[GDT] Vancouver Canucks vs Winnipeg Jets, Rogers Arena, Feb 17, 7PM PST (10PM EST), the HOLY CRAP! WE AREN'T PLAYING AT 10AM GAME ON A WEEKEND GAME!

[Rocket-68]

Overview

Dakota Joshua out week-to-week ... BAD! Bains up for a shot at his first NHL game ever ... GOOD! Dakota earned a Gordie Howe hat trick last game beating on a Red Wing helmet after scoring a goal and registering an assist but must have broken his hand during the tilt. It was since revealed that DJ is week-to-week, sad to hear said most Canuck fans. Adversity for one equals opportunity for another with Bains being rewarded with a call up, an NHL paycheck and almost certain to slot into forward.

 

 

This is another one of those yard stick games, aren't they all, where the Canucks post season chances will be measured. Winnipeg is no slouch, ticking a lot of the boxes a truly good team has and this looks to be an epic showdown - which our Canucks will prevail in of course. Jets are trying to cobble together a winning streak coming off of a W over Penguins and Sharks with lots of rest in between. Monohands aside, the Jets are playing well up and down the lineup with everyone contributing, despite the recent 5 game losing streak.

 

Winnipeg is sporting a 32-14-5 record good for 69 pts and third in the Central and looking to make up ground on Dallas and Colorado. The Canucks record needs not be mentioned as all true Canucks fans have that memorized but here it is anyway ... 37-12-6 good for 80 points and 1st in the league.

 

Quote of the day: screw the quote, here is something that I would put on a loop and post on the score board next time Red Wings are in town (hopefully for the playoffs). Gotta love Big Zeke!

 

A Random Hockey Story

With the recent stories giving Junior Hockey a black eye with the spotlight on a very sad story for all involved, I thought a positive look might be worth a read.

 

Spoiler

World Juniors: The Evolution of a National Obsession

December 26, 2021 by Steve Beisswanger

 

The voice in the promotional spot for the upcoming International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship (WJC) says in a deep matter-of-fact voice that “before the spotlight, before they are legends, they played in the World Juniors.” Using images of Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby to get the point across, the commercial is intent on building excitement around the 2022 edition of the tournament to be played in Alberta from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.

 

The tournament has now become a holiday-period television tradition in hockey-loving families across Canada. Every year, it showcases the best players under 20 years old. For many of these players, the tournament is the opening chapter of their hockey stories.

 

In a book entitled Road to Gold – The Untold Story of Canada at the World Juniors (published by Simon & Schuster), Mark Spector, a journalist for Sportsnet, traces the evolution of how a once modest junior-level hockey tournament became the significant multi-million dollar sports property that it is today.

 

The book offers some interesting historical elements about how the tournament emerged and grew. Spector also uses a number of compelling personal narratives and stories from players who have worn the Team Canada jersey during the Christmastime tournament. The reader will discover insightful contrasts between very different hockey journeys.

 

[My Edit: We know the results of this tournament - Canada WINS!]

 

There are players for whom the tournament was the launchpad to famed careers. For others, whose images are not seen in the commercial, the tournament was the pinnacle of a career spent struggling on the margins of professional hockey.

 

Many hockey fans around the world are getting ready to celebrate the holiday period with family by decorating their homes, trimming Christmas trees and wrapping gifts. But for a group comprised of the best young hockey players in the world, their priority is the intense preparation required to proudly represent their respective countries with the hope of bringing back home a gold medal.

 

As we eagerly anticipate the drop of the puck to start the 2022 edition of the tournament, here are some of the highlights from Road to Gold that provide us with the back story, history and context that led to the games we are anxiously going to enjoy.

 

We Have to Do Something
Spector opens the book with Murray Costello, then-president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA), waiting in a lobby at the Skyline Hotel in Ottawa in 1981. He wanted to meet with the powerbrokers of Canadian junior hockey who were gathered for their annual general meeting. He had an idea to address Canada’s performance at a yearly tournament originally started in 1974 that matched the best under 20-year-old hockey players from the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, Finland and the United States.

 

Since its inception, the tournament had been dominated by the Soviet Union. Canada’s entry in the competition was the Memorial Cup winner from the previous season complemented with additional last-minute picks. The catalyst for Costello’s angst was sparked by Canada’s 7-6 loss to West Germany in the Consolation Round leading to a seventh-place finish in 1981.

 

When Germany beat Canada with Dale Hawerchuk on the team, I thought, that’s just not fair to him, and it’s not fair to Canada. We have to do something.

Comment from Murray Costello, then-president of the CAHA in Road to Gold, p. 5.

 

As head of the regulatory body that was the precursor to Hockey Canada, Costello wanted to set up an all-star team of the best Canadian junior players and borrow them for the Christmastime tournament. That was his pitch to the reluctant owners of the junior teams who were less than receptive at the idea of losing their best players during a critical part of the season.

