Go Canucks! They will likely need this short pause before the next round. For their sake I hope the Bruins-Lightning series goes seven gruelling games and Couver sweeps to a Conference Champeenship. First time to the Conference finals in 17 years for Vancouver, so let's do it this time eh!
Puck Drei
Tue, 2011-05-10 00:08
#52
Tue, 2011-05-10 07:20
#53
Seadogs 5, Gatineau 1- Saint John takes a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 tomorrow night in Gatineau.
Tue, 2011-05-10 11:31
#54
Northern Shoveler
Go San Jose Go
The Nucks have to beat any team that comes along so I vote for the one wih the short commute times. A Detroit Vancouver series would be brutal on both teams given the 5 hour flights involved and the three time zones.
Tue, 2011-05-10 20:24
#55
I hope Detroit wins tonight though.
Tue, 2011-05-10 20:45
#56
Go San Jose Go
The Nucks have to beat any team that comes along so I vote for the one wih the short commute times. A Detroit Vancouver series would be brutal on both teams given the 5 hour flights involved and the three time zones.
Yes that would be too bad for Vancouver or Detroit and especially if it went 7 games. And especially if the Bruins-Lightning series ends early. Kessler said they were ready for a rest after game six.
Thu, 2011-05-12 17:10
#57
Thu, 2011-05-12 19:12
#58
N.Beltov
I'm looking forward to the victor of tonight's game limping away from a horrific conflagration and blood bath.
In other words, may the best team win ... after a protracted, 10 period, septuple overtime battle.
Thu, 2011-05-12 19:43
#59
I'm hopin' for the Sharks. San Jose's a real nice place.
Thu, 2011-05-12 23:07
#60
Northern Shoveler
I'm looking forward to the victor of tonight's game limping away from a horrific conflagration and blood bath.
In other words, may the best team win ... after a protracted, 10 period, septuple overtime battle.
I share your sentiment exactly.
Fri, 2011-05-13 00:02
#61
N.Beltov
I picked all 4 semi-finalists. Gah. Why do I treat betting and gambling with such contempt?
Fri, 2011-05-13 01:34
#62
I picked all 4 semi-finalists. Gah. Why do I treat betting and gambling with such contempt?
I was two for four. Didn't pick San Jose or Boston. I'm still suprised with the Bruins over Philly in a sweep. Of course, Carter and Pronger were injured, but then the Bruins are without Savard. And now Bergeron has another concussion albeit a mild one...albeit he doesn't even need one of those.
Looks like Tampa will have Gagne back sometime for this series, maybe even Saturday night. woohoo! Still cheering for the Bruins tho.
MALHOTRA SKATES AGAIN! Big round of applause there!
And, can we Habs fans believe it this time? Alexei Yemelin! Sounds like Gauthier might even sign him this time. Cross our fingers.
Fri, 2011-05-13 08:01
#63
Saint John Sea Dogs try to capture the President's Trophy on home ice this evening.
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/front/article/1406046
Sat, 2011-05-14 23:24
#64
That was a nice endo goal by Brett Clark tonight. The last D-man from Wapella who was such an offensive threat was George Holloway. Mind you, Dave Dunn was purty good for a while back when he played for the Leafs. Dave's little brother Perry once deked me out of my jock. That was a couple of years after I scored a natural hat-trick against Wapella. Yup, the first three goals of the game...and we still lost.
Sun, 2011-05-15 11:45
#65
A few days ago one of the kids said he just didn't care about the Canucks; he couldn't get worked up about them, whatever they did. I told him I knew what he meant. Even while I rooted for them when they had Roger Neilson as a coach, or when they had guys like the "L" line and Josh Guevremont (I was living in B.C. at the time. I remember how ticked off I was one Saturday when the CBC put on a Canucks game instead of the Leafs. Then I heard how Spinner Spencer's dad reacted)), deep down I never really cared about the team.
Maybe this article contains some explanations as to why that would be so.
The Canucks are NOT Canada's team!
