Now that the taste of bitterness of the Canucks first round exit has diminished, and the second round is now underway, it’s a good time to look back on the Canucks season.

The Canucks earned their 2nd President’s Trophy in a row this season, earning the most points in the league again. Say what you will about a weak Northwest Division, I maintain that it’s still a great accomplishment. Look around the NHL – the only truly competitive divisions in terms of playoff calibre teams are the Atlantic, and the Central. If you’re the class of the Pacific, Northeast, Southeast or Northwest, you should have a shot at the President’s Trophy. So where are those teams in the race?

With respect to the playoffs, every year there are teams that win and lose unexpectedly. The playoffs aren’t played on paper, they’re played on the ice. Teams rise and fall in cycles – players get hot and cold, teams look good and bad. If you’ve ever played any competitive sports, you know this. Sometimes you’re in the zone, and feel unbeatable. Sometimes it doesn’t matter what you do, you can’t get it together. If you’ve watched the Canucks for a long time, this isn’t the first time you’ve suffered, and you know it won’t be the last. If you’re new to being a Canucks fan, welcome aboard, and hang on tight. There will be ups and downs, but it’ll be fun.

Coaching controversy

Alain Vigneault is still the coach of the Vancouver Canucks, and I feel he will be for next season. There is no shortage of opinion on the matter on Twitter, and @korvan made an excellent point just after the Canucks lost their series to the Kings:

If you let go of Vigneault, who’s out there that’s better?

Vigneault won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s Coach of the Year in the 2006-07 season. All he’s done since then is gone on to coach the team to two President’s Trophies and to the Stanley Cup Finals. That’s not too shabby. Who is available that can be better than that? Ron Wilson? Marc Crawford? Mike Keenan? Come on now.

Goaltending controversy

We will look back on this time as a golden age of goaltending in this glorious city. For a city with fans that love the backup more than they love the starter (Attaboy Troy!), we may all rue the day that we had to trade Number 1 away. A lot has to happen for Roberto Luongo to be traded away from the Canucks, but this seems to be a foregone conclusion. He has said he will lift his no movement clause if that is what’s best for the team, and speculation about where he will go to has run rampant since then. Toronto, Tampa Bay and Florida seem to be the most popular destinations. Other cities in the conversation include Edmonton and Chicago, among others. Personally, I can’t see Mike Gillis trading Luongo to a team that could come back to haunt us early in the playoffs, unless the deal is something he can’t resist.

Make no mistake: Roberto Luongo is the greatest starting goaltender ever to put on the Canucks uniform. The statistics below don’t lie. It’s also no coincidence that teams and cities that loved to cut Luongo down are falling all over themselves, in search of a starting goaltender who can take them deep into the playoffs. Yes Vancouver, it’s true. Many teams in the NHL believe Luongo can take them deep into the playoffs, even as some of us have doubts.

I believe Cory Schneider looked good this year. I believe he will be a great goaltender for this team. However, what I believe, and what is factual are different things. Here are the facts:

• Schneider is a Restricted Free Agent still in search of a long term deal. If a long term deal can’t be made, the Canucks can always make a qualifying offer for him, but risk losing him as an Unrestricted Free Agent next summer if they do so.
• Schneider didn’t play a starting goaltender’s minutes in Vancouver this year.
• The glare of the spotlight is much brighter – and much hotter – on the starting goaltender in this city.
• Schneider has 1 playoff win to his credit, and 38 career regular season wins.

Hopefully Mike Gillis can get a long term deal done with Schneider, and trade Luongo to a team that won’t break our hearts in the playoffs next year.

