The Vancouver Moose Experience Chugs Along
by Yankee Canuck on Nov 3, 2009 10:20 AM PST
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With Matt Pettinger getting ready to start tonight on the fourth line along with Blackout and Bliznak (this lad need a nickname), it's high time we dole out some praise to the healthy few who are keeping the Canucks remotely relevant less than one month into the season.
This includes Kevin Bieksa and Willie Mitchell, who lead the team in TOI (#1 and #2 respectively) and Mitchell leads in quality of competition category so, shift to shift, he's seeing the best forwards out there. Alex Edler has a fugly -6 and we've seen some fuglier plays, but he's also eaten more TOI and now ranks third on the team.
There are only four guys in double digits for scoring: KesLORD, Sammy, Hank and ErrorHoff. Can't say enough about the forwards really: Hank is without his brother, Sammy gets shuffled around a good deal and Kes is showing he doesn't need Sundin or Demitra to be a force. If they can get Raymond producing consistently and find some life in Burrows and Bernier up front and Salo and Schneider on the blueline, maybe we'll forget they've had nine ten eleven injuries keeping them from icing their full time roster.
And tonight, with shutout diva Raycroft back in net, they welcome Gaborik's groin and the always deplorable New York Rangers. You bet your ass I need to see a win tonight.
I believe Beantown Canuck and I had the pleasure of taking in Vancouver's thorough ass kicking of the filthy Rags last year in MSG, a game in which Lundqvist effectively benched himself. There was so much to like about that game that I ignored (as best I could) the massive hangover in the morning. Few things are sweeter than watching NY lose, especially when it's Wellwood of all people and a Burrows shorty leading the charge.
But expect Lundqvist in net tonight. The Rags other dilemma appears to be who rides alongside Prospal and Gaborik on their first line. Sounds like Higgins - another offseason signing - will get a crack at it tonight. And while they have cooled off recently, the Rangers are still one of the better teams this season, lead very much by the wonky groin who BOUGHT A HOUSE IN VANCOUVER. In 36 career games, Gaborik has 31 points (18-13-31) against the Canucks. Rookie blueliner Del Zotto is having a great start as well (it's true, I have him on the fantasy team). And though Vancouver is 5th on the PP, the Rags are 7th; conversely they're 4th on the PK and Vancouver is (gulp) 22nd.
Do I need to bring up Sean Avery? Not really. Besides the Canucks may not be the most talented group, but they certainly have enough angst to feed Avery his spine if they have to.
Vancouver had a strong win against the Avs and need to follow it up with an even stronger showing tonight. And a small bonus would be winning the game without another injury. Just an idea. Give it a shot, see how it feels.
If you need some Rangers information, check out Blueshirt Banter.
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I need to see someone past Gabby cleanly into the boards.
Lets see how healthy he is. I don’t mean it in that headhunting…lets get em kind of way…but he can’t be allowed to skate his little curls and get that shot off. Willie, I am looking at you…keep the elbow down like we know you can…sic em boy!
;-)
Paste him a couple times, and he disappears. Same way he would in Minny.
vancitydan
Regrettably...
…we didn’t seem to be able to do that all that all when he was with Minny…perhaps more luck tonight.
Apparently his leg is not 100% yet. Yeah, let’s get him!
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 3, 2009 10:46 AM PST up reply actions
I’ll give credit where credit is due, and Gaborik would give Ovie a run for the goal scoring titles any year if he could only stay healthy. Its a scary player to see on the ice, and he’s burned Vancouver many times over the years. Hot onto your hats, I think this is going to be a high scoring game tonight.
Razor vs. Gaborik = Recipe for disaster. (imho)
by Jesse Taylor on Nov 3, 2009 11:25 AM PST up reply actions
Hey, we shut the Avalanche. That was no small task. Stifling defence, man! We can win this one!
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 3, 2009 11:38 AM PST up reply actions
stifling defense is key. Who do you think they’ll turn to to shut down Gaborik? Mitchell – Salo? They’re a great shutdown pair, but have they been playing together since Salo returned?