 

Costello was persistent and, especially, well prepared. He had previously secured seed funding from Sport Canada (an entity of the Federal Government) with a well-thought-out plan to develop the best young Canadian players at the under-18, under-20 and Olympic levels. Part of his overall plan was a more strategic approach to selecting and preparing a true national junior team to play and successfully perform at the international level. He successfully overcame the reluctance of the team owners and executives and his efforts ultimately took shape as the Program of Excellence.

 

Breaking the Soviet Stranglehold
The benefits of the new program would be put to the test in the 1982 tournament being held jointly in Canada (Winnipeg and Kenora) and the United States (Bloomington, Minneapolis and Duluth). The inaugural head coaching duties were assigned to Dave King. He would have the responsibility to prove the worth of a national approach to selecting young hockey talent for competition against the best junior players from around the world.

The Soviet Union had won seven of the first eight tournaments (from 1974 to 1980). They were the dominant force. The team practiced, played and lived together all year long. For Team Canada, their game against the Soviets in Winnipeg was going to be a significant test of the infant Program of Excellence. The stakes were high as the game was also broadcast on television to the entire country.

 

Unexpectedly, Canada beat the Soviets 7-0 in front of a jubilant home crowd. Spector writes that the win “blew wind into the sails of the whole Program of Excellence concept” (p. 33, Road to Gold). Canada also won their first gold medal at the WJC in 1982. The foundation was now set, the model established. Spector goes on, “It was on the shoulders of this team that the future of the Program of Excellence would rest, and if this much could be accomplished on the first try, who knew what this program could accomplish in the next decade” (p. 39, Road to Gold).

 

Soviet dominance and the famous KLM Line – Vladimir Krutov (#9) and Igor Larionov (center) played in the 1979 and 1980 WJC. Sergei Makarov (#24) played in the 1978 WJC. (THW Archives)

 

 

Changing Perception of the Game
One of the most interesting elements in Spector’s book is how he parallels the evolution and growth of the WJC with changes to how the game was being perceived in Canada. The new approach to player selection and development was clearly paying dividends on the ice. In the decade following the 1982 gold medal and the maiden test of the Program of Excellence, Canada was on the podium six times, including being on the highest step on four occasions (1985, 1988, 1990 and 1991).

 

Team Canada 1983-1992

1983: Bronze (Gold: Soviet Union) – Host: Leningrad, Soviet Union
1984: Forth (Gold: Soviet Union) – Norrköping and Nyköping, Sweden
1985: Gold – Helsinki and Turku, Finland
1986: Silver (Gold: Soviet Union) – Hamilton, Ontario
1987: disqualified (Gold: Finland) – Piestany, Czechoslovakia
1988: Gold – Moscow, Soviet Union
1989: Fourth (Gold: Soviet Union) – Anchorage, Alaska
1990: Gold – Helsinki and Turku, Finland
1991: Gold – Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan
1992: Sixth (Gold: Commonwealth of Independent States – former Soviet Union) – Füssen and Kaufbeuren, Germany

 

However, this period of time is also remembered for a more violent incident that occurred during the 1987 tournament in a game between Canada and the Soviet Union. The bench-clearing brawl that occurred is notoriously known as the “Punch-up in Piestany”. Much has been written about the incident. It has been the topic of a book and numerous television documentaries.

 

Spector dedicates an entire chapter to the incident. It is a justified approach considering the impact it had on how Canadians were perceiving the game. The incident became a catalyst for reactions within and outside of the hockey community.

 

This had become a seminal moment. An important intersection in Canadian hockey culture, where “old-time hockey” ran smack into a populace that had finally decided to question why our young men were being thrown out of a tournament for bare-knuckle brawling. A growing number of people were no longer comfortable with our favorite sport playing out as if it were in some swinging-doors bar in an old Western movie, especially when it was our youngest who were being exploited.

On the impact of Piestany, excerpt from Road to Gold, p. 58.

 

Following the proverbial black eye suffered by Canada’s disqualification from the 1987 tournament, the Program of Excellence continued to propel the country’s team to success. Team Canada rebound with gold medals in 1988 and 1990. There was a growing interest in the high caliber of junior hockey being played during this festive time of the year.

 

The TSN Turning Point

This heightened level of awareness was also occurring at a time when specialized television channels were now offering viewers content tailored to their specific likes and preferences. The Sports Network (TSN) was growing in popularity but was still a fringe channel with little compelling content, meagre ratings and a tight budget. Following a change in policy by the federal broadcasting regulator, TSN was allowed to move to basic cable which instantaneously increased its potential audience fivefold. The network now needed good content to fill its airwaves.

 

As the rights to the WJC were becoming available, the timing was right for TSN to acquire an affordable sports property. It signed a five-year deal with the CAHA. The big reveal would be the 1991 tournament held in Saskatchewan. In terms of exposure, it was a win-win for both TSN and Canadian hockey.

 

From an exposure perspective, everything changed with that 1991 tournament in Saskatoon. Suddenly, the tournament was truly a sensation coast to coast, and, coupled with the fact that most every province has a tie to at least one player, newspapers across Canada had sent reporters not only to cover the tournament, but to report on the exploits of “their guy” on Team Canada.

