NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Vancouver Canucks insider Josh Hall looks back on Wednesday’s Mike Gillis press conference and tells some tales of now fired Alain Vigneault. Josh points out the stars and planets may never align quite like that again for the Vancouver Canucks or Alain Vigneault but looking back on that moment 50 years from now and everyone will remember where they were vs. Chicago in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Thanks to AV and Alex Burrows.
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 Kevin “The Flying V” Vanstone weighs in today on the Nucks and says it has been a full thirteen days since VanCity were swept by the San Jose Sharks in the first round of this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, and after an appropriate mourning period it is time to look towards next season and the changes needed. Roberto Luongo has been on his way out of Vancouver for some time. He’s surely gone. Alain Vigneault. Gone too.
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 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 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 3 of Round 1. He says that, on the positive side, that the series isn’t as bad as it looks, the weather is great, and the Canucks will move on. However, he does address the fact that the Canucks are once again failing to get anything going, lacking a dominant goalkeeper, and just struggling in the playoffs.
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 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 Kevin “The Flying V” Vanstone is back today to tell the fans that Roberto Luongo is expected to make a surprise start tonight opposite the San Jose Sharks in Game One of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He says Cory Schneider the Ginger Jesus may not be in tonight’s lineup, but Kev expects 18, 630 Canucks fans will be there to pick up the slack.
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 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.