NY Times jumps in today on same theme:
I grew up in the 1970s when the Canadiens won and the Canucks lost; that stays with you
go Sharks
Sun, 2011-05-15 12:06
#66
Northern Shoveler
Canadians need only look at the crowds and they will see that the norm for Vancouver games is indeed "foreign"looking fans compared to the white faced crowds in the southern states.
One feel good story about Watts was how he became a Big Brother and his little bro from the ghetto didn't even know who the Predators were. Not a lot of hockey players grow up in Nashville, especially black ones.
The New York Times says the average Canadian likes American teams more than Vancouver because it is so foreign compared to the real hockey cites like Nashville or San Jose or Boston or Tampa Bay. Wow it must be true.
Sun, 2011-05-15 12:13
#67
Northern Shoveler
Here is a comparison to NB where they have produced only 47 players of NHL caliber.
http://www.hockey-reference.com/friv/birthplaces.cgi?country=CA&province...
Quebec at 754 has more than double the players but given its population it is not as out of whack as the low numbers in NB.
Sun, 2011-05-15 12:14
#68
Northern Shoveler
Here is a list that proves how foreign the game is to BC. I agree however that the Canucks need to try and get more BC born players on the team.
325
http://www.hockey-reference.com/friv/birthplaces.cgi?country=CA&province...
Sun, 2011-05-15 12:23
#69
Northern Shoveler
To give them all some context Ontario has 2056 players who have made the NHL. Almost three times the Quebec numbers and the Maple Laughs still can't win a Cup. Gee I never heard tell that the Leafs weren't a Canadian team because they had a useless Swede as their Captain for years.
http://www.hockey-reference.com/friv/birthplaces.cgi?country=CA&province...
Sun, 2011-05-15 12:54
#70
Boy, you Canucks fans really are insecure!
I don't care who wins, but I kinda favour Tampa Bay, because I like St. Louis and Lacavalier...and they have a guy from Dodge City (what we call Wapella) on the team.
Then the Sharks have Kyle Wellwood and Ian White, two of my favourite Leafs, and Setoguchi, whom I saw play when he was in Saskatoon. My goalie is a long-time Sharks fan, so I wouldn't mind seeing him happy about the Stanley Cup results.
I like the way Burroughs and Bieksa play, but I loathe the Sedins, and I'd like to see that Seguin kid do well, as really he ought to be a Leaf.
Sun, 2011-05-15 14:37
#71
Pogo
I kinda hope that the rest of Canada doesn't jump on the bandwagon.
Sun, 2011-05-15 14:37
#72
Pogo
I kinda hope that the rest of Canada doesn't jump on the bandwagon.
Sun, 2011-05-15 14:48
#73
Catchfire
I liked Wellwood too, and I'm not even a Leafs fan. That's why I was a bit disgusted when I heard Kevin Bieksa make these comments:
"I don't even remember what that weasel said," Bieksa told the Canadian Press.Wellwood, a former Canuck, said the Sharks were a more mature team and "they're not so scared of losing."
"When we had him on our squard, we were afraid to lose," Bieksa said.
"He was the smallest third-line centre in the league at that point.".
Wellwood's initial salvo, if you can even call it that, was that he was glad he was on the Sharks because they had lost a few more times than the Canucks, and so weren't afraid of it anymore.
Sun, 2011-05-15 15:28
#74
One knock against Frodo Wellwood is that he prefers reading over playing video games, like the rest of the guys. What a monster!
Sun, 2011-05-15 15:37
#75
Ya I can't believe how Tampa bowled over the Bruins last night. And they missed some opportune scoring chances on Tim Thomas, too. Oh well, the momentum could change in this series in a heartbeat. But 5-2 over the stingiest D in the conference? I think this series could turn into another barn burner. Bruins in 7. And if not, I'll take the Lightning in six or seven. Either way I'm in there as having called it.
Sun, 2011-05-15 15:46
#76
I don't care who wins, but I kinda favour Tampa Bay, because I like St. Louis and Lacavalier...[...]
Then the Sharks have Kyle Wellwood and Ian White, two of my favourite Leafs, and Setoguchi, [...]
