The answer: Our junior guys.

It's like watching World Junior Hockey. Our young guys are playing hard to win because they have something to lose (their roster spot, their future career). It's not like watching veterans play their game like "its just another day @ the office).

Right now, we have a pretty good balance of Junior & Senior guys.

i can't wait until next year, when we get gaborik!!! *crosses fingers*

The younger players are all developing very nicely, and are now showing their true potentials.

Another thing is the energy with the new team. Previous seasons, once the team was down, they'd just skate around waiting for the game to be over. Now, we have guys who will finish their checks and do solid hits which helps bring energy to the team. Most of the team now plays all three periods plus overtime. Not to mention will scrap it out if the occasion arises. Also the fact that we brought in players who can actually win a fight (unlike Cowan).

really? i always hear people refer it as "assistants".

if luongo's on the bench....well....i dunno, but you do ask a very good question

I'm excited because this team looks like they can produce offensive which we couldn't do for the last couple years.


Edit: Any word on Bieska?

I dont know too much, only being able to listen to the games online, and catching highlights, but it sounds like their PK is great; however, their PP needs work. Even the announcers (Tom & Shorty) are much more excited while calling the games this year over the past couple of seasons.

Those are people who don't know what they're talking about.

http://www.nhl.com/hockeyu/rulebook/rule14.html

WTF!! Why didn't Gillis do anything this summer?!!? time to fire his ass!



lol

Why so serious?
I laughed when the little kid fell. I was like aww... lol.

I laughed as well when Salo kicked the puck out the rink and all the fans wanted a delay of game penalty. haha

Pretty entertaining game. Got a bit worried when the Flames scored 3 quick goals. Bertuzzi still lacks discipline in his play. And Pyatt still hasn't proven he's a good player. He still hasn't come up with any big hits or anything.

Well anyway, good game. So what's the news with Bieksa? Is he injured again?....

I was scared when I thought Burrows would be called for tripping/hooking in overtime...

I thought Johnson's hit was a little embellished though...

I know a Flames fan that was LIVID at that boarding call, and I agree, it looked a bit weak, but keep in mind... the league is really wanting to crack down on that sort of hit - the boarding, the hits from behind, etc. Wouldn't be surprised if the refs got a directive to call the more borderline hits like that, because they're a real concern - it's the kind of thing that can go very wrong from even a marginal hit.

Lets just say it was a soccer players dive.

You mean the entire Italian team?

:lol


But back to Bieksa.. I think he's alright.. I won't bet on him playing in the game with the caps but I think he'll be fine. It is Bieksa afterall.

*edit:
Its 2 in the morning, go to sleep. What would your moms say to you if she knew you were awake at this hour.

oh well, Bertuzzi should of got a call for elbowing Sedin anyway. It all evens out. haha

Just wondering, are you allowed to use your leg to kick the calf or the back of the skate of the other guy to make him fall? I've been noticing Salo doing that quite a bit to the other players when they are standing in the crease.

I just realized that OT goal was Demitra's 700th point. Congrats. So wonder he was celebrating like that. 1st goal as a Canuck, OT winner, 700th point. He might not have realized it was his 700th point, but regardless, that was a priceless expression when he scored. lol

Great game tonight. One of those games where you had a feeling we were still in it regardless of the score.

Calgary fans suck. You could hear a pin drop in that building for much of the game. Even when the Flames were up 3-1. Why so quiet?

Kev

Great game. I knew the canucks would come back!

Berts just being "professional" about it
hahaha
i unno
ohlund "finished" the check on bert after he boarded Ryan Johnson. who knos?

The team showed that its serious about winning, and tonights game seals it. Rebounding from a lackluster 1st period down two goals against a team that normally SHOULDNT let up two is not an easy thing to do.

Kesler's tying goal was all paitience and doing hte right thing by following the puck, and Rypien did the right thing by making himself open for that awesome, yet very dangerous pass through the slot

i thought the nucks sorta had a mishap on the Camalleri goal though, i think they should of had that one.

So, the Canucks' coaching staff stretched the rules a bit. The captain, Luongo in this case, is in uniform. Just cannot have a C on his jersey because of another ruling. Therefore, it is like he's not the real captain on ice. That's why they can dress three alternate captains? Brilliant. We have one more guy on our team who can jaw at the refs than the other team.

BTW, does anyone here know if the C-Force Fan Club is still up and running this year?

^ i dont think the C-force program is still around. Its now called the Fan zone and costs $19.95. http://www.overwaitea.com/saveonmore/fan_zone.htm

http://canucks.nhl.com/team/app/?ser...LPage&id=26783

Wow, thanks for the info. I've got some points with Save-On Foods.

Depending on what you mean. Because they play with knife like blades on their skates, any kicking is not tolerated because it puts other players at risk. Look at what happened to Kesler from Camalleri's skate on thursday's game or to that player last year or Clint Malarchuck back in the 90's.

It's not uncommon to see the players using their sticks to impede the skating motion of the other players to slow them down or put them off balance.

I saw the kicking by Salo. I think he was kicking the other guy's skates. Still, it can get dangerous if he loses his balance and the skates go up into the unprotected areas. I think Salo's team mates or the coaching staff should say something to Salo. The Canucks are not a dirty team or at least doesn't have that reputation yet. Good legal hits and good fights are OK. Dirty plays should not be part of the game.

As for fighting, it's always good to see the combatants take their helmets off. Usually, those are of the serious kind. Too bad they don't allow the players to remove their jerseys, too. Just pound the shit out of each other without worrying about broken hands and losing because you couldn't get your hands loose or they get caught up in the gear. I guess that would take the skill out of fighting in hockey. The Mitchell vs Iginla fight was pretty good. Two tough guys who respect each other. I was hoping for a second fight, but I think they both did their job well. Spark their teams. Mitchell was cool about the fight when interviewed by CBC.

Rypien...... wow, I'm gonna have to look up his previous fights on You Tube.

Yeah, I watched Salo do that last night a few times. Kicking the back of the skate making the guy fall. He got away with it, each time.

http://canucks.nhl.com/


Video #1, watch at 2:35.

Johnson definitely faked it hard but Bertuzzi should of had more discipline in the first place anyways. At a time like that in the game you shouldn't hitting guys like that anyways.

I was hella worried when they scored 3 quick ones on us but we came back and it was another awesome game. Go Canucks!