19-9, for 117 points; the Predators 44-27-11, for 99 points. Between the teams, the regular season split two games apiece.

After witnessing Corey Crawford's mindboggling performance in Game 7 of the 'Hawks series, we only need remember how good Rinne is supposed to be, and recognize that despite questions about their depth, or the difference between first and fifth seed, the Predators are incredibly dangerous, and could easily clean Vancouver if the the 'Nucks blink.

If I try to predict a specific series outcome, say, Vancouver 4-2, I'm blowing smoke. But I am hopeful.

T-minus three hours, forty-four minutes.

Time for me to fly.

'NuckNuckNuckNuckNuck!
____________________

Notes:

Gross, Dave. "Breaking down the Western Conference matchups". Vancouver Sun. April 27, 2011. VancouverSun.com. April 28, 2011. http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Breaking+down+Western+Conference+matchups/4685574/story.html

Picks:

Vancouver and Detroit will advance from the West; Washington and Philly from the East.

Favorites:

The Eastern Conference is easier: I would like to see the Washington Capitals go all the way to the Cup finals. Other than that, I don't really care what happens in the East. Grueling, even damaging series between then and now, sure, but I don't care if Washington has to beat Philly or Boston in the semis.

For the West, though, obviously I would like Vancouver, but it's really hard to pick a favorite in the SJ/Detroit game. I expect Detroit will win, but to the one, I have a minor sentimental connection to the Sharks; to the other, the Red Wings are the storied club here, so I generally cheer for the upstart. Still, though, California sent more teams to the playoffs this year than the whole of Canada, so it would be nice to see the Sharks, and thus all of Cali, knocked out before the semis.

This is almost dead on the same as my picks and wants. I would like to see San Jose beat Detroit, though, and I think they have a very legitimate chance. I don't dare call Detroit a lock for this.

And I pick Philly over Boston. Boston could barely beat Montreal, Kaberle is old and slow, Lucic hasn't figured out how to play playoff hockey, Krejci needs to pick up his act... I just don't think Philly has the same weaknesses right now that Boston does. But I haven't watched much of Philadelphia, so I guess I'll see.

Tampa could always win. I would love nothing more than to see Washington escape the East, and so maybe it's just my natural 'fan's pessimism' seeping in, but if Stamkos and St. Louis can play huge, and Lecavalier can cover Ovechkin, they have a chance. Tampa needs to block shots as well as New York though, and I don't know if they can do it.

Yay playoffs!!!!

Go 'Nucks!
Go Caps!

And I pick Philly over Boston. Boston could barely beat Montreal, Kaberle is old and slow, Lucic hasn't figured out how to play playoff hockey, Krejci needs to pick up his act... I just don't think Philly has the same weaknesses right now that Boston does. But I haven't watched much of Philadelphia, so I guess I'll see.

With the East, I think Washington's #1 seed is important to remember in considering who might win out. But in picking favorites, the East has collapsed to the point where I'm with the Caps because they are the only team remaining that I don't have something against. Tampa and Boston I mostly disdain for where they're from insofar as it's Florida ("America's Wang", a longtime joke in my circles) and Boston (home of the Red Sox, Celtics, and the nation's second most obnoxious fan base, after New York). But Philly? I have nothing against Philly as a town. I just despise the Flyers. It's a decade-plus grudge, perhaps my oldest hatred in hockey.

It's really weird to back a team simply because they're the only one in the bracket that doesn't have strikes against them from the outset.

I should probably make the note that I have been inappropriately been referring to the Conference Finals as semifinal rounds, which they are if the whole thing centers around the Stanley Cup Final, but the 'Nucks and Predators are gearing up for Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinal.

My bad. Noted, corrected for future.

At any rate, the Game Notes (http://canucks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=39654) offered up by Daniel Fung are about as vanilla as we might expect for an official website.

Some of my colleagues noted that Mason Raymond (VAN-LW) has moved up from the fourth line, and in their infinite, beer-soaked wisdom suggested that the move means he's not in danger of losing his job. Fung also makes the point:


Mason Raymond may not be lighting it up on the scoresheet so far in the playoffs but his post-season play to date has demonstrated something the Canucks likely find even more important than just goals and points. Long considered to be a one-dimensional player who isn't contributing if he isn't scoring, the 25-year-old has shown he is more versatile than he's given credit for as he has shifted between being a third-line center and second-line winger, not to mention earning time on both the power play and penalty kill. For the immediate future, however, it appears Raymond will be asked to put his offensive hat back on. For the third straight game on Thursday, Raymond skated alongside Kesler and Burrows in what has been Vancouver's most formidable offensive unit lately. While he saw his two-game point streak come to an end in the outing, he still turned in one of his better performance at least according to Hockey Night in Canada who named him the game's second star.

Raymond is running +2 in the playoffs this season, which is a better number than, say, Daniel Sedin's -2, or Henrik's -4. But, yes, we need all Vancouver scoring droughts to come to an immediate end.


If it seemed like the Canucks were skating circles around the Predators in Game One, that's because for a good portion of that contest they were. While that can be partially attributed to the fact Nashville seemed to have no legs after flying into Vancouver the day before the start of Game One, the bigger reason was probably because the Canucks spent almost the entire night playing keepaway with the puck especially off faceoffs. The Canucks were good on 61 percent of the draws (40-of-66) in Game One ....

When the 'Nucks falter, it always looks like they've forgotten just what ice is, and how it works. Their passes are clumsy, and receptions even worse. Their stick work looks like junior league consolation performances.

And, of course, they looked spectacular against the Predators in Game 1. We can only hope they keep that pace again tonight, and that Nashville's legs are slow or clumsy for reasons other than let lag.

To the other—


Had the Canucks came out on Thursday with a flat performance in their series opener against the Predators, few would have blamed them considering that just 48 hours earlier they had come off an emotionally-charged Game Seven overtime win over the Blackhawks. Maybe it's a testament, then, to just how sharp the Canucks are mentally right now that they not only managed to refocus quickly for the start of their second round series but to turn in what was arguably their most dominant performance so far in these playoffs.

—it's an interesting contrast, as it was entirely possible the 'Nucks would deflate in the first game against the Predators. But they didn't, and they controlled the game flow.

More of the same will do the job, especially if the team figures out Predators keeper Pekka Rinne. Canucks backup Corey Schneider offered the obvious advice:


He tracks the puck so well, if he sees it clean he's probably going to catch it. So we've got to get rebounds, get the shots up [the other side] or get tips or alter his sightlines.

From the Preadators' perspective, Game 1 was exceptinally shaky. Even accounting for the skill matchups and the fact that Vancouver nabbed the President's Trophy this season, "Losing because they were out-worked," Fung writes, "was not supposed to be among those reasons."


That's why Thursday's self-described no-show by the Predators in Game One was particularly disturbing for a team with a reputation of never taking a night off. It's a safe bet that they won't pull a disappearing act for a second game in a row now that they've presumably shaken off the rust from their three-day layoff following their first round series.

Nashville can take some solace in the fact that despite being dominated by the Canucks in Game One, they found themselves within one goal of forcing overtime and seemed to get much stronger in the third period generating several quality scoring chances that were turned aside by Roberto Luongo. It was also very encouraging for them to see Pekka Rinne return to his Vezina Trophy candidate form after being lit up during their opening round series against the Ducks.

A couple of interesting numbers:


• Vancouver is 88-109 (.446) all-time in the playoffs.

• The Canucks are 46-54 (.460) at home in the playoffs.

