game 6 round 2: vancouver 5 - blackhawks 7

So I apologize for the delay, for all those who wanted to see me cry or be a big whiney sore-loser on here.

Actually, I just couldn't bring myself to do this, and really it's not because of what happened Monday night in Chicago. 

(And for those want me to be the big sucky baby, sorry, not happening, but it's by no fault of my own. Trust me.)

I was a little choked from watching the game Saturday night with a lot of haters -- you know the types that don't really care and just steam ya about everything just to get a rise -- and because it really pissed me off, I turned Game 6 on in the basement (well downstairs, not the basement because they don't exist in Yellowknife with the hardrock foundation)  and watched it by my lonesome.

And you know what I did, I started writing a running diary of the game -- an homage to Bill Simmons, the guru.

And it helped me deal with my butterflies. I thought it was kind of funny, and it was an interesting read after, because it mimicked completely the roller coaster ride I was on, as the Canucks took the upper hand, then crapped it away, then took the game back, then crapped the bed, with what felt like 50 changes in momentum.

I cursed Mats Sundin. I apologized completely for bashing him. I praised Roberto Luongo. I asked who murdered Roberto Luongo after the second period and replaced him with a greasy pizza guy. I spoke about how much I hate Patrick Kane. I spoke about how much more I hate Patrick Kane. I got wisdom from my dad after the second, and broke down at the end of the game.

After the third period from hell, feeling beaten up, I walked upstairs dreading the inevitable roommate lurking to harass me and proceeded to connect to the internet, as there is no wireless downstairs.

But apparently, after all the typing and fuming, the laptop must have overheated, and it froze. Not unlike the Canucks...

Yep, 3 hours... squandered... squared...

I left the Crapbook upstairs, hoping it would cool down overnight. Nope. 

Hoped maybe if the battery ran out, I could hook it back up to power and that would kick start it back up, after work today. Not a chance.

And so I booted it back and up and it's lost and I'm recapping the run thusly.

I have nothing more to say and I don't want to repeat what I've already written so I'll say I feel about the lost post like I do the Canuck's season.

There's a lot of good to remember, but I wished it was still there.

The playoffs are dead to me now.

On another note, at least I have a life again... kinda sorta

game 5 round 2: vancouver 2 - blackhawks 4

I'm not worried.

I watched the game tonight with a bunch of non-partisans and it kind of blew because they started cheering contre les Canucks just cuz. I thought Toews played well for the first period and then sucked. I didn't think the Hawks really played that well, honestly.

The second goal was due to a dirty hit on Kesler, where he -- half-dazed -- dumped the puck out through the middle of the ice, where it was taken at the point and redirected past Lou, and then the dirty third that Kane somehow kept in, and Bolland eventually popped in.

I hate Kane. He's a little biatch. Honestly, there aren't many NHLers I would ever say that about, on the oft-chance that I'd ever run into them in real life after they read my blog, but I swear, I could kick the shit out of Kane. I don't like Kane.

Things will be different on Monday. Noo dooot aboooooot it.

game 4 round 2: vancouver 1 - blackhawks 2 (OT)

It was the first time this postseason that we didn't come up with the magic.

That's it.

Like DA texted me after: "Fuck perfect tip like perfect fuck that's the only way to beat louie"

I still believe. No prob.

Funny how this series has played out so far. Vancouver leaves home, tied 1-1 in the series and they're barely hanging on and everyone thinks they're done. Four days later, Chicago escapes from their building, tied 2-2 and there are some serious questions being raised about their team.

Let's see what happens in Game 5.

I'm saying Vancouver 3 - Chicago 0

game 3 round 2: vancouver 3 - blackhawks 1

Ha-yuge game tonight... Big bounce back game...

I have to admit, I was bad tonight. After devoutly tuning into every split second of each game of the Canucks run (and missing out on the epic Bulls/Celtics first round series) I missed the entire first period of game 3. I just got back yesterday and I'm still in catch up mode, so I had a pint (just two) with the world famous Dawgwoods, and ran to my old man's place to watch the rest.

And man, they showed up tonight. I liked how they threw Raymond up with Kesler and Sundin tonight, with Demitra out. The message boards were a-buzzin after game two with Demitra's lackluster (what a word!) performance. I hadn't been too impressed with him seeing as he's a finisher lacking finish and a playmaker who wasn't carrying the puck, but people were enraged by his shying away from contact... maybe it was his injury? Who knows. Either way, Raymond's speed really opened it up tonight and it was nice to see someone playing with Kesler who could keep up with him.