Playoff Injury Report

It is always interesting to see which players had which injuries once they are out of the playoffs and the Cone of Silence is finally lifted. As it turns out:

• Ryan Kesler has problems with a shoulder, as well as nagging post-surgical hip issues. He is looking at a long period of physical rehab and strengthening this summer. Only his abs remain uninjured.
• Chris Higgins was suffering from an abdominal strain as he took the sit-up contest with Ryan Kesler a little too far.
• Kevin Bieksa has finally admitted his “Maintenance Week” was just a little more serious than “Maintenance Days”.
• Alexander Edler indeed played with one eye, and only one half of his brain in the first round.
• Sami Salo is remarkably uninjured.
• Alex Burrows and Max Lapierre were drinking Faderade instead of Gatorade.
• Mason Raymond as suspected, has a serious leg length discrepancy, which explains all of the falling.
• Roberto Luongo played despite a broken heart.

Nothing wrong with the Sedins – they were pretty good.

Thoughts regarding the early demise of the Canucks

The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true.

Galadriel – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

There is no question that the Stanley Cup is the most difficult championship to win in pro sports.

There are 8 great teams in the Western Conference that made the playoffs this year. No easy matchups – just ask the Red Wings, Sharks, Blackhawks and Canucks – all out in the first round, joined by the Bruins and Penguins in the east. I have long stated that to go deep in the playoffs, it sure helps to have a hot goaltender. I have to amend that this year – it sure helps to have two hot goaltenders.

Still doesn’t work?

To go deep in the playoffs, it sure helps if you have two hot goaltenders, and play a goaltender that isn’t hotter, and you can score a few goals.

When the playoffs begin, it is a new season. A chance to clear away the disappointments of the regular season. As the Canucks learned, if you have a slow start in the playoffs, you might as well pack your bags. There’s no room for error. If you’re lucky enough to make it through one round, you get to do it all over again. And again. And again.

The Canucks have a great team. Two President’s Trophies do count for something. Not as much as a Stanley Cup, but .. there’s always next year.

Enjoy the game everyone and as The Guzzler himself would say, God Bless America!

GO CANUCKS GO!

The beats go on, the beats go on - Checks keep pounding hits to the brain…

Raffi Torres Suspended 25 Games for hit on Marian Hossa

Raffi Torres: 5 time! 5 time! 5 time! 5 time! 5 time repeat offender!

Brendan Shanahan and the NHL Player Safety Department made a statement by suspending Raffi Torres for the remainder of this year’s playoffs, and probably well into the 2012-2013 regular season. I do not have a problem with the length of this suspension. My issue is with the consistency of the suspensions as a whole. The Torres hit on Hossa was dangerous, but according to Justyna Gluch (@MidwayJustyna from Midway Madness), it was a borderline hockey play – maybe a fraction of a second too late, and if Torres had not leaped into Hossa, the hit would have a little more legal. I’d like to add and underline the word “reckless“. Torres is a 5 time repeat offender with respect to the NHL and supplementary discipline, and all of his hits have the same careless, reckless nature. They’re all at high speed, and all direct shots to the head, with the elbow or shoulder.

There’s no need for that type of play. It’s clear Torres didn’t see the pre-season video from the NHL Player Safety Department, or maybe his copy was switched with Don Cherry’s Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Hockey. Either way, if Torres wants to stay in the NHL, he needs to re-tool his game, much like Matt Cooke did this season with the Penguins.

Very little consistency from NHL Player Safety department

Torres was handed a 25-game suspension, yet Shea Weber’s WWE turnbuckle smash of Henrik Zetterberg’s head got him a $2500 fine. Other star players received fines or 1-game suspensions that did not hurt their team. Perhaps it’s just anecdotal evidence that I’m looking at, but it does seem that “star players” in the NHL are not served the same rulebook as “role players”.

No respect among NHL players

Respecting the opposition doesn’t mean you have to invite them to the team-only Super Mario Kart tournament, or to the pregame soccer warm-up. Respect to me is some basic human decency, within the framework of a game of hockey. Bodychecks are legal hits, meant to dislodge a player from the puck. A legal check doesn’t have to be thrown at 50 M.P.H. with the intent to hit the player into next week.