On the impact of the TSN deal, excerpt from Road to Gold, p. 105.

 

The good fortune was not limited to the boardroom. On the ice, Team Canada won its first tournament on home soil. TSN quickly discovered that viewers across Canada were identifying with the maple leaf on the jerseys of their national junior team. The WJC was now becoming a prime sports property that could command significant advertising dollars and revenues from broadcasting rights.

 

Building a Business

Team Canada’s success on the ice was the perfect ingredient to keep building exposure and excitement about the tournament. With a string of five consecutive gold medals from 1993 to 1997, the WJC was becoming synonymous with Canadian success.

 

Dominance – Team Canada Championship Banners (THW Archives)

 

Team Canada 1993-2002
1993: Gold – Host: Gävle, Uppsala and Falun, Sweden
1994: Gold – Ostrava and Frýdek-Místek, Czech Republic
1995: Gold – Red Deer, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta
1996: Gold – Boston, Amherst and Marlborough Massachussetts
1997: Gold – Geneva and Morges, Switzerland
1998: Eight (Gold: Finland) – Helsinki and Hämeenlinna, Finland
1999: Silver (Gold: Russia) – Winnipeg, Brandon and Selkirk, Manitoba
2000: Bronze (Gold: Czech Republic) – Skellefteå and Umeå, Sweden
2001: Bronze (Gold: Czech Republic) – Moscow and Podolsk, Russia
2002: Silver (Gold: Russia) – Pardubice and Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

 

A merchandising deal (with Nike in 1999) and a move away from the round-robin-only format to a playoff-style tournament (in 1996) brought both more money and added drama to an increasingly popular and successful enterprise.

 

The promotional spots one sees today on television eliminate any illusion that the WJC is now, in fact, big business. In 2014, TSN and Hockey Canada (CAHA and Hockey Canada merged in 1998) signed a new television deal estimated at $20 million annually (Road to Gold, p. 106).

 

Journeys to Different Destinations
Another interesting contrast in the book is the different paths taken by players who played in the WJC. The composition of the 2005 team is considered to be the best Canadian entry ever. With names such as Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron, Ryan Getzlaf, Jeff Carter and Shea Weber, it is of little surprise that the team dominated the tournament going undefeated and winning the gold medal.

 

While the tournament was a preview of the talent many of these players would bring to long and successful careers in the NHL, for others the WJC was the summit of careers spent on the margins of hockey glory. Spector outlines the path of Jeff Glass, the goalie on the gold medal team of the famed 2005 edition of Team Canada and Justin Pogge, the goalie for the gold medal-winning team in 2006. Following their respective success at the WJC, their careers were spent moving between minor league teams.

Spector accurately captures the reality faced by such players. “It’s always going to be a journey, but what we never know is where that journey will lead. For some, the World Juniors is a stepping stone; for others, it’s the peak. But for all of them, it’s a memory that never gets old” (Road to Gold, p. 181).

 

The Perversion of Pressure
Over the years, Canada has won 17 gold medals at the WJC. This has led to an incredibly high level of expectations placed every year on a new group of teenagers who have the privilege of representing Canada on the world hockey stage. The advertising money and the NHL-size rinks filled to capacity create a backdrop where there is a very high level of pressure to win. This is significantly compounded by what Spector describes as: “The gold or bust expectation that Hockey Canada itself once thought was too much, but today is resigned to” (Road to Gold, p. 195).

 

It is therefore of little surprise that the high expectations of success showed its ugly side when Team Canada captain and Anaheim Ducks’ Maxime Comtois missed a penalty shot in overtime during the quarterfinals against Finland in 2019. Canada ultimately lost the game and finished the tournament in sixth position. Social media was vicious in its critique of Comtois.

 

Team Canada’s Maxime Comtois was the target of vicious attacks on social media following the 2019 WJC. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Notwithstanding the ugliness of the treatment suffered by Comtois in the aftermath of Canada failing to win gold in 2019, there is a polarized debate within the hockey community itself about the enormous pressure placed on these young players. Spector quotes former NHL goalie Roberto Luongo who played in the WJC in 1999 when Canada lost the gold medal in overtime.

 

In referring to Comtois, Luongo says: “Sometimes, everybody has got to just take a little bit of a step back. It’s hockey, it’s a tournament that we all want to win, but we’ve just got to realize that these are kids, and they’re trying the best that they can to represent their country well. I’m sure that the kid was more heartbroken than anyone else was.” (Road to Gold, p. 191).

 

Roberto Luongo played in the 1999 World Juniors (THW Archives)

The alternate view contrasts significantly with Luongo’s perception. Spector writes that, among Team Canada alumni, there is “unilateral agreement that the pressure we put on Canadian kids is not too much.” He adds that, “You simply cannot find a successful hockey person who would shield our elite teenagers from that spotlight” (Road to Gold, p. 198).

 

The debate might well be unresolvable. Luckily for Comtois, he has made the most out of the situation and has become a passionate advocate for an online anti-bullying campaign in partnership with one of the main corporate sponsors of the WJC.

