Western Conference standings causing panic for Canucks fans?

Being 3 points up on 8th spot Phoenix isn't exactly reassuring, especially when you consider how often the Canucks have been winning lately.... not enough. This circus in Vancouver will finally come to an end whenever Luongo makes his return. In the meantime I anticipate seeing what Jason Labarbera can do for us. I hope this little experiment works. Maybe he'll play his heart out, seeing that he is a BC boy.
Will Sundin make a huge difference with the Canucks even without Luongo in goal? So many question marks. So much WAITING. I hate it.
I am looking forward to seeing what this team is capable of with Sundin, Johnson and Luongo back in the lineup. We could be a deadly force. But we are going to have to WAIT for that to happen.
Let's see what the Canucks can do on their stupid and brief road trip on January 1st and 2nd where they play back to back nights against Nashville and Atlanta. If they win both games they should have a better cushion in the standings, and I can stop worrying about them. At the same time, the Canucks' road record is dwindling and now sits at 9-9-2 compared to their home record of 11-6-1.
Makes me want to drink. Speaking of that, I hope you all enjoy your New Years Eve festivities. I wish you all the best in the coming year.

T Tags: Canucks Western+Conference+standings December+31+2008 Sundin Luongo Ryan+Johnson Jason+Labarbera

The game after a stinker and before Sundin comes to town

That’s definitely the tough part, getting the turkey out of you the next morning. But I think it will be a little bit easier being a home game. You get to sleep in your own bed and really enjoy the full Christmas experience and when you wake up Boxing Day, you turn the page and get ready to go. - Shane O’Brien on getting back to business tonight after the holiday break. -Shane O'Brien, Vancouver Sun.

It's not just the stuffing the Canucks have to get over, it's the 5-0 destruction the Sharks handed them on the 24th, a game they barely showed up for.
I read through some of my posts from October until now, looking for other stinker games, and the best I could come up with was the 5-2 loss to the Sabres on October 17 and the 3-1 loss to the Flames on November 29. Besides the obvious trend of the Canucks perhaps taking too many penalties, not showing up, getting outshot in those games there is another: the Canucks would lose the next 2 games after each sleeper.
But there is a more positive stat to throw out there: the Canucks are 2-1 against the Oilers this season. Both wins came at home, where they play tonight.
The Canucks have won 3 of their last 5. The Oilers only 2.
From Canucks.com:

The Oilers have won six of their last nine road contests, and head to GM Place for the second time in 10 days following a 4-2 loss on Dec. 17. Edmonton is 2-5-1 in its last eight visits to Vancouver.

Also:

The Oilers are looking to string together back-to-back victories for the first time since opening the month of December with three straight wins.

INJURIES

-Ethan Moreau is questionable after injuring his wrist blocking a shot against the Oilers' win over Phoenix on the 22nd.

-I know we all miss Luongo, but how about Ryan Johnson? There's a character guy that I've missed since he broke his foot and finger weeks ago.
In regards to Luongo, there is no talk of a timeline except "week to week". I talked to my cousin at the family dinner last night about groin injuries for goalies, as he plays net locally and does summer goalie camps, and he said it's a tough injury to have. He said that you can be walking around feeling fine for long periods of time and then all off a sudden you'll feel pain walking up stairs, for example. He projects 2 more weeks for Luongo. I'm not so sure about it after hearing of my cousin's experiences. 2 weeks would be terrific wouldn't it?
How about the Canucks just play better without Luongo?! They do it in stretches and are inconsistent. I hear many Canucks fans wondering if we should be getting a different backup goalie while Luongo is out. My opinion on that wanes. How about the team plays better? Curtis Sanford looked great in relief of a rubber-stricken Cory Schneider last game. How about the coach rides Sanford for a while and the team buckles up in front of him?!
It's Friday today but it feels like Monday, why? Because it's a big week in Vancouver. We play 3 in a row at home against the Oilers, Senators and Flyers. The team needs to establish some form of consistency in Luongo's absence and while Mats Sundin practices with the team yet does not play. He reportedly arrives tomorrow.
Distractions everywhere. Focus boys!