This has been happening for a long time. Scott Stevens made a career out of hard hits, half of which would be borderline hockey plays, and likely reviewed for suspension. There is a long list of players that have ended their careers early because of hits to the head. Hockey fans have to wonder how hockey history would be different if players like Keith Primeau, Eric Lindros, Paul Kariya and Marc Savard had played full and healthy careers. Sidney Crosby may yet be added to that list.

Is there anything wrong with letting up a bit? Hits at 30 M.P.H. along the ice are still just as devastating. How about a quick “Heads Up”, or God forbid letting your skills do the talking?

Players expect too much of the league, and should expect more of themselves

How many times have you watched player interviews after a game with a questionable hit? Coaches and players are guilty of trying to “let the league deal with it”. The players go out and play their game, hit their hits, and then take whatever happens with respect to discipline. Am I the only one who believes the players should just know better?

The Canucks last supper? Maybe, but keep faith. Photo Credit: Ray Galang

Canucks Creed

Amen

The boys are yet to be eliminated. It could be tonight, it could be next week, or maybe it could be never this season.  I refuse to concede defeat when the last battle has not yet to take place. I ask you all to join me in ‘prayer’ and keep the faith. It may be a last ditch effort, but it is our duty as Canucks fans to believe, keep faith, and hope for the dream to stay alive.

GO CANUCKS GO!

Justine Galo

twitter: @Aviewfromabroad

Gatorade. It’s the classic sports drink for rehydrating athletes.

Haterade. It’s what everyone outside of BC drinks when the Vancouver Canucks come up in conversation. The sports beverage of choice for chirping and trolling in Calgary, Toronto, Boston and Chicago, among others.

Faderade. It’s what the Canucks are drinking this post season.

There’s no other explanation for their performance in the playoffs this year. All the way up and down the roster, with perhaps the exception of the goaltending, the Canucks have been underachieving. The Canucks were picked by many to have a good chance to go deep in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs. Many had picked the Canucks to meet the Penguins in the final, and now both teams are facing a 3-game deficit.

Defensive coverage has been indefensible. #PunIntended

Alex Edler, who led the Canucks in points from the defense, has been nothing short of abysmal. In fact the entire Canucks defense corps in Games 1 and 2 of this series was suspect. Shot blocking techniques aside, if you play defense in the NHL and you find yourself diving to reach for pucks, there is a good chance you are out of position. If you are trying to play goaltender as a defenseman, even though you have one of the best goaltending tandems in the NHL, chances are you are out of position.

If the Canucks are going to win, they will need the type of coverage we saw in Game 3.

Offensive production has been offensive. #PunIntended

The basic objective of the game of hockey is to score more goals than your opponent. The team that scores the most goals wins the game. As such you need to score in order to win.

Yes, having Daniel Sedin on the sidelines has not made it easier for the Canucks. He was the Canucks leading scorer during the regular season. However, the Canucks are built for depth. When one player is out, others have always stepped up in the past. Henrik, Kesler, Higgins, Booth, Raymond, Burrows – these guys are all capable of putting the puck in the net. Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick has been very good, but he hasn’t been required to be spectacular yet.

Inspiration

The Canucks have all the tools they need to win. They’ve beaten the Kings before, without Daniel Sedin. They have usually adjusted well after losses, and come back with good effort. This year’s playoffs seem to be different. You could see it in the player’s post game interviews – frustration, with a touch of disappointment.

If the Canucks and their fans need inspiration to stay positive, confident and motivated, they need to look no further than their captain, Henrik Sedin.

Henrik was rocked by a hit from the Kings captain Dustin Brown, right in front of the Canucks bench. Brown had a line on him from well below the blue line; not at full speed, but from a long distance. The hit wasn’t dirty per se, but Henrik had a hard time getting onto the bench. After gathering himself, Henrik left for the dressing room.

Minutes later, Henrik was taking his regular shift. Later in the game, he had an amazing shift on a Canucks power play that lasted for well over 3 minutes, and did everything except put the puck in the net.