 

Team Canada 2003-2019
2003: Silver (Gold: Russia) – Host: Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia
2004: Silver (Gold: United States) – Helsinki and Hämeenlinna, Finland
2005: Gold – Grand Forks and Thief River Falls, North Dakota
2006: Gold – Vancouver, Kelowna and Kamloops, British Columbia
2007: Gold – Leksand and Mora, Sweden
2008: Gold – Pardubice and Liberec, Czech Republic
2009: Gold – Ottawa, Ontario
2010: Silver (Gold: United States) – Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan
2011: Silver (Gold: Russia) – Buffalo and Lewiston, New York
2012: Bronze (Gold: Sweden) – Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta
2013: Fourth (Gold: United States) – Ufa, Russia
2014: Fourth (Gold: Finland) – Malmö, Sweden
2015: Gold – Toronto and Montreal
2016: Sixth (Gold: Finland) – Helsinki, Finland
2017: Silver (Gold: United States) – Montreal and Toronto
2018: Gold – Buffalo and Orchard Park, New York
2019: Sixth (Gold: Finland) – Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia

 

Team Canada poses after beating Sweden in the Gold medal game of the IIHF World Junior Championship at KeyBank Center on Jan. 5, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)

 

Some of the players we will see in the 2022 edition of the WJC will go on to have successful careers in the NHL. Some might, one day, be inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame and forever be considered as a legend of the game.

 

As fans, we get to watch the opening chapter of hockey careers that will take very different directions. We are watching hockey history unfold. That is maybe one of the main reasons why this tournament has become the significant and successful hockey event that it is today. In that regard, Spector’s book is a great primer on how we got here.

Real Canadian Superstore Save of the Night: Parsons Game-Saving Glove Stop!

 

Source: https://thehockeywriters.com/world-junior-championship-history-evolution/

 

 

 

 

Media

You know the drill, GO BUY A TICKET AND throw random objects at the opposing team - just kidding, no violence please. Otherwise go to your local watering hole and support your team and swill some beer.

 

TV: Sportsnet Pacific, CBC HNIC, CITY TV

Radio: SportsNet 650

Streaming: lots on various Reddit threads, here are a few sites (results may vary)

https://reddit.nhlbite.com/live

https://nhlwebcast.com/

https://v2.sportsurge.to/nhlstreams

https://nhlstream.net/

 

By the Numbers

Spoiler

Canucks Trends

• Vancouver has been victorious in 23 of the 32 games it’s played as the moneyline favorite this season.
• The Canucks have been victorious in 18 of the 26 games they have played with moneyline odds shorter than -127.
• There is a 55.9% chance that Vancouver wins this game, per the moneyline.
• Vancouver has combined with its opponent to put up more than 5.5 goals in 35 of 55 games this season.
• In their last 10 games, the Canucks have gone 7-1-2 to earn 75.0% of the possible points.
• They are scoring at a 3.3 goals-per-game average (33 total) during that time.
• Over on the defensive side, the Canucks have given up 2.7 goals per game (27 total) in those 10 matchups.

 

Jets Trends

• The Jets have claimed an upset victory in six, or 35.3%, of the 17 games they have played as an underdog this season.
• Winnipeg is 5-4 when it is underdogs of +106 or longer on the moneyline.
• The moneyline in this contest implies a 48.5% chance for the Jets to win.
• So far this season, 45.1% of Winnipeg’s games (23/51) have had more goals than Saturday’s over/under of 5.5.
• In their past 10 matchups, the Jets are 4-5-1 to earn 65.0% of the possible points.
• They have averaged only 1.3 goals per game (13 total) during that span.
• On the defensive end, the Jets have allowed 20 goals (two per game) in those 10 outings.

 

Source: https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/VAN/

 

 

Source: https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WPG/

 

What the Bookies are Saying

Spoiler

 

Source: https://www.dimers.com/bet-hub/nhl/schedule/2023_131_van_wpg 

 

Matchup Info

Spoiler

  

 

 

 

 

Da Roster

Spoiler

 

Who is coming out for Bains? My guess would be either Mik or PDG with a lean to the latter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Da Zebras

Spoiler

 

 

Now for some fun stuff

 

 

Edited February 17 by Rocket-68
Line Combos and Refs / Linesmen added

[brilac]

Thank goodness!

 

10am is way too early!

 

Some of us enjoy our sleep. 

[Jaimito]

 

 

[Jaimito]

Big test.  

 

Nux have difficulty beating Jets for years.  

[Ghostsof1915]

Bains in for?

 

Go CANUCKS GO!!!!!!!

[Canuck You]

[Bure10Kuzmenko96]

41 minutes ago, Rocket-68 said:

Overview

Dakota Joshua out week-to-week ... BAD! Bains up for a shot at his first NHL game ever ... GOOD! Dakota earned a Gordie Howe hat trick last game beating on a Red Wing helmet after scoring a goal and registering an assist but must have broken his hand during the tilt. It was since revealed that DJ is week-to-week, sad to hear said most Canuck fans. Adversity for one equals opportunity for another with Bains being rewarded with a call up, an NHL paycheck and almost certain to slot into forward.

