Canucks season preview: Line combinations
With the recent signing of the gritty and versatile Raffi Torres, the Canucks have a full compliment of NHL level forwards for the upcoming season. Aside from Cody Hodgson, who needs to have a fantastic camp, players like Jordan Schroeder, Alexandre Bolduc, Sergei Shirokov, Mario Bliznak, and Viktor Oreskevich are long-shots to make the opening day roster.
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, NHLHS Features, Northwest, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Aaron Rome, Alexander Edler, Alexandre Bolduc, Alexandre Burrows, Andrew Alberts, Christian Ehrhoff, Cody Hodgson, Dan Hamhuis, Daniel Sedin, Darcy Hordichuk, Henrik Sedin, Jannik Hansen, Jordan Schroeder, Keith Ballard, Kevin Bieksa, Manny Malhotra, Mario Bliznak, Mason Raymond, Mikael Samuelsson, Raffi Torres, Rick Rypien, Ryan Kesler, Sami Salo, Sergei Shirokov, Shane O’Brien, Tanner Glass, Viktor Oreskevich
Canucks season preview: Sizing up the roster
GM Mike Gillis didn’t waste anytime making changes to a Vancouver team that has bowed out in the 2nd round of the playoffs 2 yeas in a row. His first move was to send the Canucks 2nd round pick, Steve Bernier, and Michael Grabner to the Florida Panthers for Keith Ballard and Victor Oreskivich.
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, NHLHS Features, Nashville Predators, Northwest, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals, Western Conference Tags: Aaron Rome, Alexander Edler, Alexandre Bolduc, Alexandre Burrows, and Darcy Hordichuk, Andrew Alberts, Andrew Raycroft, Christian Erhoff, Cody Hodgson, Cory Schneider, Dan Hamhuis, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Ian Clark, Jannik Hansen, Joel Perrault, Jordan Schroeder, Keith Ballard, Kevin Bieksa, Kyle Wellwood, Manny Malhotra, Mario Bliznak, Mason Raymond, Michael Grabner, Mikael Samuelsson, Mike Gillis, Rick Rypien, Robert Luongo, Roland Melanson, Ryan Johnson, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Suter, Sami Salo, Sergei Shirokov, Shane O’Brien, Shea Weber, Steve Bernier, Tanner Glass, Tomas Fleischmann, Victor Oreskivich
Canucks solve Kings in game 5
The Vancouver Canuck finally figured out what it will take the beat the Los Angeles Kings in their first round matchup. It’s something that many hockey writers, bloggers, and Canucks fans have been going on and on about since the start of the series. What is the answer? Simple, stay out of the penalty box! Unfortunately, it took the Canucks 3+ games to figure it out, but if they stay out of the penalty box the Kings have no chance 5 on 5. The Kings have scored 10 of their 16 goals with the man advantage while the Canucks have outscored the Kings 16-6 at even strength. Through the first 3 games and 2 periods of the series the Canucks gave the Kings power play after power play and they paid the price. Say what you will about the missed and questionable calls that have gone against Vancouver in the series, but they had been giving the referees too many reasons to call penalties.
In the last 4 periods of the series the Canucks have scored 11 goals after only scoring 10 in the first 11 periods. And in the last 2 games they have scored 13 goals after only scoring 8 in games 1-3. The 3rd period in game 4 the Canucks really found their game again as Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin came alive and got the comeback going. They had pretty much been a non-factor up to this point, with much of the praise going to the Kings defensive play. Once those flood gates opened up and the Canucks started to gain confidence it really put the Kings back on their heals and they looked nothing like the team earlier in the series.
One reason the Canucks have gotten back into this series is the play of Mikael Samuelsson. He’s already scored 7 goals, 2 more than he had in each of the last 2 play-off runs with Detroit. His strong play has made many forget that Alex Burrows, the Canucks leading goal scorer in the regular season has been held without a goal in the series so far. In fact, Burrows and Samuelsson have switched lines as Alain Vigneault has searched for the right chemistry. Mike Gillis continues to look like a genius for signing Samuelsson as a free-agent in the offseason. The Canucks have definitely benefitted by giving him more ice time than he had in Detroit and his snub by the Swedish Olympic team lit a fire that has burned long after the Olympic torch was extinguished.
