Okay, I guess the Canucks are doing pretty good right now. Undefeated in regulation for 13 straight games, having Roberto Luongo named 2nd star of December, having Cory Schneider on a great roll as well, having depth that is paying off (how often does the 4th line produce all the team's scoring in a win?), and being #1 in the league standings for only the 3rd time in franchise history. Yeah, not too shabby.
Unfortunately, I do have to point out reality. Remember that bad habit the Canucks have of playing down to the level of their opposition when they play a team that isn't doing as well as them? Well, having the Canucks at the top of the league means that everyone is below them. If the boys want to maintain their status of being best in the league, they have to learn to dominate their opposition as well. Despite getting those wins against the Avalanche and Sharks, there was still a bit of questionability in how they played in those wins. Tonight is the 14th-in-West Flames, and the Canucks should be able to handle them quite easily. But will they?
- Canucks.com preview for the game. Puck drop at 7:00 on that silly Sportsnet One "Vancouver Hockey" channel.
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Last night's scores, and today's schedule. We could use from help from the Lightning today, as they face the Penguins.
- Conference standings. Unfortunately, the Oilers couldn't hold off Detroit last night, so the Red Wings have retied us for the lead. We still hold that vital tie-breaker though.
- Today, in the last day of the World Juniors: USA and Sweden face off at 12:00 pm PST on TSN for the bronze medal, while Canada plays Russia for the gold at 4:00.
- And the next Canuck to join the Ring of Honour is..... Thomas Gradin, on the 24th. (h/t to Beantown for the fanshot I didn't notice before.)
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More on those reports from Russia about Kyle Wellwood being released from his KHL team.
- Of course, a matchup with the Flames calls for talking to ex-Canuck Brendan Morrison.
- So, these guys really seem to know Alexandre Bolduc quite well.
- Burnside and LeBrun do a mock draft for the All-Star game.
- On a fun note, a new ESPN hockey commercial features Russian "spies" Alex Ovechkin and Semyon Varlamov.