• Nashville is 3-14 (.176) on the road in the playoffs.

• The Predators have never won a playoff series (0-3) after losing Game 1.

• Of Vancouver's five leading scorers in the 2011 playoffs, two have positive +/- ratios (Burrows, +2; Kesler, +4).

• Of Nashville's five leading scorers, only one has a negative +/- ratio (Ward, -1).

Four and a half hours, or so? Something about ennui goes here ....

'NuckNuckNuckNuckNuck.
____________________

Notes:

Fung, Daniel. "Game Notes". (n.d.) Canucks.NHL.com. April 30, 2011. http://canucks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=39654

Boston Bruins vs. Philadelphia Flyers—Game 1

Okay, I will at least note that when it all comes down, it's hard to hold Boston against the Bruins. At least, when they're in Philly. I'm enjoying the absolute thrashing they have unleashed against the Flyers.

At the horn, it's Boston, 7-3.

Damn.

Brian Boucher will be having nightmares after this one.

I mean, seriously ... damn.

That was ... that was brutal.

Can 'Nucks Fans Make it Through Game Five?

In a week in which many people's hearts beat faster over news of Osama bin Laden's demise, Vancouver Canuck hockey fans have staggered through breathless games leading to a 3-1 series lead against the Nashville Predators:


Game 1


Nashville 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Vancouver 0 | 1 | 0 | 1

Game 2 (OT2)


Nashville 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2
Vancouver 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1

Game 3 (OT1)


Vancouver 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3
Nashville 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2

Game 4


Vancouver 1 | 1 | 2 | 4
Nashville 1 | 0 | 1 | 2

Game Four brought two pieces of outstanding news, aside from a 4-2 victory and 3-1 series lead. First was Henrik Sedin's goal in the third period, which broke a cold streak dating back to March late March, and extending seventeen games. The second was that the goal also gave Vancouver a two-goal lead, the first for either team in this playoff series.

The downside is that the two-goal lead came with twenty seconds remaining.

Still, though, there is much promise in that late goal. It signals the arrival of the Sedin brothers, who have largely been silent in the playoffs, and it also sets up the Canucks to go forward tonight in Rogers Arena comfortable in the knowledge that they can, in fact, earn a two-goal lead against the Nashville Predators. A little under twenty-one seconds is all they needed to hold it on Thursday night. This evening, the Canucks will look to establish themselves early, and skate in the confidence of a lead that won't disappear with one shot, in the blink of an eye.

With sports, often psychology reigns supreme. Daniel Sedin is last season's Art Ross Trophy winner; Henrik will win the scoring award for this season. Such quietude from the brothers during the playoffs has been cause for concern, though Coach Alain Vignault says those worries are a thing of the past.

"They've played well," he told reporters. "They spent a lot of time ... Nashville's end, getting scoring chances, cycling, wearing down their defense." And while points might be tough to come by in the NHL playoffs, "The process is still there. Their process is fine and their effort is real good."

Thrice nominated for the Vezina Trophy, including this season, Vancouver keeper Roberto Luongo sees, but isn't worried: "I know the twins have had a lot of pressure on their shoulders because they haven’t put up many points," he explained. "Playoffs are not about individual achievements. It doesn’t matter if they score or not. We want to win games. We need to win four games out of seven. What ever [that] means we need to get that done, that’s what we will do."

And as Luongo stares longwise at fellow Vezina nominee Pekka Rinne, he will also have the help of Selke-nominated center Ryan Kesler, who has shone in the scoring vacancy left by the Sedin slump.

The Sedins, themselves, remain calm. "We have been winning games," said Daniel, shortly after arriving in Vancouver after Game Four. "I can care less about scoring points or anything like that." And while it's true that he probably could care less, we know what he means. "It's all about winning," he reiterated.

The Canucks seek to close the series tonight, and advance to the Western Conference Final for the first time in seventeen years. "We want to finish this series tomorrow," said Daniel Sedin of Game Five. "It's going to be tight going into the third. That's the way we like it."

And while the Canucks have made a reputation as a third period team, players and fans alike would probably be more comfortable if the last twenty opened with a two-goal lead. Which, of course, brings us back to Henrik Sedin's empty-net goal with 20.8 seconds remaining in the third period of Game Four.

Henrik's goals drought is over. The Canucks have led a game in this series by two goals.

These two points must remain true tonight. It may be all about winning games, but that means scoring goals, and if the 'Nucks aren't leaving Ryan Kesler (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI16YRzpE_0) to make the magic on his own, they will be better off for it.

And, of course, there are the fans. Drinking beer and yelling at the television set should never be so exhausting. How shameful if we should fall over before the team does. But a spare goal for our breathing comfort would be much appreciated.


Number of the Day


• The Nashville Five-O: Zero (0). Nil. None. Null. Zed. Zilch. Zip. That is, in their thirteen sesons as an NHL club, the Nashville Predators have made the playoffs five times before. The number of the day is zero, as in: How many times has Nashville won a playoff elimination game? Five times they have faced elimination before; and five times they have lost.

'NuckNuckNuckNuckNuck!
____________________

Notes:

"Canucks will try to put away Predators in Game 5". (n.d.) Canucks.NHL.com. May 7, 2011. http://canucks.nhl.com/club/preview.htm?id=2010030235

Morris, Jim. "Finishing Predators quickly more of a concern to Daniel Sedin than points". Guelph Mercury. May 6, 2011. GuelphMercury.com. May 7, 2011. http://www.guelphmercury.com/sports/article/528604--finishing-predators-quickly-more-of-a-concern-to-daniel-sedin-than-points

Things I learned tonight.

1. You can tell Detroit are pure winners by the fact that they celebrate very calmly after each goal, never getting ahead of themselves.

2. Every time I've ever though Datsyuk might be one of the greats, I was correct. It's a shame he doesn't get even more recognition than he does right now. Consistency, achievement, quality, leadership...

Daniel Sedin is last season's Art Ross Trophy winner; Henrik will win the scoring award for this season.
One small correction, but the names should be reversed. Daniel is the scoring champion from 2010-2011, and Henrik won it last season, 2009-2010 (where Daniel missed 19 games due to a broken foot, but had a point-per-game ratio higher than Henrik).

I'd temporarily forgotten about this thread as I went from being in the thick of things in Vancouver, to where hockey is virtually unknown in Tokyo. I am here for a month visiting -- poor timing on my part, in retrospect.

I could not have imagined that both Tampa and Boston would sweep in the East. That completely blew my mind, and will lead to an intense Eastern Conference final.

With game 7 between Detroit and SJ looming, I can't help but give SJ the nod. They are a great home team, and they are too good to be swept. At the same time, if anyone can pull off an upset like this, it is the Red Wings. Never emotional, never panicked. Calm and collected to the end. Should be a great game.

Vancouver will be well suited to either of the teams, I think. Both play a much more open game compared to Nashville, but not only were the Canucks the top defensive team throughout the regular season, they were also the top offensive team. The Sedins need to step up and prove all the critics wrong, and Luongo will have to provide the great performance he's capable of.

Kesler for President!

What an exciting finish to a fantastically even series. Sharks win!

The match-ups are now Tampa Bay (5) vs Boston (3) in the East, and Vancouver (1) vs San Jose (2) in the West.

Bring on the Conference finals!

The SF Giants call what they do "torture", but it ain't nothing compared to the horrible things that the SJ Sharks do to their fans.

