What is Wrong With This Picture?

Ouwch.

Sweet Deal for Lee Sweatt

So Lee Sweatt was about to be sent back down to the Manitoba Moose recently, but that very day he blocked a shot in practice (who blocks shots in practice??) and broke his foot. In other words, he could no longer be sent down because he's injured. The Canucks had to put him on injured reserve (which thankfully doesn't count against the cap) but for now, he's sitting around with a broken foot getting paid $650,000 instead of his AHL salary of $150,000. Lucky him. More than a coincidence? I hope not. Anyways, it's a sweet deal for Sweatt.

Hockey Hottie of the Week

Okay, so I first "discovered" this guy at the All-Star Game. He's a Swedish defenseman who plays for the Ottawa Senators. During the summer he goes back to Sweden. He likes to visit the ocean, go fishing, and hang out with his girlfriend (nooooooo...), and he once did 27 sit-ups in 30 seconds with a foam puck under his chin. Yep, it's Erik Karlsson. By the way, I'm pretty sure that the below picture (left) is at the Ikea restaurant. So Swedish people do go to Ikea...                         

I Found These Pictures: Odd/Strange/Funny/Awesome

Duuuuude, look at how high Alex Burrows can jump.

I can't even jump that high on dry land!!

Look at this creepy old guy showing off his hairy chest. Alain Vigneault looks on, happily oblivious of the grotesqueness that's happening behind him.

Check out this goofy but cute Mason Raymond face. He looks kinda like a man possessed or something. Hope he plays like one.

I always knew that the Blackhawks were rapists.

Hey Jonny Toews, say hello to my little friend. 5 of them, to be exact.

Whoa. Umm, nice butt?

You know you like it Marty.

Check out this awesome Asian right between Henrik and Daniel Sedin.

Mikael Samuelsson's face: priceless!!

Those were just a couple of odd/strange/funny/awesome pics from the Chicago game. Better caption idea? Comment about it!!

What a Game, What a Team

Wow. What a crazy, crazy game hockey is, and none crazier than the game last night, Vancouver Canucks against Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks were a desperate team, coming into the game placed 9th in the West, while the Canucks held a 7-point conference lead over Detroit.

Dave Bolland appeared to open the scoring midway through the first, but it was mysteriously called as a goalie interference because some Blackhawk skated through the crease. It was a horrible call, but as I'm a Canucks fan, hey, I'll take it. Then, Hodgson took a shot, there was a rebound, Glass passed to Ehrhoff coming off the bench and Ehrhoff scored on a long slapper. Video replays showed the puck did come outside the blueline, but the goal stood. The score stayed 1-0 after the first, but the Hawks came out hard in the second and scored a couple goals to put them up 2-1. Samuelsson tied it on a power play towards the end of the second period, and it was tied 2-2 heading into the 3rd period.

Canucks opened the period strongly, testing Marty Turco, and Chris Tanev scored his first NHL goal. Unfortunately, it was on his own net as he tried to glove it down and it ended up behind Luongo, who by the way, played spectacularly in this game. The twins, fairly quiet up to this point, came alive as Henrik put one past Turco on the power play to tie it 3-3. But they weren't done yet. Daniel tipped one past the goalie with 4 minutes left in regulation for a 4-3 lead that they wouldn't relinquish. Chicago got a late power play but was unable to convert on all 5 attempts that game. It was a big test for the Canucks, but they ground it out and got 'er done. That closes out the season series for the Canucks and Blackhawks, each team has 2 wins but Canucks win it on account of a shootout loss.

Ice Ice Baby

The icy, slippery roads didn't have any effect on the Canucks, after all, they skate on ice all the time, what's the big deal if it's on the roads instead of in the rink? They picked up their 3rd win over the Dallas Stars this season, with Cory Schneider in net as he was for the other 4-1 win in Dallas in January. He played strongly but only had to stop 26 shots, however, he did have to make some pretty sick saves.

Of course, it wasn't without help up front as Mikael Samuelsson opened the scoring. He's been ice-cold of late but now has 2 goals in his last 3 games, both coming against the Dallas Stars' Kari Lehtonen. (Who was affectionately dubbed "Kari Let a ton in" by the Team 1040 broadcasters after the 7-1 game.) Now Samuelsson has all of Vancouver wondering, "Where was that shot hiding?" We may never know, but hopefully he begins to climb out of that deep blue funk and scores some more goals. Following up Sammy's PPG, Ehrhoff expanded the Canucks' lead to two goals with a blistering slapper on the PP. Kesler later scored a shorty and Burr got one to round out the scoring (on the Canucks' side that is.)

Another thing of note is special teams. And yes, the special teams for the Canucks have been nothing less against the Dallas Stars. In the season series, they've gone 8 for 15 on the power play while killing off (possibly? I don't know the exact stat) all penalties and adding a shorthanded goal to boot.

Phoenix Coyotes tonight. Hope it's a good one!!

Back into Action; CoHo call-up

Yeesh. Feels like forever since there's been a Canucks game! Stupid All-Star break... Anyways, the Canucks are in Dallas with their siblings (I wonder if the Sedins brought their older brothers along?) and instead of the Alex Edler injury being the biggest story, it's the call-up of Cody Hodgson, expected to play his long-awaited first NHL game. It's been a long road for CoHo, what with all the injuries and sky-high expectations. Poor guy, if he doesn't score a goal, half of Vancouver's gonna think he's a bust. Heck, if he makes one wrong move the whole city's gonna want to trade him immediately.

What's even more daunting is the fact that Sweatty here brutally high-sticked Cody in the face during practice, resulting in his latest injury, a broken orbital bone, which is why he needs to wear a full face mask in his first NHL game. Just like the women wear. It may not seem like a big deal, but when you're already going to be under a huge amount of scrutiny, you don't want to draw any more attention to yourself.

Should be a good game in Dallas, as the Stars are still pissed at us for beating them 7-1. This time they'll be ready. (But we said that last time!!) Also, Cory Schneider gets his first start in like 6 games or something like that. In his last game in Dallas he played very strongly. Surprised that Dallas is going with Kari "Let-a-ton-in" Lehtonen, as he played poorly in both games against us this season. But heck, if he plays badly again, we'll take it!!