Scoreboard watching on Tuesday night

The Canucks can find themselves out of a playoff spot before they even play Nashville on Wednesday if:

-Minnesota beats Toronto on Tuesday night and the Ducks beat the Coyotes or lose in overtime. That would tie the Wild with Vancouver at 51 points with a game in hand. The Ducks would be 2 points ahead with a win or 1 point ahead with the OT loss.
So you had better cheer for the Leafs and Coyotes on Tuesday night, or pray to the Almighty. Whatever floats your boat. C'mon...you can do it. It's for a good cause.

MORE ON THE CANUCKS

Alain Vigneault put the Nucks through somewhat of a rigorous practice on Monday, seeing that none of the guys played except for Luongo. Some of the guys were in Hawaii. Mats Sundin spent some time in Whistler with his fiancee. He didn't skate but worked out.
AV talked about Mats yesterday:

“Obviously this was probably a challenging moment in his career coming in midway through the season,” Vigneault said. “He’s been getting better every day, Today he stepped on the ice and I thought that’s the best he’s looked skating-wise and hands-wise.

“He is a key to our success obviously. He’s a big component and we need him to play well and I think he’s going to rise to the occasion.”

Damned rights he will.

-Pavol Demitra is questionable for Wednesday's game with a sore groin.

---

Comparing Sundin's midseason return to Selanne's

There are some concerns being thrown out there that Mats Sundin's midseason arrival may hurt his performance because he missed training camp, etc. References to Teemu Selanne's (and Scott Niedermayer's) indecisiveness last season have been mentioned over and over again, and how they started out slow.
Well let me focus on Selanne because he is a forward and is nearly the same age as Sundin. Selanne turns 38 on July 3. Sundin turns 38 on February 13.
Selanne made up his mind in late January 2008 that he would play and was signed by the Ducks on January 28. His first game was February 5. Check out his game-by-game stats after his return (click on the image if you can't read it):

Generally, it's safe to say that statistically Selanne suffered in points per game. He finished last season with 12 goals and 23 points in 26 games. In his first 12 games back he had 12 points (a 5-point game in there helped that).
In his previous 2 full seasons with the Ducks he scored 184 points in 162 games.
After playing right off the start for the Ducks this year, Selanne has 27 points in 33 games, but is now injured.

Look at the team record though: the Ducks won 11 of their next 12 games with Teemu in the lineup. They won 20 of their last 26 games of the season with Teemu, or, Buzz Lightyear as I like to call him.
Through January right up to the game before Selanne arrived, the Ducks had 8 wins and 7 losses. They had lost 6 games in a row right before Selanne started playing.

So what am I trying to say? Basically that Selanne is an idiot. OK, I kid. His points total slid when he joined the Ducks half way through last season. He continued the same points-per-game trend this year before getting injured.
Ironically, the same trend is happening to Scott Niedermayer.
Bottom line: It's too difficult to compare Sundin and Selanne because the circumstances are too different.
Selanne has been inconsistent in his career. Sundin has not.
Sundin is joining a new team, where Selanne didn't. Let's see how that plays out.
I just don't get why people say Selanne started slow when he returned midseason. I don't see it on paper anyway. If anything he consistently produced less.
Let's hope Sundin can kick start the Canucks much like Selanne did last year. I can't see how he won't.
As for how may points Sundin will get... it's up in the air. I'm going to guess a point per game pace because he is one consistent dude, new team or not.

T Tags: Mats+Sundin Teemu+Selanne comparisons stats Canucks Ducks

Live-blogging the Canucks-Ducks game for Canucks.com

It's always a great time hanging out with Canucks fans online during the game. You can either join in on the fun from here or go to Canucks.com. Ducks fans are more than welcome on the board as well. Just don't cry if you lose. You don't want to get any moisture in your keyboard.
If I didn't make the cut, there are other cool cats modding the chat board. Come on in and hang out. The board usually opens up 15 minutes before the game.




