1 point.  That's all the Vancouver Canucks to clinch a playoff spot and win their 3rd straight Northwest Division crown.  As many of you know, we last played the Colorado Avalanche in January, and lost to them 4-3 in OT.  I really think we won't see a repeat of that nonsense again tonight.  Another item on the checklist of the journey my friends, all part of the process that will get us to the promised land...

In the midst of a 6 game winning streak, the Canucks are playing the 2nd of 3 at home before a big road swing out east, so it's nice they can clinch at home.  Enough looking ahead though, as the Canucks need to focus on the task at hand.  How bad are the Colorado Avalanche right now?  It's stunning, really.  Sure, some will say this is where they should be, but after keeping themselves close to the Canucks for the first couple months, they've been on a downward spiral that is one of the worst in recent memory.  Between injuries, some of their talent appearing to have been over-rated and the inevitable collapse of their goaltending, the team that some thought would be led to contention with their youth movement has instead been a massive failure. 

For those of us who remember the first 10 years of the Avalanche franchise, seeing this team that used to routinely humiliate the Canucks fall on hard time is a little pleasing.  In the same manner that the Oilers pounded us through the 80's, the Avs dominated the Canucks for years, it's only been recently that the tables have turned.  And what Canucklehead didn't enjoy the schadenfreude of the Avs trying to salvage their season with Peter Forsberg, only to discover he was as broken as many had speculated?  Feel good story?  Embarrassing is more like it.

It's also the Canucks For Kids Fund Telethon tonight, and you can donate by going here or calling 1-855-437-3863.

Looks like mini-wheats this morning...

Some big games last night, and a bit of shuffling as teams battle for playoff positions.  Carolina came up big as they shut out Buffalo, moving to within 2 points of the 8th place Sabres.  The Hurricanes are back at it tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a win by the Leafs will keep their slim post season hopes alive.  That one should be interesting... New Jersey won again.  Yeah I can't figure it out either.  I still don't think they're gonna make it.  The Flyers managed a win last night, which helped them keep the Washington Capitals a point behind.  The Caps went into Montreal and rattled off a 4-2 win... The Los Angeles Kings stayed within 3 of the San Jose Sharks with a 4-2 win over 9th place Nashville, while the Sharks took out Dallas 6-3... The Flames should be thanking LA, as they didn't see Nashville pass them after losing 4-3 to the Phoenix Coyotes.  The Canucks take on the Coyotes Friday night... Washington can take over 1st in the East with a win over Detroit tonight, while St. Louis will look to throw a wrench in the Ducks playoff aspirations when they meet in Anaheim...

WAACH 'Cast's Band Of The Day- DEVIN TOWNSEND

From his beginnings in the Vancouver metal scene, to landing the vocalist gig on a Steve Vai album (leading to an appearance on the Tonight Show that saw Townsend barred for life from NBC studios), to Strapping Young Lad and beyond, the Mad Professor of Canadian Metal is a workhorse, constantly working on new material when he isn't producing albums for other bands.  His musical output has been amazing: 5 SYL albums and 13 solo works, and he shows no signs of stopping.  Here are some of my favorites of the man known by his fans as Hevy Devy:

And this last one is dedicated to all of you Canucks haters out there.  Go on, tell us how much we fucking suck...