Man, is Kesler ever turning into a beaut. He does everything. Great play to get Raymond the puck on that first goal. He's hitting, killing penalties, forechecking like a rabid dog and is a threat offensively. So, so, so damn glad we signed that offer sheet three years back.

Luongo is a captain. Hear his interview after the game? Took responsibility from the goal when Scott "worst combover on Planet Earth" Oake tried to pass blame off on Edler. And loved the comment about Byfuglien: (poorly paraphrased) "I tried to skate over to him to tell celebrate him for his great game but he skated away." Thought that was great, considering how Byfuglien started yapping at Bobby Lou after Campbell scored.

Check 2:08 for Luongo quote. What a gem... And seriously Oake, what are you doing? Just shave the top of the dome piece. You're not fooling anybody out here.

Quick sidebar: Campbell is going to completely wreck that team. In the very near future, they're going to have to sign Toews, Kane, Seabrook, Keith, Versteeg, Byfuglien, Bolland and Barker to deals, and that 7 year/$49 million contract they gave Campbell is going to eat some serious cap space. I think the entire NHL is breathing a sigh of relief.

Ohlund was a monster. Hank Sedin was a force. Loved the time when he came in on a two-on-one with Rypien and didn't even look to pass and went right to the net. Usually it looks like Hank Sedin would rather eat the puck than shoot it, but he didn't even think twice. Sorry, Rick.

Steve Bernier was humungous again tonight too. I can't believe I was calling for him to get traded at the deadline. He's doing exactly what he needs to do -- playing physical, forechecking and going to the net.

Great to see Pyatt back and he really had some jump. I think he's provided the team with a lift, and like I've been telling people, this team really has the feel of a "team of destiny" what with the death of Pyatt's fiancee and Luc Bourdon's passing earlier this year.

All in all, hell of a bounce back when it seemed everyone had written this team off. They've lost one game these playoffs. So have the Bruins and Wings now. Although, I will admit, I've never felt less comfortable with a three goal lead in my life.

Let's keep er going for game 4 Thursday gents...

game 2 round 2: vancouver 3 - blackhawks 6

Bleech. Big deuce. Chicago worked us yesterday. We looked tired. They skated. They checked. They forechecked. We didn't.

I think Ryan Johnson was our best player and when a fourth-line penalty killer is your top guy, that's not a good thing. He really put it all out there though, blocking shots with his hands and then stepping in for faceoffs seconds later. Gutsy stuff. Mason Raymond and Steve Bernier both played well too, although Bernier needs to start popping his chances.

The defense clearly looked tired though. Especially Ohlund.  Gotta hope Salo's all right, because Shane O'Brien is starting to scare me back there and Alex Edler looks like he's in a little over his head right now.

Luongo has to be better but the team didn't do him any favours. Alex Burrows was a non-factor for the first time I can remember in a while. Kesler played a decent game but it really looks like the whole team is suffering some crisis in confidence. They're getting away from what they do best, grinding teams down with their relentless forecheck and collapsing on the net in their zone and prohibiting rebounds.

Byfuglien looked like a bull again. Seabrook and Keith are killing us. Ugh, it just makes me sad.

And Mats 'Lady Gaga' Sundin. I don't know if I despise him more now than when he was a Maple Leaf. I don't even know if that's possible.

Why Lady Gaga? Well, apparently he played a lot of poker during his vacation, as he's appearing in Poker Stars on TSN all the time. Well, he's bringing the lessons he's learned onto the ice, because he skates around out there in the warzone playoffs with his poker face on. I've never seen someone play with less emotion. I don't care if he's playing on one leg. If he's hurt, get someone else out there.

And for $10 million a year?!?!?!

ERRRGGGGG!!!! 

game 1 round 2 recap: vancouver 5 - blackhawks 3

gagagaggagagaggagagagaggaga.....

Oh man, I do not feel good after that.

That game can best be summed up thusly: felt like sitting down at the poker table, hitting a couple full houses right off the bat and raking in a nice chip lead, feeling a little good about myself, ordering a couple of stiff drinks, knocking them back in two sips, and starting to get a little too comfortable, chasing runners, throwing chips away because I can, then losing a couple of big pots that way, and next time I put down my drink I realize I let my stack crumble away to next to nothing, then in panic, going all in on a KQ suited and hitting a straight-flush.

And then running the fuck away from the table with my money and swearing off alcohol.

