Game 7 Coffee- A strength that none can match

An interview with:

                             COACH VIGNEAULT

     THE MODERATOR: Questions for Coach Vigneault.

     Q. Alain, you said yesterday that Alex Edler is fine, is he good to
go tonight?
     COACH VIGNEAULT: Good to go.

     Q. Coach, can you talk about the insertion of Jeff Tambellini, Game
7 in his hometown, a dream scenario, especially for him tonight?
     COACH VIGNEAULT: Without a doubt, for Jeff to come in at this point.
He has had some experience in this series, but he hasn’t played regular.
But he’s going to get an opportunity here tonight to play the seventh game
to win the Stanley Cup.
     I’m sure he’s excited. He knows about their history in B.C., the
history of the Canucks. I’m sure he’s going to be real good tonight.

     Q. Just wondering if you managed to sleep okay or were you tossing
and turning thinking about all the things you might do in the game tonight
depending on the situation?
     COACH VIGNEAULT: It was like every other night. Obviously today
coming to the rink, if you’re not a little bit nervous, safe to say it’s
probably not normal.
     I think both teams, players, coaches, everybody, will be a little bit
nervous. You just got to manage those nerves and go out and enjoy the
moment and play. I think that’s what we’re going to see.

     Q. Alain, you came off the ice with a big smile on your face and
said to somebody, This is the best morning skate ever." Why?
     COACH VIGNEAULT: That I had. I said it took me over 100 games, but
this was the best one. I skated real smooth and had a good shot on net, so
I was pleased with the morning skate.
     I wasn’t talking about the players because I don’t put a lot of stock
into morning skates.

     Q. You mentioned you didn’t want to break up your third line because
of the way they were playing at home. Do you feel the same way?
     COACH VIGNEAULT: We’ll see tonight.

     Q. Coach, have you or anyone else spoken to Mason since yesterday
and is there any update on him?
     COACH VIGNEAULT: I talked to Bernie when I got here this morning,
and he had talked to him. I think he might be on his way today or
tomorrow. I am not 100% sure because I think he had to see the docs this
morning and I haven’t talked to Bernie since 7:30 in morning.

     Q. Alain, it’s still a bit cloudy whether he guaranteed it or not,
but Daniel after the game was confident about Game 7. Can you speak to a
high-profile leader like that being outwardly vocal about his belief in the
team.
     COACH VIGNEAULT: What did you expect him to say (laughter)? Come
on, we’re in this to win.
     Daniel is one of our leaders on our group and he believes in the
group and he expressed it. I think it’s a normal thing to do at this time.

     Q. Coach, all season long you’ve been preaching one game at a time,
but this is it.
     COACH VIGNEAULT: This is it. This is the last one. The last time
you’re going to be hearing me say that (laughter).

     Q. Is there anything different you say to the team prior to this
one?
     COACH VIGNEAULT: No, you know, we’re going to focus on the process,
focus on our game, what we need to do. That part hasn’t changed, and
confident that we’re going to play a real hard game tonight.

     Q. Alain, how much are you addressing your own emotions about
tonight? You asked players to ramp up, you asked players to seize the
moment. What are you going through as a life-long hockey guy going into
tonight?
     COACH VIGNEAULT: Well, you know, I know how hard this journey is,
not just to get to the Stanley Cup Final. I’ve said many times how
privileged I feel to be one of the 30 head coaches in the National Hockey
League. It’s a tough business to get into, it’s a tough business to stay
in, and I was out of this business coaching in the NHL for six years so it
took me a long time to get back at it.
     This is my fifth year in Vancouver. I knew what was at stake this
year. I knew I was in my window of opportunity, and to get a chance to
play for the Cup, to get a chance to play in the seventh game for the
Stanley Cup, I’m real excited.
     Doesn’t it show (laughter)?

   An interview with:

                               RYAN KESLER
                              KEVIN BIEKSA
                              DANIEL SEDIN

     THE MODERATOR: Questions for Ryan Kesler.

