Defenceman Shane O'Brien isn't happy after being a healthy scratch because he's not fighting enough.

http://watch.tsn.ca/nhl/clip135885#clip135885

Well who knows if the Islanders get on a serious winning streak and the Canucks don't win a single game for the rest of the season, they might pick up Tavares

great post GHC.

Mats dithered for 9 months, all the while saying he wasn't sure if he wants to play hockey. Ultimately, he went for the money and his play shows that he still hasn't decided if he's going to play hockey or not this year.
He is taking lazy penalties because he can't catch up to the play and is doing nothing offensively. He fitted himself for the goathorns last week when he admitted that he spent the all-star break in Whistler with his fiancee instead of skating and trying to get back into game shape. I guess a 9 month vacation wasn't enough for him. That reeks of apathy on Mats' part.

The most telling thing of all? A few games ago, with the canucks enjoying a 6 on 4 powerplay in the final minute looking to tied the game, their prized acquisition was nailed to the bench.

That's a very expensive bench

This fool once told the media that staying in Toronto was more important then winning a Cup.




I agree with the kid
Fighting not going to help Canucks or his career.

So very sweet to see Sundin tanking. God this makes me laugh.

They only have 1 win in the 9 games that Sundin has played.

Sundin's gone from the highest paid player to the most overpaid player.

Glad to see he's nothing more then an albatross

Well, I think Sundin's 'pre-season' is over - he's got 7 points (4G 3A) in his last 3 games. He had a huge pair of goals yesterday to keep the Canucks in it as St Louis tried to pull ahead. He's looking like the Sundin everyone expected; it just took a little patience as he adjusted to playing NHL hockey again.

AV finally hit on a line combination that works (odds were it had to happen with the amount of juggling he does). Kesler, Sundin, and Demitra have a total of 22 points in the last 3 games. The team as a whole is looking more like the energetic, physical team that started the season, much better than the lackluster hockey they had been playing up until recently. They look like they're having fun again.

Luongo is still having a bit of trouble, but he's usually a slow starter, taking a month or so to really get into form in the regular season. Given the amount of time he had off due to injury, it's not too surprising he's still struggling a bit. But it's nice to have a team in front of him that can bail him out, especially after the number of times he's bailed out the team. As long as he rounds into form for the stretch drive and play-offs, I can live with the team bailing him out some now.

The only question now is how long the team can keep this up. At least I can look forward to my next few Canucks games (in enemy territories) again.

Since this hasn't been updated in awhile (as a recap):

Canucks January (injured Luongo/coming back, Sundin just coming in, Salo/Johnson out):
Record: 2-5-5

Canucks February:
Record: 11-2-0

Canucks March (Up to March 20th):
Record: 7-1-1

Canucks set the team's longest losing streak at home this season in January and now since healthy is setting a new team home WINNING record now at 11 games...

This has been an odd year in Canuckville, but honestly the Canucks should have the division. Where would Calgary be if they didn't have Kiprusoff for 2 months? Their back-up hasn't won a game yet.

Before you go kicking Calgary because they have a top notch goalie ask yourself where the Canucks would be had Luongo not been playing in February or March.

Most likely out of the playoff race.

Shane O'Brien's own goal against Phoenix... not as bad as Ryan O'Byrne...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS6wL5Mr3Qg

Canucks tonight gained top of the NW division winning against the Wild.

After a horrible mid season skid and 13 points behind Calgary for division lead,they managed to claw there way back in the standings withe a 20-5-1- record in there last 26 games since the beginning of Febuary.

The Sedins have been smoking hot so have Ryan Kessler and Alex Burrows.Plus Luongo is becoming himself after miising 20+ games during the season.Sundin is doing what was expected of him,being a strong presence on the ice and making sharp plays and pasees with some scoring touch.

This team sure has turned things around,and watching them play,they sure look like a ligit contender in the playoffs.There fast,gritty and have solid goaltending coming into the post season.

GO Canucks.

really tough times in Vancouver, first Luc and now Taylor's fiancée

http://sports.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/...al_gam_mostview

Taylor Pyatt's fiancée dies in car accident

The Canadian Press
April 3, 2009 at 1:22 PM EDT

THUNDER BAY, Ont. — Vancouver Canuck Taylor Pyatt is on his way home to Thunder Bay, Ont., after his fiancée was killed in a car accident.

Carly Bragnalo was killed yesterday in a crash in Jamaica where she was on holidays.

Pyatt's family confirmed the death.

The couple was to be married this summer.

- 30 -

Guarantee nobody outside the BC area gives more than half a crap about that and if so, they feel bad for a few minutes.

But when Luc Bourdon passes away, its the greatest tragedy ever and everyone in the hockey world be it players, coaches or fans must pay their respects.

Given that they're from Thunder Bay, and she's from a hockey family, I'd say you're wrong on that count.


It's a truly unfortunate thing to happen. Pyatt had been playing really well recently too. All the best to Pyatt, and his & her families.

My point was moreso how we treat hockey players like they're something amazing and they deserve these large amazing dedications.

All I hope is the Habs and Vancouver meet in the playoffs, that would make it possible for me to see the Habs play for the Cup. Go Habs and Canuckleheads.

How are the treating Pyatt in any amazing manner? They announced in the Vancouver media that his wife was killed, I fail to see how this anything beyond the media announcing an unfortunate scenario to befall someone who is known well enough in Vancouver.

I meant the Bourdon tributes.

They will win the cup I think. Honestly, who's going to stop them with the brick wall in net Luongo and there twin towers defense with Alex Edler, Ohland, O'Bryan, Willie Mitchal....Not even Detroit can stop these guy's.

They have all the right pieces to do so. I can't picture San Jose going anywhere, so Detroit and Boston are really the only things in their way.

I predict an upset between Detroit an Anaheim with Jonas Hiller being the show-stopper. Anaheim in 6 or 7. Vancouver has already taken game 1, things just looked to be going there way. They are up 3-0, Chicago ties it at 3, then Van wins it with a minute left. Looks like a team destined to me. Chicago will win one or two but thats as far as I see that going. So, Anaheim go's against Vancouver and its a war. I say that go's to seven, and it ends up being a duel of Luongo and Hiller and Luongo takes it. However I guess its tough to be 100 percent positve as Detroit is just so darn good, but thats what I see in my head anyways.

I wonder if any of those forecast mags had time to add the late moves by the Canucks. Not only did they pick up schneider, but added Lukowich and ehrhoff to the D. I was hoping another D man from Cranbrook would be playing for the Canucks this year (Scott. N.) but Lukowich still has 2 Stanley Cup rings. Gillis is building a contender.