Sunday, and it’s do or die time

Well, it’s overtime in the Canuck’s/Kings game.  It’s win this or go home for the Canucks.  I want them to win, sooooo badly.

I can’t say that they’ve played their best game tonight.  If not for Cory Shneider, i think this series would have been over quite a while ago.

I’m getting so tired of hearing “and the puck goes to ______________, but he couldn’t handle the pass”  Seriously!?

OMG!  the freaking puck just hit the post!  The chances in this game are unbelievable.  I’m trying to remain calm, but it is incredibly hard.

Come on boys, that’s all I can say.

They just lost.  They’re out of the playoffs.

Oh, well.

It’s up to the Senators now.

I’ll be there next year.  To cheer them on.

Please, please, please, though, Vancouver, get yourself some hitters.

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Thursday morning, very Spring-y

Ah, it was lovely on my walk this morning.  Plus 3, cloudy skies, but you could see them clearing nicely with a blush of pink in the west.  Maybe today I’ll brave a pair of capri’s — or, a skirt.  Decisions, decisions.

I am oh so happy this morning.  Both the Senators and the Canucks pulled magic out of the hat last night and won their games.  I watched both games — that’s a lot of hockey — and I was nearly apoplectic at times, but my hopes and dreams have survived intact.

Daniel was back on the ice for last night’s crucial game, and though it took him the better part of the first period to find his rythym, find it he did.  He and Henrik were unstoppable; watching them play together is something very special.  You could see and feel the change in the entire team.  But, as Henrik said afterwards, this is one win, they need to concentrate now on the game ahead of them.

It’s a long shot, but I Believe. And that goes for the Senators, too.

Happy Canucks.jpg

Photo source:  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1151644-nhl-playoffs-5-key-takeaways-for-the-vancouver-canucks-following-game-4

 

PS — Oooh!  I get so frustrated when I try to download and insert images from the internet.  Don’t know what goes wrong, but if you follow the link you’ll see some happy boys.

Vancouver lost — what else is there to say?

I’m in tears, literally.  I can’t believe my team lost.  I am heartbroken.

My husband keeps reminding me that this is just a game, but I can’t help it — I had my heart and soul invested in this game.

I hate that Boston has won.  They played dirty.  The officials might just as well have been on their team roster.  Injuring other players as a team strategy is a cheap strategy.

There is so much talent on the Canucks team — that’s undisputed.  I can’t for the life of me understand what happened to their heart.

As much as I don’t like to buy in to conspiracy theories, I have to wonder if there isn’t something to the “Bettman wants the cup to say in the US” conspiracy.  Boston being an ‘original six’ team and all, maybe that also had something to do with it.  That’s the only thing I can think of that comes close to explaining what happened to their ability to shoot and score and play.

I will be behind the Canucks again next year.  Despite that my hometown team are the Oilers.  The Canucks are Canada’s team — they proved that making it into the finals.  I only hope they get a run at the cup again next year.

I’m finally beginning to get over the tears.  It is, in the end, as my husband tried telling me in the first minutes after our loss, just a game.

But what a game!

 

Two periods down — 3-0 Boston

Well, I’m trying hard to be optimistic, but let’s face it, Boston is out-playing the Canucks.  The score is 3-0 after two periods of play.  The last goal was a short-handed one.  It should have never happened.

Although I don’t like to criticize a player, I have to say that Ehroff is the weakest link on the Canuck’s lineup.  Time after time he has flubbed the pass, he has let Boston’s offence get the jump on him.  He is not, by a long shot the only problem the Canucks are having, but I’ve noticed over the last two games how weak he is on the D.  I’d pull him.

Kesler is playing like a pro, I love his heart.  Daniel and Henrik are somewhat disappointing.  I just don’t see the kind of magic that they are capable of coming through.

In listening to the commentators it sounds like it’s a foregone conclusion that Boston has the cup.  I’m going to pray hard for a comeback from the Canucks, for them to tie it up and take it overtime if need be.  But, it’s a long shot.  A very long shot.

I’ll update this at the end of the game.

I feel like crying.

Tuesday, June 14 — One more game to go

As the entire world knows by now — the ‘boys’ lost last night.

Of course, we knew they would.

I wanted a different outcome — but that would have been rubbing dirt in Boston’s face.  So what?  is all I can come up with.

The first period and four goals in 4 minutes — two of them scored within 35 seconds of each other — was a disaster.  They pulled Luongo after he let in the third.  Thank God.  I was literally sick to my stomach.

It was a tough game to watch, but I do have to say that the Canucks managed to pull themselves together enough to hold Boston at bay for nearly the rest of the game.  When the Canucks scored their first goal  I had the audacity to think that they could actually come back to tie up the game, send it into overtime and then win the damn thing!

