Chairman Maouth

Very cool segment on Bertuzzi and Brad McCrimmon. http://www.hometownhockey.com/news/trailer-sincerely-brad-mccrimmon/ Hopefully the main piece will be available online soon. You guys may want to make a separate thread about it - but it's featured before today's game which is why I posted it here.

I assume he went to the ticket desk, checked his bags and got on the plane.

I had high hopes for Volpatti after the 2011 pre-season. He was like a wrecking ball - then when the regular season started he crashed and burned. I see him as a potential call-up at this point but not first in line. The most recent info I have: http://www.vancouver...9235/story.html

I know I'm nit-picking here, but Hamhuis and Bieksa are too good together to split up. Ballard and Tanev also have chemistry. I think it will be Garrison/Edler although with both of those guys having big shots it does possibly warrant some experimentation with the line-up.

You have to judge each situation with a discerning eye. Why would Marchand lie about this? He's essentially standing up for Weise who was roundly criticized in the press - even in Vancouver. But then, after Marchand said what he did we saw stuff like this. http://vansunsportsb...ise-an-apology/ So why would Marchand lie when it bails out Weise - a member of a hated rival who had just beaten your team?

Thanks for showing me the light. I don't know what I was thinking taking the word of one of Thornton's teammates over yours.

Fail.

They have a better chance than most teams, but hell I don't know if they can win it or not. Odds are against any single team wining a cup before the playoffs start.

Pretty good game that was brought down a little by the refs calling every chintzy little penalty they could on both teams. I'd give the edge in play to the Canucks and the edge in goaltending to Howard. That was a helluva streak though, but it had to end sometime.

Listening to Vancouver radio about the game. Some comments paraphrased. "Wings home record is extremely impressive - unprecedented." -- Alain Vigneault "We hope the Wings streak is still alive when we roll into town." -- Roberto Luongo. "Should be a great game and test for both teams - the team with the best home record in the NHL versus the team with the best road record in the NHL." -- Forgot who said that "We're going to try and rain on their parade." -- Aaron Rome. "This is probably the most intense game of the year." -- David Booth "Thanks to Ken Holland - couldn't be happier than to be here for another two." -- Todd Bertuzzi "Playing defense helps keep me in the line-up." -- Todd Bertuzzi Better goalie? Very arguable. With both goalies that both teams have. I hated the diving the Canucks used to do. I estimate they've cut the diving by 80-90 percent this season. In fact I think they're in the lower half (and probsbly one quarter) of teams in the NHL that dive.

A bit of an interesting subplot to the game tonight. David Booth has played great this year since the Canucks got him from Florida. He was born in Detroit and apparently has never played a game at the Joe anytime in his career. I imagine he'll have plenty of friends and family at the game. I also imagine he's undoubtedly highly pumped to be playing a game in the NHL near where he was born.

Well Datsyuk is certainly an integral part of the Red Wings, (not sure about other injuries) but in his case at least, no team is going to go far if only one player is relied on to win the games. Datsyuk is the player I've seen most mentioned in this thread. Injuries happen to all teams and as a Canucks fan i'm certainly not going to feel like it's a hollow victory if we win - and I'm certainly not going to feel shame if we lose. Good teams also have a way of picking up the slack when a player goes down and the Wings are nothing if not a good team. Hell, the proof of that is already there in Joey MacDonald. But I digress, no matter if Datsyuk, Howard, a Sedin or whovever could be injured, it's still a game that's attracting considerably more attention than just your normal run of the mill regular season game.

Messaged you with 4. Not sure if they're kosher to post here in public or not. Thanks HM.