GAME REVIEW

I was thinking to myself "Geez look at Sanford...he's such a 'guessing' goalie." But the Ducks were crashing his crease all night, trying to make him fail. Well, fail he didn't.
The Canucks' effort was terrific and I'm glad they finally got some goals. Nice to see them shoot high on Hiller for 3 of the 4 goals. That's gold, boys!
The Canucks put some pressure on in the 3rd period, being up 3-1. But the Ducks outshot the Nucks 13-4 in the 3rd and nearly tied it. There was a lot of anxiety in Canuck-land I figure. There was a lot of it on the chat board. And by the way, the chat board was great. There were Canucks fans from all over the map on there tonight.....Scotland, England, Indiana, New York...wow. Check the above chat board for photo images of some Vancouver and Canucks bloggers doing their thing LIVE at GM Place for the Ducks game. Great stuff. Rebecca, Fin still wants that kiss.

T Tags: Canucks Ducks game+review liveblog

Canucks vs Ducks preview

One look at the standings and once again you can see how an important a win could be for the Canucks tonight. We're either going up or down the list tonight.
There isn't much about htis squad minus Luongo that really brings out the confidence in me right now. When Sanford showed up to play against the Blackhawks on Saturday, his team couldn't score more than 1 goal on a nearly flawless Huet. Look at how the Devils are playing without Martin Brodeur.. why can't we do that? Is it fair to say that Sanford is no Scott Clemmenson? I think it's fair to say that every player to a man needs to step it up.

QUICK NOTES

- J.S. Giguere will be back in net for the Ducks tonight after attending his father's funeral in Montreal recently.

- No Teemu Selanne, who cut his thigh against the Oilers last Friday. I thought I saw blood on the ice. He will miss a month.

- the Ducks have not lost a game this season when leading after 2 periods. The Canucks have a .846 record. Remember when we were gold in that category? The Ducks and Canucks look to match up pretty evenly otherwise if you look at Canucks.com's preview.

-Remember the last time these 2 teams played? Halloween... a 7-6 Canucks victory.

- Daniel Sedin missed practice on Sundin..I mean Sunday with a sore groin. He is expected to play tonight. I hope..

- Sanford will play again apparently.

-Brendan Morrison returns to Vancouver tonight, but the big story on him is his lack of offence.

- Is it just me, or did the Sedins and Ohlund have that extra zip to their game against the Hawks? Gee I wonder why...

- Call me nuts call me Zany but I think the Canucks will take this one.

-Just to bring back a Waiting For Stanley Photoshop blast from the past....





















T Tags: Canucks+Ducks game+preview December+22+2008

Ducks' GM Burke to be replaced by Bob Murray

A commenter at Sportsnet said it best by providing a link to a story about massive speculation that Brian Burke would become the next Leafs' GM. The following is what Burke said back in January:

"I have no intention of going anywhere else," says Burke. "I've said this repeatedly to anyone who will listen.

"I'm not sure which part of it I'm not saying in English."

The Toronto job would be great, he said, but he and his wife are happy in California.

"We really love it in Anaheim," Burke said. "We work for special people there. We want to stay."

So what gives? It's too early to say. Burke may just stay in California and take a different job for all we know. But if he heads to Toronto, then you will know how much lip service this guy gives.

**UPDATE**
Aha! Bullshit it is! Burke is heading East at some point. He wants to be in the same time zone as a couple of his kids.
Richard Peddie says in the clip that he is surprised by Burke's move. Yeah right.

According to TSN's sources:

Burke will remain in a senior advisory capacity with the Ducks for now but that the final word on any hockey operations decisions in Anaheim will be made by Murray. Sources say Burke will, in this advisory capacity, have the ability to freely negotiate future employment opportunities as a GM in the NHL.

The press conference is coming up in a few minutes. The link to the stream is here. I can't wait to hear Burke get riled up during or afterwards if the media asks 'certain' questions. Those should happen later on today.

WHAT ABOUT BOB?

Bob Murray used to be a Professional Scout for the Canucks from 1999-2005 under who? Brian Burke. Murray has an a fair bit of managerial experience.
But Murray is better known to Blackhawks fans. He spent 25 years in that organization as a player, assistant GM and GM (1997-99). More Murray info can be found here.