They get up three games to none on the Red Wings, then kind of relax, kick back and watch the Wings win three games. And that revives every Sharks fan's not-so-pleasant memories of previous years' playoff implosions.

Last year they got swept by Chicago and couldn't get anything past Chicago's goaltender. So they did the only thing possible, and lured Antti Niemi to San Jose. He's had some off days for the Sharks, but when he's on he's absolutely spectacular. Kind of an octopus on the blueline, with more arms and legs squirting out in impossible directions than seems right for a human being. (He's from Finland, maybe that explains it.)

They go into game seven and eventually squeak through by one goal. (As usual. Every game the Sharks play seems to ultimately depend on one shot or one mistake. Everything in a Sharks game matters.) I find that I've aged thirty years and that all my hair's gone white.

And they still have two more series to get through if they expect to win that damn Holy Grai... er, Stanley Cup.

I'm loving it though. Like the Giants say... 'torture'. Sometimes pain really is pleasure, sports as S&M.

The Sharks seem to have gotten an underdog thing going like the Giants did last year. Patrick Boyle was talking about how the hockey press and the whole hockey world wanted Detroit to win but the Sharks hung together and continued believing in themselves, and pulled it out.

And now the Sharks are playing the Canucks and everyone in Silicon Valley can feel the whole country of Canada staring in this direction and thinking terribly evil things about us. (In their nice Canadian way, of course.)

Actually, the Canucks and the Sharks seem to be kind of similar in their histories, skill levels and whatnot. This upcoming series is going to be very closely matched, just like the last one. The Sharks and Canucks are thoroughly familiar with each other's tendencies and style of play, just like the Sharks and Wings were. (The Sharks were kind of modeled on the Wings.) The 'Nucks performed very well against the Sharks in the regular season, so this isn't going to be an easy assignment for our intrepid Los Tiburones.

Well, Boston came back in a big way to tie the series, holding off the Lightning with a 6-5 victory, after scoring 5 goals in the second period. Tyler Seguin has been the Bruins' best player since joining the line-up in Patrice Bergeron's absence, compiling 3 goals and 3 assists in the two games he's played this series. Not bad for a rookie (albeit, a number 2 draft pick overall).

The Canucks and Sharks series promises to be exceedingly tight, but it will be exciting. Up early tomorrow to watch the game!

Wooo! That was a sound thrashing by the Canucks last night. Ben Eager certainly didn't do the Sharks any favours.

And who would have guessed that Tyler Seguin would come in to the conference finals having zero NHL playoff experience and make such a remarkable impact. After two games, the 2nd overall pick from 2010 was playing point-per-period hockey, and he's scored again tonight. Four goals and three assists in 3 games. Not bad.

Yeah, wow. Any word on whether Eager is a healthy scratch tonight? I've been away too long. Of course, I'm scrambling to read the game preview (http://canucks.nhl.com/club/preview.htm?id=2010030323) before the afternoon ... er ... yeah, never mind.

But that was an unholy beating on Wednesday. Eager should probably sit out tonight just to make an example; nobody should ever treat their own goalkeeper so badly as to rack up twenty PIM in eleven minutes on ice. Just sayin' ....

On the other hand, the 'Nucks need to be careful. The Sharks are looking for blood, in every dimension, tonight. Vancouver cannot afford to hang Lu out in a feeding frenzy.

Game 3 didn't go so well for us Canuck fans, but today's effort was much better. Of course, SJ helped us out again with a parade to the box with some undisciplined penalties -- too many men, puck over the glass?

Eager didn't play today, not sure about Friday's game.

Boston and Tampa are sure making that series interesting.

Wow. Game whatever was rough. I'm lost at the moment. Lost in the Boston/TB game, to be specific. Can't think. Shouldn't look too far ahead, I know. But I can't help thinking that the way Tampa and Boston are beating the shit out of one another says something positive about the possibility of a Canucks run for the Stanley Cup.

Boston 3-1 Tampa Bay (Game 5, ECF)

I was wondering, at the outset, how Tim Thomas (G-BOS) could have a 2.34 GAA, since every time I saw him play, it was 3+ goals per game.

Still, though, I suppose he could have had a hell of a run in prior series. "Tonight was kind of special", and if you recognize that you're actually old, so deal with it.

But he did well tonight. I'm posting off-day because I need to; I've been neglecting this precious thread, despite how deeply the NHL Playoffs have affected my life and living routine.

I mean, I've gotten to the point that I'm watching the off-conference games.

That's significant for me, who can't be bothered to watch the MLB playoffs if I don't have a team it.

No, seriously, I accept the argument against the Bruins—they're from Boston, but I've adopted a relationship with Tim Thomas (G-BOS), sympathetic to such a degree that I'm hoping he makes it to square off with the Canucks for the Cup.

Right.

My desire is a Thomas-Luongo showdown.

Props to Brad Marchand, a rookie taking his first huge interview. He's doing his best, and holding on.

Still, though, yeah, my hat's off to Boston. To their credit, they have what it takes to win. To the other, the Bruins are spending a lot for each win. That, I cannot help but point out, is to the Canucks' favor ... presuming, of course, the Canucks' benefit.

Canucks 3-1 In Game Five

Contributions from everybody: Alain Vignault insists that the Vancouver Canucks can put away the Wester Conference Finals against the San Jose Sharks. San Jose defender Dany Heatley has registered all of one goal in his last eleven outings, which is a subtext to apply to the proposition that the Canucks have failed in two out of two game five efforts throughout the playoffs.

I don't know. They switched it over to WEC.

I'm really high.

This post took me twenty minutes.

At least.

I can barely manage remotely accurate punctuation.

(I was going to correct a typo in this post, and then I realized I have no idea what it's about. Yeah, I must've been high, or something. I think it's commentary looking forward to Game 5, but I can't promise that's the case. Leave it be. I'll try again for something ... er ... coherent.)

Game Five: San Jose @ Vancouver

Apopos of nothing, here's an animated GIF of Canucks center Ryan Kesler getting punched in the face:


http://www.thestranger.com/images/blogimages/2011/05/24/1306258395-keslerpunched.gif (http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/05/24/tonight-it-is-quite-possible-the-vancouver-canucks-will-advance-to-the-stanley-cup-finals)
(Image via Slog)

Looking ahead to Game Five tonight, the Canucks are chasing history. Perhaps the greatest challenge facing the players tonight is to keep focus. This is one game, and it is Game Five, and victory is not a must for the Canucks. But they can put this series away early, and rest up while the Bruins and Lightning continue to tear each other to pieces. The key, of course, is to focus on this one game. They cannot worry about having lost both previous game five matchups in this year's playoffs. They cannot dwell on the seventeen seasons since their last Stanley Cup finals appearance. They cannot let the forty years of Canucks failing to bring Le Coupe home to Vancouver play in their thoughts.

Tonight the Vancouver Canucks should follow only one thought: Win this game.

While the 'Nucks skate in missing forward Mikkael Samuelson (hernia) and blue-liners Christian Ehrhoff (shoulder) and Aaron Rome (undisclosed), the Sharks are lacking defenseman Jason Demers, and center Joe Thornton limps in with a target on his chest. If reports are accurate, Thornton will be skating through the pain of a shoulder injury described as "significant"; we can expect Raffi Torres and his Vancouver teammates to lay on the hits tonight.