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 3, 2009 2:31 PM PST up reply actions
Problem with pasting Gabby is you have to catch him first. The dude is fast.
Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood...Make big plans, aim high in hope and work. - Daniel H. Burnham
Fan Clubs: Sloan, Schultz
True that. So one Canuck cuts him off and the other rings his bell. Kinda like the old Stevens-Niedermayer days
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 3, 2009 11:39 AM PST up reply actions
Isn’t that a move from NHL 94 too? You can definitely score that way!
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Nov 3, 2009 12:17 PM PST up reply actions
I forget. Couldn’t you skate right up to center ice and push up + B and score every time?
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 3, 2009 1:10 PM PST up reply actions
I could play either game for quite sometime.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Nov 3, 2009 11:10 AM PST up reply actions
I still play blades of Steel. Good times!
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 3, 2009 11:40 AM PST up reply actions
Raycroft is 4-3-1 with a .895 save percentage and 3.28 goals-against average in 10 career appearances against the Rangers. Lundqvist is 0-2 with a 5.65 GAA in two career appearances against the Canucks. … The Rangers haven’t won in Vancouver since Oct. 1, 1997.
Just a little nugget from CDC
Murph that magnificent bastard just tweeted that Luongo and Hansen will be with the team on the up coming road trip. Not sure if they will play but it is encouraging.
by Section 312 on Nov 3, 2009 1:37 PM PST reply actions
At the very least, it means that opponents will not be able to prep for one goalie or the other; keeps ’em guessing.
At the very very least it means more people on the plain.
by Section 312 on Nov 3, 2009 2:00 PM PST up reply actions
Where the Buffalo (Sabres) roam!
Oh give me a home
With a low-interest loan
A cowgirl and two pickup trucks ♫
A color tv
All beer would be free
And that, friends, is Rancho Deluxe ♫
I always do that. If I write airplane I am fine but take out the air and I struggle.
by Section 312 on Nov 3, 2009 2:18 PM PST up reply actions
Amazing how we can spot the errors in everyone else but ourselves when we write. Then we go blind and make all sort of obvious errors. At least I do. And I never learned to type properly, either, so now and then I look up, see what I have just done, and curse the sadist who invented the caps-lock key.
My computer spell checks everything I write automatically. Even when writing in these boxes. Or in emails. Anywhere I type I get spell checked. So I am usually not too bad, thanks to Microsoft, but when there are 8 English words that mean different things and are spelled differently but sound the same, then I struggle.
by Section 312 on Nov 3, 2009 2:30 PM PST up reply actions
random question: did the display format for the site change, or is it just my computer screen acting funny? i don’t remember so much white and grey, or that font for the titles…..
http://canuckpuckbunny.blogspot.com
GO CANUCKS GO!
it’s a new format, SBN will be rolling out SBN 3.0 sometime soon.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 3, 2009 2:32 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah if you guys have a problem with the new layout, let it be heard in the comments. All the site managers are funneling the feedback into the tech team.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Nov 3, 2009 3:11 PM PST up reply actions
Occasionally everything but the first two posts and the left sidebar take absolutely forever to load or doesn’t at all. I don’t know if that’s just me and my internet connection, but it’s there.
by thelastjohnny on Nov 3, 2009 3:32 PM PST up reply actions
I had a lot of probs w/the “CanadaFreeCreditReport.ca” ad. It’s a Flash ad that eats cpu and I had to go to my Hosts file to disable it. This site removed it from their rotation right away, much to their credit.
Maybe it’s back? I’ve seen the same ad on a dozen sites now, with the same slowdown each time, and each time it was served from a different server. It’s a red box of an ad; watch out for it.
And there cant be that much money in “free” credit reports, can there? Somebody is paying big bucks to run that ad everywhere, so what’s their gig?
I have an adblocker so I never see them, it can’t be that that’s the problem. Maybe it’s my browser, Camino, that’s the problem.
by thelastjohnny on Nov 3, 2009 3:42 PM PST up reply actions
A thought for the site: go see this.