As several Canucks fans mentioned on Twitter, the Kings seemed preoccupied with trying to get the Canucks to take penalties instead of playing their game. Obviously it didn’t work and they were unable to make adjustments quick enough as the Canucks spent the game dismantling LA’s defensive coverage and exposing their lack of speed. They also got a lot more traffic in front of Quick, even bumping into him as the Kings have been doing all series with Roberto Luongo. The Kings did try to stir things up at the end of the game with Shane O’Brien fighting Wayne Simmonds and Rick Rypien with the one-punch knockdown of Kings goon Rich Clune. While it’s not unusual for a coach to send out his tough guys at the end of a game to get his team going, it is unusual to see a coach do it in the final 4 minutes of a game that was already over. For his efforts, Klune ended up with a separated shoulder in the fight. It would seem that the time to pick a fight would’ve been much earlier in the game. Clune was trying to get under the Canucks skin all night, but his act was amateur hour at best.
It will be very interesting to see if the Canucks can keep building on the momentum they have gained and how the young Kings team will respond to the elimination possibility in game 6. Will playing on home ice be a burden or uplifting for them, or will they crack and wilt under the pressure? Either way, the Kings have a lot to be proud of this year playing in the toughest division in the NHL and looking very much like the Chicago Blackhawks of last season. They have a very bright future, but the time is now for the Canucks to take game 6 and this series. Go Canucks Go!
I-5 Canucks
NHLHS Canucks Correspondents
hipcheck44@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @Hipcheck44 and @WCE71944
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Los Angeles Kings, Northwest, Pacific, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Alain Vigneault, Alex Burrows, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Mikael Samuelsson, Mike Gillis, Rich Clune, Rick Rypien, Roberto Luongo, Shane O'Brien, Wayne Simmonds
NHL Conspiracy Theories: Allegations and Facts
NHLHS writer David Strehle takes a look at Conspiracy Theories regarding certain NHL teams as fans, players, and even coaches are getting into the act.
NHL fans are a passionate lot, and the postseason seems to magnify the emotions of even the most casual of fans.
But it seems that some extremely passionate supporters are becoming paranoid, especially when they appear to be looking through glasses that are in the shape of their rooting interest’s logo.
Categories: Around the League, NHLHS Features, Playoff Coverage Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Daniel Sedin, Evgeni Malkin, gary bettman, Henrik Sedin, Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings, Marc Andre Fleury, Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils, NHL, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Roberto Luongo, Sergei Gonchar, Sidney Crosby, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals
Pros & Cons: Los Angeles Kings vs. Vancouver Canucks
Our newest feature, Pros and Cons, holds a debate between two of our featured writers as they make an argument for each team in the series. We will continue this series throughout the playoffs as we delve deeper into how these two teams will interact.
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Los Angeles Kings, NHLHS Features, Northwest, Pacific, Playoff Coverage, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Alexander Edler, Alexander Frolov, Alexandre Burrows, Anze Kopitar, Christian Erhoff, Daniel Sedin, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, Fredrik Modin, Henrik Sedin, Jack Johnson, Jon Quick, Jonathan Bernier, Justin Williams, Kevin Bieksa, Mathieu Schneider, Michal Handzus, Mikael Samuelsson, Pavol Demitra, Rob Scuderi, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Smyth, Sean O'Donnell, Shane O’Brien, Willie Mitchell
Who is the Canucks MVP?
With the season drawing to a close and the Canucks sitting alone atop the Northwest Division, it’s time to take a look at possible MVP candidates. Read more…
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, NHLHS Features, Northwest, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Alex Burrows, Christian Erhoff, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Kevin Bieksa, Mikael Samuelsson, Mike Gillis, Pavol Demitra, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, Sami Salo, Willie Mitchell
Henrik Sedin gets points 100 and 101 in Canucks loss
Our wonderful duo that comprise I-5 Canucks discuss Henrik Sedin and his excellent season which puts him in the running for a scoring title.
Although the Vancouver Canucks came up short in their effort tonight against the San Jose Sharks, Henrik Sedin became the first Canuck player to reach 100 points since Markus Naslund did it on this day in 2003. The assist also made Henrik the first player in the NHL this season to reach the 100 point plateau.
Henrik got his 100th point of the season after Alex Burrows scored his 34th of the season on a shot that dribbled past Evgeni Nabokov to open the scoring. Henrik picked up his 2nd assist (and 101st point) on the Canucks second goal, a power play marker by brother Daniel Sedin. Unfortunately that was all the magic they could muster as they ran out of time.
Henrik ends the night with a 3 point lead over Alex Ovechkin. Only time will tell if he’ll be able to maintain his lead, as Ovechkin has been in a bit of a slump and is due to break out anytime.