I've come down on Monster a couple times in the past but to criticize Monster (and me by proxy) so heavily is a little unfair. He may be wrong about the timing of the GDT but he's certainly correct in saying this is a big game that's getting a lot of attention from fans (and the media). It's the two western conference powerhouses meeting for a game that could determine first place overall in the NHL - plus that whole streak thing you guys got going. It's one thing to criticize when there's a valid reason, but to criticize like you have based on a statement that is at least partially correct seems to me to be more reflective of how you feel about the Canucks and their fans rather than anything particularly shameful that Monster said. But to the game - whenever I see the GDT's here and the "Projected Starters" and "Injury Report" banners I assume those are hot-linked to another page but that never seems to happen. Maybe that's a FireFox issue though. Vancouver Canucks' Starting Lineup: D. Sedin - H. Sedin - Burrows Booth - Kesler - Raymond Hansen - Hodgson - Higgins Weise - Malhotra - Lapierre Hamhuis - Bieksa Edler - Salo Rome - Tanev Tanev is a good young defenceman and is expected to crack the top four within a year or so. Luongo is expected to start but I don't think that's been officially announced yet. Canucks play the Devils the next night so Schneider will most certainly get at least one of those games. He has been trusted to play big games against big teams but I'd expect Luongo to get the Wings game. The wild card in this is that I'm sure both Luongo and Coach Vig would like to see Luongo go head to head against Brodeur. Higgins missed practice yesterday. Murphy @sportsnetmurph #canucks Higgins blocked a shot in 3rd period (against Nashville) and needed stitches to close a cut. His finger is not broken and he expects to play in DET. Canuck Killers: Pavel Datsyuk - 34GP, 9G, 15A, 24Pts Henrik Zetterberg - 33GP, 10G, 13A, 23Pts Nicklas Lidstrom - 76GP, 13G, 42A, 55Pts Wing Killers: Daniel Sedin - 41GP, 14G, 24A, 38Pts Henrik Sedin - 43GP, 8G, 30A, 38Pts Ryan Kesler - 25GP, 7G, 12A, 19Pts The Canucks have a decided advantage on special teams but that means nothing come game time today. The fact that their powerplay is still first in the league only speaks to how dominant it was early in the season. It has struggled for a couple months now as has the entire team with the exception of the goaltending tandem which has managed to pull out the wins. The team struggles appear to have ended recently though. I'm expecting a potential game of the year with a playoff atmosphere. Good luck guys and girls.

Congratulations guys. Amazing achievement.

Just annnounced - Higgins didn't take the pre-game skate. Speculation is that he's had a reoccurence of a staph infection. Raymond expected to slot into second line. No word on who moves to the third.

Don't recall that, but yes the two players you mentioned plus a list of others that would be too self-indulgent to mention. The most significant thing I remember about last game is Kesler getting Kronwalled. Our best break-out passers are probably Bieksa, Edler, Hamhuis and Salo. If Ballard is having a good game he can be added to that list. I know that's almost the entire top six, but all of them are pretty good at it. When the Canucks transition game is clicking they're tough to stop.

Actually, the Canucks are widely recognized as being one of the fastest teams in the league. It's true what you said about the Sedins, but outside of them the team is very fast - that includes the defence.

As a Canucks fan I can tell you that even most of us agree with you guys about Garret. I believe he holds the distinction of predicting the Canucks win the Stanley Cup for 17 consecutive years, even after the playoffs started in years the Canucks missed the playoffs. Should be a good game. Both teams healthy. The Canucks iced their first complete starting line-up of the season last game against the Hawks.