 

 

This is another one of those yard stick games, aren't they all, where the Canucks post season chances will be measured. Winnipeg is no slouch, ticking a lot of the boxes a truly good team has and this looks to be an epic showdown - which our Canucks will prevail in of course. Jets are trying to cobble together a winning streak coming off of a W over Penguins and Sharks with lots of rest in between. Monohands aside, the Jets are playing well up and down the lineup with everyone contributing, despite the recent 5 game losing streak.

 

Winnipeg is sporting a 32-14-5 record good for 69 pts and third in the and looking to make up ground on Dallas and Colorado. The Canucks record needs not be mentioned as all true Canucks fans have that memorized but here it is anyway ... 37-12-6 good for 80 points and 1st in the league.

 

Quote of the day: screw the quote, here is something that I would put on a loop and post on the score board next time Red Wings are in town (hopefully for the playoffs). Gotta love Big Zeke!

 

A Random Hockey Story

 

Media

You know the drill, GO BUY A TICKET AND throw random objects at the opposing team - just kidding, no violence please. Otherwise go to your local watering hole and support your team and swill some beer.

 

TV: Sportsnet Pacific, CBC HNIC, CITY TV

Radio: SportsNet 650

Streaming: lots on various Reddit threads, here are a few sites (results may vary)

https://reddit.nhlbite.com/live

https://nhlwebcast.com/

https://v2.sportsurge.to/nhlstreams

https://nhlstream.net/

 

By the Numbers

  Reveal hidden contents

Canucks Trends

• Vancouver has been victorious in 23 of the 32 games it’s played as the moneyline favorite this season.
• The Canucks have been victorious in 18 of the 26 games they have played with moneyline odds shorter than -127.
• There is a 55.9% chance that Vancouver wins this game, per the moneyline.
• Vancouver has combined with its opponent to put up more than 5.5 goals in 35 of 55 games this season.
• In their last 10 games, the Canucks have gone 7-1-2 to earn 75.0% of the possible points.
• They are scoring at a 3.3 goals-per-game average (33 total) during that time.
• Over on the defensive side, the Canucks have given up 2.7 goals per game (27 total) in those 10 matchups.

 

Jets Trends

• The Jets have claimed an upset victory in six, or 35.3%, of the 17 games they have played as an underdog this season.
• Winnipeg is 5-4 when it is underdogs of +106 or longer on the moneyline.
• The moneyline in this contest implies a 48.5% chance for the Jets to win.
• So far this season, 45.1% of Winnipeg’s games (23/51) have had more goals than Saturday’s over/under of 5.5.
• In their past 10 matchups, the Jets are 4-5-1 to earn 65.0% of the possible points.
• They have averaged only 1.3 goals per game (13 total) during that span.
• On the defensive end, the Jets have allowed 20 goals (two per game) in those 10 outings.

 

Source: https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/VAN/

 

 

Source: https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WPG/

 

Matchup Info

  Reveal hidden contents

  

 

 

 

 

Da Roster

  Reveal hidden contents

 

To be added tomorrow

 

To Be added Tomorrow

 

Da Zebras

 

Now for some fun stuff

 

 

Huge game! Definitely a statement game and hopefully the Canucks come out flying tomorrow (pun intended) and they ground the Jets (pun intended)

[Believe In Blue]

Peg is very stingy defensively. Should be a good test.

 

 

Let’s bring it!!!

[Kevlar]

This will be the story of the game... missing Jet!

imgres.webloc

[Drive-By Body Pierce]

Please win.

 

I don't want to hear petty trash talk from my Manitoba relatives.

[Kevlar]

This will be the sory of the game... missing Jet

 

 

[Drive-By Body Pierce]

3 hours ago, brilac said:

Thank goodness!

 

10am is way too early!

 

Some of us enjoy our sleep. 

 

Yes!

 

Definitely not fully invested, or even conscious, for the 10am starts.

Edited February 17 by Drive-By Body Pierce

[Win2024]

Hellebuyck vs Demko. Should be great

[Pears]

3 hours ago, Jaimito said:

Big test.  

 

Nux have difficulty beating Jets for years.  

Definitely the last litmus test for us. Not exactly a must win but would be nice making a statement against these guys. 

[Ghostsof1915]

 

[Jaimito]

3 hours ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

Bains in for?

 

Go CANUCKS GO!!!!!!!

 

Hope so. 

 

 

[Iron Fist]

Vancouver Canucks VS Manitoba Moose. lil homie fighting his big homie for dominance. Its gunna be a good game.