     Q. How does this compare with the gold medal final in terms of what
you’ve talked about, this process, 82 games, and how this is a different
stage? Can you compare them?
     RYAN KESLER: It’s tough, you know, we played 82 games before we got
in the playoffs, the Olympics were two weeks and it seemed to go by in the
blink of an eye. The game itself, you know, has some similarities, but
it’s tough to compare the two.

     Q. Can you enjoy the moment? They were talking about trying to
enjoy the day, but obviously you’re nervous, but just soaking it in?
     RYAN KESLER: It’s all about enjoying the day. Every day you don’t
wake up playin’ for the Cup, Game 7. You know, it’s awesome.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Kevin Bieksa.

     Q. Did you want to treat it like a normal game or did you want to
treat it differently?
     KEVIN BIEKSA: A bit of both. We realize obviously what’s at stake,
which means you have to be focused every time you’re out. Every shift
could determine the outcome of the game.
     But at the same time, we’re playing the game of hockey so the rules
are the same and the ice is the same and the pucks are the same. So you’ve
got to go out and play. You can’t put too much pressure on yourself.

     Q. Is there extra motivation knowing Mason won’t be in the lineup?
     KEVIN BIEKSA: We obviously wish Mason was in the lineup right now,
but I’ve said from the beginning, we don’t need extra motivation. The
Stanley Cup is enough motivation for us. So we’re not looking for any
extras to help us get to that peak motivation.
     We’re in the Stanley Cup finals. We would like to win it for him and
for everyone in this dressing room.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Daniel Sedin.

     Q. I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but it sounds like you
said “We’re going to win Game 7”?
     DANIEL SEDIN: You know, that was probably me being excited and the
words came wrong out of my mouth. What I said was if we put our best game
on the ice, I like our chances. That’s the way it’s been all year. When
we play our best, we’re a tough team to beat. We show that at home.
     We like our chances.

     Q. Even if you had said that, that’s what you need to believe,
right?
     DANIEL SEDIN: Absolutely. If you don’t believe that in this room,
we’re screwed. So everyone, we believe in ourselves here, and it’s no
different now.
     We should be proud of what we’ve done this year so far. Taking this
to a Game 7, home ice advantage in the Stanley Cup finals, what else can
you ask for?
     We’re out to enjoy it and we’re going to play our best game of the
season. I’m sure if we do that, we will have a good chance.

     Q. You never know who the hero might be, someone is going to be a
hero.
     DANIEL SEDIN: That’s the best thing about it. We’re going to go out
there and every shift is going to be important. Whatever you do out there
is going to be for the good of the team, and that’s what’s fun about
players.
     Everything is on the line and you can be the hero any given moment,
so it’s a lot of fun.

     Q. Daniel, what does leadership mean today?
     DANIEL SEDIN: I think you go out there and play your best. I think
nothing needs to be said today. I think we’ve said enough throughout this
year to be prepared. If you’re prepared enough, I think that’s what good
leaders do. They show up every game during the regular season and in the
playoffs and lead by examples.
     So right now, nothing needs to be said, we go out and play our game.
Like I said, if we play our game to our best, we like our chances.

Julien is saying there’s no truth to the rumour that Nathan Horton will play tonight. And we should all believe him, because after all, no coach ever told a lie during the playoffs, right?

after getting off the skytrain, a school bus full of kids drove by, and they were screaming with excitement at driving by the arena. safe to say this town is ready…

at the rink today, am gonna head outside later, will be near the statue

to fucking puke.

I’ve been in your shoes, and empathize with what you’re all going through. 2009 was only 2 years ago, yet I can remember the anxiety I felt that day even now. Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out so well for us.

Despite most of the hockey world rooting against you (especially up here in Canada), I find myself wanting the Canucks to win. I can’t put my finger on exactly why I want Vancouver to win tonight. Perhaps it’s the Western Conference pride. Perhaps it’s Canadian pride. I think it’s because the Canucks have been the best all season, and they get a chance to prove it tonight.

