I am officially hosting You CAN 2012 at Red Card Sports Bar. Everyone is invited. This evening is hockey filled. The Canucks play the Los Angeles Kings that night. It is a fund raiser for the Canucks Autism Network. With raffles and trivia games, there are lots of great prizes to be won. Including a team signed jersey by the Canucks, signed sticks and a grand prize: tickets to a game, over night at the MODA hotel and dinner at Red Card. Purchase your tickets at Red Card or through clubzone.com. Plus check out episode 5 of "Hockey Talk with Courtney" I interview Lindsay and Emily from the Canucks Autism Network.
What a week in hockey it has been. The Vancouver Canucks played the Montreal Canadiens last thursday. What a game it turned out to be. The Montreal Canadiens took an early lead less then 5 minutes into the 1st period. By the end of the 1st period Montreal had a 2-0 lead thanks to a late goal by Raphael Diaz. Start of the 2nd and Montreal had a 3-0 lead thanks to an unassisted goal by Erik Cole. It wasn't looking good for the Canucks. Then a 1st of the season. Having just returned to the line up since his injury in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final Mason Raymond scored his 1st of the season. What makes this goal even more special is that Raymond scored it short handed (Montreal was on the power play), the 1st short handed goal for the Canucks this season. 3-1 end of the 2nd. Then one of my absolute favourites Cody Hodgson scored unassisted early in the 3rd to make it 3-2. Fianlly Sami Salo sniped a 3rd goal late in the 3rd to make it 3-3. Salo has what some might call a signature move. One of Salo's teammates will pass the puck to him by the blue line and without stopping the puck Salo like a sniper aiming for his target, shoots the puck at full speed and the goalie has no chance. The game went into overtime and then to a shoot out. Now I have been hoping to see some fresh players in the shoot out. The Canucks have strong players but I wanted someone new. Finally after months of wanting to see Cody Hodgson go in for the shoot out, it finally happened! Cody ended up scoring the winner! Canucks come back to win 4-3!
Next up the Ottawa Senators. Ottawa doesn't have the best record this year and it is their 2nd meeting with Vancouver. It all started just over a minute into the 1st period after a face off the puck ended up on Alex Edler's stick and with a quick shot the Canucks were up 1-0. I think Edler was the most shocked that that had just happened. Next up Ryan Kesler with a beauty to make it 2-0. Kesler's goal was assisted by amazing and wonderful Jannik Hansen and the fast and hard working Mason Raymond. Next up Kesler again with his 2nd goal and 3rd point of the night. This time assisted by Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Ottawa did manage one goal late in the 2nd but that was it. Finally why not have a 4th line grinder chip in a goal. Dale Weise did just that on even strength to make the final score 4-1 Canucks. This game had a lot of other factors going on. It was physical. I saw more chirpping by players and pushing each other around then normal. Ottawa was trying to bring their A game. With a hit to Cody Hodgson by Nick Foligno early in the 1st, Hodgson was done for the rest of the game. Dale Weise dropped the gloves with Foligno shortly after and both ended up with a 5 minute fighting major. Kesler and Burrows were also targets in this game. Both receiving hits that some might say where targeted to the head. Hits to the head are a big NO NO in the hockey world. Chris Neal of the Senators was doing his best to get under the skin of the Canucks but it was useless. Nick Foligno was trying as well. But in the end the Canucks get the win 4-1.
Up next the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4:00pm. Go Team!
Instead of recapping other games in the NHL this week. Lets recap teams and players. The Minnesota Wild are #1 in the league collecting 43 points over 30 games. The Chicago Blackhawks have 40 points and then in the east the Philadelphia Flyers have 39 points and the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins are tied with 38 points.
Phil Kessel has for the time being lost his points lead. Claude Giroux of the Flyers is leading with 39 points. Kessel is sitting at 36 points. Rookie Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Edmonton Oilers is 8th in the NHL for scoring! The kid is 18! He has an invite from Canada to compete in the World Juniors. This kid is amazing. They only players in front of him: Claude Giroux, Phil Kessel, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Steve Stamkos, Joffery Lupul and Jonathan Toews! The Vancouver Canucks are on a hot streak. They are 18-10-1 (18 wins-10 loses-1 in OT or SO lose). Out scoring their opponents 41-15 in their last 10 games, winning 9 out of the 10 games. They have the top ranked power play and and their penalty kill is amazing. The Canucks have not allowed a goal on a power play in their 9 wins.
Women's Only Fantasy Hockey Pool Leaders!
1st place Juliet with 305 points
2nd place Bonnie with 303 points
3rd place Roz with 299 points
Way to go Ladies!