I agree, that all-Sunbelt Cup final would be pretty exciting
Sun, 2011-05-15 15:51
#77
Yeah, I think calling a former teammate a 'weasel' is over the top. I get that he's trying to be funny and give reporters something to write about on a slow newsday. I think he's probably also genuinely annoyed that his old teammates started slagging the character of the team as soon as they left. Wellwood doesn't seem to have taken offense anyways. And I agree with Bieksa that Wellwood as the third line centre was a pretty obvious weakness for the Canucks last year. He can make some pretty plays but for a team like the Canucks, you need to win face-offs and play fast and tough. The Sharks don't have to worry about that as they've got Pavelski and probably the deepest 1-3 centres in the league. Without Malhotra, the Canucks are really going to need Lapierre to continue to play well and hopefully the rest has been good for Hank. Welly seems like a good guy but he wasn't a good fit for the Canucks. With Malhotra in, I think this would have been Vancouver's to lose. As it stands, it should be a really exciting series.
Hopefully Tampa Bay continues to pound Boston. Seguin's goal was pretty but their forward core has no business being in the final four.
Sun, 2011-05-15 16:35
#78
Where the teams are from doesn't matter to me, since they're all just places on my TV set anyway.
Sun, 2011-05-15 16:44
#79
N.Beltov
That Wellwoodian grousing will come to a quick end once the series begins tonight. It would be interesting to compare his time on the ice with his equivalent on the Canucks' side.
I'm looking forward to the Canucks exposing the Sharks defence. Swiss cheese. Grinnin' Swedes. Movie Stars.
Sun, 2011-05-15 19:06
#80
By the way, how long has Erich von Stroheim been coaching the Bruins?
Sun, 2011-05-15 23:08
#81
Lapierre and Hank put to rest my worries about San Jose's possible advantage at centre. N. Beltov called San Jose's weakness at D and Vancouver's superior speed was very noticable tonight.
Mon, 2011-05-16 00:01
#82
Sharks have to tighten things up on D. They looked tired.
Mon, 2011-05-16 03:02
#83
Northern Shoveler
Mon, 2011-05-16 07:45
#84
Sea Dogs off to the Memorial Cup
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/stanleycup/story/2011/05/15/sp-chl-playoffs.html
http://www.tsn.ca/chl/story/?id=365854
Wed, 2011-05-18 00:05
#85
... and I'd like to see that Seguin kid do well, as really he ought to be a Leaf.
I hate Brian Burke.
Wed, 2011-05-18 00:21
#86
Hahaha. Yeah he was incredible tonight.
Wed, 2011-05-18 06:34
#87
2-3 things:
- Seguin looked great, no question
- Kessel got 30-plus this season, so he is money in the bank for Leafs
- Burke has accumulated several early-round 2011 draft choices;
Conclusion: past is past, on to 2011-2012...
Wed, 2011-05-18 08:05
#88
Hockey Day is coming to Prince Edward Island.
For the first time in the 12-year history of the CBC event celebrating Canada's favourite pasttime, Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada will be held in P.E.I. this winter, with host Ron MacLean and Don Cherry broadcasting live from the country's smallest province on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012.
"We're thrilled to be bringing this celebration to the province of Prince Edward Island," said Joel Darling, director of production for CBC Sports. "Hockey is a universally Canadian passion, shared equally among players and fans from our biggest cities to the tiniest communities, so we think it's especially appropriate to be taking Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada to the cradle of Confederation, where the entire province can share in the experience."
P.E.I. boasts a rich hockey history, having produced professional players Brad Richards, Rick Vaive, Allan MacAdam, Bob Whitlock, Charlie Cahill, Clarence J. (Windy) Steele, Forbes Kennedy, Errol Thompson and William Stewart (Billy) MacMillan, to name a few.
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/stanleycup/story/2011/05/17/sp-hockey-da...
Wed, 2011-05-18 20:13
#89
Brad Richards yeah real good player. And most hockey fans born before 1980 should remember Rick Vaive.
Wed, 2011-05-18 22:38
#90
Pogo
What the heck was Bieksa doing hanging around the Shark blue line.