[Lemon Face]

Hope they dont do stupid things.Jets are not easy pick up.Always afraid of them.After that Miny and Colorado.Fuck

[IBatch]

5 hours ago, Rocket-68 said:

Overview

Dakota Joshua out week-to-week ... BAD! Bains up for a shot at his first NHL game ever ... GOOD! Dakota earned a Gordie Howe hat trick last game beating on a Red Wing helmet after scoring a goal and registering an assist but must have broken his hand during the tilt. It was since revealed that DJ is week-to-week, sad to hear said most Canuck fans. Adversity for one equals opportunity for another with Bains being rewarded with a call up, an NHL paycheck and almost certain to slot into forward.

 

 

This is another one of those yard stick games, aren't they all, where the Canucks post season chances will be measured. Winnipeg is no slouch, ticking a lot of the boxes a truly good team has and this looks to be an epic showdown - which our Canucks will prevail in of course. Jets are trying to cobble together a winning streak coming off of a W over Penguins and Sharks with lots of rest in between. Monohands aside, the Jets are playing well up and down the lineup with everyone contributing, despite the recent 5 game losing streak.

 

Winnipeg is sporting a 32-14-5 record good for 69 pts and third in the Central and looking to make up ground on Dallas and Colorado. The Canucks record needs not be mentioned as all true Canucks fans have that memorized but here it is anyway ... 37-12-6 good for 80 points and 1st in the league.

 

Quote of the day: screw the quote, here is something that I would put on a loop and post on the score board next time Red Wings are in town (hopefully for the playoffs). Gotta love Big Zeke!

 

A Random Hockey Story

 

Media

You know the drill, GO BUY A TICKET AND throw random objects at the opposing team - just kidding, no violence please. Otherwise go to your local watering hole and support your team and swill some beer.

 

TV: Sportsnet Pacific, CBC HNIC, CITY TV

Radio: SportsNet 650

Streaming: lots on various Reddit threads, here are a few sites (results may vary)

https://reddit.nhlbite.com/live

https://nhlwebcast.com/

https://v2.sportsurge.to/nhlstreams

https://nhlstream.net/

 

By the Numbers

  Reveal hidden contents

Canucks Trends

• Vancouver has been victorious in 23 of the 32 games it’s played as the moneyline favorite this season.
• The Canucks have been victorious in 18 of the 26 games they have played with moneyline odds shorter than -127.
• There is a 55.9% chance that Vancouver wins this game, per the moneyline.
• Vancouver has combined with its opponent to put up more than 5.5 goals in 35 of 55 games this season.
• In their last 10 games, the Canucks have gone 7-1-2 to earn 75.0% of the possible points.
• They are scoring at a 3.3 goals-per-game average (33 total) during that time.
• Over on the defensive side, the Canucks have given up 2.7 goals per game (27 total) in those 10 matchups.

 

Jets Trends

• The Jets have claimed an upset victory in six, or 35.3%, of the 17 games they have played as an underdog this season.
• Winnipeg is 5-4 when it is underdogs of +106 or longer on the moneyline.
• The moneyline in this contest implies a 48.5% chance for the Jets to win.
• So far this season, 45.1% of Winnipeg’s games (23/51) have had more goals than Saturday’s over/under of 5.5.
• In their past 10 matchups, the Jets are 4-5-1 to earn 65.0% of the possible points.
• They have averaged only 1.3 goals per game (13 total) during that span.
• On the defensive end, the Jets have allowed 20 goals (two per game) in those 10 outings.

 

Source: https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/VAN/

 

 

Source: https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WPG/

 

Matchup Info

  Reveal hidden contents

  

 

 

 

 

Da Roster

  Reveal hidden contents

 

To be added tomorrow

 

To Be added Tomorrow

 

Da Zebras

 

Now for some fun stuff

 

 

Remember that game where Peca creamed Selanne.     WNP and CAL early to mid 90's games made the CHI rivalry look tame in comparison (it for sure had its moments too though, Myers creaming Keith and the elation shows we fans have long memories)..   Linden was jumped on several occasion's, once by Otto, another time by the Sandman, and here by Domi.   Think this game might of set a record for PIMs in a game, there were many, many more fights during that game.    Game took twice as long to play (or so it seemed)...was that Mike Civic throwing Shannon around like a bag of flour?   We had a lot of hate for WNP, and CAL.    Stuff like head butts (Diduck), full on kneeing when guys were rolling on the ice after,  sucker punches, and the kitchen sink were thrown at each other when things boiled over (which they did, it seemed like practically every single game). 

 

Ok just checked.   Wasn't the most but close,  10 fighting majors (a couple guys went twice, Gino and Murzyn),  and 25 penalties, and that was just what was called to the Canucks!   One of the games that baby bully Keith Tckchuk, insisted on dropping them with Murzyn, instead one of our better fighters, swear those two fought almost every game.    Think the record set, was total penalties (both sides). 

 

Great job (as usual).     Let's beat these guys.   Go Canucks Go!

Edited February 17 by IBatch

[24K]

Lol we might not play in the morning today but just you look at Monday.

