Thursday, April 03, 2008

It could all come down to tonight

Oh yeah, I can make a mockery Photoshop of the Oilers over and over again and poke fun at the bastards, but in reality, I have a lot of respect for this team that was doomed to fade away and die this year. The Oilers, with a lot of help from shootout wins, just about managed a playoff berth to pull off the unthinkable. A respectable feat this season was for them.
But tonight's game is all about business, not respect. Tonight, Canucks and Canuck fans alike could lay their heads on their pillows in shame and defeat or they could stay up a little later with happy thoughts of grand possibilities of making the playoffs. A win by Nashville and a Canucks loss will eliminate us. Simple as that.
The Canucks know they have to win and are throwing all the cliches around to the media. Let's just say there will be some extra motivation if they see on the scoreboard that the Blues defeated the Predators tonight (or even vice versa). That game will end at about 7:30 pm, right when the Canucks hit the ice.
Are you feeling at all positive? It's tough to be after that Colorado loss isn't it? Luongo is not that sharp lately, the Canucks have lost 4 of 5 (the Preds are the polar opposite), and the injury bug strikes again. Taylor Pyatt will not play tonight as he suffered a concussion from that hit in the corner last game from Jeff (pull my) Finger. As much as I liked Pyatt's gritty efforts lately, he hasn't been scoring enough. So let's see somebody else step it up.

Oiler notes: Alice in Hemskyland (knee) will not play tonight. Kyle Brodziak is out as well with a broken finger. Excellent. Now, can someone please shadow this Glencross guy? He's fucking dangerous, and red hot at the moment!

My call

Is St. Louis up to the task of gaining revenge for a 3-goal blown lead against the Preds a couple of nights ago? It's possible. But without any logic whatsoever, I think the Preds will beat the Blues and the Canucks will beat the Coilers 2-1. I think this is going down to the last game of the season where Mr. Positivity returns. And he says the Hawks beat the Preds and Canucks beat the Flames so Vancouver gets into the playoffs. Is there any other way to think? May as well stay positive right to the end.

GAME TIME: 7:30 PM
TV: Canucks 'fricking' PPV

**UPDATE**
Apparently Matt Pettinger is sick, so the great Jannik Hansen has been called up from Manitoba. There are stipulations, according to TSN:

Vancouver had previously used up all of its recalls. Both players will take the pre-game skate so if Pettinger is able to play then Hansen is ineligible to play. Expect Hansen to play because with Taylor Pyatt out the Canucks desperately need another top-six forward. They also want Rypien in the lineup because of the physical factor.


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9 Comments:

At April 3, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. , Blogger antro said...

i'm mr positive with you on this one. hansen's been called up to replace pyatt, so let's hope he'll have some jump. (pettinger's sick apparently). i also hope they put in rypien instead of ritchie, and play linden a ton.

i'm going 4-2 vancouver, 3-2 minnie, 3-2 nashV to make it all nice and close for the next two days.

go wild blues

&

GONUCKS!!!

 
At April 3, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. , Blogger Sean Zandberg said...

Yeah, I just saw that on TSN. So Rypien is in already and Hansen is emergency in case Pettinger shits himself :)

G'Nucks!!!
I'm going to need a few beers to endure tonight. The stress is mounting!

 
At April 3, 2008 at 3:53 p.m. , Blogger Temujin said...

8-0 Edmonton.

You think Jannick Hansen is going to solve our scoring woes? Not a chance!

No love and no positivity here. Let's just finish this stupid season and look to next year.

Mua ha ha ha ha. It's called reverse psychology or something.

 
At April 3, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. , Blogger Mike said...

If Vancouver played with 1/3 of the intensity and heart that the Oilers have down the stretch, they'd be looking to lock the division up tonight and not fighting for their lives.

And I say despite the fact I hate the Oil. Like all sensible people.

Worse yet? Canucks will lose tonight and the Preds will get the 8th seed locked down for good. I've owned up to it, time for you too Zanstorm :) (you too Temujin!)

~Disgruntled in New York

 
At April 3, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. , Blogger Sean Zandberg said...

Well I will be honest, Vancouver doesn't deserve to get into the playoffs, where Nashville does, in my opinion, because of their recent play.
But whether we deserve it or not, if we get in we could see a more inspired Canucks team. Remember, it would be against Detroit. Ever see a boring Canucks-Wings game? Not me. Maybe in 1985.
Hey, don't count out Hansen yet. He's another Mason Raymond type but actually is better at backchecking. How quickly you forget the beautiful Bulis-Hansen Connection of last year. They were like a modern-day Rick Martel and Tito Santana!
If Hansen gets a chance to get in, he will play super-inspired hockey.

 
At April 3, 2008 at 6:01 p.m. , Blogger antro said...

used up their call-ups!! isn't there some considerations with injuries?! how many damned injuries can a team have: 3 out 9 top forwards, and 3 out of 6 top defensemen (depending on how you count)...and they still have limitations on call-ups! stupid rules.

well, we're playing the oilers, so you can't really complain about injuries. they've been really hit this year.

hansen doesn't have quite the on ice vision or hands that raymond has, but i grant that he's a helluva backchecker.

 
At April 3, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. , Blogger antro said...

btw, zanstorm, why's your scoreboard not working?

 
At April 3, 2008 at 6:48 p.m. , Blogger Mike said...

I appreciate your willingness to liveblog this one. If nothing else, I hope there's 400 minutes of penalties. And somehow we drag Torres out of his hole for part of it. Sure, why not?

 
At April 3, 2008 at 7:11 p.m. , Blogger Sean Zandberg said...

The scoreboard has been acting up. I'll go back to the Sportznetwork one as it never fails. It just doesn't look as good.

 

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Waiting For Stanley was created in June 2006.