Vancouver's outlook seems simple enough. The Sedin twins are skating in high gear, including Henrik's club record four assists in Game Four. Daniel's three assists on Sunday brought him up to five points for the series, and he will likely be looking to break out and boost those stats even more tonight. Sami Salo found the back of the net twice in Game Four, and earned an assist, as well. Though the Canucks blue line runs thin, it is also extremely dangerous.

For the Sharks, things are less clear. Joe Thornton will be playing below his utmost capacity, leaving Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi, and Joe Pavelski to pick up the pace. Those three have combined for three assists, twenty-seven shots, and a dismal -7 for the series. Heatley spent nineteen minutes on the ice in Game Four, taking only one shot from his place on the third line following a temporary demotion. Throughout the series, he has managed eight shots on goal, and logged only one assist.

With Thornton playing injured, it is unclear how the Sharks' physical game will go. San Jose forward escaped any serious repercussions after his Game Two outburst, including his boarding penalty for hitting Daniel Sedin, but has not seen ice time in either of the subsequent games. There is mysteriously little about his potential return to the ice, but that means nothing. It may be that the Sharks need his presence on the ice, but that answer eludes me until drop time.

Woooooooo!

An odd game, for sure. We were lucky to capitalize on a poor icing call, and that bounce was just straight up crazy. But as a Canucks fan, I'll take it.

An odd game, for sure. We were lucky to capitalize on a poor icing call, and that bounce was just straight up crazy. But as a Canucks fan, I'll take it.

Yeah, that was completely bonkers. I think Bieksa was the only person on the ice who knew where the puck was. Marleau, I think it was, pointed like the puck went up and out; I think I saw Henrik skating through the frame, adjusting his helmet like he thought the play was over, and then Bieksa's shot went rocketing behind him.

Everything about this game was just too stressful. But, in the end, it was worth it. I mean, it was bad enough from the couch; I can't imagine what it was like in the arena, or on the ice. But a win is a win is a win, and seventeen years to the day after their last double-overtime win to advance to Le Coupe, the 'Nucks did it again. Luongo managed a .964 tonight, 56 saves of 58 shots on goal, which is in itself a titanic performance.

A classic game; one for the ages. Players and fans alike get to breathe and relax until, well, hopefully all the way to Sunday. With luck, the Bruins and Lightning will continue their Kilkenny routine all the way through seven.

Raise a glass, that our 'Nucks might raise the Cup.

Hockey humor, from Cameron Cardow (http://blog.cagle.com/2011/05/rapture-2/) of The Ottowa Citizen:


http://www.caglecartoons.com/images/preview/%7B2ebe64ef-c290-43b5-87c2-72c49400e01e%7D.gif (http://blog.cagle.com/2011/05/rapture-2/)
(via Cagle)

Le Coupe ... Le Coupe. The Bolts demand a Game Seven on Friday. Happy Birthday to me, I get to see the Canucks' potential opponents tear each other to pieces one more time before the battle for Lord Stanley's Cup.

And why does that sound so ... er ... never mind.

Stephen Harris (http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/hockey/other_nhl/view/2011_0526canucks_wait_for_finals_foe/) for the Boston Herald:


If you didn't see the goal by defenseman Kevin Bieksa that gave the Canucks their series-ending, 3-2 double-overtime victory against San Jose Tuesday, you aren't alone: The Sharks never saw the winning shot, either.

A crazy cross-ice bounce of the puck off a stanchion on the right wing boards set up Bieksa's shot from the high slot—with the rest of the players, including San Jose goalie Antti Niemi, looking in the wrong direction.

The early analysis is what we might expect. Former Boston Bruin and current CBC analyst Garry Galley points to high expectations for the Canucks: "Going into the playoffs," he explained, "they were the favorite to win the Cup and they've held serve .... They're a team that really is firing on all cylinders." The Sedins, he noted, are "finding their game", and Galley offers praise for late additions Chris Higgins and Maxim LaPierre.

Meanwhile, Galley's analysis of the series between his former Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning is not so happy. Calling the series a roller coaster, Galley noted, "Neither team has gotten consistency, from their goaltender right on out. There has been a myriad of mistakes in the defensive and neutral zones, which you never thought you’d see from these teams. There’s some cleanup work that needs to be done."

It's been a figuratively bloody series between the Bolts and Bruins. The Canucks and their fans, said Galley, "probably hoped for Game Seven, triple overtime".

Meanwhile, forwards Patrice Bergeron of Boston, and Ryan Kesler of Vancouver, are the two front runners for this year's Conn Smythe Trophy. One thinks that for Bergeron to snatch the prize, he must first advance his team to meet the Bruins in the battle for the Stanley Cup.

Out here on the west coast, of course, the commentary is ... well, I haven't done a complete analysis. I'm still mortified by Steve Kelley (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/stevekelley/2015139089_kelley25.html). Every big town has at least one, I think. You know, the sports columnist who should never have been hired:


Borrowing from the dusty playbook of Ike and Tina Turner, the Canucks never, ever do anything easy.

I'm just going to presume that the line refers to a specific song that slips my memory, or an autobiography title, and isn't actually making a domestic violence joke.

Still, it's terrible. Bulwer-Lytton terrible. And yet, the Boston Herald (http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/hockey/other_nhl/view/20110525canucks_win_it_their_way_with_high_drama/) version of Kelley's article actually opens with it.

Doesn't matter. It's the Canucks in the Stanley Cup Finals. That's all that matters until they bring it to Vancouver—back to Canada for the first time in eighteen years.

'NuckNuckNuckNuckNuck!
____________________

Notes:

Harris, Stephen. "Canucks wait for foe". The Boston Herald. May 26, 2011. BostonHerald.com. May 25, 2011. http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/hockey/other_nhl/view/2011_0526canucks_wait_for_finals_foe/

Kelley, Steve. "Drama-king Canucks headed to Stanley Cup Final". The Seattle Times. May 24, 2011. SeattleTimes.NWSource.com. May 25, 2011. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/stevekelley/2015139089_kelley25.html

—————. "Canucks win it their way with high drama". The Boston Herald. May 25, 2011. BostonHerald.com. May 25, 2011. http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/hockey/other_nhl/view/20110525canucks_win_it_their_way_with_high_drama/

Winning the series in 5 games is doing things the hard way? Yeah, game 5 wasn't a storybook finish, but Luongo stood tall and we made good on two glorious chances given to us. We survived the Shark frenzy and stole the win.

Winning the series in 5 games is doing things the hard way? Yeah, game 5 wasn't a storybook finish, but Luongo stood tall and we made good on two glorious chances given to us. We survived the Shark frenzy and stole the win.

Well, it certainly wasn't the most direct path. To put them away in four would have been.

And tying the game with thirteen seconds left—and I actually got to see the extra attacker work right for a change!—was certainly dramatic. Taking two overtimes to drive the nail certainly doesn't count as the easy way.

The flip side is that it's Steve Kelley. Seattle Times readers will recognize the significance of that sentence.

He's an institution of bad sports writing.

Game Five ended exactly the way those games end, only pointedly so. By the point of the second overtime, the game will be decided pretty much by accident or failure. Bieksa later said he was just concentrating on trying to get enough wood on the puck to make sure it went where it needed to go. That's all he had left. It was the shot of a lifetime. A statistical oddity that will live in a certain infamy. From the outset, the CBC commentators were noting the glass, that was a recent installation, and Bieksa said he'd never seen a bounce like that in all his time in the arena.

The game was decided by accident. Even other Canucks were skating to an inevitable whistle that never came. As Bieksa shot, I saw a Canuck skating at ease, stick gripped midway, adjusting his helmet as two or three players pointed up to the netting, and everyone was looking somewhere other than where the puck actually was.