Wed, 2011-05-18 23:03
#91
N.Beltov
... looking for breakaway passes from ex-Habs.
Thu, 2011-05-19 00:00
#92
Quiet! Canucks are on the PP...
Sssca! Higgins! From Raymond and Bieksa...
GO CANUCKS GO!
Oh man Too many Sharks! Canucks goin for another PP...
SCA! Sedin from Sedin 'n Edler. Canucks are destroying them on the PP.
GO! CANUCKS! GO!...
Ex-Hab scores game winner!
Thu, 2011-05-19 00:54
#93
Jim Hughson's homerism was particularly nauseous tonight.
I've never heard a play-by-play announcer say "Take that, player on the other team." before.
Thu, 2011-05-19 00:57
#94
If they don't suspend Eager, the Sharks should bench him. That was a good game until he went bananas. I wouldn't count the Sharks out yet, Thornton has been very impressive. If they can keep it together and find a way to counter the Canucks speed, they have the players to make this a really good series.
Lapierre and Higgins were massive again, the Canucks wouldn't even be here without them. Incredible win-win trade deadline pick-ups. They were languishing on Florida and Anaheim, Gillis gave up very litle tle for both of them.
Last year, I went canoeing for five days after Game 1 of round 2 when Vancouver thumped Chicago. When I got back momentum had swung sharply in the other direction. I'm taking out the canoe again and I'll be really surprised if San Jose doesn't have a huge pushback in game 3 but I'm definitely less apprehensive about this year's Canucks. It was obvious even before the playoffs last year that their 3rd line was soft and that they didn't have enough healthy defensemen. You have to give credit to Gillis for solving that problem this year. The one constant you see in teams that go far in the playoffs year in and out is the depth.
Thu, 2011-05-19 11:00
#95
Northern Shoveler
Eager acted like a goon in the third period. I guess it is not the Canucks getting rattled this round. This Sharks team has been very hyped in their home market and the fans expect them to go to the finals.
I like Thorton but boy what a rookie mistake coming off the bench to take a breakaway pass. Too bad he was one too many on the ice. Oops a little too much adrenline and excitement.
The Canucks had their top three lines all playing well last night. They are very tough to beat when that happens.
Thu, 2011-05-19 11:46
#96
I dunno, the Shark who Thornton replaced should have hopped over the boards or gone through the d-door to prevent the Too Many Men penalty.
How about the four-minute penalty non-call when that skilled European just missed taking out Thornton's eye with the blade of his stick and merely sliced his face instead?
The Sharks don't seem to be able to skate with the Cnøcks. Going through the neutral zone, their puck carriers are often standing still, pivoting to look for a mobile forward to pass to rather than skating themselves. Their shoot-ins aren't much of a cure for that problem either.
Thu, 2011-05-19 16:25
#97
Pogo
Yes and Thornton went through one or two intermissions without bothering to wipe off the blood. As if the refs will after seeing it for the 10th time will remember seeing the play and call a penalty.
Thu, 2011-05-19 17:14
#98
Ah Cnøcks fans, ever oppressed.
I saw Thornton's wound all clean and bandaided at the start of the second period. During the course of the game, with all that sweat and excercise, the cut naturally started bleeding again.
Notice how Thornton's head didn't snap back like Kesler's did when he was nicked in the visor?
Thu, 2011-05-19 17:57
#99
Yes and Thornton went through one or two intermissions without bothering to wipe off the blood. As if the refs will after seeing it for the 10th time will remember seeing the play and call a penalty.
I think his contract runs out in June. And his agent will say to management: Look what they did to my boy! They massac'd our boy last May. And then all kindsa money comes rolling in for them and their boy. It's no wonder we don't see team logos and Pepsi ads on wound dressings these days. Blood and gore sells when it comes to circus maximus.
Thu, 2011-05-19 19:21
#100
Pogo
I am sure you saw D Sedin's post game interview and the blood on his face. The difference in the incidents of course was that he didn't lie on the ice for half a minute like a beached whale, but instead picked up his stick went back to playing the game.
Thu, 2011-05-19 20:41
#101
Well, he probably does get paid more than Kesler.