That is the type of effort that will lead the Canucks to a win in Game 4.

That is the Heart of a Canuck.

This was all inspired after the Dustin Brown hit on Henrik early in the game. A tweeter put out there:

“Sedin currently day to day with a strained labia”

How ‘creative’ this person was! No one has ever heard the Sedins referred to as women before! Wow, I hate to break it to you, but I think that joke actually started in Vancouver in 1999 during Henrik and Daniel’s first training camp. You’re a little late to the party.

Another insinuation that Henrik Sedin is a wimp because he doesn’t ‘fight back’ or have any ‘testicular fortitude’.  Frankly I’m sick of it hearing how much of a ‘p*ssy’ Henrik is and the lack of respect he doesn’t get because in their eyes he’s not ‘tough’. I hate to break to you out of shape sports writers and ‘avid’ fans but he is damn tough. Why? Because he’s lasted over 560 games straight in the NHL without missing one.

It takes a tough man to take the abuse Henrik takes on the ice and do his job night in and night out. It takes a tough man to train rigorously in the off-season to make sure he takes the precautions to have a long career and a strong season. Wow, he’s smart also.  Most of all it takes strong man to go out there to do all this for over 560 games as many ignorant fans all around the NHL, call him a ‘p*ssy’, a ‘faggot’ and the one he and brother seem to always hear is that he is a woman.  My reaction tweet to that was:

@Aviewfromabroad: Hank takes his hits, keeps his mouth shut and keeps on playing. Leading by example. If that makes him a girl, he’s all woman. #Canucks

Another point that I need to address is what makes ‘demeaning’ Henrik or any other man on earth to refer to them as women, is a very misogynistic attitude towards the fairer sex and there is no real need for such insults in this day and age. As a woman, I certainly don’t appreciate having men referred to as women. Are you saying we are not equal enough in your eyes? Go back to the 1950′s please, we don’t need you in this modern world. Alright, back to Henrik.

There are different definitions of toughness in hockey. One is that of guys that can duke it out on the ice. Others have a mental toughness to keep their nerves calms in high pressure situations. One is to endure abuse day in and day out on the ice (and off) and continue to do your job, (well might I add) to the best of your abilities without games interrupted, season after season. The last one is what Henrik Sedin embodies and anyone with an ounce of intelligence of hockey will see what level toughness it takes to be the Ironman of the NHL, over 560 games tough.

Hey but according to that tweet and its writer that inspired all this, what do I know? I’m only a broad.

Justine Galo

Twitter: @Aviewfromabroad

Could Gandalf help out the Canucks defense? It couldn't hurt.

Look to the Canucks coming at first light on the fifth day of the playoffs. At dusk, look to the Staples Center.

After the first two games of the playoffs, it’s clear that the Canucks could use a lot of things in their game. Some finish, some momentum, some luck, some special teams work, and yes, maybe a little magic in the form of Wizardous Sedinery.

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Although Henrik has been alright at holding onto the puck in the first couple games of this series, it’s seems he’s keeping the puck on his stick because there aren’t very many passing options available. The Kings defensive coverage in the series so far has been excellent – strong forecheck, suffocating backcheck in their own zone, nice gap, and #ThatsWhatSheSaid. It seems the Canucks have very little time and space to do anything with the puck, and when they try to move it, the passes have been in the skates and not very sharp at all.

#Beastmode Edler, where are you?!

With apologies to fans of the Lord of the Rings:

Where is the horse known as Edler…
Where is the goal horn that was blowing…
They have passed like rain on the North Shore mountains…
Like wind in the Fraser Valley…
Game days have come down in the West…
Behind the hills into shadow…
How did it come to this? 