When you're a kid, you dream about that. If you're lucky enough to make the show, you're luckier still to ever get that chance. I mean, that wasn't just, "Hello!" That was one of the most unexpected resolutions to an exhausting war we could have expected.

But when you're trying to be the best team in the National Hockey League, that's the kind of luck you make. I mean, Bieksa still had to get the thing into the net, and not bounce it of Niemi's chest, or miss wide, or something.

It was a glorious coincidence of more factors than I can count. The NHL could go twenty years without seeing another play like that. And pure accident.

NBC Sports (http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/25/video-breaking-down-the-magic-bounces-of-kevin-bieksas-series-winning-goal/) has the video excerpt, which Joe Yerdon describes:


Vancouver won Game 5 in double overtime thanks to a Kevin Bieksa goal that defies all description. It started with the Canucks locking down play in the San Jose end. They were able to bounce the puck around the zone and prevent the Sharks from taking control of things and clear the zone. Eventually the puck was worked around the perimeter and out to Alexander Edler.

Edler went to send the puck back deeper into the corner when he fired it along the glass. At that point, Versus' Dave Strader and virtually everyone else on the ice lost sight of where the puck went. Kevin Bieksa was the one guy who did spot it as the puck bounced off a partition in the glass right to him as he fired the puck on net to beat Antti Niemi to win the game.

Bieksa's shot wasn't exactly the prettiest shot in the world as it knuckled and whirled towards the net just slipping past Niemi's foot and into the corner of the net but it was good enough to put the Canucks into their first Stanley Cup finals since 1994. Back then it was Greg Adams beating the Toronto Maple Leafs in double overtime to send the Canucks off to face the New York Rangers in the Cup finals. Bieksa's turn as the hero, even in the face of the wild bounces and freakish luck, will put him down in Canucks history as a hero.

The CBC broadcast was framed from up high for the play; it didn't actually make sense that the puck was bouncing in the direction it was, but there was this moment when time stopped because it was so unreal. And before you could think, "Is that the puck!" the lights flared and the horn blew. But yes, there was this flicker of motion that just stopped everything.

Astounding. Flabbergasting.

To the Cup! Canucks!
____________________

Notes:

Yerdon, Joe. "Breaking down the magic bounces of Kevin Bieksa’s series-winning goal". Pro Hockey Talk. May 25, 2011. ProHockeyTalk.NBCSports.com. May 26, 2011. http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/25/video-breaking-down-the-magic-bounces-of-kevin-bieksas-series-winning-goal/

All Good People Behind Blue Eyes

What? I needed a title to exorcise a couple of earworms that have been bothering me for, quite literally, weeks.

Meanwhile, when it comes to being behind any eyes, perhaps the best view in the world right now belongs to Canucks' forward Manny Molhotra. The thirty-one year-old forward enjoyed less than a year with the team before his season was presumably cut short, and career possibly destroyed, by a puck that caught him in the left eye on March 16:


The grave danger to the Vancouver Canucks is being overstated. The concern for Manny Malhotra can not be.

When the puck ramped off Colorado Avalanche defenceman Erik Johnson's stick Wednesday and struck Malhotra flush on the left eye, it had more potential to end the third-liner's career than the Canucks' season ....

.... There is no such thing as a minor vision problem and the last Canuck who suffered a serious eye injury — defenceman Mattias Ohlund in a similar incident during a 1999 pre-season game — missed large chunks of two seasons and never recovered full peripheral vision in his right eye.

Ohlund, however, continues his long and lucrative National Hockey League with a valve surgically implanted below his damaged eye to draw away fluid and regulate pressure.

Malhotra underwent surgery Wednesday [March 16] night to drain fluid from his eye, but any damage to his vision won't be known until swelling subsides and the 30-year-old undergoes further tests.

(MacIntyre (http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Iain+MacIntyre+Worry+Manny+Maholtra+career+more+th an+Canucks+season/4460796/story.html))

On Saturday, fans winced as they looked over Molhotra's injured eye, but celebrated word that the third-line center has received the green light to suit up and skate for the Vancouver Canucks in Game One of the Stanley Cup Final.


Coach Alain Vigneault was first to confirm that Malhotra has been cleared to play, before Malhotra personally addressed the media for the first time since the incident.

“It’s obviously a very exciting prospect for me at this point,” said Malhotra, of the possibility of returning to the line-up, which coach Vigneault did not speak to.

“Coming from where I was two months ago and making the statement that the season was over to potentially having a chance to play in the NHL Stanley Cup Final is obviously incredibly exciting for me.”

(Jory (http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=564074))


http://2.cdn.nhle.com/canucks/images/upload/2011/05/May2811_manny_biggy.jpg (http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=564074)
Caged: Malhotra will wear a full cage to protect his still-healing face.

In fairness, it should be noted that Malhotra's eyes are not blue.

Defensemen Christian Erhoff and Aaron Rome, technically the third blue line, will both skate in Game One. Erhoff missed the last two games against San Jose with a shoulder injury, and many fans expected Aaron Rome to be finished for the season after being knocked stiff cold in Game Three against San Jose. With that pair seemingly ready to go, Vancouver comes to Game One with one of the best and deepest defenses in the League. Analyst Dan Rosen (http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=564076) notes:


The Canucks rely heavily on rolling their top six and remarkably have been able to use nine defensemen in these playoffs without any significant dropoff.

Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins offer up a scary blue line of their own with the genuinely frightening Zdeno Chara (6'9", 255 lbs; +11) paired with Dennis Seidenberg, who has emerged as something of a secret weapon. Averaging 28 minutes a game, Seidenberg has logged a +8 since joining Chara.

But the Bruins also suffer a question of depth. The second blue line consists of Andrew Ference (7 pts., +6) and Johnny Boychuk (6 pts., +5), and while they've had their shaky moments, they have also managed to be brilliant when needed. Ference set up the game winner in Game Seven against Tampa Bay, and Boychuk has racked up hits against opponents.

Meanwhile, Thomas Kaberle (8 pts., +7) and Adam McQuaid (4 pts., +5) round out the blue liners, with Shane Hnidy to fill in as needed.

The defensive focus is important because it seemed that Boston suffered its greatest troubles against Tampa once its formidable defense buckled. The Canucks have a spare blue line without significant statistical loss, and all it takes for the Sedins to light up the ice is to get a heartbeat ahead. Daniel's no-look pass to Henrik, who then fed Burrows in Game Five against San Jose should adequately state the point about what happens when a defense buckles.

Looking forward to Wednesday night, it is for Canucks fans a battle of confidence against the reality that this is the NHL Stanley Cup Final. The prospectus speaks well for Vancouver, but nothing on the ice is certain until the final buzzer. Boston's ability to score is known, and should not be underestimated; eleven Canucks are on the wrong side of their plus-minus, including Henrik (21 pts., -4) and Daniel (16 pts., -4). But the question is whether Bruins defense can continuously disrupt the Canucks' fluent puck communication. If Boston can break Vancouver's ambition and slip a couple early breakaway goals, the Bruins could easily set themselves a winning course through the Finals.
____________________

Notes:

MacIntyre, Iain. "Worry for Manny Maholtra's career more than Canucks season". The Vancouver Sun. March 17, 2011. VancouverSun.com. May 30, 2011. http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Iain+MacIntyre+Worry+Manny+Maholtra+career+more+th an+Canucks+season/4460796/story.html

Jory, Derek. "Green light for Malhotra". May 28, 2011. Canucks.NHL.com. May 30, 2011. http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=564074

Rosen, Dan. "NHL.com breakdown". May 28, 2011. Canucks.NHL.com. May 30, 2011. http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=564076

Brief Digression: Winnipeg!

