NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks’ blogger gives you his five positives from the Vancouver Canucks’ 2013-2014 season. Though it culminated with yet another disappointing first round exit that was all the more embarrassing this year, there was some impressive play throughout the season from a few key players. Corey Schneider played well in his first year as a starter, Tanev and Corrado really shaped up, and this may be the final season for Alain Vigneault.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Andrew Deutschmann provides us with the top 5 players he would like to see the Canucks part ways with this off season. Number one is obviously Roberto Luongo. Paying him to split time with Cory Schneider is just ridiculous. Let him go on to another team and get on with his life. This has dragged out long enough not only for management, and Luongo, but for the fans as well.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks Phil, the bartender, takes a break from all things BC Lions to give us his top five head coach wish list. There are a few names here that should be more than a little familiar to the casual fan in Vancouver, plus one that seems to come out of left field. But as a bartender, Phil knows what the folks on the streets are saying. Hell, half of them could step right in to take over for Alain Vigneault right now!
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Andrew Deutschmann gives us some snippets of Mike Gillis’ post season press conference, or lack there of. No, the news of the firing of AV didn’t come, not yet at least. There is still time for that. But what intrigued Andrew the most was the fact that Gillis touched on some of the young guys like Kellan Lain, Brendan Gaunce, Nicklas Jensen, and Frank Corrado.
NWSB Playoffs Gambling insider Dave B previews the Vancouver Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks game on Tuesday night. His headline: One Last Chance. The goal scoring issues are well documented and although Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin each recorded an assist in the last game, they have been all but non-existent so far this series. Mason Raymond, Chris Higgins and Jannik Hansen are pointless thus far in the three games and Derek Roy, despite getting some shot isn`t producing at the rate most expected when he was acquired at the deadline.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Kevin “The Flying V” Vanstone is back today to tell the fans about the lineup changes for the Vancouver Canucks tonight in game 2 versus the Sharks. Ryan Kesler is expected to slide across to the wing tonight after struggling on the draw Wednesday, playing alongside Chris Higgins and Derek Roy on Vancouver’s second line. “I expect more out of myself tonight,” Kesler told the media Friday morning.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Andrew Deutschmann provides his tips for how Van City goalie can come away with a win tonight vs. the Sharks in Game 2. Roberto Luongo is set start again in Game 2 and coach Alain Vigneault said today that Schneider may not make the trip to San Jose for Game 3. And odds are, if those risks don’t pan out, you can bet #1 will bail you out at the other end.
Richard Hodges previews the San Jose Sharks vs Vancouver Canucks May 3rd matchup. Richard says the goaltending saga continues as Roberto Luongo starts again and is preparing like he’ll start them all. There’s still no word on Cory Schneider’s condition in the most bizarre twist of this year-long soap opera. The Canucks meanwhile will load up Derek Roy and Ryan Kesler on the second line with Chris Higgins in an attempt to find some scoring punch.
NWSB Playoffs Gambling insider Dave B previews the San Jose Sharks vs. Vancouver Canucks game Wednesday night. His headline: Let’s Not Repeat History. The San Jose Sharks, who went just 8-14-2 on the road during the regular season, played just about the perfect road game Wednesday night and subsequently became the only road team thus far to record a win in the playoffs.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks’ blogger Richard Hodges is back to give you his love ‘em and hate ‘em from Vancouver’s loss to the San Jose Sharks in Game 1 of Round 1. He asks Is it puck luck that demands the Canucks need be perfect to score but opponents can score with any half chance? Multiple times in this game Daniel Sedin had a perfect opportunity to shoot the puck and either hesitated or passed off. Roberto Luongo was not the problem.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Andrew Deutschmann provides his tips for how Van City can beat the San Jose Sharks in Round 1 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He says the Nucks must stay healthy. This may be the most important area. Hopefully, with the shortened season, less players will be banged up during the playoffs, but injuries are pretty much inevitable. Just look at Ryan Kesler in 2011. Stay healthy Cory Schneider.
NWSB Playoffs Gambling insider Dave B previews the San Jose Sharks vs. Vancouver Canucks game Wednesday night. His headline: Canucks Begin Cup Quest Wednesday Night. Offensively the Canucks generated just 2.54 goals per game this year – a far cry from the teams we’ve seen the last few years. Cory Schneider should return to the lineup for Game 1 and he will be crucial after Roberto Luongo melted down in his last two starts.
