Last post for a couple of weeks

Well tonight's scratches against Detroit were Linden, Weaver and Bieksa. The good news was Sami Salo was back in the line up tonight! *cheers like a little girl* We did lose 2-3 so rather than more on the game, how about a photo?

Stick to 1 strategy guys

Despite the win yesterday in Columbus, I was not surprised to the 3-1 loss to the Canes tonight. Our record drops to 4-5-0. You could take the opinion that it's early in the season and we got off to a bad start just like last year.. BUT a lot of our losses last year were well played but no puck luck 1 goal games. Now, we're playing a somewhat frantic style, neither predominantly passive neither active. Fixing the latest mistakes only.

Personally, I believe it's the integration of the new team members. Once players are more familiar with each other and can anticipate moves, there will be less players out of position, which increases puck control.

So! Here's a hockey lesson which pretty much works in real life anyway: When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody and stressing yourself out.

Well LA looked good tonight

I like the jump of LA. They're not perfect but I'm liking their style. I suppose that it shouldn't surprise me. It's Crawford's team, after all..

Vancouver is not being consistent. Boy, was I ever screaming at times. Mattias Ohlund had a good game tonight, however. He got over 6 minutes more than any other Canuck player tonight. Vigneault's and Bowness' defensive push must've included a "Put more shots to the net no matter what" pitch. Even Willie had a shot on goal. Willie!!

Anyway, despite some good efforts from Cookie, Kesler and Burrows (and Naslund, Krajicek and Ohlund..) LA took it 4-2. =(

On an aside: I've just recently become a fan of James Taylor and found this woman doing a good piano cover of Fire and Rain - her name is Vienna Teng. The wonders or random youtubing.. lol.

Remember when...

Watching highlights of Sidney Crosby made me think of old times when we'd score beauties. Man, I remember when Vancouver hockey was exciting! I'd love to have a powerhouse offense with Luongo in net. If you win faceoffs and keep control of the puck, then you wouldn't have as great a need for an airtight defence. Then we'd have exciting hockey at both ends of the rink!

Aside: Rajaton's got a new album out. Snippets heard here.

I wish that PP was posted on youtube

I had so much fun watching that crazy long Sedins et al. powerplay in last night's 4-1 win over the Oilers. Quotes about the 2:15 power play (off of Botchford's article):

Daniel: "It was fun, I think everyone had a good time who was on that shift.. It's fun to be a part of something like that... I think their PK was the most tired but Hank was chasing the puck a little too, so, he must have been tired."

Luongo: "I was just tired watching."

Henrik: "If you have the puck, it's not that a big deal," Henrik said. "I wasn't tired at all. But I sure think they were."

Kesler: "It felt like it was forever. It's fun to play with those guys. I know my job is just to sit backdoor to tap in pucks. I was standing backdoor the whole time and I was bagged."

Ohlund: "I've never been part of something like that. When these two guys get on a roll like that, it's a lot tougher defending than it is being a part of it. When the Sedins get on a roll like that, they are tough to stop."

No words from Krajicek.. Poor Lucas - gets no love from the media!

EDIT: found it posted!!

Injured from fights last night: Jeff Cowan (leg) & Byron Ritchie (head)

I HATE that Trevor Linden's not getting ice time

Last night's Oilers game had Mason Raymond and Trevor Linden as healthy scratches once again. Poor Trevor, he's settled into the role of occassional 4th liner that AV's put him in. GRRR..

As for the Oilers game last night, besides beauties from Burrows and Morrison, I still didn't like the way we played. We still have a lot to improve on to get into the playoffs. On the other hand, I'd rather we suck early in the season than later in crunch time. Maybe that's the tradition that the players are trying to uphold subconsciously since it worked for them last year..

Boulerice's 25 game suspension completely shocked me. WOW. I would have expected 10-15 but 25 ties for the NHL's longest suspension!!

It's sad that 3 of the top 7 longest suspensions involve the Canucks. I remember the McSorley/Brashear incident and how Vancouver called for McSorley's head. Then the ironic Bertuzzi/Moore incident.. and now the Boulerice/Kesler one.

Philly whoomped us good

Well, after they golfed, ziplined and skated in lovely Whistler, the Philadelphia Flyers came back to Vancouver to kick our butts 8-2. It was an interesting game.

Luongo played in a knee brace for a period. It was only a period because after Philly scored 4 goals in 13 shots, it seemed like a good time for Curtis Sanford to play in his first game as a Canuck. Unfortunately, Sanford didn't get too much help from his team even after he let in that first shot. Kelser got a stick cracked on his face. - no status on him yet.

Star Trek: The Next Generation celebrates 20 years

startrek-tngpicardcat
Originally uploaded by jkeeler1983.

ST:TNG has been around for 20 years?! Say it isn't so! Anyway, this photo sO made me laugh.

Oh yeah happy canadian thanksgiving and american columbus day.

Hmm.. who scored that winning goal?

Heh. So after letting go of a 2 goal lead, the Canucks somewhat redeemed themselves by finishing off the Flames 4-3 in the dying seconds of OT. I guess there was some confusion as to who scored that final goal though. Minutes after the game ended, NHL credited Mattias Ohlund with that winning goal. Online articles were already being posted with titles of "Ohlund's 2nd goal... yada yada". THEN, after a couple of refreshes, Daniel is credited with that goal. Anyway, regardless, it was a pretty exciting game.

Isbister and Cowan were in the line up tonight sending Linden and Raymond out as scratches.

Mattias Ohlund and Roberto Luongo make Jim Matheson's top 50

So only 2 Canucks made this Top 50 List: Roberto Luongo and Mattias Ohlund:

Goalies:
2. Roberto Luongo (Vancouver). He's the heir apparent because he's a horse like Brodeur, although I'd like him to win something.

Defencemen:
10. Mattias Ohlund (Vancouver). Another guy who makes it look easy, at both ends. Can protect lead and help with offence if down goal in a game.