Edler has not been himself. He has given up more turnovers than a bakery, and has fewer hits than the Thompson Twins. Playoffs are about getting your game to a higher plane, raising your compete level. Edler has looked downright timid out there. In Game 2, he overskated a puck that wasn’t even moving at the corner boards of the defensive zone. I’m not sure if he is nursing an injury, but he does not look comfortable at all out there. Hitting (and being hit) is a big part of his game that has been absent in this series.

Superstition

I don’t know about the rest of you, but when the team isn’t playing well, I try to change it up at home. Finish the dishes. Fold some laundry. Wash my face. Bake some cookies. Mow the lawn. #NotAEuphemism

After the first two games, the chores are all done, we have more cookies than Mr. Christie, and my face is drying out from having been washed 50 times. I think I do these things just for a distraction from the TV. Am I the only one?

Weber and Bitz and Bitz and Hits

Shea Weber must have a meeting with Vince McMahon in the next few weeks. He is putting together an audition reel, starting with Zetteberg’s head. How does the pro-wrestling move of  “The Bulldog” have any part in the NHL? What’s disturbing about the whole thing is, why wasn’t there more disciplinary action from the NHL on this incident? Instead Weber pays $2500, a fee he probably pays to get custom suits made, and is still playing in this series. On the other hand, I have no problem with Bitz’s suspension. In fact, after seeing the hit again, a few times, I’m cool with it. However, if Bitz garnered two games, Weber should be suspended for at least that. Someone was even inspired enough to make a Youtube video with legendary wrestling announcer, Jim Ross, giving the audio to that Weber hit.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Kings Gate, and I don’t mean mall

I was pretty upset by this coming from a corporate organization’s account. You would think an NHL franchise would have some guidelines of what to tweet, as the face of the organization on twitter. I mean, twitter! Really? That person that is running that account considers his or herself a ‘social media specialist’? But it may have sparked some interest in the Kings down in LA, since you know, there will probably be more Canucks fans down that way for Games 3 and 4.

Blame Luongo!

Yes, yes even though the Canucks crapped the bed in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, there are those still out there blaming Luongo. Why? Because it’s no longer even a surprise, in fact, I think for many of the ‘fans’ out there, it’s just fashionable to blame him. Someone was calling for his head on goal #2. Really? The Canucks were parading back to the penalty box, I thought there were some good treats on the bench for the boys to munch on.

Fact or fiction? Does everyone in Canada want the Canucks to lose?

Oddly enough, I have yet to hear too many bad things about the Canucks here in Toronto. In fact, about 3/4 of the people I have ran into and chatted hockey were hoping they were going to be the ones to bring the cup back to Canada. The other 1/4 that I asked didn’t really care, it’s baseball season now...*wink* Perhaps I should publicize an apology in the paper to Toronto fans for having such a good team on the west coast, but someone has already beat me to that.

Boston teams
Random tidbit here, but as some know, I am a big ‘hater’ of Boston based teams. As a Yankees fan, I despise the Red Sox. As a Denver Broncos fan, I hate Tom Brady and his bunch known as the New England Patriots, and the Bruins? Yeah, no need for commentary on that one. Although, tonight, I will be cheering on the Celtics. I have adopted them as my NBA team until the Sonics are back into Seattle. So I will be cheering on the boys in green and wearing my Canucks jersey.

Game Two

I’m hoping for a kick ass effort from the Canucks tonight. I’m hoping they realize they can’t coast in the first round or any round for that matter in the Stanley Cup playoffs. LA has been playing playoff hockey all March vying for the last few available playoff spots. They are already warmed up and seasoned. I don’t want the Canucks hoping they run out of gas. So the Canucks need to turn off cruise control and compete like they are President’s Trophy winners.

From the Centre of the Universe,

Justine Galo

Twitter: @Aviewfromabroad

Thin skinned…yeah sure…ok.

