Canucks vs Sharks - Renewing Acquaintances

Tomorrow night the San Jose Sharks invade Rogers Arena to take on the Vancouver Canucks in Game1 of the NHL Western Conference Quarter-Finals.  These teams have met once before with the Canucks taking out the Sharks in 5 games in the Western Conference Final on their way to losing in Game 7 of the 2010-2011 Stanley Cup Finals to the Boston Bruins.

Both teams have made a few changes since then.  For the Canucks the most noticeable change

Sporting Vancouver 1st Round Playoff Prognostications - Western Conference

The Western Conference has a lot of familiar faces in the playoffs this year as well as 2 teams that didn't make it last year in the Anaheim Ducks and the Minnesota Wild.  The Columbus Blue Jackets surprised many by nearly making it as well.  What we should see are 4 very

Sporting Vancouver 1st Round Playoff Prognostications - Eastern Conference

After a lock-out shortened regular season we finally get down to business...the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs are upon us.  This year's shortened season produced some new entrants in the NHL's tournament.  After a 9 year hiatus the Toronto Maple Leafs finally

10 Possible Reasons Alain Vigneault Doesn't Like/Won't Play Keith Ballard

I don't care what anyone says, I'm convinced that Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault has it in for defenceman Keith Ballard.  Time and time again, since his arrival here Keith Ballard has been benched inexplicably and been passed on the depth chart by virtually every defenceman in the organization.  Most recently by rookie Frank Corrado who has a total of exactly 3, basically mean-nothing NHL games under his belt and a total of 6 total pro games at any level.  I mean, you pretty much have to be going out of your way to push him that far down the depth-chart.
I, for one, think Ballard is not being deployed correctly and is being treated unfairly.  I know many others in the twitterverse and bloggerverse feel the same way.
The narrative we get fed by the mainstream media closely associated with the team is that Ballard makes too many mistakes and turns the puck over too many times.  While I won't argue that he does make mistakes from time to time I would argue that he makes no more mistakes than do Kevin Bieksa, Alex Edler, and Andrew Alberts.  These three however seem to do so with impunity.  So we can rule that out of the possible reasons that Ballard gets sat out so often he has his name engraved on his press-box seat.  For if this were the case, if AV sits players out when they make numerous mistakes, Bieksa, Edler, and Ballard would be sitting out half the season!  Hell, Mason Raymond would be in the ECHL!!!
So I'm trying to delve deeper into the psyche of our good coach Alain Vigneault to try to uncover the REAL reason that he just won't give Keith Ballard a reasonable chance at cracking the Canucks line-up on a consistent basis...

Reason # 10:

Keith Ballard's name is VERY un-French-like.










Reason # 9:

Keith Ballard reminds him of himself when he was an NHLer and since he didn't play much/got benched a lot he projects that on Keith Ballard












Reason #8

Keith Ballard, once early on, didn't offer AV one of his lozenges even though he knew that AV had run out.











Reason #7:

AV once knew a kid back in high-school named Keith who bullied him












Reason # 6:

He's 'saving him' for game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final










Reason #5

Once had a dog named Ballard who he made a doghouse for.








Reason #4:

Some guy named Keith stole his girlfriend at prom










Reason #3:

 If you re-arrange the letters in Keith Ballard's name you can spell CODY HODGSON.










Reason #2:

AV had a thing for Grabner and this is his passive-aggressive way of getting back at GMMG for trading him

Time To Channel Your Hated for the Sharks

Remember the Canucks 2010-2011 Stanley Cup Run? Of course you do.

1 game short.

Do you remember how much anger and hatred you (assuming you're a Canuck fan) felt towards those evil thug knuckle-dragging Boston Bruins?  Of course you do.

Everyone remembers

Whitecaps Eke One Out in Edmonton

The Vancouver WhitecapsFC started the 2013 AmWay Canadian Championship with a 3-2 victory over EdmontonFC of the 2nd tier North American Soccer League.
The Whitecaps were expected to easily handle Edmonton but this game

Canucks Playoff Ready? They Better Be

Last night's game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Chicago Blackhawks can be looked at in two ways depending on your perspective.