T Tags: Brian+Burke+replaced+Bob+Murray Anaheim+Ducks+GM
Bob+Murray+profile

Randy Carlyle losing patience with Brendan Morrison

From the OC Register:

While declining to specify a timeframe, Coach Randy Carlyle made it clear Tuesday that the Ducks won’t wait forever for marquee off-season, free-agent acquisition Brendan Morrison to get going offensively.

“We said we would show some patience, but obviously you can’t show patience past a certain point,” Carlyle said. “He knows that, and we’ll work through it together.”

Morrison, who underwent April surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, enters Tuesday night’s game against the Kings at Staples Center with just one point, an assist, in 13 games. He is also a team-worst minus-7.

Poor Mo. I'd rather see him struggle with the Ducks than with us though!
He'll find his stride back again some day, but it may be with a different team or in a different league. The Ducks will only wait so long before they run out of patience and either demote him, trade him or maybe even give him away. And to think that Morrison once was an ironman in the League.

T Tags: Ducks+may+trade+Brendan+Morrison

Is Gillis going to trade Ohlund? / Burke to talk to Sundin?

From Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun:

Gillis was telling anybody who would listen last week he is not going to trade D Mattias Ohlund. As I told Gillis in an e-mail, he can deny he won't deal Ohlund all he wants, but if he doesn't get him signed before the trade deadline, then a move is a strong possibility. Oddly enough, Gillis admitted that "teams have called" on all his players and that means there's interest. He can't deny that ...

Right. Thanks for pointing out the obvious, Bruce. But don't forget that Ohlund has a no-trade clause. How easily will the big Swede lift that? Only Ohlund knows at this point.
What the Canucks would get in return for Ohlund would be huge. But I'd prefer Ohlund to stay here at a reasonable price, which is $6 million or less.

Speaking of big Swedes, Garrioch also reported that Brian Burke plans on talking to Sundin about Mats joining the Ducks. This to me sounds ludicrous. If you check out where the Ducks sit under the cap they would have to do a lot of roster shuffling to get under the limit. A LOT. Why would Burke make such a huge shuffle if the Ducks are playing so well? If the Ducks are tanking in say, December, if Sundin returns then, then maybe that is a different story.
Other than that, this rumor seems bunk.
In my opinion, I think the Canucks and Leafs have the best chances at this point because they have so much cap space. I am banking on Sundin returning to the Leafs if he decides to play. Rumor has it that he will begin skating this week. Stay tuned.

T Tags: Canucks+to+trade+Mattias+Ohlund? Sundin+to+Ducks? Brian+Burke

Canucks vs Ducks: "It is Halloween. This is scary."

Nicely coined by John Garrett after the Ducks scored 3 goals in the 2nd period to erase a 3 goal deficit and tie the game 5-5. Insanely enough, the Canucks scored 4 goals on 7 shots in the middle frame and even chased JS "Super Sized" Giguere from the crease. The first shot Jonas Hiller faced went in. It was 5-2. The Canucks had stuck in this one even after taking a freaky amount of penalties. Ah, it was going to be a romp over the surging Ducks wasn't it?
Oh by the way, the Ducks had 17 shots in the 2nd period.
It's a goal-fest out there. Let's see what happen in the 3rd.
Wellwood may have skills and all, but he is being more of a hindrance tonight. His pass to nobody in particular led to the Ducks charging up the ice and scoring their 4th goal.
Great game otherwise, if you like banging your head on the table in disgust and shock.

PERIOD 3

-The Canucks have really responded well, but Jonas Hiller is looking mega sharp now.
-I hate the Ducks, as a team, as the enemy. But I can't help but respect the skills of Getzlaf, Perry (4 assists so far), Selanne (2 goals, 1 assist so far). Shorty and Homer were right: Selanne looks like the same Teemu that scored 76 goals in his rookie season. It really is amazing how the Ducks' top players coming around has really put the team in the win column. It's helping me in my work pool as well. I've got 4 Quacks and am moving up the ranks.
-There's a guy with a great costume behind Luongo. He has a knife chopped into the top of his head with blood running down his face and all over his white shirt. Good stuff.
-"This game could not get any hairier" says Shorty after the Ducks almost score a shorthanded goal. Then the Canucks charge up ice and Bernier scores under Hiller's arm.
6-5 Canucks! 2 for Bernier! Loving it!
-Now the Ducks are having penalty problems. 3 in a row in period 3. Make them pay, Nucks. Nope. Ducks kill it.
-I just visited the site Girl With a Puck, and in her pre game post Finny threw in that image of Luongo laying on his face after the Ducks scored the OT goal to eliminate the Canucks in the 2nd round 2 years ago. Now I'm hoping Luongo shuts the door and the Ducks lose even more. I think I saw her at the game on TV. She was wearing a Taylor Pyatt Canucks jersey! Ah, the truth comes out.

