NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Kevin “The Flying V” Vanstone is back today to tell us the Vancouver Canucks are one loss away from the end of their 2013 season, but around the city of Vancouver it seems the majority of Canucks fans have already turned the page on this year, playing armchair owner while arguing over off-season changes before the season itself is finished. Cory Schneider starts in net.
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 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 Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Josh Hall breaks down the REAL Van City end of season award winners. His way. There’s probably no disagreeing that the Canucks team awards are a lot nazzyer, or snazzier, than the trophies Juno winners get. However, it’s almost certain the fan choices for these awards differ from one section of Rogers Arena to the next he says. Alex Burrows, Jannik Hansen, Dan Hamhuis, Daniel Sedin, Cory Schneider take a bow.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks’ blogger Richard Hodges is back to give you his love ‘em and hate ‘em from Vancouver’s tough loss to the San Jose Sharks on Monday night. Richard points out Henrik Sedin & Daniel Sedin collectively this season, are slumping. When’s the last time they’ve scored a goal that grabbed you from your seat? The only thing worse than the league’s worst powerplay is not having any chances at all for the second time in three games.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Kevin “The Flying V” Vanstone tells us today the NHL’s April 3rd trade deadline fast approaches and the Vancouver Canucks have a number of spots on the roster worthy of attention heading into this year’s playoff push. Mason Raymond and Jannik Hansen have played well during their time on Vancouver’s second line, but are better fit as checking forwards on a fully healthy roster.
Richard Hodges previews the Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers March 30th matchup. Richard says seems as though both Zack Kassian and Keith Ballard will miss yet another game recovering from their nagging injuries while the Oilers will miss Eric Belanger, who’s out with a groin injury. It’s been a while since these two teams hooked up this year, they last saw each other in early February when the Canucks won 3-2. Cory Schneider will be in net again.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Bryan McFarlane weighs in with his Nucks three stars post. Here are the few noteworthy performers from March 21st to March 206th during the Canucks 2013 campaign. Jordan Schroeder, Jannik Hansen, and Mason Raymond make the list this week. Bryan says there are few players in the league who can keep up with Raymond when he’s really skating, and when he keeps solid control of the puck coming in fast.
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 Bryan McFarlane weighs in with his Nucks three stars post. Here are the few noteworthy performers from March 13th to March 20th during the Canucks 2013 campaign. Alex Edler, Jannik Hansen, and Henrik Sedin make the list this week. Bryan says one of these years Hansen is going to break out with 40 goals and finally get the rest of the league’s attention.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks’ blogger Richard Hodges give you his love ‘em and hate ‘em from Vancouver’s win over the Nashville Predators Thursday night. Richard points out it really is the year of the honey badger for the Vancouver Canucks, as Jannik Hansen has enjoyed a tenacious breakout year. What will Coach Alain Vigneault do with Andrew Ebbett moving forward?
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Mitch Dyck brings us up to speed on the storylines he’s watching for and delivers his winning gameday tips for the Canucks vs. BlueJackets game Tuesday night. If this feels like deja-vu…it is. They played last Thursday. He says the Canucks are hoping that the injection of Andrew Ebbett will help the team and their scoring woes. They’re facing a Bluejackets team that is red hot and looking to extend their five game winning streak.