Raise a glass, as the National Hockey League is headed north, again.


On behalf of Canucks Sports & Entertainment the Vancouver Canucks extend congratulations to David Thomson, Mark Chipman and Craig Heisinger on the return of NHL hockey to the city of Winnipeg. The Canucks have enjoyed an excellent partnership with True North Sports & Entertainment over the years and look forward to a new relationship with True North and the city of Winnipeg as an NHL partner.

(Vancouver Canucks (http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=564321))

I knew this was coming, but the brief communique above is how I found out that the decision had been announced.

Jim Matheson (http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2011/05/31/winnipeg-hockey-fans-primer-by-fug-lien-is-pronounced-buff-lin/) of the Edmonton Journal writes:


I grew up in Winnipeg, so yes, I’m happy the NHL’s back there. Somewhere up in heaven, John Ferguson, their first GM, is lighting up a celebratory cigar, Randy Carlyle, a former NHL captain, AHL Manitoba Moose coach and now Anaheim Ducks’ head coach, is grinning ear-to-ear and former Jets’ scoring machine Teemu Selanne is doing wheelies in one of his 18 cars, too.

Maybe, if they can relocate the picture of the dour Queen which hung at the end of the now demolished Winnipeg Arena, she might be smiling, too.

And the CBC (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2011/05/31/f-winnipeg-hockey-history.html) offers a glimpse into the history of hockey, both general and Winnipeg-related, including local contributions to the sport alleged to include goalkeeper's pads and the wrist shot.

While I won't knock Atlanta, I must admit that hockey south of about Denver, Colorado, is a strange concept for most Americans. And, yes, this includes three California teams, the former Winnipeg team in Phoenix, and two in Florida; four of those five organizations made the playoffs this year.

The Thrashers tallied a record of 34-36-12 (80 pts.) during their final season in Atlanta, falling some twenty-three points short of Tampa Bay (46-25-11; 103 pts.), who made the playoffs for the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division behind the Conference-leading Washington Capitals.

In Atlanta today, hockey fans are disappointed by the news, which came this morning when the team gave notice (http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=564242):


Earlier today, we, along with our partners, signed an asset purchase agreement to sell the Atlanta Thrashers to True North Sports and Entertainment. If ratified by the NHL, Commissioner Bettman and the league's Board of Governors, this will result in the relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg, Canada beginning with the 2011-2012 season.

It's extremely disappointing to all of us that it became necessary after all other options were exhausted. We want to express our gratitude to you, the fans, for the years of dedication you have offered to the Atlanta Thrashers.

As many of you know, for some time we have been seeking a buyer for the team or a partner willing to join with us in continuing to fund the team. We hired an investment banking firm to seek out potential investors with the expressed goal of finding someone who would keep the team here in Atlanta. In recent months, we openly indicated a growing urgency to secure assistance in off-setting our operating losses in hopes that our public plea would produce investors who, to that point, had eluded us.

After extensive effort, nobody has come forward. As a result, we had no choice but to explore the investment option presented to us by the NHL in the form of True North Sports and Entertainment.

Relocation of the Thrashers is not the outcome that any of us ultimately wanted ....

Meanwhile, Ben Wright (http://bluelandblog.com/2011/05/16/what-was-your-first-game/) at The Blueland Blog has been asking fans to recount their first Thrashers' experience. And as one Vancouver fan commented a short while ago, "Thanks for 11 years of Thrashers hockey."


http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/topstories/2011/05/31/li-winnipeg-hockey620.jpg (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2011/05/31/f-winnipeg-hockey-history.html)
Lars-Erik Sjoberg and the Winnipeg Jets celebrate their 1979 WHA championship.

Save a drink for Atlanta, indeed.

And congratulations, Winnipeg.
____________________

Notes:

Vancouver Canucks. "Canucks Statement on Return of NHL to Winnipeg". May 31, 2011. Canucks.NHL.com. May 31, 2011. http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=564321

Matheson, Jim. "Winnipeg hockey fans primer: By-Fug-Lien is pronounced Buff-Lin". The Edmonton Journal. May 31, 2011. Blogs.EdmontonJournal.com. May 31, 2011. http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2011/05/31/winnipeg-hockey-fans-primer-by-fug-lien-is-pronounced-buff-lin/

CBC News. "Winnipeg's hockey history". May 31, 2011. CBC.ca. May 31, 2011. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2011/05/31/f-winnipeg-hockey-history.html

Atlanta Thrashers. "Atlanta Thrashers Update". May 31, 2011. Thrashers.NHL.com. May 31, 2011. http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=564242

Wright, Ben. "What Was Your First Game?" The Blueland Blog. May 16, 2011. BluelandBlog.com. May 31, 2011. http://bluelandblog.com/2011/05/16/what-was-your-first-game/

A Brief Note

It's been bugging me that I haven't said anything about the outcome of Game One.

I tried. Really, I did.

But I couldn't make any sense, ranting about that goal, fretting over Hamhuis, the fact that the first two periods passed with more than half the time spent in special teams play while the third went without a penalty, and all that sort of thing.

I will, however, mention one thing:


• Eastern Conference Final, Game Five: Tying goal at 19:46. Double overtime victory.

• Stanley Cup Final, Game One: Winning goal at 19:41.

I'm generally confident, of course, but I wonder how long before the Canucks either get sick of this last-second stuff and blow Boston out of the water, or buckle under the stress of these late wins.

The slogan goes, "Cool heads prevail." Perhaps that is the lesson here. After two periods of penalty-inflicted play, the teams finally got to swing fully into their game plans, and the Canucks, quite impressively, kept at theirs until the end against Boston.

They certainly did in their double-overtime win against San Jose, even though fatigue was making everyone just a bit sloppy.

But they didn't break form. Didn't panic. Didn't start looking for the desperate play.

And it worked.

The question is whether they will start wearing thin having to play straightfaced into the last minute over and over again.

Maybe they'll break later today.

Or maybe, just maybe—we can always hope, right?—they will simply eat the Bruins in Game Two.

'NuckNuckNuckNuckNuck!

Happy Birthday, Fin!

What gifts the Canucks bring their faithful mascot on his tenth birthday.


Bruins | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2
Canucks| 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3

I got to do the Happy Dance when the Vancouver Canucks hit the ice for their warm-up skate, and Rogers Arena erupted into cacophony as Manny Malhotra stepped into the rink.


http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2011/hockey/nhl/06/04/malhotra.canucks.ap/manny-malhotra-story-reuters.jpg (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/hockey/nhl/06/04/malhotra.canucks.ap/)
79 days: "It's a privilege to play in front of fans like this," Malholtra told reporters.


"I was excited I was going to have the chance to play, but probably the most nervous I've been in my entire career," he said.

Malhotra hadn't played since March 16, when a deflected puck hit him in the face, opening a wound that left a trail of blood on the ice. He needed two operations on his left eye, and the Canucks declared his season over.

Wearing a full-face shield, Malhotra was the last player on the ice for warmups for Game 2, and he got the biggest cheer from the crowd as it made its way into the building. He was greeted by more cheers and chants of "Manny, Manny" when he made his finals debut by beating Boston's Chris Kelly on a faceoff 1:48 into the first period.