That game was nowhere near pretty and I don't know where to start. The reaction from the Canucks after Salo scored the eventual winner said it all. He started pumping up the crowd because he had no idea what else to do. Mitchell skates into the group-hug and looks at everyone like 'hey, we just scored, right? holy cow,' he turns around, sees Raymond and goes crazy.... It was one of those unorganized 'oh, thank Christ' moments. And oh thank Christ they got that one.

I know nobody reads these things or cares, but I feel I must keep them up, because we're 5-0 so far and although I'm a completely rational human being, I'm not going to jinx the Canucks by stopping. I think I must have looked like a whack job to the person I was watching the game with, because after Chi-town popped their first one, I refused to watch the game on the CBC's Atlantic feed, and changed to the BC feed, only to return to the Atlantic feed for commercials because I couldn't bear to miss the "Academy Canada and yoooooouuuuuuu" jingle (sung in the South Park/Basketball/Orgazmo guy voice).

I'm not really able to coherently offer any insight into that game at the moment because I'm kind of wrecked emotionally right now. Briefly: Byfulgien (Bufflin' somehow?) was a monster, as was Kesler. The Sedins played wonderfully for the first two, but like everyone on the Canucks, died in the third. Kane is this series' McDonald. I'm already going to have nightmares of that little mop-topped rugrat.

Admitting I'm afraid of this man feels like one of the most pathetic things I've ever done. He looks like he'd clam up and his retainer would fall out of his mouth or something if a pretty girl walked by him.

I do feel Vancouver will come out a lot better next game and realize they can't brazenly take a period off against this team. I still think Chicago is a year or two away from being one of the dominant teams in the league, but they're just good enough now to win this... This should be a goodie.

Note: I have a serious beef with this Vancouver crowd. They're a sad sack excuse for a home crowd. Are GM staff blowing weed smoke in through the ventillation system, because they don't a repeat of the 1994 riot? The crowd is shook all the time... The crowd is fragile... They're quiet... The crowd isn't supposed to be. They are supposed to be relentless in their backing, and psych out the opponent, get into their heads, make them think the task in front of them is insurmountable. The crowd is supposed to subliminally sway referees into making calls. The crowd is supposed to push their team, to give them an advantage, to give them a boost.


This crowd in Vancouver does the opposite. They are on pins and needles the entire time, and they don't pick up the team. They're too nervous. And it rubs off on the players, it's easy to see.


Come on, Vancouver fans. Let's start getting crazy...

game 4 recap: vancouver 3 - blues 2 OT

Clean Sweep!!!

BURRRROWS!!!!

Big Game Burrows, baby! Not the prettiest of goals, but g'damn... Nice to see Burrows bury it.

Wow, a sweep. Never saw that one coming. The world really must be crumbling and in shambles, because I'm convinced the end of the world is coming after the Vancouver Canucks breeze through a playoff round. I think I'll be going to North Mart first thing tomorrow to stock up on canned goods, candles and batteries...

A little worried now, I guess, with the amount of time off they'll get, but at the same time, Mitchell was looking a little worse for wear in the third, Salo and Sundin (who cares?) will get a chance to heal up and Luongo, Hank Sedin and Ryan Johnson will get to rest up.

Luongo was the MVP of the series, no doubt. He's in that zone where it feels like nothing but garbage goals are going to get past him. It's wierd to watch and not even feel too worried when the team is getting peppered because Lou is back there.

But everyone played well I thought, with the exception maybe of Sundin and Demitra. Everyone played their role. The hardworking guys like Johnson, Bieksa and Mitchell all did their jobs. The Sedins scored when they had to, and Ohlund, Edler, Kesler and Burrows -- the core of the team and some of their best penalty killers -- and the third line (Raymond, Bernier and Wellwood) really all had strong series. The penalty killing was absolutely ridiculous, while the powerplay should not be overlooked because they provided a lot of backbreaking moments to the Blues.

I don't think the Canucks outplayed the Blues in all four games -- especially not games three or four -- but they seemed to capitalize on every one of their good chances. They weathered the crowd in St. Louis and put in goals when it mattered most.

I do think the Canucks were a lot luckier than the Blues, though. McDonald hit about a bazillion posts, Edler kept one out somehow early in game four, a lot of Vancouver's goals were bang-bang plays off the boards or wierd deflections, and I just felt we got a lot of bounces.

However, with the way the Canucks played and with Luongo patrolling the blue ice the way he is right now, they are going to beat most other teams in the league.