Fantastic game, but horribly officiated. But the Canucks traded blows with the Wings and came out on top. I just heard on the radio there will be no supplemental discipline to either Kronwall or Kesler. I think that's the right call. Regarding Bieksa's comments, Kronwall is sneaky, and Bieksa is a much better interview than most players because he rarely bulls***s anyone. Not sure why what he said has people so up in arms here. And that type of Kronwall hit has been critized in the past. Kesler lost his s*** and today he probably knows it. He's shown in the past that he learns from his mistakes and rarely repeats them. I'm hoping he does that again. Dumb move to throw his leg out like a wet noodle, even though I don't believe there was any malicious intent behind it. There just wasn't even force thrown into the effort. Canucks don't have leadership? WTF? The Hansen goal and officiating. Just heard Ferraro say the Canucks deserved 2 - 3 powerplays in the game they never got and that the officiating was terrible. I agreed last night as I was watching the game, and as Canucks fans we saw this last season when the Canucks PP was lethal and referees put their whistles away when it came to giving the Canucks a powerplay. Seems that's on repeat this year. The Hansen goal is a tough call either way. Did Zetterberg knock Hansen down? I doubt it because immediately after the goal Ferraro said in real time during the game: "I'm watching Hansen take his skate off and give it to the trainer." That indicates to me that Hansen probably lost an edge, although it's possible that happened when he stepped on something in the scrum afterwards, but the most likely scenario is that Hansen lost an edge and collided with Howard. So probably in my opinion it shouldn't have been a goal. That brings us to the worst call or non-call of the game. Less than a minute earlier Kesler lost his s*** and tried to get at Kronwall - Kesler gets a penalty. Howard then loses his s*** and tries to get at Hansen - no penalty. Bulls***. If nothing else, this sets up for a great next game between these two teams.

Not sure what you're talking about in the Sharks series Vladdy, but that settles it then. I renounce my allegiance to the Canucks and throw it towards a more respectful team like the Wings. Yeah that was easy. Go Wings. Basically Vladdy, some of us are tired of hearing about what a bunch of assholes, divers and soft players the Canucks are. People hate our team and hate us fans and no one even remotely associated with the Canucks escapes the wrath of two-bit hockey analysts in Toronto or drooling couch potatoes in Edmonton, Boston, Chicago or Ottawa. I was amazed at how Sens fans jumped on the hate bandwagon last week when there wasn't a single significant incident in the game that would have been out of the ordinary in any game between any two teams. But because the Canucks had the rep when they went into Ottawa, Sens fans saw the game through goggles that were so distorted it's a wonder they saw any of the game at all. It just gets old and the popular commentary is way out of proportion when teams like the Kings are even worse offenders in my opinion when it comes to stuff like diving. The fact is there are agitators on a lot of teams and divers on all teams - even yours. The stink of diving is in every home arena in the NHL but most people only complain when the other team farts and steadfastly hold their noses when someone on their own rips one. However, there is a positive aspect to all this. When collective groups face adversity it often forces them to bond together even closer and I see that happening with both the team and its fans. Canucks often joke now about how they're the "most hated team in the NHL" and it's something that seems to have pushed them even closer together. And yeah, I know where I am and I know i will get no sympathy here and will get eaten alive for this post. Wouldn't be the first time.

That actually reminded me of Sammy. When we got him off you guys you all laughed aat me and said he was a good guy, but a total logo hunter. Then I began to laugh when he really tore it up in his first season with the Canucks. Then last year he reverted back to exactly what you guys said he was and you guys had the last laugh. So we shippeed him out and got David Booth for him who was working out great until he got taken out with a knee on knee.

What? He took part in practice today and apparently looked fantastic. http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Michael+Buble+Canucks+practice+greatest+life/5888491/story.html Love the video. Gimmee Shelter - Right effin on.

Tough crowd. I always look forward to seeing the Wings come to town - another big game and a measuring stick for both teams with nearly identical records and with both teams rounding into form. The usual hot suspects on the Canucks are hot - you know who they are. Others include Jannik Hansen, Mason Raymond, Chris Higgins, Cody Hodgson and Michael Bublé. The main concern for the Canucks will be the number 3 defensive pairing with Andrew Alberts and Alexander Sulzer in for Keith Ballard (possibly) and Aaron Rome (definitely). If Ballard plays (dealing with back spasms), Sulzer will be out. The most significant injury at the moment is to David Booth (knee) who had been playing exceptional when he was hurt a couple of weeks ago. Good luck Wings fans.