FROM ENEMY LINES

Good for them. I know many long suffering Canuck fans who seemed to be on the edge of a dream before a Jovo dumbkoff penalty or Bertuzzi the Brave decided to alter time and space. Perhaps no fan group in the NHL deserves a Stanley Cup more than Vancouver.

And you know what? They might just do it. - Lowetide

Great piece about Canucks fans, management by Lowetide today.

GAME TIME: 7:00 PST
TV: SPORTSNET

Canucks.com live blog is happening!

T Tags: Canucks+Oilers+game+preview Friday+December+26+2008 Mats+Sundin+Vancouver+arrival losing Luongo

Canucks recall Cory Schneider and re-assign Nolan Baumgartner

We know Luongo will miss some time. It's just a matter of "how much". In lieu of that the Canucks have called up super-Moose goalie Cory Schneider. From Canucks.com:

Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that goaltender Cory Schneider has been recalled from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.

The club also announced they have re-assigned defenceman Nolan Baumgartner to Manitoba.

Schnieder, 22, has posted a record of 10 wins and one loss, with one shutout in 11 games played this season with Manitoba. In addition his 1.37 GAA is the lowest in the AHL and his .945 save percentage places him second in that category as well. Schneider has led the Moose to an AHL best 28 points with a club record of 14-3-0 and first place in the AHL's North Division. His 10 wins are tied for the most in the League.

Those are impressive stats. But that is the AHL. How well will he perform in the NHL? He played weel in preseason I remember, but that is different as well. I am looking forward to seeing him strut his stuff. Basically, Schneider will try to prove that he can backup Luongo or be a Canucks starting goalie in the future. What more motivation does he need?
The way the Canucks are rallying around Curtis Sanford lately, I'd say it's a safe bet The Sandman will get the majority of the starts in Luongo's absence. But anything can happen.
Like I've said elsewhere online, I am not worried about the Canucks without Luongo. This is a huge opportunity for Sanford and Schneider.

T Tags: Luongo+injured Canucks+recall+Cory+Schneider Canucks+re-assign+Nolan+Baumgartner+to+Manitoba

Luongo liking Gillis' direction

Luongo was interviewed by phone from Montreal recently, and as The Province's Jason Botchford points out, it may lead to Louie signing an extension down the road.

"The great thing is we're on the same page and we both want to win," Luongo said of Gillis. "We're here to win and we want to build a winning team that can contend for the Cup every year.
When I spoke to him, it was very reassuring for me because that's why I'm playing in Vancouver -- to have a chance to win it all. When you hear something like that from your GM -- that he's as committed to winning as Mike is -- it gives you a comfort zone that the organization is all about putting the best team on the ice."

So I can hear the nay-sayers already: "Well what about this year? How is this year's team any better than last year's team?" Well, I hear that all the time from Canucks fans either online or in person. I don't agree. I think this year's team, with all the question marks surrounding Wellwood and Bernier considered, are better than last year's team. I don't even give Morrison and Naslund much passing thought anymore.
Back to Luongo. And speaking of new players, Luongo again mentioned that he likes the acquisitions of Hordichuk and Johnson, former teammates of his in Florida.

"Those are additions which were made under the radar but I think they're huge for this team," Luongo said. "They are guys who are physical and can take the pace of a physical game.
"A guy like Ryan is invaluable in terms of blocking shots, working on the penalty kill and winning key faceoffs. Those are little things that people maybe don't notice but make a big difference over the course of a season."

Damn rights. A shot-blocker is a guy that sets an example out there. That character is welcomed by me.
Perhaps the second-biggest importance of Botchford's article is the part where he mentions that Gina Luongo and their daughter Gabriella will be moving to Vancouver for the season. An earlier interview and article about Luongo made it sound like she'd only be here for training camp, or it was up for debate. If the Luongo family is together here, then we shall have a focussed Luongod all year long.
Check out the the Province article for more of the interview with Luongo, including his thoughts on his own performance last season, his new pads and more.

T Tags: Roberto+Luongo+interview+from+Montreal Gina+Luongo+moving+to+Vancouver Ryan+Johnson Darcy+Hordichuk