(Associated Press (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/hockey/nhl/06/04/malhotra.canucks.ap/))

Malhotra won six of seven face-offs in his 7:26 on the ice; a triumphant return, indeed.

His teammates certainly did not let the occasion pass unnoticed, jumping to a first period lead that disappeared during a weak performance in the second. But a Daniel Sedin goal at 9:37 in the third period tied it up. The Bruins and Canucks played to the final horn, and then headed to overtime.

It was a short overtime.

Eleven seconds (http://video.canucks.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=804&id=116980).

The Boston Bruins, through two games, have suffered a rash of neutral zone turnovers, and indeed those errors proved costly in Game Two. At the drop to start the overtime, the Bruins appeared to win the face-off, but failed to secure the puck. Canucks forward Alex Burrows came away with the puck and rushed the goal. Bruins keeper Tim Thomas committed, Burrows faked. Thomas flopped back to cover the short side, and slid past the goal. Burrows leaned into Zdeno Chara, banked the puck off the boards behind the goal, and beat the 6'9, 255 pound defenseman around the corner to push a wrap-around into the empty net.

Thomas, frustrated, skated quickly off the ice amid the thunderous celebration of Vancouver's 2-0 series lead.

After a long and confounding game, the lightning-quick resolution seemd a shot heard 'round the world.

And for many fans, the whole question of whether or not Alex Burrows bit Patrice Bergeron in Game One seemed silly enough, though the press seems to have enjoyed it. But the thing about the facewash in hockey is that it's never, ever a good idea to cram your fingers into someone's mouth as Bergeron did. Furthermore, if you're Bergeron, it probably isn't the best reaction to punch a referee in the head. Strange that nobody seemed to talk about that part.

Alex Burrows erased that story in Game Two, scoring two goals including the game-winner, and racking up an assist on Daniel Sedin's third period tying goal.

Happy birthday, Fin.

And welcome back, Manny.


Scoring Summary:

Vancouver

Goals:


• Burrows (9), 12:12 1st; 0:11 OT
• D. Sedin (9), 9:37 3rd

Assists:


• Higgins, Salo, Burrows, D. Sedin, Edler (2)

Saves:


• Luongo 28/30 .933

Boston

Goals:


• Lucic (4), 9:00 2nd
• Recchi (3), 11:35 2nd, PP

Assists:


• Boychuk, Krejci, Chara, Bergeron

Saves:


• Thomas 30/33 .909
____________________

Notes:

Associated Press. "Malhotra returns to Canucks lineup for Game 2 of Stanley Cup finals". Sports Illustrated. June 5, 2011. SportsIllsutrated.com. June 5, 2011. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/hockey/nhl/06/04/malhotra.canucks.ap/

Wyshynski, Greg. "Malhotra comeback: 'Privilege to play in front of fans like this'". Puck Daddy. June 5, 2011. Sports.Yahoo.com. June 5, 2011. http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Malhotra-comeback-8216-Privilege-to-play-in-f

It's been a very tight series so far, and I expect that should continue into games three and four. I'm hoping the Canucks show EA Sports' prediction (http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=564128) to be wrong, and steal a home game from the Bruins. Two would be better, but winning the cup in game 5 in Vancouver would be amazing.

Fun facts: There are more American players (6) in Vancouver than in Boston (4) and there are more Canadian players in Boston than in Vancouver.

So Canada wins either way.... :)

Yeah. Winnipeg's season tickets are already sold out and some packages all the way to 5 years. You don't realize what you had till it's gone. I expect them to be the most rabid fans for years to come.

As a follow-up anecdote to the team relocating back to Winnipeg, a former work-acquaintance of mine lived in Winnipeg during the last years of the Jets' tenure there. Apparently tickets were very, very inexpensive just to try and get fans into the arena. Something like $15 for a seat, and that included some sort of concession items as well.

I'm happy for the people of Winnipeg that are getting a second chance. They are certainly showing that they want it badly enough.

Ouch

I haven't checked the scuttlebutt. I don't even want to know what action is coming down after that performance.

Winnipeg already f*cked it up big time by building an undersized arena with room for only 15000, whereas the new NHL standards are pushing up towards a minimum ~20000 seating capacity. If they wanted an NHL team in that barn, they should have planned in advance before they flushed hundreds of millions down the toilet. They're lucky Atlanta's such a sh*t market for a hockey team, but if Winnipeg wants to keep their team and keep it profitable, they're going to have to spend hundreds of millions once again building yet another new arena not too far down the line, and Winnipeg's not exactly the kind of city that can afford it.

Painful

This series is just brutal.


Game Five:

Bruins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Canucks| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1

Maxim LaPierre notched his second playoff goal at 4:35 in the third (Bieksa, Torres assists), and that was good enough for the win in a hard-fought Game Five. Roberto Luongo handled all thirty-one shots Boston threw at him, while Thomas missed just one of twenty-five from Vancouver. Compared to prior games, it seems nearly like a cease-fire, as do the eighteen penalty infraction minutes.

To their credit, the Canucks are at their best when they play faithfully according to the game plan. They really are a remarkable testament to such outcomes. But that game plan seems good enough, at present, to barely keep up with Boston, winning by a single goal in games one, two, and five. Boston, on the other hand, took their two games at home by a combined score of 12-1.

So the challenge for Vancouver seems to be to keep their heads about themselves. They racked up ninety-six penalty infraction minutes over the last two games at TD Gardens.

Meanwhile, Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo managed to unsettle some feathers with his analysis of teammate Maxim LaPierre's goal that marked the difference in Game Five:


According to Luongo, he would've made the save on that play.

"It's not hard if you're playing in the paint. It's an easy save for me, but if you're wandering out and aggressive like he does, that's going to happen," said Luongo during his post-game presser. "He might make some saves that I won't, but in a case like that, we want to take advantage of a bounce like that and make sure we're in a good position to bury those."

Thomas made 24 saves in the loss, and has surrendered just six goals in the five games thus far in comparison to the 16 Luongo has given up during the Stanley Cup Final.

On Saturday as the team prepared to board its charter to Boston, Luongo wasn't necessarily backing down from his post-game comments.

"I said also that he might make some saves that I don't, so I'm just saying on that particular play I would've played it different and that's the difference between me and him," said Luongo, trying to speak over hundreds of fans chanting 'Luongo, Luongo!' at Vancouver International Airport. "I've been pumping his tires ever since the series started. I haven't heard any one nice thing he's had to say about me, so that's the way it is."

The 32-year-old Montreal native isn't surprised at the attention his post-game comments received given the stage the two teams are on at the moment.

"Obviously we're in the Stanley Cup Final, so every little thing is going to be blown out of proportion," Luongo continued. "He has his style and I have mine, so that's the way it goes."

(Mahiban (http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=565565))

Thomas' aggressive style is something Vancouver fans have been hoping their team will capitalize on, and some of the empty-net moments the team has failed to convert into points have ridden groaning waves across the Great North, and echoed through Seattle. Luongo himself was faulted after last year's playoff performance for being too aggressive and coming too far out of his net. One wonders if maybe Boston's hot tempers aren't looking for something to complain about.

But they ought not worry; Game Six is in Boston, and the 'Nucks have not been nearly so good on the road.

Which brings us, of course, back to the game plan.

They can keep up; we've seen them do it. But can they do it in Boston to put this thing away in six?

The Vancouver Canucks need to win one in Boston. It's a matter of pride.