Mason Raymond sure is a beauty. The kid's wheels got us two big faceoffs in the Blues zone and he was the hardest worker on the ice all night, grinding in the corners, taking and dishing out hits. I have to admit, I never thought he had this in him. I always kind of thought he was a little soft. Apparently not.

Those Sedins were fun to watch on the PK in OT. They just casually dangle in, drop it and deke around. It's goofy.

I bet you Pavol Demitra loves to drink. I mean, he really loves to drink. To me, he comes off as this guy that gets really riled up (watch him after he misses a tap-in, he freaks out... or when Kesler or another linemate scores, he goes wild) and I bet once he has one drink, he just can't stop himself.

Demitra's fighting the puck a bit. He had a gimme out there with the Sedins with about 11 minutes left and put it right into Mason's pads. And in OT, he got a rebound and instead of firing it right on net, he went around behind and circled in front and ended up losing it. He's just got to pop one and I think it will come.

One thing... I'm kind of getting a little tired of Luongo's flopping. He's been outstanding, but it's a bit much when someone doesn't even touch him and he's down. These are the kinds of things that bite you in the ass down the road, when refs will start thinking he's diving when he's really getting hit.

game 3 recap: vancouver 3 - blues 2

Knock, knock... The Sedins at the door of the second round.

It wasn't pretty, but we'll take it.

Good to see the Nucks grind out a game they really didn't have any business winning. Popped a couple greasy goals and then a bang-bang beaut from Hank to Bernier to cap it.

I can't ever remember the Canucks being up 3-0 in a series... And that's because it's never happened as long as I've been freed from the nutsack.

The effort was there, it seemed, but St. Louis came out hard and the Canucks had trouble matching their physicality and tenacity until they finally slowed it down in the second with the mad cycling. I swear, the entire team has started to take after the Sedins, wheeling it around in the corners, setting up until they can get a point shot or take the puck to the net. Wellwood, Raymond and Bernier look to be doing nearly as well, except it seems like the Sedins have magnets on their skates and sticks because they go into the corner and the puck just winds up on them.

D looked shaky off the start, especially Edler and Ohlund (who is just getting crunched like 5 times a game -- hope he can hold up) but they rounded out and were huge killing off all the penalties.

Is is just me, (probably. I don't think anyone's reading these things) but are the penalties getting

a little ridiculous? St. Louis had two five-on-threes longer than 1:25 minutes tonight, and Vancouver had a long one too (that's what she said). This is playoff hockey and there shouldn't be so many of these game changing powerplays.

On the other hand, I can't complain because, even though the Canucks spent far more time in the box, they capitalized big time on their chances, while Luongo, Johnson and the rest of the penalty killers stymied the Blues on so many of their man advantages.

Man, that Andy McDonald is flying though. There's always one guy on the other team where, whenver he touches the puck, you hold your breath, your butthole clenches up and you can't relax until your goalie's smothered the puck or he's off the ice. He's the guy this series.

All in all, it wasn't the Canucks best game, but it was very encouraging to see them win a game where they didn't play their greatest. You have to do that in the playoffs, and in the past three or four months, this really feels like a team that, no matter what happens over the 60 minutes, they know how to get it done and win.

Note:

And just to finish off a comment I made last post, the Blues fans showed how it's done tonight. Other than the smattering of boos the Canadian anthem got, they were classy throughout and were a crowd that definitely got in the heads of the Canucks. "Let's go, Bl-OOOOO-s!" and "Beat Vancouver" are far better than "Mason sucks" or "Blues suck."

game 2 recap: vancouver 3 - blues 0

Hey Backes!

Man, after countless years of patronage, it feels so great to cheer for a Canucks team that goes out there every night and kills themselves for the win. It's fun to finally have a hard-working squad to get behind. It looks like they want every puck.

The third line tonight was perfect. Bernier is playing like a man possessed. Case in point, when he chases down Polak in the late third and puts him into the bench. Where was that all year?Wellwood looks like the smartest player whenever he's on the ice. Unlike earlier this year, when he was trying to be a little cutsy with the puck all the time, he's now picking his spots to go to the net, or bide some time waiting for a teammate, and he rarely makes a bad decision. And Raymond is the perfect compliment. If Bernier isn't in the zone first banging and crashing, it's Raymond, who is starting to throw his weight around and make the Blues D a little leery with his speed.

Sedins again played keep away all night. They're so strong and just take pucks away. Kesler and Burrows were pests and buzzed around Mason all night. Might start calling Burrows 'Buzz Lightyear' because he falls with style. I don't want to say anything about Sundin, because he scored, but if he hadn't put one in, I don't know, man. He makes me angry.