Ha!  Stupid me.  What they did instead was take two ridiculous penalties allowing Boston to score their 5th goal.  Vancouver managed to get another one in the net, but really it was a lost cause, and I knew it.

Still, like it was a train-wreck, I rubber-necked, unable to tear myself away.  All the while hurling more epithets and curses at my poor television than even I thought I was capable of.  My husband shook his head in wonder.  “Remind me to never take you to a live game,”  was all he said.  I just glared.

Personally, this is my theory on what happened last night:  Luongo let in those three goals on purpose so that he could be pulled and allowed to rest up in preparation for the big game tomorrow night.  See, they knew they couldn’t win in Boston’s house (sweet as that might have been) and so the strategy was to save Luongo and him rested and sharp for when the game returns to Vancouver.

There are, absolutely, holes in this theory.  Do I care?  No!  Does it explain why, at times, the Canucks seemed to be playing minor league hockey?  Not one bit.  Can it shed any light on why Luongo is seemingly so shaken by the Boston arena?  Not one tiny ray of illumination.  Again, care not, I do.

All I care about is that I have an unwavering faith in this team and their ability to bring the Cup back to Canada.

Me and approximately, 9,000,000 other viewers (not all cheering for the Canucks, I know) are so enthralled by this series that they gave up soccer games, sit-coms and serious book club meetings to catch the action.  That’s just how good this contest is.

Tomorrow is my last time of wearing the  “We Believe” t-shirt.

After they win tomorrow night I’m having it framed.

Go, Canucks, Go!

Monday, June 13, 2011 — Could this be a day for hockey history?

Well, we’re one game away from the Stanley Cup.  Two games, if the Canucks don’t win it tonight.

I’m thinking it’ll be tonight.

But, then again, my predictions don’t normally pan out.

So, it’s crossed fingers and the shirt with Henrik’s name and number on it today.

I’ve got mad butterflies in my stomach and it’s only 7:13 a.m.  Don’t know how I’m going to make it to 6:30 tonight.

One thing is for sure; it will be a brutal game.  The Bruins are going to be bringing their best street-fighting technique to the ice, and I’m sure Vancouver won’t be holding anything back, either.

I don’t think there is any other sport on the planet that is as physically demanding on a player as hockey.  The speed at which they have to move, the constant movement of their legs, the extreme upper body strength they must have in order to control the puck and ward off opponents while fore- and back-checking all the time, as well as  the mental toughness it takes to compete in such an intense sport makes hockey a true gladiator sport.

It’s do or die, and, when you watch how these players will sacrifice the body you can’t help but think that they have to be a little crazy.  Even the Sedin’s, who everyone likes to criticize,

Wayne Gretzky hoisting hockey's greatest prize -- hopefully, Henrik will do the same tonight. Photo courtesy Google images.

as they once did Gretzky, for shying away from the physical aspect of the game have taken their fair share of smashes into the boards, pucks to the body, sticks to the ribs and ankles all in the name of claiming first place and being able to hoist a shiny silver cup over their heads.

I hope tonight sees the Canucks win, they deserve it.  They’ve worked hard, played hard and put up with a lot of negativity and criticism to get to be one of the two best teams in the league.  Hopefully, tonight, they get to claim they are THE BEST.

Go, team, go!

1 – 0 Vancouver!

It was a helluva game!  and Vancouver came out on top.  By one hard-fought, hard-won goal.

LaPierre scored a beauty about 5 minutes into the 3rd period.  I’m telling you, it was an amazing feeling to see that goal go in the net.

Can they win in Boston?  I hope so, but I’m not all that confident that they will.

For one thing, the ice in Boston is terrible.  The arena is too hot, and the officiating will be completely lop-sided, again.  It was marginally better tonight, but not what you’d call completely fair.

Boston seemed to be a little more disciplined tonight.  Less goon hockey, more of the professional level of sportsmanship that we should expect tp see.

Daniel and Henrik, Kesler, Torres, Burrows, Higgins — they all played spectacularly.  I felt very proud watching them.

And though much has been said about there being more Canadians on Boston’s team than on Vancouver’s, all I have to say is this:  they’re not playing for Canada!

I love this team — they will bring the cup home — I just know it.

So, way to go boys — you did it!

Canucks all the way!

Game 4 — heartbreak — again

I can’t begin to explain the overwhelming feelings of frustration and despair I experienced watching tonight’s game.

It started out good — Kesler was feisty right off the first face-off, and I was all pumped for a spectacular win.

Alas, it was not to be.  The team just seemed to crumble as the 1st period came to a close.  The Bruins, to their credit were out hitting, out checking the Canucks.