- Geez, this Canucks team just cannot hold a lead. The Ducks pull Hiller and score second later: go figure, Corey Perry from Selanne. 5 points for Perry. 4 for Teemu. 6-6. How fitting. The unholy number. If Perry can get in on a Ducks goal, 3 sixes will figure into this game and Satan will spawn from center ice, grab Vigneault by the suit and hang him from the rafters.

-No goals in OT. Bieksa coughed the puck up twice in his own zone on the same shift but the Ducks could not capitalize. You have to like how the Canucks have responded after blowing both leads since the 2nd period. At the same time, this is not the same Canucks team of the recent 2 years. They shouldn't blow those leads in the first place. They get way too scrambly in their own zone. They have to relax and tighten up. This has been an ongoing problem this season.

SHOOTOUT

-Selanne: backhander, save by Luongo.
-Wellwood: wow. He scores. About 5 moves in close.
-Getzlaf: nice one! Louie missed the poke check. 1-1
-Burrows: Stoned by Hiller
-Perry: Easy stop by Luongo.
-Raymond: Hiller stayed with him and makes a great save.
-Morrison: Save Luongo! That was close. Nice toe save.
-Kesler: Hiller got his toe on that one.
-Carter: gamble by Carlisle and it doesn't pay off
-Bernier: tried to go 5 hole but stopped by Hiller.
-Kunitz: Whoa, almost. He out did himself
-D Sedin: Fancy try, but Hiller didn't bite.
-Pahlsson: Shoots wide.
-Can we put Wellwood back out there?
-Edler: 5 hole attempt and stopped
-Rob Niedermayer: Luongo stops him on his ass. The Ducks have the right idea
-Pyatt: What a glove save by Hiller!
-Beauchemin: a slapshot, but Brian Rolston he is not.
-Bieksa: fake slapper but puck rolls of his stick.
-Pronger: Pad save by Luongo.
-H Sedin: another fancy pants play that doesn't work
-Moen: hit the post!
-Johnson: another great glove save by Hiller! Wow.
-Montador: Oh, Luongo just stopped that one along the ice
-Salo: slapshot and stopped by Hiller. Shorty called that.
-S Niedermayer: Oh captain! Save by Luongo!
-Ohlund: Give him a raise! Ohlund scores top shelf!

CANUCKS WIN AFTER 13 ROUNDS OF THE SHOOTOUT!

7-6. GEEZ. Insanity. Talk about winning the hard way.

HIGHLIGHTS

Busy day for Canucks

So I go golfing for a good chunk of the day and then I hear that the Canucks have signed Cody Hodgson to an entry level contract and Roberto Luongo has had a "C" painted on his mask.
Right now I am actually watching the Canucks-Ducks game which is streaming live on Canucks.com. No problems getting in this time. Great game. It's the Mason Raymond show in period 2. His first goal is one of the best ones I've seen all preseason. It was a lot like the goal he scored on Kiprusoff a few games ago....except better. It looks like we have some magic on line 2 with Demitra and Raymond.

**Game Update**
Can you believe it? The game goes to OT and the Canucks try to bag it early having a 4-on-3 power play. Who's in the penalty box for the Ducks? Nathan McIver. McIver steps out of the box right when Hank Sedin coughs up the puck to Sammy Pahlsson in the Ducks' zone. Pahlsson passes the puck to McIver who goes in all alone and bags the winner, spoiling the Canucks' perfect preseason record. Nathan McIver. The goon has hands. What a twist of fate that was.
Oh well. Preseason is over. Let the real games begin!

Canucks-Ducks Box Score.

