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.
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 Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Kevin “The Flying V” Vanstone is back today to ask could the Canucks surprise the Western Conference and make another lengthy run towards the Stanley Cup? If so, the reigning Northwest Division Champions may need a few favours from the Hockey Gods this time around. Youngster Frank Corrado will need to learn playoff hockey on the fly after playing well in his first three games at the NHL level.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger C-Mac weighs in on the overachievers and underachievers in Van City for the end of the 2012/13 regular season. Jason Garrison was on the underachiever side of this list at the quarter season mark, but he made a superb turnaround. Alex Edler is the single most disappointing player that the Canucks have had to endure this season. David Booth could well be the victim of Vancouver’s buyout amnesty.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks’ blogger Richard Hodges is back to give you his love ‘em and hate ‘em from Vancouver’s win over the Calgary Flames. Richard points out Roberto Luongo was the surprise starter thanks to Cory Schneider’s flu, and his first game in a long while was pretty damn good. He also asks if Zack Kassian can flip the switch by the end of the month? The playoffs are right around the corner. He’ll be needed.
Richard Hodges previews the Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames April 10th matchup. Richard says Monday was the triumphant return of Ryan Kesler. Tuesday, unfortunately, was the departure of Chris Tanev and Chris Higgins from the line-up for the foreseeable future. This is an important time building for the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The stretch run continues for the Vancouver Canucks with a five game road trip opening in Calgary tonight.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks’ blogger Richard Hodges is back to give you his love ‘em and hate ‘em from Vancouver’s win over the Phoenix Coyotes. Richard points out where once a tag team of Alex Burrows and Mason Raymond centred the second line and Jordan Schroeder tried to tread water on the third, the Canucks now boast perhaps their most impressive centre depth in the Mike Gillis era. Enter Derek Roy.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks’ blogger Richard Hodges is back to give you his love ‘em and hate ‘em from Vancouver’s win over the Phoenix Coyotes Thursday night. Richard points out last night was the most emotion he’s seen Alex Edler show in a long time. The blueliner, perhaps thinking he was playing forward also like Keith Ballard, came behind the Coyote net to challenge for a puck that Mike Smith had come out to play. WHAMMO!
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks’ blogger Richard Hodges got his laptop fixed and his back to give you his love ‘em and hate ‘em from Vancouver’s win over the St. Louis Blues Wednesday night. Richard points out a win is a win as a horse and horse and no one can look a gift horse in the mouth of course. He loves the play out of one Canucks in particular. Something has sparked Jannik Hansen this year as he’s playing for keeps almost every shift. Cory Schneider got the W.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger C-Mac weighs in on the overachievers and underachievers in Van City. Keith Ballard looked like he had it all sorted out at last, skating well and moving the puck crisply, then Chris Tanev moved up in the defence pairings and the familiar error prone Ballard was once again back in the Coach V doghouse. Kevin Bieksa is the one defenseman who has been steady on both ends of the ice.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Kevin “The Flying V” Vanstone says the Vancouver Canucks may not be as deep on the blue line as it seems, will Mike Gillis move to make a trade deadline deal to bolster the back end? As the Canucks approach the 20-game mark of the 2013 season there is still a healthy amount of time for players like Alex Edler to adjust. Who knows with Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa injuries.
Vancouver Canucks blogger Richard Hodges Love Em Hate Em hockey blog. He recaps and rewinds the loss Sunday afternoon to the Detroit Red Wings. Richard points out Canucks fans didn’t take this game well, lamenting the defensive zone coverage, Roberto Luongo’s play and the general futility of even trying for the rest of the year. Nice to see after his reckless run at Chris Tanev, Zack Kassian decided to beat up Jordin Tootoo. Nice.