And now one is all they need.

Monday night: For the Cup!
_____________________

Notes:

Mahiban, Dhiren. "Luongo doesn't back down from comments". June 11, 2011. NHL.com. June 11, 2011. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=565565

Game Six: The Weight of History

If I'm doing the math right, then according to Bruins fan Mark Marino (http://thehubofhockey.net/2011/05/27/boston-bruins-vs-vancouver-canucks-all-time-stats/), the Vancouver Canucks have only ever won in Boston seven times in their history when on the road in Boston.

Which is even worse than I had thought, having supposedly heard eight the other day.

You would think a stat like that would be all over the place, but it's taken a few days worth of halfhearted, hunt and peck searching to actually find these numbers:


• 108 total meetings between Vancouver and Boston prior to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.

• Bruins lead series 68-24-15-1.

• Bruins record at Vancouver: 29-17-8-0.

Did you catch that? Vancouver has won twenty-four times in the whole of the series, prior to the Final. Seventeen of those were in Vancouver.

Which leaves seven. And a tie.

While Tim Thomas was undefeated against the Canucks coming into the series, with two shutouts, Roberto Luongo has returned that favor with shutouts in games one and five. But Vancouver suffered two incredibly ugly defeats at TD Garden in games three and four, outscored 12-1 as they seemed to forget how to skate.

The real question of history is not in the blowouts. Not in the trivia of who wins game five. It is not Boston's heritage nor Vancouver's hunger. And while we all stand amazed at Tim Thomas' performance through the Stanley Cup Final, it is not the Boston keeper.

The real question of history is whether the Vancouver Canucks can win in Boston.

The Canucks' last four wins have come by one-goal margins. Two have required overtime periods to settle the question. The power of the Canucks' game plan is evident insofar as the team did not panic against the Sharks, and evened up with just under twenty seconds to play. And then, Boston—thirteen seconds left. In Game Two, it was enough to match up at 9:37 in the third, and Burrows settled up eleven seconds into the overtime period.

It works, quite obviously, in Rogers Arena, where the 'Nucks have netted three wins with a total of five goals. Boston scored eight at TD Gardens in Game Three.

A functional problem emerges. The patience of the Canucks' game plan simply does not seem to be able to account for falling behind Boston on the road. And, in looking to history, we find troubling suggestions for the future.

Troubling suggestions for tonight.

In a house where the 'Nucks so rarely find victory, they must find a way to make the game plan work. They must skate faster, pass cleaner, shoot harder and closer to true. They must hit ferociously but efficiently. They must elevate the game plan to a new valence, one that suits the circumstances.

Tonight, the Vancouver Canucks shall play for Le Coupe.

The Canucks have two chances to win one game. The Bruins have one chance to win two. One can take comfort in such numbers, but also remember that such figures are unreliable. The way to ensure the Cup is for the Vancouver Canucks to take one away from the Boston Bruins, to win a game in the Garden, and end this series tonight.

Do not give the Boston Bruins a reason to fight for the Cup in Game Seven. Do not give them a chance.

The game plan works, and cannot be abandoned. It cannot be changed. But it must be played anew, with vigor and faith befitting champions. They only have the whole of history to overcome—No problem.

Great teams of sporting lore are not content to simply await their moment, but instead demand it.

Boston plays to live up to its heritage.

Vancouver plays to stake theirs.
____________________

Notes:

Marino, Mark. "Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks all-time stats". The Hub of Hockey. May 27, 2011. TheHubOfHockey.net. June 13, 2011. http://thehubofhockey.net/2011/05/27/boston-bruins-vs-vancouver-canucks-all-time-stats/

`
Geez - another debacle.

Must be somethin' about that chowderhead rink...

Why must they make everything difficult?

Seymour!

Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!

Well...maybe they really need to have more players on the ice than the rules allow. :o

...or to try and keep their sticks on the ice. ;)

Well...maybe they really need to have more players on the ice than the rules allow. :o

Yeah, it's now a rush to recovery. I need to be capable of sitting through Game Seven.


...or to try and keep their sticks on the ice. ;)

I believe (http://free-loops.com/1638-believe-mr-hanky.html).

No, really, though. I believe in Mr. Hanky.

I mean, Rogers Arena.

I just really wanted the Canucks to make some sort of statement in Boston. At least, some sort of statement other than doing their best tribute to Kurt Cobain (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ync1u2Qw5c8).

Boston is a heritage club. They know how to steal games in these moments.

Vancouver's test of championship is tomorrow night. I mean, if they can't win this ....

Well, it doesn't matter, because they are going to.

(A note to our atheistic neighbors: See? This is called "faith", and it's part of the human experience, regardless of whether or not God exists. Get over it.)

Game 6 also came down to 4.5 really awful minutes. Otherwise they played alright (and actually outplayed the Bruins for much of the third).

Game 6 also came down to 4.5 really awful minutes.

A friend observes that when Lu breaks, he shatters.

What is it about road games in tough houses?

And why is Lu's breakdown always so damnably coincident with the team in front of him forgetting how to skate?

Seriously, that's the thing that gets us. It's one of those things you hear enough if you grow up in a sports household: It's a mark of champions. And perhaps that is the case here. Why, after all, can the Canucks not manage to rally up in front of their keeper?

But what the hell is going on?

But what the hell is going on?Golf Season.

It's a Cascadia thing.

Sigh.

So glad the B's gave the 'nuckleheads another beatdown. It would have been worst sham in NHL, if Vancouver would have won.

So glad the B's gave the 'nuckleheads another beatdown. It would have been worst sham in NHL, if Vancouver would have won.
Right...

Now we're going through another horrendous situation. Looting, burnt cars, stabbings, fights, accidents, violence against the police.

Fuck.

So disgusting.

Well, Detroit had a stacked team which pretty much owned the NHL for several years, and it took them multiple tries to win their most recent cup despite having the best regular season record for something like 3 years in a row. So Vancouver definitely has a shot next year. The problem with getting this close to a cup and falling short, is that players with expiring contracts will still want full credit for their heroics leading up to the final game, and will thus expect a pay raise accordingly. So no championship, but the roster salary takes a bump, and the Canucks will probably have to let a few key players sign with other teams in the summer or take a chance on them at a higher pay scale with a more prominent role on the team.

I feel really bad for Luongo right now. Vancouver is one hockey city where anything other than winning constitutes epic failure. They've been spoiled for years by a world class goaltender, a couple of offensive superstars and several surprise overachievers, so now they think they're entitled to a Stanley Cup, and the players will be receiving heaps of scorn for not realizing this entitlement.

Wow! 4 to 0, that's a real beating the Canadians took and at home ice as well. They won 3 games that they played there before the last game so they really should have won it but alas they just couldn't do it and the Bruins could. Congratulations to the Bruins for a well played game and perhaps next year the Canadians will come back to give it another try for eventually they should win.

My main team didn't even make it in (Panthers) and my second isn't in the finals (Red Wings). Oh well, guess i'll root for the Canadians.

Cosmic, there are seven teams with homes in Canadian cities. One of them, from Montreal, is actually called the Canadiens. The team facing the Bruins in the finals was the Vancouver Canucks. Calling the team "the Canadians" is misleading -- especially since I think the Bruins have just as many players who are Canadian citizens as the Canucks do.

Anyway, the run that the Canucks had was fantastic, and as a fan I am very happy with their performance save the last series and especially the final game.

The disgust was referring to the rioting, looting, and general mayhem caused by people using the game as an excuse.