T Tags: Canucks, Luongo+captain+C+on+mask, Canucks+sign+Cody+Hodgson

Ducks finally sign Selanne

A 2-year deal. It's reported to be worth $5.25 over the 2-year span. Cheap.

"We're happy to have Teemu back and thank him for his patience as we sorted out our salary cap situation," Ducks executive vice-president/general manager Brian Burke said in a release. "Teemu is a true Duck. His loyalty to this franchise and community is unquestioned."

It will be a huge boost for the Ducks to have both Scott Niedermayer and Selanne for a full season rather than the bullsh*t they pulled last season. Does this mean Chris Kunitz's stats are going to elevate?
Selanne is rumored to play tonight against the Canucks.

T Tags: Ducks+sign+Teemu+Selanne 2+yearsLabels: Ducks, Teemu Selanne, Unrestricted Free Agents

Ducks finally move Schneider...to Atlanta

From the OC Register:

The salary cap-strapped Ducks finally pulled the trigger on the long-awaited Mathieu Schneider trade Friday, sending the veteran defenseman to the Atlanta Thrashers for two veterans, defenseman Ken Klee and left wing Brad Larsen, and minor-league left wing Chad Painchaud.

The trade is contingent on Schneider passing a physical before 5 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday. Until he does so, the new Ducks acquisitions will not be allowed to practice with the team. Schneider, 39, has not been in Ducks camp since players reported Sept. 19, having received permission to stay away while awaiting a trade.

The move clears Schneider’s $5.625 million salary-cap hit off the books for the Ducks, who pick up cap hits of $1.25 million for Klee and $535,000 for Larsen, whose actual salary this season will be $560,000. Both are set to become unrestricted free agents after this season. Painchaud, who is on a two-way contract, does not enter into the salary-cap equation.

The net cap savings of $3.84 million is more than enough to offset the approximately $3.05 million the Ducks had been above the NHL’s $56.7 million limit, but more moves will likely have to be made for the club to create enough room to sign unrestricted free-agent right wing Teemu Selanne.

I wonder what kind of moves those will be. Good for Atlanta. Not good for the Blues, who really could use a guy like Schneider. I wonder what Burke was asking for from the Blues in return.
So Burke's tie is choking him a little less now. Nice depth addition of Klee. He's steady. Larsen is a 4th liner.
So who is this Chad Painchaud kid?
-Product of Mississauga Ontario
-Drafted in the 4th round by the Thrashers in 2004.
-Not rated very high by Hockey's Future:

Good acceleration and straight line skating. That, combined with his good puck control, makes for rushes along the outside, finished with a direct route to the net to shoot or pass off late. He is not shifty or particularly strong though, and has trouble getting around defensemen.
Sometimes he can become invisible in games outside of his own end, watching plays develop and waiting for something to happen instead of initiating offensive opportunities. Needs to work on his effort level and defense.
Effort will get him more ice time, and maybe a call-up to the AHL, but Painchaud's vision probably isn't good enough to be an NHL-level playmaker, and his shot is not good enough to be an NHL-level goal scorer.

Career minor leaguer I suppose.
-Here are his stats at Hockey Database.

T Tags: Ducks+trade+Schneider+to+Thrashers Ken+Klee Brad+Larsen Chad+Painchaud

Ducks place Schneider on waivers: Any takers?

I am kind of suprised that no one took Schneider via a trade. Now someone will have to claim the 39 year old defenceman and rid Brian Burke of his salary so that he can sign Teemu Selanne. Question is, who is going to pay an aging defenceman in decline $5.5 million?

-Ottawa is close to being able to absorb a Schneider contract and could use a little scoring from the back end beyond Filip Kuba.

-Los Angeles: The most likely candidate because they have so much money left over and lost Rob Blake in the summer. They could use more scoring on the blue line beyond Jack Johnson and Tom "discount" Preissing.

- Phoenix: Has spent under $40 million so far and lost Boynton and Ballard in the Jokinen trade.

- Maybe Columbus.

- Maybe Atlanta.

- Islanders?
-The Blues could use some depth on defence and have money.

- Or he may just retire because there are no takers. But that almost seems unlikely. At the same time, for that pricetag, Schneider's production really dipped last season, where he was scoring over 50 points with the Red Wings the 2 previous years.

