Self-Isolate With Elias - March 23, 2020: Which goal was bigger?

Sorry NMers, once again you’re stuck with Beggsy over Basky for your morning “Self-Isolate with Elias.” post.

Here’s something that might make you feel better though, the game that was on last night!

BROWN TO BURE!

Easily one of the best and most important games in Vancouver Canucks history made its way onto the television last night. Thank you, Sportsnet.

The sports-starved station took viewers in a time machine back to April 30th, 1994, where the Canucks and Calgary Flames battled in Game 7 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Vancouver took Game One in convincing fashion with a 5-0 win, but then lost three straight to Calgary. However, Geoff Courtnell’s OT winner in Game Five, and Linden’s OT winner in Game Six set up a do-or-die Game Seven at the Olympic Saddledome in Calgary.

What a sick line-up of “fo-wards”

Of course, this game would end of being of the most legendary in Pavel Bure’s career, and he got the scoring started for Vancouver in the first period.

Geoff Courtnell scored to give the Canucks a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes, but that advantage quickly dissipated with the Flames scoring two goals in the second period.

That lead would remain late into the third period, until Greg Adams scored the game-tying goal for Vancouver.

Shout out to Mike Vernon for that attempted poke-check.

Thanks to Adams, it was off to one of the most legendary overtimes in Canucks history,

And thanks to Kirk McLean, Canucks fans would be able to look back on this game positively.

Every big overtime win is usually followed by a huge save, as younger Canucks fans would recall from the team’s overtime win against Chicago in Game Seven.

And of course, we were treated to one of the biggest goals in Canucks history.

Throughout their 50 year history, I think you could only argue that one other goal was as big as Bure’s triple-overtime winner against the Flames. After giving this a lot of thought over the years, I still don’t know if there’s a right or wrong answer.

I lean towards the Burrows goal against Chicago simply because of the magnitude of that game. President’s Trophy winners, up 3-0 on the Blackhawks, we all know the story. What we don’t know is what the fall out would have been if Burrows didn’t score that goal.

However, do I think there’s a bias among the 30-and-under in the fanbase, who didn’t understand the magnitude of the 1994 series. Hey, I’m included in that, I was still pooping myself and, as my parents would tell it, shouting out “Boo-ray” at our 20-inch TV while this series was going on.

This comeback was one of the greatest in Canucks history with those three straight overtime wins. That triumph clearly let that group believe that they could beat anybody, which was evident as they rolled through the Semi and Conference Finals, on the way to the Cup final.

So as we sit here today and reminisce on the best two goals scored in Canucks history, we ask, who do you think had the bigger goal?

Second NHL Player Tests Positive for COVID-19

Tough news coming out of Ottawa today, as a second player has tested positive for COVID-19.

The team announced that among 52 people who traveled on their road trip through California earlier this month, 44 have had no symptoms, eight have been tested, and two have now tested positive for the virus.

By the way, if there are any of you out there clamouring for names to be released, just stop.

What’s happening with the Senators another reminder that the situation close to home is going to get worse before it gets better. However, there are signs that life will return back to normal sooner, rather than later.

Bye-Bye Tuukka?

Some surprising news came out of Boston today, with Tuukka Rask telling the Boston Globe that he’s considering retirement when his contract expires at the end of next season.

Rask cites family as the main reason he’s considering retirement. The Bruins netminder and his wife Jasmiina are expecting their third child in April.

Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images

“The wear and tear of the travel with two, almost three kids now, makes you think. I love to do it. But it’s tough.”

Rask is already one of the most accomplished goalies in Bruins history as the franchise leader in wins. He also has a Stanley Cup ring, albeit in a back-up role.

However, you can’t blame him for putting family first. It’s a good reminder to all of us as battle through the COVID-19 pandemic together.