It’s a little-known feature from Google that lets you specify a list of sites to be searched and your search is limited to just that. You SbNation guys might wish to consider a search of just your blogs and/or selected other sites that are really worth the effort. For example, Cunucks Misconduct could offer a search of just the SBN hockey blogs, plus a passle of other really good hockey sites. Might help to weed out the crapola sites that clog up the web.
If I was the CM guys I would also have a Google alert set every once in a while with a passage from something they have written. Just in case they are being ripped off and not credited. It’s something journalists do all the time.
by Section 312 on Nov 3, 2009 3:37 PM PST up reply actions
I had wondered why some journalists, ones who were caught plagiarizing shamelessly, nonetheless re-worded things just the littlest bit when they did. That explains it; they’re trying to avoid getting exposed via a Google alert. Thx for the tip. I have a friend trying to start up an writer’s site site; I’ll pass on the idea.
Yeah it’s a pretty good idea. My co-worker does it all the time to make sure he/our work is getting credited if they use one of our stories. It’s a good idea for anyone writing anything that they post on the internet and want to make sure other people aren’t using without permission.
by Section 312 on Nov 3, 2009 3:47 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah we keep a pretty good eye ( at least I think so ) of what’s written here, not just the main stuff but your fan shots too. We’ve had a few instances where our stuff ends up on Bleacher Report without credit. Annoying.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Nov 3, 2009 4:04 PM PST up reply actions
Sorry: by “our stuff” I mean SBN not Nucks Misconduct specifically. Not that I’ve seen so far anyway.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Nov 3, 2009 4:05 PM PST up reply actions
Do people actually read the Bleacher Report though?
by Section 312 on Nov 3, 2009 4:26 PM PST up reply actions
I don’t, but they have a really good SEO practices so they pop up a lot in search results. They also have similar partnerships with CBS and NHL.com that we do. Why? I have no idea. From what little I’ve seen, some of their stuff is OK but I don’t understand the advantage of having everyone edit your content. I like the fanshot/fanpost approach better.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Nov 3, 2009 4:30 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah I have always found that site a bit useless to be honest.
by Section 312 on Nov 3, 2009 4:36 PM PST up reply actions
Yankee…before I started writing articles on the Canucks for fanhuddle.com, I wrote a few articles for Bleacher Report. I had good readership, and was one of their “featured story” writers a time or two as well.
The total open edit thing was OK in a grammatical sense, although that breeds some pretty anal people just editing your content due to strict rules and not reading something “fior effect”.
Some of the writers there were OK, but some weren’t. I had one for the Canucks that had been doing it a while ( Ice man, I think his name was) that decided I was a threat to his “turf” and did nothing but disparage and whatnot…that wasn’t pleasant. But the fans were OK…so, it evens out. And I did get “scouted” there to write for the above mentioned site, so…there is that too.
I find the SBNation experience excellent though. I really enjoy the conversations here with all the fans. Even when I am disagreeing with Yoata ( ;-) )or someone else, , or voicing an unpopular opinion myself, I find the people here, both you and Sean, to be great. We have conversations, both emotional and rational, and always informative. Thats what SBNation has over the other sites right now.
The community here is what keeps me coming back. Talking to fans living in places like London and New Zealand…lastjohnny in Brisbane(?)…its all good.
vancitydan
Oh I didn’t know you wrote for them. Interesting insight. I know some folks are more hostile to the BR folks than we are, I just don’t really care. Every once and awhile I see something good, but for the most part, I think the sites we have in the blog roll are pretty solid.
Also if you like the fans all over the world aspect, you may have missed this piece from the playoffs. Pretty sure GZ got a call from the CBC to be interviewed because of it (see? fanposts are powerful!)
http://www.nucksmisconduct.com/2009/4/19/844430/how-to-be-a-canuck-fan-in-china
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Nov 3, 2009 4:58 PM PST up reply actions
Was before I found you guys…so thanks for reposting GZ’s excellent article.
Great read. Interesting viewpoint…I can’t imagine after enjoying hockey in HD trying to get a constantly jumping picture on a restricted ’Net.
vancitydan
More than anything Iwould love to see Ripper put Avery’s teeth through the back of his head.
