NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
Richard Hodges previews the St. Louis Blues vs. Vancouver Canucks March 19th matchup. Richard says the Blues will get a boost tonight when Andy McDonald returns after missing four games. Exactly what the Canucks didn’t want to hear. Yes, the Canucks are in a tailspin, having lost 11 of their last 16. Last time these two met you may remember Jake Allen’s beautiful save off Alex Burrows in overtime. Season turning point? Who knows.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks writer Josh Hall is back at it again gracing the pages of NWSB. Tonight he weighs in post-game style on the Wild vs. Canucks matchup from Monday night. He’s not impressed and points out with 20 games remaining in the shortened 2013 season Cory Schneider has inferior numbers that he can almost guarantee would be higher had Roberto Luongo been traded before the season commenced.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Q found this awesome video about Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider featured during the Canucks / Predators matchup Thursday on TSN in Canada. What a rivalry these two have started in the nets in Van City. They both say the media has blown the ultra competitive rivalry between the pipes over the top. The two netminders have some fun for the camera, caught on You Tube.
Richard Hodges previews the Nashville Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks March 14th matchup. Richard says the Canucks are back in town, which means the traditional first game home trap is in play tonight. The Preds will miss Paul Gaustad, Colin Wilson and Patric Hornqvist while the Canucks are essentially healthy with Kevin Bieksa if you try not to think about Ryan Kesler. Thankfully, Bieksa will be back tonight.
NWSB Canucks Insider Bryan McFarlane talks about the current state of the Vancouver hockeyt team and where they stand in relation to the NHL Playoffs. He points out that Alain Vigneault needs to stick to one guy in goal, and he votes Roberto Luongo, but regardless, someone needs to be traded sooner rather than later. Could it be Cory Schneider on the block? This issue seems to keep getting brushed up under the rug, but it’s been the elephant in the room for months.
Waving the White Towel Yikes. After all these underwhelming games, the Canucks blew another chance to right the ship and take two points out a hockey game. Instead, the Minnesota debacle felt almost like the culmination of the creeping habits that had been plaguing the Canucks. Halfway through the year the Canucks are struggling to [...]
Richard Hodges previews the San Jose Sharks vs Vancouver Canucks March 10th matchup. Richard says the Wild are coming off Ryan Suter’s emotional return to Nashville, where they took two points in a shootout. Zach Parise had Minnesota’s only regulation marker. The Canucks are limping into this one he says. They’ll have to win today with a banged up line-up that will miss Ryan Kesler, Kevin Bieksa and Tom Sestito.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks’ blogger Richard Hodges give you his love ‘em and hate ‘em from Vancouver’s loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets in overtime. The Canucks are once again atop the Northwest and the third seed in the West but the pitchforks are out for Coach Alain Vigneault. On a positive note Henrik Sedin has scored in back-to-back games. Zack Kassian and David Booth have to break out soon right?
Richard Hodges previews the Vancouver Canucks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets March 7th matchup. Richard says the Jackets will miss Brandon Dubinsky, James Wisniewski and John Moore tonight. For the Canucks, as mentioned, Kevin Bieksa and Keith Ballard will join Kesler in popcorn duty tonight, testing the blueline depth the most this year.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks’ blogger Richard Hodges give you his love ‘em and hate ‘em from Vancouver’s loss to the San Jose Sharks in shootouts. While there was impressive play from the Canucks–at times–they needed a greater effort on the ice if they were going to come away with anything from this game. Among things that frustrated Richard was the lack of impressive play when Vancouver had a power play advantage.
Richard Hodges previews the San Jose Sharks vs Vancouver Canucks March 5th matchup. Richard says the Sharks defeated the Canucks 4-1 in their only other game this year. Joe Pavelski had a pair while Patrick Marleau was going through his insane goal-scoring stretch. Meanwhile goaltenders around the league are getting injured in droves and the trade deadline is just a month away, If not a goaltender (Roberto Luongo / Cory Schneider, then Keith Ballard?
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Steve Lee peels up the court and steps out on to the ice for his latest piece. Steve points out that even if it would be a “bad move” in the eyes of most Canucks fans, trading Ryan Kesler actually makes more sense than one would think. Just take this season alone for example. The Canucks were playing great hockey without Kesler, then once he finally came back from yet another injury, the losses started piling up. Coincidence? Steve thinks not.
