Chairman Maouth

Weise was definitely talking to McQuaid, but then Thornton waived him to move back. Weise  clearly started talking to Thornton and looked right at him and motioned to drop the gloves while looking right at him. So, while he was gonna fight with McQuaid, he clearly looked right at Thornton and acted like he wanted to drop his gloves.

Fail.

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.

I'm starting to realize how retarded you really are each and every time you post here. Please, spare us the extra stress on our eyes and just be quiet. You ensure us that we're not all crazy and Vancouver fans really are that dumb.

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.

I don;t mind the Team 1040 guys.  Garret is one of the worst colour guys in the league.  I don't mind watching nucks games but lately I haven't been if it's on sportsnet cause i just can't stand him.

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.

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.

I always enjoy games against the Wings. Like the team - like the fans. For me and many Canucks fans (and other team's fans too I think), the Wings are kind of a litmus test for your team. If you can hold your own against them you're not too bad off.

I thought a poster may have lifted it- my bad on assuming it wasn't your post there. I went to the Van forum there to see if the Canadian broadcast had a better angle.

No it was mine as I think you know. But just the same you did prove to me that I should probably have more than one original thought per minute.  

abby just hammering away on that tool lappierre

I imagine Abdelkader became offended when Lappy welcomed him to the diving club after watching that dive a week or two ago.

I never said you weren't well-adjusted or that holding in anger is a good thing.  I find it to be misplaced in the case of depression.  A few of the closest people in my life have battled depression their whole lives, and I also had a friend who ultimately took his life because he simply couldn't bear to live with it any longer.

Like you said, your feeling of anger is perhaps better described as bewilderment.  I think that's a much better way of putting it.  For me, the only sense of anger I can see regarding this situation would be if Rick had continuously tried to get help for his problem and the system kept failing him because we just don't have a handle on depression the way we'd all like up to this point.

I hear you Mac. And I do regret a little using the word "anger" straight up. It's more like a "WTF and why would you do this" kind of thing. I just don't understand choosing death over a pretty good life. But I guess the answer is in that seomewhere. For him, it wasn't a good life, but me having never been through it or close to someone who has - I just don't understand.

Correct. Please acknowledge this and avoid making pretentious statements.

I have to think that you just thought to yourself, "What is the most over-the-top ironic thing I can say" - and came up with that.

If that's your thought process, than you truly don't understand depression.  

That's not a knock on you, as you claimed ignorance about the disease.  I'm just confirming the fact that you don't know enough about it.

RIP Rick.

Yeah thanks for the confirmation. Very helpful.

The Canucks did everything they could for him when he was in their organization. Such a shame he felt he had no other alternative because he was a good role model until a couple of days ago.

I've gone from sadness and grief last night to a bit of anger at Rypien today for wasting his life. He had it pretty good when looking at things from the surface. I also realize the anger I feel is likely born of ignorance about clinical depression. I don't know. It's just all so tragic on so many different levels. I loved the guy and maybe I'm being selfish that I won't get to see this little guy take on guys a foot taller who outweigh him by 70 pounds ever again. I know he was no longer a Canuck and I was pissed about that, but still, this is all so s***ty. I guess he will always be a Canuck now.

Someone get stuck on a ferry again?

I'm not going to be around as much during the finals guys. Got asked to help out on another hockey board. It will probably take a lot of my time, at least for now.

I know you will all miss the absolute hell out of me.

And please be kind to my team.  

Seriously Broken - get your ownf****** life and stop worrying about mine.

Heaten, that is some 24 carat crazy-ass s*** you posted my man.

I'd be pissed that we lost after being the better team. Being pissed about Burrows playing is stupid. Burrows played, get over it, I bet the players didn't care...except Lappy lol.