A win would ne nice too.
Do you think Ripper could punch someones head right off? That’s what I want to see him do to Avery.
by Section 312 on Nov 3, 2009 3:45 PM PST up reply actions
Has it been over 3 games since he fought last? Probably has a busted up hand or something.
by Sean Zandberg on Nov 3, 2009 4:48 PM PST up reply actions
well, playing on the 3rd line and having the entire team trying to play a more defensive game to help raycroft probably had an effect on that.
http://canuckpuckbunny.blogspot.com
GO CANUCKS GO!
I like it when the Canucks aren’t taking dumb penalties. Not that Ripper fighting majors are a dumb penalty, but they seem to be accompanied by Sedin hookings or whatever later in the game, y’know?
by thelastjohnny on Nov 3, 2009 5:15 PM PST up reply actions
shutout diva Raycroft
Here are stats/facts:
Luongo wins 6 loses 6 Save percentage 9.00% shutouts 1
Raycroft wins 2 loses 1 Save percentage 9.30% shutouts 1
Not sure what you have against this guy Yankee but you he making you look like an idiot.
Doesn’t it suck when you write “you he making you” right before “look like an idiot”
LOL
by Section 312 on Nov 3, 2009 4:57 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
LOL…I think if he plays well tonight…we can start talking.
I would agree with Yank’ on Bobby Lou being the guy I want in, but yeah Kelowna…Raycroft seems to have gotten it in the Col. game. His rebound control was waaaaay better than the Ducks debacle…though both goalies didn’t get much help that game.
I think he is secretly enjoying showing the T.O fans in a Cdn. city again that he is a better goalie than the one that was run out on a rail and yet still gets such enmity there that sites like PPP still follow his games and revel in his bad play and bemoan the good.
That year in Col. was something else though. Hopefully that was the last of the “bad” Razer and the Canucks get the “good” one.
vancitydan
My sense from reading some interviews it that he just hoping to get a foot back in the league. He knows has screwed up. In a way he is a lot like Woody.
You got to have respect for anyone that is willing to stand in front of a 100 mile per hour slap shot. I do not care how much protective gear they wear.
I don’t like the condescending tone. Lou is our man for sure but lets give Ray the respect he deserves. I really hated that face palm bullshit from preseason.
Except that Raycroft appears to be on the road to redemption. Wellwood, not so much….so far.
I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.
Well at least AV has not waved him yet this year. I think he is contributing. I for one am happy to see Woody in the line up tonight.
Smo…I would say Welly’s first game back was what we get from him. Its tough for a player like him unless they leave the lines together. Which has been tough with all the injuries up front.
Welly will be OK…
vancitydan
Not sure if anyone saw it, but it sounds like Ohlund blew up Kessel in the first. Sent him to the dressing room, but he’s back now.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
I just saw the highlight…KABOOM! Olie has been OK in Tampa…always was one of my fave players.
And that was another totally fine check too. Hit hard without headhunting. Once the GMs get together and we finally outlaw arms elbows to the head…it will take a while…but the players will get used to it, but apart from dickheads like Phanuef…who ALWAYS do it, most will learn pretty quickly.
If it’s a size diff’ and you hit with the shoulder…well…tough titty.
Hey Kessel…I know you just got back, but you can’t look at the puck that long.
vancitydan
Dang, I’m still waiting for someone to upload it to youtube. Perhaps the hit wasn’t that big?
by thelastjohnny on Nov 3, 2009 5:53 PM PST up reply actions
It was hard
Yeah, Kessel couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t wearing a Bruins jersey for a sec there.
Poor guy probably thought he was in a nightmare, “I’m a Leaf?”
No johnny…it was pretty big. Try Versus if they have a site. They have already shown it twice on the between periods on the Det/Bos game.
Maybe the NHL site in a while?
vancitydan
Haha, all I know is that they’re calling for Ohlund’s head over at PPP. I’ll keep scouring the net, but it might not show up until official highlights are up after the game.
by thelastjohnny on Nov 3, 2009 6:10 PM PST up reply actions
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