I’m not really sure what else to say. From a Red Wing fan, I hope you enjoy the game and experience what very few fans get to see: the captain of their favourite team lifting that beautiful trophy at center ice. It’s something that all sports fans want to see but some never get to. I hope that it’s you guys.

Cheers.

So where are people (without two grand for a ticket) planning to watch this one? I don’t think I can stay inside for this game. I’m already coming unglued. Anyone got recommendations for which outdoor screen or area to check out? Cheers, and see you out there.

Do i open the bottle of whiskey now?

3-1 Canucks Keslord gwg

Gonna head downtown and probably stay offline the rest of the day, or at least until the game is over. I hope that the next time I am in touch with y’all it is a happy occasion. Enjoy the game wherever you are watching and GO CANUCKS GO!!!!!!!!

Positive thinking my friends, we will play our hearts out together. From the players on the rink, to the coaches behind the bench, to the fans all across, and everyone else cheering for our boys.
WE WILL WIN THE CUP!
“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”
- John Lennon
GO CANUCKS GO!

In this team!

Question: does anyone know, when the Canucks win tonight, when the parade
would be? Saturday or Monday? Any one with any knowledge?

We will be in town late Sunday night but if the parade is Monday, holy shit!

Go Canucks Go!!!

I beleive!

but man am I fucking nervous. I could puke right about now. Just win. Please, please, please, please just win.

Saw something on ESPN about an interview with Dan Bylsma about his game 7 against Detroit a couple of years back. I assume AV will be saying similar things:
Every player has one moment to win this thing, one blocked shot, one save, one good backcheck, one goal. Take it, this is what you play the game for, you’ve imagined this moment countless times in your head and you’ve played well in them all, it’s time to live your dream.
As for fans, if you’re not excited, you’re probably dead

both emotionally and visually, turning off all news and internet etc. until the game is over. I even thought about watching the game with no sound, so it wouldn’t be as stressful.

But I decided, no. If things go bad and I don’t distance myself then yeah, it could hurt. A lot. But whatever. Feeling bad eventually goes away; if I’ve learned anything from living on this planet, it’s that.

But I’ve never learned how to recapture a memory I was too afraid to let myself have. There are things that WILL happen tonight that I will not want to miss.

So today I’m choosing to stay connected, invested, focused, and noticing everything around me, good and bad. When I feel the fear or doubt at the back of my mind, I’m just turn around and smile at it, and go, “Why hello Fear! I see you’ve dropped by again. You’re feeling very interesting today. I’ve got some things to do, but if you’d like to have a seat on the couch there you’re welcome. Oh you can’t stay? Huh. Well okay then, bye.”

(hey don’t look at me that way! like seriously, you never make pleasant conversation with your irrational emotions? you might as well, it’s not like they’re going anywhere! or oh. maybe that’s just me… )

I may not be typing much tonight, but I’m going to be here reading as I sit with my kid and watch the game tonight. As a pretty recent immigrant who’s also a busy parent, I don’t have a lot of friends here in Vancouver. But tonight I don’t feel that way at all.

There’s no group of people I’d rather “be” with than this group, that’s been so nice and taught me so much about this game I now can’t live without. Thank you especially to Sean, and Yankee and Missy and WAACH and Mrs. WAACH and really everyone who keeps this place going. I can honestly say there’s not a person who posts here regularly that hasn’t made my life better in some small way or another.

to make a diagnosis on Raymond. I’m guessing he’s a diver and is embellishing the broken back?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aCvCe9mrpA&feature=youtu.be

always did like that speech

Cheers to all NM’ers and visitors..
Seems a good spot for a favorite quote: "May those who love us, love us; and those who don’t love us, may God turn their hearts; and if He doesn’t turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so we’ll know them by their limping."

Catch y’all after the game.

COCONUTS GO!

