Thursday, January 08, 2004
CANUCKS 3, KINGS 1
The Canucks' eighth game in 14 nights saw an offensive explosion from Magnus Arvedson, who scored two goals tonight (the first one was credited to him when King defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky accidentally put one into his own net) to double his season total to 4. The Canucks' other goal was scored by Henrik Sedin, his 5th. Dan Cloutier stopped 16 of 17 shots. The Canucks outshot the Kings 15-3 in the third period.
The Canucks, even with the win, have only a three-point lead over Colorado and a six-point lead over Calgary in the Northwest Division. The Canucks are 9-1-1 in their last 11 road games, though they haven't won a game in regulation at home since the 8th of November and haven't won at home altogether since December 14th.
There was some subtext going into the game. I should have brought this up when I read it last month, but in the 22 Dec John Buccigross column at ESPN.com, King forward Sean Avery said a few things...
[Buccigross:] If you could have one free punch at any NHL player, who would it be?
Avery: Matt Cooke.
[...]
I think that anyone that plays this style of game realizes at some point you HAVE TO FIGHT, whether you win the fight or get your lunch fed to you. It's about a respect thing with your teammates. Guys have been saying that forever about Matt Cooke. I'm not sure if he's ever fought in the NHL. It's not whether you win or lose the fight, it's just that you show up.
[...]
[Buccigross:] What kind of smack talk goes on in the NHL?
Avery: It depends on who you are playing. For me it always seems to be Vancouver. Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi are pretty good players, but they also have a pretty big chip on their shoulders. Naslund surprisingly talks a lot. His was a reference to money, saying how much he makes. It was like we were back in junior talking how big our signing bonus is. Bertuzzi has a short fuse and it's easy to get him off his game. The smallest thing will set him off.
There was no fighting tonight between Avery and Matt Cooke, but Avery did mix it up twice with Todd Bertuzzi and he high-stuck Bertuzzi on another occasion.
Todd Bertuzzi finished 448 votes short of Colorado defenseman Rob Blake for second in the Western Conference All-Star voting. Your Western Conference starting lineup has Bertuzzi, Bill Guerin, and Mike Modano on the front line, with Rob Blake and Nicklas Lidstrom on the blueline and Marty Turco in net. Who the hell kept voting for all those damn Dallas players? That team is crap this year, come on. Sheesh.
The Canucks play in Anaheim Friday night.
The Canucks, even with the win, have only a three-point lead over Colorado and a six-point lead over Calgary in the Northwest Division. The Canucks are 9-1-1 in their last 11 road games, though they haven't won a game in regulation at home since the 8th of November and haven't won at home altogether since December 14th.
There was some subtext going into the game. I should have brought this up when I read it last month, but in the 22 Dec John Buccigross column at ESPN.com, King forward Sean Avery said a few things...
[Buccigross:] If you could have one free punch at any NHL player, who would it be?
Avery: Matt Cooke.
[...]
I think that anyone that plays this style of game realizes at some point you HAVE TO FIGHT, whether you win the fight or get your lunch fed to you. It's about a respect thing with your teammates. Guys have been saying that forever about Matt Cooke. I'm not sure if he's ever fought in the NHL. It's not whether you win or lose the fight, it's just that you show up.
[...]
[Buccigross:] What kind of smack talk goes on in the NHL?
Avery: It depends on who you are playing. For me it always seems to be Vancouver. Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi are pretty good players, but they also have a pretty big chip on their shoulders. Naslund surprisingly talks a lot. His was a reference to money, saying how much he makes. It was like we were back in junior talking how big our signing bonus is. Bertuzzi has a short fuse and it's easy to get him off his game. The smallest thing will set him off.
There was no fighting tonight between Avery and Matt Cooke, but Avery did mix it up twice with Todd Bertuzzi and he high-stuck Bertuzzi on another occasion.
Todd Bertuzzi finished 448 votes short of Colorado defenseman Rob Blake for second in the Western Conference All-Star voting. Your Western Conference starting lineup has Bertuzzi, Bill Guerin, and Mike Modano on the front line, with Rob Blake and Nicklas Lidstrom on the blueline and Marty Turco in net. Who the hell kept voting for all those damn Dallas players? That team is crap this year, come on. Sheesh.
The Canucks play in Anaheim Friday night.
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