So I guess I fall under the thin skinned people that various bloggers were referring to in reference to the Kingsgate Twitter scandal. I never got worked up about it; it’s just not the way I would run my organization. There are certain models that businesses follow to achieve their goals. Whatever your preference is that’s fine. My preference would be to have my organization represent itself with class, and it does that in spades with @VanCanucks. To each their own I guess…Jim Rome has a popular talk show for a reason.

But what about Cory?

Wait! How can I scold the kings for their Twitter indiscretion but condone what Core Schneider said about Edmonton you say? Well, Schneider was already in full apology mode for making these comments in response to being asked about why the Canucks seem to be hated so much:

“You look around the league and people don’t like us and Pittsburgh and we’re two of the better teams. You saw Darcy Hordichuk and Ben Eager in Edmonton. Nobody cares about Edmonton so nobody hates them. It’s that simple.”

Now anyone who knows Cory and the type of person he is would understand Schneider was referring to the fact that no one hates last place teams. Unfortunately his words weren’t chosen wisely. I wonder if those same bloggers will accuse those folks in Edmonton of having a thin skin? The shame.

Postgame Circus

I don’t how talk show host do it. Driving home after Wednesday’s game, I turned on the postgame show on @TEAM1040 and couldn’t believe the calls that were coming in from fans. One caller called in saying the fix was in and that Gary Bettman has decreed that because of the television market, Los Angeles shall win the series. That the Bitz hit turned around on the Canucks would have resulted in a two minute penalty at the most, guaranteed. I ended up having to turn it off. The insanity was too much to take, which is unfortunate because I enjoy pregame and postgame stuff generally. Some people clearly need to step off the ledge and take a few deep breaths after a loss.

Pregame Video

The last regular season game I went to I tweeted that the Canucks pregame video was rather uninspiring. Wednesday night they made up for it with a great intro video that got the hairs raised and the goose bumps sprouting. The Canucks do a great job of these in general, and it was great to see them crank it up for the playoffs.

Can it Kesler

Please Ryan Kesler, just get back to being a dominating two way scoring threat! Leave the other crap behind and just play like we all know you can. We need Kesler leading…not getting taken off his game by all the after the whistle stuff.

Anyone but Raymond?

I don’t think Mason Raymond is cut out for first line minutes. He just doesn’t finish well enough to be playing with Henrik. I’m not sure what the answer is while we wait for Daniel’s return, but I’m not sold that Raymond is the answer. That said, every time I voice this opinion he seems to go on a two game scoring streak.

Thank me later.

Off to the game, GO CANUCKS GO!

According to Wikipedia:

A double entendre is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first (more obvious) meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic.

When describing hockey, players use shoot, hit, check, bump, slide, and use sticks of varying lengths. This makes for some often hilarious commentary. I’ve compiled just a few of the funniest bits I’ve heard throughout the season. Enjoy, and if you remember any others, write them down in the comments!

The big question regarding Bourque is this:
Does he give it to you every night?

- Brad May re: Bourque/Camalleri Trade

Couldn’t get it up, if he had, it would have been in!

- John Shorthouse re: Daniel Sedin shot on Jonathan Quick

Jamie couldn’t believe how SMALL it was.

- John Garrett re: Cheech’s old style blocker.

Kesler, trying to send it in deeper for Raymond…

- John Shorthouse during Canucks versus Avalanche

Just waiting for the swelling to go down.

- Andi Petrillo on HNIC re: injury status of a player

I like it a little rougher than Ron does.

- Brian Burke re: hockey philosophy and Ron Wilson

Him and Bieksa, they give it to me all the time.

- David Booth on HNIC re: interview jabs

He’ll take his time before sliding it gently in…

- John Shorthouse re: Bieksa sending the puck in for a line change.

Semin outwaits Budaj, as he opens up his legs,
slides it through the wickets.

- HNIC describing Alexander Semin, the Russian.

I’m sure a lot of guys could do me.

- Corey Schneider regarding impressions.

Schneider and I been working on those tips, he likes it when
I get right in front there and change the direction.

- Andrew Ebbett re: deflecting the puck