NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
Richard Hodges previews the Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks April 4th matchup. Richard says the Canucks addressed their biggest need and there’s no reason to believe this team isn’t better than last week. Derek Roy gives this line-up some scary flexibility. You can bitch about the lack of depth moves until you’re blue in the face, but the Roy acquisition is significant. Yes Roberto Luongo hates his contract, its his birthday today, Cory Schneider is in net. Deal with it.
Richard Hodges previews the Vancouver Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks April 1st matchup. Richard says injuries are mounting for Van City. Add Mason Raymond to a list that includes Dale Weise and Keith Ballard. Kevin Bieksa didn’t take the morning skate either but there’s no word yet on him not playing. The Sharks open a four game homestand at HP Pavilion tonight where they’re 11-1-4. Also for the Sharks, Jason Demers didn’t play Saturday and will be a game-day decision.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Josh Hall tells us today the Nucks now have four wins in a row after going 3-4-2 to start the month of March and oh look, Alain Vigneault is tied with the legen-wait for it-dary Jack Adams in the all-time wins category. Good times are ahead he says as soon enough because eventually Ryan Kesler, Zack Kassian, Steven Pinozzotto and oh yeah, Alex Edler will be back in the lineup.
Richard Hodges previews the Vancouver Canucks vs. LA Kings March 23rd matchup. Richard says the Nucks lineup could be in trouble today versus the Champs. Take the depleted line-up that scraped out a road win over Phoenix and subtract Alex Edler and you have the hand the Canucks have been dealt this afternoon. Cory Schneider stars in net for Van City today. Good Luck here boys.
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!
Richard Hodges previews the Vancouver Canucks vs. Phoenix Coyotes March 21st matchup. Richard says before Shane Doan scored in the third period Thursday, the Phoenix Coyotes had gone 245 minutes and 32 seconds without a goal. They’ve also lost four straight in that span, dropping out of the playoffs for now. David Booth has a high ankle sprain. Zack Kassian has his back issues that make it tough to predict when he gets back in the line-up.
NWSB Vancouver Canucks blogger Kevin Vanstone AKA The Flying V weighs in today and says The Vancouver Canucks Don’t Need A Fighter. Zack Kassian and Tom Sestito both engaged in fights during Tuesday’s win over the Blues, but what did they accomplish? It’s OK, I’ll wait for an answer says Kev. In the meantime, Canucks fans can only hope Jordan Schroeder and Dale Weise continue to find chemistry on the fourth line.
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 Richard Hodges give you his love ‘em and hate ‘em from Vancouver’s win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in a shootout. Whatever Mason Raymond did in the shootout worked. But man was it ugly. Was it legal? Richard doesn’t even care. It went in he says. The game’s first highlight was David Booth laying out Matt Calvert. Nice way to start the game.
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 [...]
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Mitch Dyck brings us up to speed on the storylines involving the Canucks and the upcoming NHL trade deadline. He says when you’re a nose hair away from the half way mark of the season and you’re having these issues it may be time to look inward and see what needs to be done in order to succeed and not just get by. When do you make a move he asks. Chris Higgins, Mason Raymond, Roberto Luongo, we wait…
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?