However, they were also playing like a bunch of goons.  The hacks, the slashes, the taunts, the shots to the head, the tripping — it was unbelievable.  Or, well, I guess not, considering the fact that the officials in these games have chosen to continually look the other way — until a crucial moment in the game, and then they would blatantly favour the Bruins.

I know there are people who will read this and say, yes, but it was the same with the Canucks.  But, honestly, in my opinion, it was one-sided.

And, I’m going to have my say about Rome’s hit on Horton.  It was not a dirty hit.  It was a hard hit.  And it was awful to watch Horton laying on the ice with his arms straight out in the air before him, signalling that he had taken a severe injury to his brain.  But Rome’s intent was not to injure, it was simply to finish his check.  It was open ice and both players were skating very fast and very hard.  When Horton hit the ice, his head took one hell of a knock.  Thank God for helmets.

I think the loss of both Hamhuis and Rome has seriously hurt the Canucks ability to perform effectively.  Henrik is obviously playing hurt, as is Kesler, and Luongo has lost his confidence or his focus, something is wrong.  As a team, they seem intimidated.  They’ve allowed the Bruins to get inside their heads, and allowed them to shake them off their game.  Henrik and Daniel need to step up and be the leaders they can be, and Kesler has to find a way to get the magic back.  Burrows, Torres, Bieksa, Maholtra, they all need to ‘bring it’, and in a huge way.

The next game is in Vancouver — home ice — and hopefully, being back in friendly territory will give the team the encouragement and inspiration they seem to be lacking right now.

I’m not giving up on them.  They’re still real contenders for the Cup — they wouldn’t be where they are if that weren’t true.

So, I’ll keep washing my t-shirts and wearing them every day — until Lord Stanley’s Cup is back on Canadian soil.

Go Canucks!

It was a massacre in Massachusetts

See those smiles? They'll be back! Daniel and Henrik Sedin Photo courtesy of Google images.

Oh, dear Lord, I have no idea what happened, but it was terrible.  8 – 1 Boston.

It doesn’t get anymore embarrassing than that.

Apparently, I’m not very good at predicting outcomes.

So, I’m going to go with a positive spin and say that I got it backwards.  The boys will make a comeback.  They’ll beat Boston on Wednesday and take the game home to Vancouver to finish them off.

I’ll still be wearing my t-shirts.  It’s only one game.

Vancouver is still leading the series 2 games to 1.  Let’s not lose sight of that.

Okay, ’nuff said.

Good night.

Vancouver takes the lead in 11 seconds! Burrows, Burrows he’s our man!

The hero of tonight's game -- Alexandre Burrows. Photo courtesy of Canucks NHL.com

Oh dear God in heaven!  The Canucks took game 2.

I have to admit that going into this game I did not believe we would win it.  Just too much pressure coming off of game 1, the whole Burrows finger biting escapade, and Boston being really hungry for a win.  It just felt like the deck was stacked against a second win.

Boy, was I wrong!  And glad to be.

Say what you will about whether or not Burrows should have even been on the ice, he was, and he brought his A game. As did all the Canucks.  I saw so many infractions in tonight’s game I think that Burrow’s biting should be forgotten and never mentioned again.

This was a much better game than the first; the boys were really flying and were all over the Bruins.  Their back-checking was amazing and that second goal by Daniel was a thing of beauty.  I think, actually, when he tied it up that took the wind right out of Boston’s sails.  You could see that they just didn’t have the heart after that.

You know what?  I would give my eye-teeth to go see one of these play-off games.  However, I would not give $5,000, which, apparently, is what some tickets were fetching for Game #1.  Can you fathom that?  I guess if you were filthy stinking rich it wouldn’t bother you.  But for us normal-joe hockey fans, it’s a tad steep.

So, game 3 will be in Boston on Monday.  Should I predict that Vancouver will win?  Because I think they will.  They won’t win #4, and I can’t see anymore than that in my crystal ball.  I have yoga on Monday which starts at the same time as the game.  Boo.  I will have to set the PVR.

I absolutely couldn’t believe Burrows coming out and scoring the game winner in 11 seconds!  An amazing goal!  And watching how the players erupted in absolute joy after he did it made me laugh right out loud.  I said to my husband:  “Hockey players amaze me; they’re really just boys who’ve never grown up.”

The looks on their faces took me backto the years to when Landon played hockey with his friends and the sheer, unadulterated looks of joy on their faces when they’d score a goal, or win a championship game.

There is something that happens amongst boys and men who play these kinds of extreme sports — it takes them somewhere that the rest of us just can’t go; the elation they experience is simply off-limits to us.  But getting to witness it is something of an honour; we’re able to experience, though from the sidelines, what it must mean to be a champion, if only for a moment.