22 posts tagged “06-07 playoffs” (page 2)
I will try to post an actual recap tomorrow (if i'm not too lazy), but this will be a quick one as I have a final tomorrow morning at 8 am (not like that stopped me from watching the game).
- The Canucks need to learn how to play a full 60 minutes. If they played like they did in the 3rd-ot periods, we wouldn't be in that much trouble.
- Jannik Hansen recorded the first point in his NHL career. First Danish player to record a point in the playoffs. Another amazing game from him, especially when it comes to puckhandling and hustling back for defence.
- Markus Naslund had another good game and is part of the other line that looked dangerous all night, even though they didn't record a point.
- The refs need to do something about the players running Luongo over, giving him an extra hit or something after each whistle. If this was done to Turco, the Canucks would have had a penalty.
- Taylor Pyatt scored the game winning goal, but as for his playoff game... I wish he plays better soon. He hasn't been that impressive yet, and I hope he proves me wrong.
So, 2-1 :D in favour of the Canucks,
I hate losing. It leaves that bitter taste in your mouth. I most especially hate losing when my favorite player was having one of the best games in his life and was doing everything he can to carry his team to a comeback.
As far as I'm concerned, Markus Naslund showed up, I'm not sure if anyone else did. He did a lot of things right tonight and was just downright amazing. Very good defensively, I remember one defensive zone play in which he blocked a Dallas pass which could have led to a good scoring chance. He was also great in trying to create plays in the offensive zone, drove hard to the net, great on the forecheck, drew penalties, and I must have seen him hold the puck in a couple of times to salvage a scoring chance.
Did I mention that he led the team in hits in the first period? I'm sure he was checking people until the end of the game, but NHL must not have thought they were actual hits to officially count those in.
Also, in the past, when Naslund is put on the Sedin line, it's usually the Sedins who carry the play and spark Nazzy. This time, it was the opposite. The Sedins were having a mediocre game until they were put with Naslund. Since then, that line was very dangerous and Marty Turco was just more solid in net which is why they couldn't score.
Another plus was Jannik Hansen's game. The Sniping Viking (courtesy of the folks @ the Prospect Thread) looked very good in his first NHL game, considering that it was also in the playoffs. He started the game as a call-up, but ended it as a "go to" guy for the Canucks.
For all we know, it could just be a case of an adrenaline rush, which is why he was good, but I think otherwise. For one, I don't think you can say it's adrenaline when the kid obviously has great vision on the ice. Once AV started using him more, he really stepped it up. He must have made 3-4 good plays with his passes. I was in awe in that one play he made in which he hit the Canuck trailer with a sweet cross ice pass. It seemed like Dallas kept that line on the perimeter on that play, but Hansen converted it into a good scoring chance with that pass.
He was also good defensively. He hustled back fast in the backcheck. And yes. He was fast.
Seeing Hansen play makes you excited for the future of the Canucks prospects, doesn't it? (Speaking of prospects... MASON RAYMOND!!! :P But that's a story for another day.)
As for the other players. I don't even know. Heh. Really, other than those two above, there wasn't anyone who really stood out. Most of them came out flat until the final period. Even the defense was pretty horrible. Most of them were noticeably sluggish, and can easily get flushed out by the Dallas forechecker.
Roberto Luongo was okay. Even though he faced less shots than Turco, both goalies faced an equal amount of scoring chances. The only difference was that Turco was able to make the saves, with help from the better defensive coverage his dmen provided him with, while Luongo couldn't with no help from his D.
The good thing is, the Canucks has not lost a game for more than 2 in a row since Christmas. After every bad game, they bounce back and play harder. Hopefully they do just that on Sunday.
I got to GM Place at around 5:15 PM. I left UBC a bit early, at 4:30, and I just wanted to wait around for my mom and brother before the actual game started. As I got there, I saw they had a make-up booth where you can air paint the ORCA on your cheeks, so I stood in line and got it done. Sadly, I also forgot to take a picture of myself with it... ARSH.
BUT! I did get a picture with Tamara Taggart! She's so pretty in person and very friendly. I love how all these guys were just looking at her from afar and going "SHE'S SO HOT!" and just ogling her.
Enough of that.
Also, I was finally able to see the players up close during their warm up. I took some photos, but none of them turned out really well... I'm such a n00b at it, that by the time the player is coming at me, when I click on the camera, they already passed by. X(
But yes, it was cool watching them warm-up. I was so shocked to see Ryan Kesler warming up, and I thought it was just a case where he'll eventually be scratched for the game, but he's just there to... practice. It's good to see the fans there cheering him on when they saw him, "LET'S GO KES!", "WHOOOOO KESLER", etc.
Before coming to the game, I just read on TSN that Kesler is expected to make the trip to Dallas, so I thought he'd return in game 3 or 4 that's why it was pretty shocking. I was really surprised to see him in the actual lineup to replace Tommi Santala, and was actually pretty good throughout the game, considering he missed 3 months due to surgery.
I thought the intro video to the game was not very... good. It gets you excited, but to me, it didn't feel so ... epic. It was lacking something. Nevertheless, the crowd got into it, I got into it, the players were probably into, and everyone was just on their heels waiting for the game to begin.
There were a bunch of annoying kids in our section dissing the American National anthem. I wanted to tell those kids to "STFU" because it's embarrassing, except I couldn't cause they were a bit far from me, and I'd had to yell to get their attention. I hope they sung the Canadian National Anthem loud and proud to redeem themselves. I can barely hear Mark Donnelly during that anthem as the crowd's singing drowned him out and it was just a chilling scene, really. Right after the anthems, fans were ready and waving their towels like there's no tomorrow.