T Tags: Ducks+place+Matthieu+Schneider+on+waivers

Selanne to continue career with Ducks...maybe

According to Hockeyexpressen.se, the 38 year old Teemu Selanne will play his 16th season in the NHL, returning to the Ducks. If this is the case, I think the Ducks will have to move more than just Matthieu Schneider's $5.75 million contract, as they are way over the salary cap.
Remember, Brian Burke said this recently:

"If the financial circumstances allow us to sign Teemu, we’d love to have him back," Burke said. "He’s a great player and a very well-liked player on our team."

What kind of moolah is Teemu going to be asking for?
According to the Finnish Flash, the Ducks are making room for him.

Spector is all over this story as well.

T Tags: Teemu+Selanne+returns+to+Anaheim+Ducks 2008-09

Brendan Morrison about to sign with the Ducks

Today the Ducks shed themselves of one member of the former West Coast Express line and now they are poised to add another. It looks as though a deal should be announced within the next few hours. TSN is reporting that it could be a 1 or 2 year deal. Any guessers on how much Morrison gets per season? I'll go with $2.5 million. That may be a bit high...
Now we have closure on the issue as to whether or not he would re-sign in Vancouver. That has been the talk all along.
Last week, Morrison had turned down a 1-year $1.9 million deal from the Canucks.

**UPDATE**
It has been confirmed to be a 1-year deal. No dollar amounts yet. A more in-depth story on this can be found at the Province.

**UPDATE 2**

The OC Register is stating that the Morrison deal will be announced tomorrow.

**UPDATE 3**

The Vancouver Sun is reporting that it is a 1 year deal apparently paying Morrison $2.75 million. Geez, Gillis wasn't even in the ballpark on this one.

T Tags: Ducks+to+sign+Brendan+Morrison Unrestricted+free+agent

Lowe fires back at Brian Burke...finally

"Where do I begin?," started Lowe. "He's a moron, first of all. Secondly, he really believes that any news for the NHL is good news. Thirdly, he loves the limelight and I don't think anyone in hockey will dispute that. Lastly, he's in a pathetic hockey market where they can't get on any page of the newspaper let alone the front page of the sports, so any of this stuff carries on."

"I mean, if he wants to debate what our offer sheet did to them or to the salaries, anytime," he explained to Team 1260. "The reality is, Rick Nash's contract a number of years ago, (Patrice) Bergeron's and (Ilya) Kovalchuk's; that sets the standard - that's been going on for decades. I'm sick and tired of it. I know everybody in hockey is. I know our peers are like, 'Well, that's Burkie.' This guy is an absolute media junkie and I guess he's achieving what he wants because he gets his name in the headlines. But the reality is, I hate the fact that my name is linked to his. He's an underachieving wanna-be in terms of success in the NHL. He won a Stanley Cup? Great. I've won six Stanley Cups, you want to count rings? Who cares, it's just a little pathetic that he carries on."

It's amazing what a lot of pent-up anger can do to aid a verbal laceration.

More on Lowe's rant can be found at TSN.

T Tags: Kevin+Lowe+speaks angry+at+Brian+Burke rant feud

Habs-Bruins and Caps-Flyers thoughts, Sharks in trouble

Habs-Bruins Game 7
What a game this is going to be. After a thrilling finish to Game 6 and a Bruins win to force this series to 7 games, who really knows what to expect in Game 7. I would say that you won't see what happened in the 3rd period last game to happen in the final game. Both teams should be a little more cautious.
A big key to this game may be how composed the Habs will be after brain farting in Game 6. Is Carey Price going to be the difference?
Something I really noticed in Game 6 was the asshat play of Alexei Kovalev. I think a really big reason Kovalev did not show up was because Saku Koivu returned from a broken foot for the first time in the series and the spotlight wasn't on the Russian anymore. Think of it this way: Kovalev wore the "c" in Koivu's absence and was a force to be reckoned with just before the playoffs and in the first 5 games of the series as well. Hell, he had 6 points in the first 5 games. Koivu comes back in game 6, and Kovalev plays 21:46, has only 2 shots, no points and was a -3. Some guys love the spotlight, and Kovalev is one of them. Let's see how he rebounds (or acts) tonight.
Personally, I think he's a highly gifted selfish jackass.
5-2 Habs win tonight is my prediction. But I sure hope I'm wrong.