I-5 Canucks
NHLHS Canucks Correspondents
hipcheck44@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @Hipcheck44 and @WCE71944
Categories: NHLHS Features, Northwest, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Alex Burrows, Alexander Ovechkin, Daniel Sedin, Evgeni Nabakov, Henrik Sedin, Markus Naslund, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks
Sitting Ducks Fall To Canucks
The Anaheim Ducks fell 4-1 to the Vancouver Canucks. Making their struggle to reach the post season even tougher.
Saku Koivu was the one and only goal scorer for the Ducks in last night’s 4 – 1 loss to the Canucks in Vancouver. Only 9 games remain for Anaheim and they saw their already slim chance of making the playoffs dwindle to a virtually non-existent one. 11 points back of Detroit and Colorado for the last position, the Ducks have an incredibly hard road ahead of them.
Categories: Anaheim Ducks, Around the League, By Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, NHLHS Features, Pacific, Western Conference Tags: Anaheim Ducks, Andrew Raycroft, Christian Ehrhoff, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Getzlaf, Saku Koivu, Scott Neidermayer, Vancouver Canucks
Henrik Sedin Takes NHL Scoring Lead With Canucks 4-1 Win
Henrik Sedin assisted on the first 3 Canucks goals and had his 31st multiple point game of the season as he became the NHL’s leading scorer with 99 points. He now has a 1 point lead over Alexander Ovechkin who had an assist in Washington’s 4-3 shootout win over Sidney Crosby and the Penguins.
There was a lot of discussion tonight on TSN about the Hart Trophy and the fact that Henrik is a legitimate contender for the trophy even though Ovechkin and Crosby are the popular choices. While Ovechkin has 45 goals, the Capitals continued to win even when he was out of the lineup. The Canucks would not be where they are without Henrik’s consistent scoring this season, even while Daniel Sedin was out of the lineup for 18 games.
With 8 games left after tonight, Henrik still has a shot at catching Pavel Bure’s team record of 110 points set during the 92-93 season. If he keeps up his current pace he’ll end up with 110 points.
Andrew Raycroft gets the win in goal for the Canucks and it’s also the first time a healthy Roberto Luongo has not started at home since Jan. 11, 2008. The Canucks also tie Chicago for the most home wins with 27.
I-5 Canucks
NHLHS Canucks Correspondents
hipcheck44@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @Hipcheck44 and @WCE71944
Categories: NHLHS Features, Northwest, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Andrew Raycroft, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Roberto Luongo, Sidney Crosby
Cost Efficiency: Duncan Keith Leads the Pack
As of the Olympic break, Duncan Keith (Chicago Blackhawks) is the most cost effective player among the top 50 scorers. Bobby Ryan, from the Anaheim Ducks, leads the top 50 in goals per dollar ($68,642.90). Keith, however, leads in points per dollar, as well as assists per dollar.
Categories: Cost Efficiency, NHLHS Features Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Alexandre Burrows, Antoine Vermette, Anze Kopitar, Bobby Ryan, Brad Richards, Chicago Blackhawks, Corey Perry, Daniel Alfredsson, Daniel Sedin, Dany Heatley, Duncan Keith, Dustin Penner, Eric Staal, Evgeni Malkin, Henrik Sedin, Henrik Zetterberg, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jamie Langenbrunner, Jarome Iginla, Jeff Carter, Joe Thornton, Jonathan Toews, Jussi Jokinen, Loui Eriksson, Marian Gaborik, Martin St.Louis, Michael Cammalleri, Mike Green, Mikko Koivu, Nicklas Backstrom, Nik Antropov, Patrick Kane, Patrick Marleau, Patrick Sharp, Paul Stastny, Pavel Datsyuk, Ray Whitney, Rich Peverley, Rick Nash, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Shane Doan, Sidney Crosby, Stephen Weiss, Steven Stamkos, Tim Connolly, Tomas Plekanec, Travis Zajac, Vincent Lecavalier, Zach Parise
Ushering in a New Generation: Vancouver Canucks
In our newest feature, Ushering in a New Generation, our talented writer Katlyn Gambill takes a deeper look into team success based on a player’s age. Today, she looks at the Vancouver Canucks, who tie for the second oldest team in the league.
Third in the Western Conference, the Vancouver Canucks currently rank as the fourth oldest team in the NHL (at 28.08 years). Oddly enough, only eight of the twenty-six members on their current roster are over the age of thirty. The Canucks don’t, however, have any players under the age of twenty-three (a rarity in the league today).