One might say that the Vancouver Canucks played one of their best games of the season thus far against the top team in the NHL and soon to be crowned President's Trophy winners the Chicago Blackhawks. One might say that the Canucks, despite missing 3 of their top 6 defensemen shut down the explosive Blackhawks save for a fluky rarely seen ref-assisted goal.  One might say

Khalif Mitchell Might Need to Rethink Some Decisions

The latest from the outspoken Khalif Mitchell came in the form of a televised sit-down interview with Craig McEwen on Rogers Sportsnet. In the interview, Mitchell re-affirmed his stance that he took when he was traded by the BC Lions to the Toronto Argonauts, stating that he would not report to Toronto and would like to be released from his contract.
He cited his love of the west-coast lifestyle and an apparently lucrative business arrangement with a west-coast beverage company.
Khalif Mitchell has always been, what one might describe, a free-thinker. One need not look any further than his twitter account @Truthwillfree96 for evidence of that. In his Twitter bio he
describes himself as, among other things, a "Believer in TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE CONCEPT". I think it will take a lot more than that to set him free from his contract, and truth is he is either getting bad advice or he needs to grow up a little.
I think he is a fantastic player and from all accounts a great guy and truly unique and gifted person. As a season ticket holder I've shaken his hands after games a few times and he has signed autographs for me and countless other fans. From what I've seen, he has always made a point of greeting fans after games on the way to the dressing room and will sign for anyone who asks.

Khalif Mitchell still has 1 year left on his contract with the Argos and it would probably be in his best interest to honour it, go play for a year for them and make a good impression and either take a crack at playing again down south in the NFL or get on with another CFL team, of his choosing, as a free agent.  Then he will truly be free...and that's the TRUTH!

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Back Up Goalie? I Don't Think So

The Canucks got on a roll tonight in the last 8 minutes against Calgary on their way to a 4-1 win.  This was also made possible by the outstanding goal-tending of Mr Roberto Luongo who had an amazing 40 saves tonight and was quick to read the plays made by the eager Flames.

Luongo was called to start after Cory Schneider was reported to have the flu, which ended a streak of 11 straight starts for Schneider.  Tonight's game made me realize how much I enjoyed seeing Luo back in net. The Canucks have two great goalies and no one else in the league has this advantage. So why not use them both? Seems like it was a great strategy in the beginning. Looked like the pressure was off of both Luongo and Schneider. So my question is why did we stop switching the two?

As far as I can see we need Luongo. When given the opportunity he shows us that he is a star and a lead goalie. I just have more confidence in the team knowing he is here and because any other back up just isn't good enough. No offense Dustin Butler.

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Canucks Smell Playoffs Around the Corner

The Vancouver Canucks extended their winning streak to 4 games and are now 10 - 2 in their last 12.  Pretty decent considering they haven't played any of those games without their full complement of starters.  In fact, the line-up they dressed in some of those games closer resembled an AHL team then the usual Canucks squad we've gotten used to.
Even with a full line-up, 10 - 2 is impressive.  To do it with a depleted roster is almost jaw-dropping.  I've been critical of Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault in the past, and I'm still not convinced he can fully get the job done, however, credit where credit is due.  He's managed to not only keep the team competitive while missing multiple starters, dealing with the 2 headed goalie "champagne problem" as well as rampant trade deadline speculation, he has kept them absolutely rolling.  So I lay bouquets at the feet of the coach.

                                                                         

If the Canucks Didn't Have Bad Luck they Wouldn't Have Any Luck at All

Much was made yesterday about the return of Ryan Kesler --- the straw that stirs the Canucks drink, the engine of the Canuck-mobile.  Kesler's much anticipated return certainly lived up to expectations as the team's Selke winning centre came flying out of the gates on his first with a shot and a hit, showing no lasting effects of his lengthy absence due to a broken foot bone.  Kesler opened the scoring banging in a rebound from his office right in front of the net with a  goal that turned out to be the game winner as Cory Schneider went on to post his 4th shutout in the last  9 games (yes you read that correctly).
Kesler's return also bumped newly acquired Derek Roy down to the "3rd line" if you will where he has been impressive playing with Chris Higgins and Jannik Hansen.
The team looked good offensively, carrying much of the play, creating several chances,and getting off over 40 shots for their highest total of the season.  The score, in my opinion, greatly flattered the Phoenix Coyotes due mainly to goalie Mike Smith being up to the task and stopping everything the Canucks threw at him except for the previously mentioned Kesler effort.
One might say that with Kelser's return and the addition of Derek Roy that the Canucks look as deep offensively as they have all year and probably in the last few years.  Perfect.  Let's get this thing rolling.  Just in time for the playoffs.
But wait.  In what is becoming an almost expected occurrence, we find out this morning that Chris Higgins and Chris Tanev will be out indefinitely and will more than likely miss the rest of the regular season and perhaps the playoffs.
They just can't seem to get a break...unless its a bone.

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