**UPDATE** 2 assists for Kovalev and a bunch of points for the Kostitsyn Buthas and the Habs destroy the B's 5-0. Carey Price showed a lot of composure for a kid in Game 7.

---

Flyers-Capitals Game 6
All the talk about the Flyers-Capitals game tonight revolves around (of course) Alex Ovechkin. Can he get his offence going in the postseason? One last chance to be a playoff hero since game 1. At least Semin and Fedorov picked up the slack in Game 5 to prolong the series. But it will be a masterful upset if the Caps beat Philly in front of the crazy-spirited blood-hungry Flyer faithful tonight. I say the Flyers end it tonight 4-2.

**UPDATE** Holy crap, it's a Russian Mob takeover tonight! Ovechkin becomes the hero and Semin and Backstrom majorly contribute in a 4-2 Caps win. Now the Flyers are in trouble as they have to beat the surging Caps in front of a sea of red tomorrow.

---

Unless Joe Thornton can lead by example and show some more heart and offence, it looks as though the Flames will take their series. When I watch that series, I hardly watch the puck. I just follow Thornton around the screen. It's not because I got some kind of sick love affair with the guy. No, it's because I have been hacking the slug for the whole series and I want to know for sure that my accusations are justified. And they are. I don't care that Big Joe has 1 goal and 5 assists in 6 games. As decent as that is, there are too many times where he refuses to shoot the puck in key areas and too many times that he lacks grit and pays the price. Joe doesn't go, the Sharks don't go. How about this... in 64 career NHL playoff games, Joe has only 10 goals and 44 points.

---

Nothing made me happier than to see the Ducks lose last night. I refuse to cheer for Scott Niedermayer and especially Todd Bertuzzi. Even better news from the Ducks camp is that Scott Niedermayer has been fined $500,000 by the League for not reporting to training camp last fall, as he was considering retirement. Ha! (Update: Bob McKenzie says that the team itself fines Niedermayer.) I guess there is a rule about that in the CBA. Couldn't happen to a better Duck and a bigger cheating GM in Brian Burke, who really kept Niedermayer and Selanne out of the Ducks lineup to save cap space. (Burke is fighting this fine and trying to reverse it. So then, Selanne WAS at training camp then?

**UPDATE** I think Selanne had a double bogey on his first hole.

T Tags: Canadiens Bruins Game+7 Flyers Capitals Game+6 Joe+Thornton+sucks Kovalev+sucks

Canucks-Ducks Preview

The Canucks cruise into Anaheim tonight to take on a Duck team that is already favored to win the Stanley Cup. Given the Canucks' current 3-game winning streak and their domination of Anaheim this year (3 wins in 3 games and outscoring them 9-3), I'm sure the Canucks don't care if the Ducks are contenders or not.
But this is a different Ducks team than the Quacks we played on December 30th. Scott Niedermayer and Teemu "Buzz Lightyear" Selanne were not playing for Anaheim then. These 2 players sparked the team when they returned and continue to do so. However, the Ducks have lost 3 of their last 4 games, after going 11-1-1 in 13 games. They lost their last game to Phoenix in the shootout.
A motivating factor for the Ducks besides not getting swept by the Canucks this season? If the Ducks win tonight, they will achieve a team record for most consecutive wins at home (8).
The Canucks can put 4 points between themselves and 9th place Phoenix with a win tonight and still have a game in hand over them. A win would also tie them with the Flames for #1 spot in the Northwest. These should be motivating factors for Vancouver, besides the fact that the damned Ducks booted them from the playoffs last year.
Nathan McIver was called up from Manitoba again yesterday. This is because Sami Salo may not play tonight because of back spasms that Glass Man Salo attained when he tripped and fell on his ass last game. I swear, Salo could injure himself getting out of bed in the morning.....Jeeziz.
There is talk that Mattias Ohlund is questionable for tonight with his bone chip issue.
My prediction for tonight? I hope I'm wrong, but I'll say 5-2 Ducks, because the Swedes are not going, and Kesler and Burrows can only do so much. This Duck team is better than us and should find rejuvenation returning to the Pond.
I tell ya, it sure would be a character win by Vancouver if they take this one though....