Categories: 30 Team Series, NHLHS Features, Ushering in a New Generation Tags: Alexandre Burrows, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Mason Raymond, Pavol Demitra, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, Sami Salo, Vancouver Canucks
Thursday NHL Morning Papers (Western Conference)
(hat tip to the boys of Illegal Curve. Thanks to their amazing class and their blessing to take over this feature here at NHL Hot Stove. We hope you enjoy the latest daily series.)
Categories: Morning Papers, NHLHS Features, Western Conference Tags: Alex Burrows, Andy McDonald, Brandon Yip, Brent Sutter, Daniel Sedin, Dany Heatley, Dave Tippett, Davis Payne, Evgeny Artyukhin, Ken Holland, Marc Fistric, Matt Duchene, Matt Greene, Michael Peca, Pat Quinn, Randy Carlyle, Roberto Luongo, Robyn Regehr, Teddy Purcell, TJ Galiardi, Todd Bertuzzi, Todd McLellan, Ty Conklin
NHL Players in the Olympics
The title says it all. This article will be no more than a comprehensive list of NHL (and some other players owned by NHL teams) players set to participate in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Categories: Olympic Coverage Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Sulzer, Andrei Kostitsyn, Andrei Markov, Andrej Meszaros, Andrej Sekera, Andres Ambuhl, Antero Niittymaki, Anton Volchenkov, Antti Miettinen, Bobby Ryan, Brenden Morrow, Brent Seabrook, Brian Rafalski, Brooks Orpik, Chris Drury, Chris Pronger, Christian Ehrhoff, Corey Perry, Dan Boyle, Daniel Alfredsson, Daniel Sedin, Dany Heatley, David Backes, David Krejci, Denis Grebeshkov, Dennis Seidenberg, Douglas Murray, Drew Doughty, Duncan Keith, Dustin Brown, Eric Johnson, Eric Staal, Evgeni Malkin, Evgeni Nabokov, Fedor Tyutin, Filip Kuba, Fredrik Modin, Henrik Lundqvist, Henrik Sedin, Henrik Tallinder, Henrik Zetterberg, Ilya Bryzgalov, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jack Johnson, Jamie Langenbrunner, Jan Hejda, Jarkko Ruutu, Jarome Iginla, Jaroslav Halak, Jere Lehtinen, Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Johnny Oduya, Jon Quick, Jonas Gustavsson, Jonas Hiller, Jonathan Toews, Joni Pitkanen, Karlis Skrastins, Kaspars Daugavins, Kimmo Timonen, Loui Eriksson, Lubomir Visnovsky, Luca Sbisa, Marc Andre Fleury, Marcel Goc, Marco Sturm, Marek Zidlicky, Marian Gaborik, Marian Hossa, Mark Streit, Martin Brodeur, Martin Erat, Martin Havlat, Martins Karsums, Mattias Ohlund, Maxim Afinogenov, Michal Handzus, Miikka Kiprusoff, Mike Komisarek, Mike Richards, Mikhail Grabovski, Mikko Koivu, Milan Jurcina, Milan Michalek, Miroslav Satan, Nicklas Backstrom, Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Backstrom, Niklas Hagman, Niklas Kronwall, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Olli Jokinen, Ondrej Pavelec, Oskars Bartulis, Patric Hornqvist, Patrice Bergeron, Patrick Kane, Patrick Marleau, Patrik Elias, Paul Martin, Paul Stastny, Pavel Datsyuk, Pavel Kubina, Pavol Demitra, Peter Budaj, Phil Kessel, Rick Nash, Roberto Luongo, Roman Polak, Ruslan Salei, Ryan Callahan, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Malone, Ryan Miller, Ryan Suter, Saku Koivu, Sami Lepisto, Sami Salo, Samuel Pahlsson, Scott Niedermayer, Semyon Varlamov, Sergei Gonchar, Sergei Kostitsyn, Shea Weber, Sidney Crosby, Teemu Selanne, Thomas Greiss, Tim Thomas, Tobias Enstrom, Tomas Fleischmann, Tomas Holmstrom, Tomas Kaberle, Tomas Kopecky, Tomas Plekanec, Tomas Vokoun, Toni Lydman, Tuomo Ruutu, Valtteri Filppula, Yannick Weber, Zach Parise, Zbynek Michalek, Zdeno Chara