[Kevin Biestra]

10 minutes ago, IBatch said:

Remember that game where Peca creamed Selanne.     WNP and CAL early to mid 90's games made the CHI rivalry look tame in comparison.   Linden was jumped on several occasion's, once by Otto, another time by the Sandman, and here by Domi.   Think this game might of set a record for PIMs in a game, there were many, many more fights during that game.    Game took twice as long to play (or so it seemed)...was that Mike Civic throwing Shannan around like a bag of flour?   We had a lot of hate for WNP, and CAL.    Stuff like head butts (Diduck), full on kneeing when guys were rolling on the ice after,  sucker punches, and the kitchen sink were thrown at each other when things boiled over (which they did, it seemed like practically every single game). 

 

Ok just checked.   Wasn't the most but close,  10 fighting majors (a couple guys went twice, Gino and Murzyn),  and 25 penalties, and that was just what was called to the Canucks!   One of the games that baby bully Keith Tckchuk, insisted on dropping them with Murzyn, instead one of our better fighters, swear those two fought almost every game.    Think the record set, was total penalties (both sides). 

 

Great job (as usual).     Let's beat these guys.   Go Canucks Go!

 

The rivalry with the Jets in the early 90s was great.  One of our comebacks from down 3-1 in a series.  The Jets were always like a really tough warmup for round 2.  We generally beat them but it wasn't easy.  Man I think it was Rick Tabaracci in net for that comeback series...Jets fans weren't happy with that guy.  Those Jets had some tough guys.  Shawn Cronin is now a forgotten beast from those days.  Back in the 80s they had guys like Laurie Boschman who were like Smyl and Fraser...could fight and score.

 

Edited February 17 by Kevin Biestra

[IBatch]

1 hour ago, Jaimito said:

 

Hope so. 

 

 

 

AHL MVP, glad that he was who they rewarded.    Has a chance to bump Aman.. We could use some Abby insights down the stretch as well. 

[cripplereh]

Time to cream the Jets.

[IBatch]

1 hour ago, Kevin Biestra said:

 

The rivalry with the Jets in the early 90s was great.  One of our comebacks from down 3-1 in a series.  The Jets were always like a really tough warmup for round 2.  We generally beat them but it wasn't easy.  Man I think it was Rick Tabaracci in net for that comeback series...Jets fans weren't happy with that guy.  Those Jets had some tough guys.  Shawn Cronin is now a forgotten beast from those days.  Back in the 80s they had guys like Laurie Boschman who were like Smyl and Fraser...could fight and score.

 

"Where's Housley" or something like that, was front page WNP press news.   Was at the peak of his powers, scoring like a star forward from the blue line, their version of Al Mac.   The Canucks always had a tough team when I was a kid right through until my 30's.   League was at its best product, the "Golden Era"  from 1970-1994-95 lockout,  the best blend of skill, toughness and know this might not be popular, violence.    Bench clearing brawls weren't common, but they did happen, and when they did everyone stood up, even at home, watching on TV.    The DET/COL rivalry was the best in pro sports in the 90's, carried the torch for awhile, but eventually it was extinguished (maybe it's going to make a comeback!?!! more on that later). 

 

Takes two good teams going hammer and tong at each other, with regularity, both during the season and especially the post season, to grow the hate.    The better the teams, the better the rivalry.    Boston and MTL in the 70's,  EDM and CAL in the 80's, and the Habs and Nords too, COL and the AVs in the 90's ... for me anyways, the 89 series set up the 94 one.   CAL had a great team until they started to dismantle (Joe New for Iginla, Theo Fluery moved on, Robert's and Vernon, Suter etc), and after 80-90, the Oilers imploded completely, and the Canucks were right there to pick up the slack.    

 

A little ironic Hunter switched sides, and think we had Stern for awhile as well.    Quin and Burke just kept making us bigger, scarier and more skilled.    Bure as a "flyer" pick.   Seemed like every draft, if you weren't 6'3 or bigger, sorry.   Stajonov, Antoski, Ohlund, Aucion, Nedved etc ... and bringing in guys like Diduck and Babych.  
 

As for the toughness level and guys who came in and out of those teams lineups ... Remember Charbanou and Dirk.    Seemed like if you couldn't hit, energize and fight you weren't long for the NHL, they were garden variety fringe NHL'er, today that's Aman and PDG. 

 

It's the biggest difference in the game today, instead of guys literally fighting their way onto a team,  most teams have 2-3 AHL level guys who maybe skate a little faster, but don't add much else, at best they don't get scored on more then they add to the table (which is total vanilla).  Don't necessarily agree with Don Cherry in how he said it, but 100% agree with it as well, he is a huge patriot, but do agree with the sentiment regardless of nationality "don't give me a guy who can score 10 goals and 20 points from Europe" we've got a hundred of those right here in Canada waiting for their shot".    Paraphrased.    Said it often and was passionate about Canadian hockey and that brand.     Hard nosed.    I'd take a 22-25 year old Tim Hunter or Tie Domi, over a few of our guys right now anyday.    Chris Simon or Probert 100%.   Same of course, Tiger Williams and Fraser.    League sold some of its soul expanding, over money.   The sport was perfect, the instigator penalty and the goon arms race  (also a result of expansion), took the league down a dark path, away from how the sport was supposed to be played.    