GAME TIME: 7:00 PST
TV: The oh-so glamorous Canucks PPV TV.

T Tags: Canucks Ducks Preview Salo+injured

Brian Burke a future Leafs GM?

Those are the reports coming out today. If Burke wants the job in Toronto it's his at the end of the season.
Why is this rumor fun? Because I can't wait to hear Burke's angry reactions to it. Sure to be comical, as his face goes red with rage.
Why Burke may not go to Toronto: Where would you rather live, California or Toronto? Burke loves the west coast and has always said that. Probably part of the reason why he took the Anaheim GM job in the first place.
Burke's wife, Jennifer Mather-Burke, according to this site in January "is hosting a lifestyle show on CBC-TV called Living Vancouver." Is she going to give up that job? Mather has long been a figure on BC television.
Is there any doubt that the Ducks will offer Burke a decent extension? The guy is a genius.
Why Burke would take the job in Toronto: $$$$$$$$$$$$

T Tags: Brian+Burke Maple+Leafs+GM

Selanne's back...so????

So Selanne is back in the fold for the Quacks as of today. But I wouldn't press the panic button on the Ducks repeating as Champs just yet. The biggest reason is that Teemu, or Buzz Lightyear as I like to call him, is not going to have that glorious chemistry with Andy McDonald like he had last year, as McD went to the Blues. 78 points for McDonald playing with Selanne last season and a rejuvenated 94 points for Selanne playing with McDonald last season. Selanne will have to find that kind of chemistry with someone else now. And that may or may not happen.
A big negative is that the Ducks still have Todd Bertuzzi, and he is a floating inconsistency at best on most nights. I can't see Bert raising a Cup this year, can you?
Nah, not concerned about Teemu's return. Sure, the Ducks are better for it, but it's not the same team as last year's championship team. Just my opinion.

T Tags: Selanne+returns Ducks

Canucks 2 Ducks 1

Isn't it great cheering for a team that doesn't lose games when leading after 2 periods? This Canucks team is completely content to play trapping and patient hockey in that scenario. While it puts us on the edge of our seats, especially like tonight's game, as the Ducks bagged a goal with just over 10 minutes left to make it 2-1, you still have to feel somewhat confident that Vancouver will hold the opposing team off.
Tonight was the same ol' story. Up by 2 after 2 periods, the Ducks woke up and peppered 11 shots at Luongo in the 3rd, while the Canucks only hit the net 3 times. That's the beauty of having a good defensive team and a world class goalie in net. A text book Canucks victory tonight, as we have beaten these lame Ducks 3 times out of 3 this season.

A Couple Thoughts

- Pronger was booed every time he touched the puck. What did he ever do to Vancouver? Must have been some bitter Oilers fans in the crowd. If you wanna boo somebody, boo that primadonna Scott Niedermayer for Christ sakes!

- Todd "Useless Tit" Bertuzzi had 1 assist, was a +1 and played 20:32. More or less invisible and floating. Huh. Sure am glad he isn't a Canuck anymore. Enjoy the Bert futility, Anaheim fans!

- that was back-to-back games for the Quacks. They looked like they didn't really get going until late in the second. No excuse though, as Doug Weight pointed out in the intermission. The Ducks were playing so well until they ran into Calgary and Vancouver, and have lost 2 in a row. They are stuck in 3rd place in the Pacific Division, 4 points behind the Sharks and 7 points behind the Stars. Life sucks defending the Stanley Cup don't it?

- a disciplined game by Vancouver. Only 2 times the Ducks had a PP. The Ducks were shorthanded 3 times and the Canucks converted once. Bing-bing-bing, the Swedish Touch line connects again.

-The Canucks take over top spot in the Northwest, 2 points ahead of the Wild.
The real challenge comes tomorrow against the Flames, where we will have to find the energy to win back-to-back games. We have a 5-3 record playing in the 2nd games in back-to-back situations.

BOX SCORE

HIGHLIGHTS



T Tags: Canucks Ducks Review Boo+Pronger Niedermayer+shitbag Bertuzzi+floater