And Luongo, once again, what can you say... Best goalie in the world right now.

Got a kick out of the little old school trip by Bieksa at the end. Total throwback play. 

And I loved watching the corpse of Andy Murray get all worked up at the end of the game. The guy always looks to me like he's just woken up and walked away from the cadaver table. He must have hit the defibrillators hard tonight.

One thing I want to say, the Vancouver fans in GM Place need to come up with some more creative -- or classy -- cheers. "Ref, you suck." "Mason sucks." "Blues suck." It's just, I don't know, dumb. That's what an expansion team's fans will yell. When I was in Anaheim for Game 5 of the 2007 playoffs, I was infuriated by the endless "Ref, you suck" chants by the Duck fans and thought they were some of the least classy I've heard.

Canucks fans, you're better than that.

Note:

Disclaimer: it's a Friday night and I'm on my computer, I know. But I'm in Hay River, not drinking for a month, my team's in the playoffs and I had a hellacious week at work.

game 1 recap: vancouver 2 - blues 1

First star: Roberto Luongo (get used to it)

Because I'm like that, I'm going to start posting quick little notes after each of the Vancouver Canucks' playoff games...

Before I start on the Nuckskis, I just have to say, with the NBA playoffs a foregone conclusion (it will be Cavs/Lakers in the finals) this is the ideal NHL playoffs for the American fan looking to get back into hockey. All of the Original Six teams from the States are in (Chicago, Detroit, New York, Boston) with a resurgence in both Chicago and Boston where fandom has floundered in recent years. Boston is playing hated enemy Montreal, which boots them from the dance with more regularity than an ornery teacher kicking out an amnesic alcoholic student from prom (that went on too long. I'm sorry). Also, hockey hotbed Philadelphia has an exciting young team and is matched up against rival Pittsburgh, with two of the best players in the world. Don't underestimate Philly's hatred for Crosby either. Washington is rallying behind their one winning team (Nationals and Wizards aren't going anywhere, while the Redskins are toiling in mediocrity) and its superstar, while St. Louis is back in after a six year absence, with a team on a mission. Also, Columbus gets its first taste of the post-season. And on the West Coast, there's the North/South California rivalry between San Jose and Anaheim to stir up some attention.

This is your chance, Bunny Rabbit NHL. Do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime... yo.

I'm looking at you, Todd. Don't fuck it up and Bertuzzi somebody.

Okay, back to Van-city. Nice W. Good way to start it, although we relied a bit too much on the pillars of the team (Luongo, penalty kill, Sedins for O)

This is over 24 hours late due to the retardedness of deadline day and pre-deadline day this week (I'm still not done all my work yet tonight...)

Notes:

Looks like Bobby Lou is rounding back into late-2007 form, where it felt like you had to plinko a puck through skates or get some really weird bounce or absolute goalmouth gimme to get a puck past him. I felt it just over a week ago, when Luongo stopped 46 against the Flames and had that machine-like movement in the crease where he was never out of position, never overplaying the pass, and smothered everything. The only goal that went in slipped in just past his outstretched pad after making a doozy save. Same last night, where a rebound slid out to Boyes, who one-timed it into the twine. Luongo still almost got a stick on it. Right now, it feels like he can win us every game -- and with the persistence the Blues played with last night, he might have to.

Kesler was an absolute beast. I remember Tuma giving me the gears after I bought a replica Kesler jersey back in 2007. "Why don't you get a Rick Rypien jersey?" Well, I saw glimpses of what he is today: one of the best two-way players in the game, with gamebreaking speed, and a top-notch penalty killer. He gets his stick on everything. He plays physically. He's got a deceptive snap shot. The five-on-three the other night was a thing of beauty. He never quit. Definitely the team's most valuable player not named Luongo.

Bernier was all over the place too. I admit to have lost patience with him earlier this year, when he seemed to take shifts off and come trade deadline time, I was hoping his name was being shopped in a deal to bring us back J-Bow.... But last night, he played the game he is suited for: banging and crashing and working in front of the net. He beat guys in races and outmuscled their dmen for the puck a number of times.

The Sedins did what they needed to and I thought when they had the puck, they completely changed the tempo of the game.

And I'm about two or three games away from calling for the Auditor General to look into Mats Sundin's game. We're getting cheated here. The guy's slower than my train of thought right now. He's old and lethargic and does this one armed slash thing that just infuriates me. Just move your damn feet, baldy.