Not exactly sure what happened between Monday and last night, but maybe the switch was flipped – just off? Or was it connected to the SkyTrain, because boy were there issues. Regardless, this tweet sums up the game nicely:
I was offered ticket to tonight’s #Canucks game, but I refused. So far it looks like I made the right decision. #TGATT #jobhunting
— Walter Siu (@waterboy99troop) April 26, 2013
At least we have TGATT to make things better!
In our last episode of CHB TV (which went live yesterday), we found ourselves at an impasse when we asked the question “Who does Zack Kassian look like?” And while our debate was lively, we thought we would leave it up to you our readers to settle the score. So what say you friends of CHB?
As we reach the end of the regular season, Clay, Chris, Ed, and our special guest, Jordan Bowman from the Legion of Blog, talk Keith Ballard, pirates, astronauts, old media, new media, and oh, Zack Kassian, in this, the 6th episode of CHB TV.
It’s like the Canucks flipped the proverbial switch last night. I mean, after all their 40-minute efforts and 10-minute wins, they played perhaps their most complete game of the season and beat the rival Chicago Blackhawks by a 3-1 score.
It was an eventful night, with the Sedins producing their usual share of Sedinery, the newly-formed Higgins-Roy-Kesler line showing some chemistry, and even Max Lapierre played his most annoying game of the season (in a good way).
20-year old Frankie Corrado also made his NHL debut. After spending most of the year in the OHL and suiting up for not even a handful of games with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL, Corrado logged 17:20 of unsheltered minutes last night and looked anything but a raw rookie playing in his first-ever NHL game.
So Corrado hit a Blackhawk AND a referee at the same time? That’s how you endear yourself to these fans. #TGATT
— j.Bowman (@jBowmancouver) April 23, 2013
Not bad, kid. Not bad.
Ryan Kesler didn’t mince any words after the Canucks blew two, third period leads to the last place Colorado Avalanche yesterday. “We played like shit for 40 minutes,” he said. “We gave them everything they got with turnovers and miscommunication and not getting the puck out. It was shit,” he added.
Just about sums it up perfectly.
“The Switch” was off today apparently. #Canucks #Tgatt
— Justine Galo (@Aviewfromabroad) April 13, 2013
Here’s how you, Canucks fans, saw the game.
The Canucks really couldn’t start a game than they did against the Edmonton Oilers last Saturday. I mean, they gave up 3 goals on 3 shots in the first 3 minutes. Would love for that not to happen again.
It’s really nice to see that the #Canucks showed up for this game. Phew. #TGATT
— Robyn Crystal (@RobynCrystal11) April 5, 2013
It really was an entertaining game. A 4-0 win against a streaking divisional rival, some big plays, big goals… and a return visit by the most exciting player to ever put on a Canucks jersey, Pavel Bure.
Here’s the game in your tweets.
Photo credit: The Globe and Mail
After last night’s 8-2 whooping of the Calgary Flames, the Edmonton Oilers woke up this morning to find themselves in a playoff spot – in 8th place in the Western Conference. After falling out of the playoff picture with a 3-6-3 stretch in the beginning of March, the Oilers have clawed their way back and are now one of several teams fighting for the last couple of playoff spots in the West. With most teams having only 11-14 games left in their schedule, the difference between 8th and 13th place in the West is just 4 points and the difference between 3rd and 10th place is just 6 points.
While the Oilers are on the second game of a back-to-back, the Canucks have had two days of rest, or for some, two days to think about their long weekend no-shows against these same Oilers (a 4-0 loss on Saturday) and the San Jose Sharks (a 3-2 loss on Monday). Not that the Canucks should need any more motivation, but I hope atoning for giving Taylor Hall a hat trick just 8 minutes into the game on Saturday and allowing the Sharks to score 3 goals in under 3 minutes on Monday would be on their agenda tonight.
The addition of Derek Roy should help. Cory Schneider is getting the start tonight – on Roberto Luongo’s birthday.
Canucks Record
19-11-6, 44 points (2nd in the Northwest Division, 4th in the Western Conference)
Season Series
Offensively, the Canucks and Oilers are going in opposite directions. The Canucks have lost 2 straight games, and dating back to the Vancouver Millionaires night against the Detroit Red Wings, have only scored 15 goals (plus 2 empty-net goals) in 10 games. The Oilers, on the other hand, have won 5 straight games and have outscored their opponents 25-7 in that span.
Who’s Hot
2010 1st overall pick, Taylor Hall, has been exceptional. Currently on a 6-game point streak (7G-8A-15P), Hall leads the Oilers in scoring and sits 5th in the NHL in assists (28) and 7th in overall scoring (41).
Who’s Not
Daniel Sedin has just 2 points in his last 7 games.
Quickies
After Ray Whitney decided to take his talents to Dallas this past off-season, the Coyotes were left with a big hole in their offense. Whitney had a team high 77 points (24G-53A) last season, so without his production players like Radim Vrbata and Shane Doan were expected to carry the offensive load.
Courtesy of Christian Petersen
The notion of peppering shots on goal but not getting results is all too familiar for Canucks fans. And although the Canucks’ scoring troubles aren’t quite as bad as the Coyotes’ at the moment, there is still cause for concern – the Canucks have scored 2 or less goals in 9 of their last 12 games.
This is the second meeting between the two teams. By current standards, their last meeting in February was a “high-scoring” match-up when the Coyotes beat the Canucks 4-2. Kyle Chipchura led Phoenix with 2 goals that night.
Canucks Record
14-9-6, 34 points (2nd in Northwest Division, 6th in Western Conference)
Who’s Hot
Hard to say any of the Coyotes are “hot” right now, but Shane Doan has been the only ‘Yote to score more than once in their last 4 games. (He has 2 goals.) Doan is 1 point behind the team lead with 18 points (11G-7A) on the season.
Daniel Sedin is currently riding a 3-game point streak. He has 4 points (1G-3A) in that span.
Who’s Not
Radim Vrbata has been sidelined with injuries this season and has missed 16 games so far. In his 14 games played he has just 4 goals – a far cry from his 35-goal season last season.
Chris Higgins has gone pointless in his last 5 games and is a dreadful minus-7 in that span.
Quickies
It’s an early game in Detroit today. Luckily NASCAR finished on time, so there were no TV conflicts in my house. None of the duct taped cars won, so I was pretty disappointed.
Now THIS is what I call an afternoon delight! #Canucks #Redwings #TGATT #VancouverCanucks #GetGlue getglue.com/sports/nhl/van…
— Justine Galo (@Aviewfromabroad) February 24, 2013
Welcome to Dallas, Texas, where everything is bigger. None bigger than Brett Hull’s skate.
Tonight, the Stars celebrate Marty Turco. Canucks fans have fond memories of him.
Marty Turco. The man who shut out the #canucks three times in one playoff series and still lost.
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) February 22, 2013