I want to stress *NOTHING HAS BEEN CONFIRMED* but a certain TSN panelist said he believes Mason is en route because he hasn’t been answering text messages from people he would normally respond to… I would expect to see him on the jumbotron in the 1st period if this is true

@MagicJohnson
Earvin Magic Johnson
Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Finals tonight. Hard to imagine the home team not taking a gm 7 so thinking the @VanCanucks are going to win.

Hope to see you all on the other side with smiles on our faces.

Go Canucks!!! Thank you again, NM!!!

And I say this as a chicago fan. I really enjoy the folks here at this site. I hope that whatever happens tonight it will be something that you can look back on fondly. The passion that you all have shown is really something. It has made the long time off a lot more fun.

Sadly, I’ll be rooting for the B’s, mainly because they have a team without a hairpuller on it and coached by Vainought. Misspelling intended. I really hate their fans though. So I’ll be a little happy whoever wins be it the B’s or the Vancouver fans. In my eyes you all have shown your colors wonderfully, so good luck.

it didn’t get me any closer to the game.

I expect an all world game from AMFB. Bow and arrow at the ready.

Let’s go Canucks.

i’m just going to say thanks to all the visitors from other teams coming by to wish us good luck instead of trolling :)
i’m working 5:30-9:30 tonight, so i’ll be listening on the radio. no blog or video-streams for me :( however, should we win, i will have my camera with me to capture the celebration in downtown victoria.

Take One Drink When …

• There’s a live shot of a Vancouver fan gathering to watch the game outside of the arena.
• Doc Emrick says “DRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!” (Sean_Leahy) • Eddie O says "active stick." • Pierre McGuire refers to a player by first name +Y (i.e.: Timmy Thomas, Danny Sedin) (HockeyandBeers
• You believe a Canuck dives. (bmitchelf) • You believe a Bruin has gotten away with a penalty. • Someone mentions Nathan Horton(notes) and/or Mason Raymond(notes). (GreenEyedLilo)
• Johnny Boychuk(notes) is booed tonight. (RobMcGregory33) • They show a goalie drinking. (howardshcuster)

Take Two Drinks When …

• The Stanley Cup is shown on camera before it enters the playing area. (BenThrashers] • The fans chant either "Ref you suck!" or "Thooooomas" (ScottlyMcGoglin)
• Doc Emrick goes through puberty again while calling a save. (estebomb) • Doc Emrick says "waffle-boarded." (DaveZeile09)
• Eddie O says “stop it right here/there.” (skennedy39) • Bob Cole mispronounces the name of a player who's never been a Leaf. (drielsma)
• Thomas or Luongo stop a breakaway. (bryonic) • Mike Milbury says something anti-Canucks (PTIQI)
• There’s a live shot of a Boston fan gathering to watch the game.
• There’s a punch to the face in a non-hockey fight situation.

Take Three Drinks When …

• They show the Green Men on TV. (JohnTCpsu) • Bettman gets booed by Rogers Arena crowd. (aimelena)
• Eddie O says “for all you young hockey players out there.” (HockeyBroad) • Every time NBC shows Luongo's quote on Thomas's goaltending after Game 5. (jamestryan3)

CHUG

• Roberto Luongo(notes) gets the vaudeville hook (non-injury related). (@MackerelSoda)
• Tim Thomas(notes) throws a check or a punch.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Puck-Daddy-s-crowd-sourced-Stanley-Cup-Game-7-dr?urn=nhl-wp7278&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Here’s hoping for a good, clean, exciting, and safe game 7 tonight. Don’t want to count your chickens, but based on your home record this series alone, I think you guys have a lot to be excited going into tonight’s game.

Playing hooky from work but there is no way I would miss this. It’s worth the write up. In about 45 minutes me and the girlfriend will decamp to the nearest b-dubs for wings, beer and the boys keeping the cup in Canada. I may be the only one in a Canucks sweater there (it is north Texas after all) but I’ll be representing the Blue and Green proudly.

Let’s do this! For Luc, for MayRay, for Son of Sam and for everyone who has worn this uniform.

COCONUTS GO!