I went absolutely NUTS when Markus Naslund scored Vancouver's 3rd goal. The crowd was chanting "NAZ-ZY! NAZ-ZY!" and I swear, I had tears in my eyes. He had a great game that night, totally came out flying and definitely looked more confident.
On the other hand, Kevin Bieksa was the opposite, as he didn't play that well. I'm guessing it's just jitters, seeing as how this is his first ever playoff game, and as the game progressed in the overtimes, he definitely improved. I just wanted to hit him in the head with those 4 penalties he took. Just way too many penalties to take in one game.
Daniel and Henrik Sedin both scored goals, Daniel scored the first one and Henrik scored the last one. The timing of those goals perfectly describes the kind of game they were having. Dallas was able to shut them down for most of the regulation after Daniel scored the first goal. They couldn't gain entry into the Dallas zone, and when they do, they can't get their cycle game set up, and had to make broken plays. Their worst period was the 3rd period when the Canucks were leading 4-2. Two brutal giveaways led to two goals for Dallas to tie the game. The good thing was that they stepped up in overtime and got the win for the Canucks.
Did I mention how the game went into quadruple overtime? Seven periods of hockey, and if Henrik didn't score that goal, it would have gone to a 5th overtime session. It was at this time that Luongo really shined as he made the biggest saves on shots that could have very well ended the game to Dallas' favor. Not to take anything away from Marty Turco, he played amazing, too, but Lui faced almost double the shots he faced.
As I said in the other post, I had to leave after the double overtime since my brother had a midterm exam the next day. My mom made us leave, even though me and my brother wanted to stay to finish the game. We really had no choice since she was the one driving, and even though I could have taken the skytrain home if I stayed, I would still need her to pick me up from the station, and I don't think she'd have done that if she's angry.
Other than "TUUUUUUR-CO", there was also the customary "LUUUUUUUUUUUUU" everytime Luongo made a save, "GO CANUCKS GO", "CO-WAN". I wish Canucks fans cheered on Naslund more, and not just when he scores. Or at least more player chants. Maybe if someone started a "Sedin" chant last night in the 3rd period, they wouldn't have given up those goals. :(
Just overall, the experience was awesome. Even though I wasn't there for 100% of the time, it's still cool to know you're a part of NHL history as the 6th longest hockey game.
Hope to see another Canuck win tomorrow. After that goalfest, I'm sure the goalies would be shutting the door down much more effectively.
The real post game post will be here tomorrow. (I hope)
- Canucks win in 4th overtime... aka 7 periods of hockey aka 138 minutes of hockey!!!
- I had to leave the game by double overtime because my brother had a midterm exam tomorrow (today now). I'm still a bit sad about that.
- I was shocked to see Ryan Kesler back in the lineup.
- "TUUUUUUUUURRCOOOOOOO -- YOU SUCK!" chant was awesome. And ridiculously LOUD.
Sleep time.
Canucks lead series 1-0. Good game, guys.
Anyway, I go the chills when I saw that ad. This is probably the longest 2 days of my life. Why is it not Wednesday, yet?
So to anyone who's going to the game, it looks like they're trying to get a "blue shirt" thing going on? SO IF YOU'RE READING THIS, GO TO THE GAME WEARING SOMETHING BLUE!!! As for which Canuck blue, vintage or orca, I'm guessing vintage since it's more noticeable. I don't have a vintage blue-colored shirt, so I'm going with my dark blue orca t-shirt with Naslund on the back, with a blue hoodie.
On to other things. People over at the Canucks forum were discussing who will grow the best playoff beard. Fans eventually started posting photoshopped/MS Painted photos of players with their "beards".
Some of the goodies:
Anyway so remember...
YES!!!! NORTHWEST DIVISION CHAMPIONS!!! THANK YOU JOE THORNTON!!!!
Details later.
AHHHHHHH AHASJDHFAKJSD AHHHHHHH AHAHAHDSJHFAJKSD AHAHDSJHFAUWE AJDSF SDJ SDHFSUUO ADSBFA
OH MY GOD
Round 1 Home Game 1
Section 311
Row 15
Seats 8-10
==================
$373.75
Watching the Canucks first playoff game at home: PRICELESS!!!!
I AM SO STOKED. OMG.
I had to try 3-4 times before it got through. On the first 3 tries, it said it was sold out, so I kept typing in the same options (3 tickets for Balcony level) AND IT WENT THROUGH!!! HALLELUJAH!!!
:D IF there is a way to cover the price of the tickets from my mom.. I will. LOL! *dead*
Vancouver Canucks playoff tickets go on sale tomorrow, at 10 am. I BETTER WAKE UP BEFORE THEN!!! I need to get 3 seats for game 1 and Canucks better win the Northwest Division. Or else I'm fucked. I have finals on the 16th, 19th, 20th of the month, the possible Game 3/Game 4 home games...
I'll cry if I don't get tickets. No. No crying. I'll be whining, bitching and moaning. Then more whining, bitching and moaning and crying how life is so unfair and damn those people who got tickets before me. :D
Just warning ya.
Post game for the Calgary vs Vancouver game (3-2 loss) will be posted tomorrow, possibly, if I'm not lazy. Too much studying needs to be done this week. AHHH!!! and I'm sleepy.
Aside from putting blue and green highlights on my hair, I'm also going to be painting my nails retro Canuck colors... blue, green, and I will see if I can put a "white stick" in the middle of them, a la "Stick in Rink" :D...except the rink is blue? :D LOL.
Pictures will come once I'm done.
