Vancouver Canucks

Where are the fans?

May 29, 2011

The Vancouver Canucks are in the Stanley Cup Final so everything is sunshine and roses here in Vancouver. However, I do want to get one last thing off my chest before the Canucks embark on the most important hockey in franchise history. Where the hell are the fans? Not technically, I mean. You can't find a ticket for a Canucks playoff game-they're consistently sold out. However, you would think that with a house full of people, it would be louder. Much louder. The Canucks are supposed to have home ice advantage throughout the playoffs, but most nights the crowd is so quiet that it isn't really an advantage at all. I don't mean when the Canucks take the ice for the first time, or the Ca...

Canucks advance to Stanley Cup Final

May 25, 2011

Jonathan Szekeres

1 Comment

The Vancouver Canucks may hate any comparison drawn between themselves and the hated Chicago Blackhawks, but Kevin Bieksa's series winning goal was certainly, how shall I say, Kane-esque? Bieksa scored after Alex Edler unwittingly deflected the puck off the stanchion, directly to Bieska, who let go a weak shot that no one saw, least of all Sharks goaltender Anti Neimi, who didn't know where the puck was until it passed him into the net. It was a strange goal, but hey, this was a strange series. Alex Burrows, so clutch in big games with six goals in five elimination games this post season scored his seventh of the playoffs after a beautiful set up by the Sedin Twins. The twins, by...

Can the Canucks win Game 5?

May 24, 2011

Jonathan Szekeres

0 Comments

The Vancouver Canucks are one measly win away from their third ever Stanley Cup Final appearance, yet there is a nervous energy around the province of British Columbia. There shouldn't be. The Canucks have handily out played the lack lustre San Jose Sharks squad that have their top player banged up, thanks to a hit on Joe Thornton by Raffi Torres. The Canucks have dominated five on five, and last game they finally managed to break through on 5 on 3 powerplays. They also managed to get their penalty kill back on track, killing off five straight penalties. However, this Canucks squad has had trouble sealing the deal when it comes to Game 5. I don't have to remind you of the first roun...

Canucks use PP to down Sharks

May 22, 2011

Jonathan Szekeres

Comments

The Canucks are one win away, ladies and gentlemen. Vancouver used their powerplay, specifically three straight five on three's, to down the Sharks 4-2 in a crucial game 4. It was a bizarrely officiated game, with the Canucks taking 5 straight penalties to open the game, and then the Sharks taking four straight to blow the game open. The Canucks were able to weather the early storm, only allowing ten shots on four powerplays, none of any real danger. Tanner Glass took a tripping penalty 26 seconds into the contest, Kevin Bieksa took a high sticking call, and then Tanner Glass took another penalty, this time for boarding. In Glass's defense, the call was border line at best. The Canucks h...

Canucks dominate, take Game 2

May 19, 2011

Jonathan Szekeres

0 Comments

Oh baby. There was a lot to like about the Canucks 7-3 spanking of the San Jose Sharks, but lets try to narrow it down. First, Ben Eager might just be named MVP of the second game, mostly because he ran Daniel Sedin from behind, igniting the Sedins and sparking a four goal third period. He took four penalties, and was an amazing -2 in only ten minutes of ice time. Thanks alot Big Ben. Remind me to send you a fruit basket. The most hilarious thing is, down two nothing in the series, and 7-3 in the game, Eager actually celebrated a last minute garbage goal. Then he promptly took a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, proving the endless depths of his class. Second, the Sedins proved that the...

Canucks Defeat Sharks to Take Game 1

May 16, 2011

Jonathan Szekeres

0 Comments

Talk about living up to expectations. The first game of the Western Conference Final was absolutely brilliant. Fast paced and hard hitting, the San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks are clearly evenly matched. This, folks, is going to be an amazing series. The Canucks showed why they won the Presidents Trophy, coming from behind to win Game 1 3-2. The first period started with a push. Literally. Joe Thornton was actually thrown out of the faceoff circle to begin the game after jostling with Ryan Kesler. It was a quick first period, highlighted by two gigantic body checks, the best coming from Alex Edler on Joe Pavelski. Joe Thornton scored his third goal of the playoffs after capitalizing...

Does Wellwood have the right?

May 15, 2011

Jonathan Szekeres

4 Comments

Recently, former Canuck Kyle Wellwood has been a hot topic around the city of Vancouver. He's insinuated that the Canucks were playing like they were afraid to lose, something Kevin Bieksa took offense to. He responded by calling Wellwood a "weasel" and saying that the Canucks were afraid to lose when Wellwood was in Vancouver, because he was one of the smallest third line centers in the league. The question to be asked is, does Kyle Wellwood have the right to be spouting off like this when he didn't even have a contract when the NHL season started? I have no problem with players trash talking. I think it injects excitement into what are dull days waiting for the playoff games to begi...

Did they deserve it?

May 10, 2011

Jonathan Szekeres

4 Comments

The Vancouver Canucks are going to the Conference finals for the first time in 17 years, a staggering figure for any NHL team. They managed to do what they couldn't against Chicago; beat their opponents early, as they beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 in Game six. Mason Raymond and Daniel Sedin both scored for the 'Nucks, while David Legwand had his sixth goal of the playoffs in a losing cause. However, amidst the high fives and hugging, one question still has to loom for this team; did they deserve it? When you look at the Canucks, you can take a handful of players that went above and beyond the call of duty. Ryan Kesler, Roberto Luongo, Chris Higgins, Kevin Bieksa, Jannik Hansen and ...

Canucks take commanding 3-1 series lead

May 6, 2011

Jonathan Szekeres

0 Comments

The Vancouver Canucks have taken a stranglehold on their second straight series. Let's just hope this one is a little smoother. Henrik Sedin finally sprung to life, and Ryan Kesler continued his solid offensive play as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Nashville Predators 4-2 to take a 3-1 series lead. 4 goals on a stingy predators defense and an all world goalie? I'll take that. The game started well enough for the Canucks, but bad for the Preds. Christian Ehrhoff scored his second goal of the playoffs fifteen minutes into the first, after Pekka Rinne was screened by Alex Burrows. Rinne complained to the referee that he believed he had been interfered with, but no call was made. ...

Success for Kess: Canucks win

May 4, 2011

Jonathan Szekeres

1 Comment

Ryan Kesler finally showed up in the goal column as he potted two goals in the Canucks 3-2 overtime win versus the Nashville Predators. With the win, the Canucks now lead the best of 7 series two games to one. The Canucks were coming off a stinging loss to the Pred's, as they had lost 2-1 in overtime at home, after blowing a third period lead. This time around, the story was pretty much the same, but with a much better ending. The Predators opened the scoring early; something the Canucks do not want to make a habit of. Playing from behind against a trap team like Nashville can be playing with fire. 10 minutes into the first, David Legwand stole the puck from Canucks defenceman Alex...