 

Leagues tailored exclusively for skill these days, and still has its grit, best sport in the world, and fortunately for us older dogs, put the whistle away still come playoffs.   Overall talent is finally catching up to expansion.   We don't have a Gretzky or a Mario, but at least we are seeing a huge injection of quality defenseman.    Save percentage's are back to early dead puck era norms, believe that has a lot do with that.  With the current format,  it's awfully difficult to grow the sort of hate teams used to have towards each other, when at most you play a divisional rival four times a season.  

Flip side, with 32 teams and only half making it, there is something very  special about this season,  Canucks have two other contenders in their division, and the Central also has 3, according to the betting sites, we actually have 4, with LA taking up the last spot.   Crazy, but after the first round in the West, two contenders will be golfing, two will move on, and that's without an upset!    That's going to grow some hate .... which should spill into next season,   Canucks/EDM/COL/Dallas/WNP/VEG, all have several years left to create something ...hope four teams hate us next season. 

 

In the Golden Era, there were some first round upsets, but I don't re-call anything like that happening out of the gate either.    Whomever wins the cup from the West this year, they will have earned it.  Likely need to go through 4 contenders, that's rare.   We beat two in 1994, and two in 2011. 

Edited February 17 by IBatch

[GothamGhost]

6 hours ago, Rocket-68 said:

Overview

Dakota Joshua out week-to-week ... BAD! Bains up for a shot at his first NHL game ever ... GOOD! Dakota earned a Gordie Howe hat trick last game beating on a Red Wing helmet after scoring a goal and registering an assist but must have broken his hand during the tilt. It was since revealed that DJ is week-to-week, sad to hear said most Canuck fans. Adversity for one equals opportunity for another with Bains being rewarded with a call up, an NHL paycheck and almost certain to slot into forward.

 

 

This is another one of those yard stick games, aren't they all, where the Canucks post season chances will be measured. Winnipeg is no slouch, ticking a lot of the boxes a truly good team has and this looks to be an epic showdown - which our Canucks will prevail in of course. Jets are trying to cobble together a winning streak coming off of a W over Penguins and Sharks with lots of rest in between. Monohands aside, the Jets are playing well up and down the lineup with everyone contributing, despite the recent 5 game losing streak.

 

Winnipeg is sporting a 32-14-5 record good for 69 pts and third in the Central and looking to make up ground on Dallas and Colorado. The Canucks record needs not be mentioned as all true Canucks fans have that memorized but here it is anyway ... 37-12-6 good for 80 points and 1st in the league.

 

Quote of the day: screw the quote, here is something that I would put on a loop and post on the score board next time Red Wings are in town (hopefully for the playoffs). Gotta love Big Zeke!

 

A Random Hockey Story

 

Media

You know the drill, GO BUY A TICKET AND throw random objects at the opposing team - just kidding, no violence please. Otherwise go to your local watering hole and support your team and swill some beer.

 

TV: Sportsnet Pacific, CBC HNIC, CITY TV

Radio: SportsNet 650

Streaming: lots on various Reddit threads, here are a few sites (results may vary)

https://reddit.nhlbite.com/live

https://nhlwebcast.com/

https://v2.sportsurge.to/nhlstreams

https://nhlstream.net/

 

By the Numbers

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Canucks Trends

• Vancouver has been victorious in 23 of the 32 games it’s played as the moneyline favorite this season.
• The Canucks have been victorious in 18 of the 26 games they have played with moneyline odds shorter than -127.
• There is a 55.9% chance that Vancouver wins this game, per the moneyline.
• Vancouver has combined with its opponent to put up more than 5.5 goals in 35 of 55 games this season.
• In their last 10 games, the Canucks have gone 7-1-2 to earn 75.0% of the possible points.
• They are scoring at a 3.3 goals-per-game average (33 total) during that time.
• Over on the defensive side, the Canucks have given up 2.7 goals per game (27 total) in those 10 matchups.

 

Jets Trends

• The Jets have claimed an upset victory in six, or 35.3%, of the 17 games they have played as an underdog this season.
• Winnipeg is 5-4 when it is underdogs of +106 or longer on the moneyline.
• The moneyline in this contest implies a 48.5% chance for the Jets to win.
• So far this season, 45.1% of Winnipeg’s games (23/51) have had more goals than Saturday’s over/under of 5.5.
• In their past 10 matchups, the Jets are 4-5-1 to earn 65.0% of the possible points.
• They have averaged only 1.3 goals per game (13 total) during that span.
• On the defensive end, the Jets have allowed 20 goals (two per game) in those 10 outings.

 

Source: https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/VAN/

 

 

Source: https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WPG/

 

Matchup Info

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Da Roster

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To be added tomorrow

 

To Be added Tomorrow

 

Da Zebras

 

Now for some fun stuff

 

 

I was at the game in the video. Probably the most fun game I have ever been too. I have been chasing that rush ever since.