Well for those of you who read this load of tripe regularly and like hockey (okay, maybe that could have been shortened to just Peter), I have held very low hopes for the Canucks this season. When we’ve replaced Bertuzzi, Jovanovski, Allen, Carter and the like with Luongo and a bunch of warm bodies, one thought pressed in my mind.
Luongo better be a 30 goal scorer as well as a Vezina trophy winning netminder.
As such, my hopes for a strong Canucks season fell to the wayside as it appears to be a rebuilding season, not a run for the Holy Grail.
But alas, at this random point in the season, Vancouver actually holds a playoff spot. And as I sit typing this, Vancouver leads the Calgary Flames 2-0. So after tonight there is still a good chance we’ll still be in the top eight in the west. Whether we can stay in the top eight by April is another thing though. We lost Thursday to the Anaheim Ducks (formerly the Mighty Ducks). A bunch of Disney kids beat us 6-0. How utterly embarassing is that? Well, as embarassing as Disney releasing Miracle in Canada and expecting us to pay money to watch a film that features America winning at hockey.
Frighteningly enough, some Canadians did. But not me.
As for other things in the West, what doesn’t suprise me:
1. Detroit made their way to the top of the Central Division. Not a shock, even bearing in mind that Yzerman retired and Shanahan is in New York. This is THE weakest division in hockey.
2. San Jose is playing strong. They can skate, they can score, they can stop the puck. They should go deep in the playoffs.
3. St. Louis, Columbus, and Chicago all suck ass. What a shock. And they represent 24 games of Detroit’s schedule.
What surprises me in the West?
1. Phoenix and Calgary suck balls. Phoenix acquired Jovanovski, Nolan, Roenick, Laraque, Perrault amongst others in the offseason, are coached by arguably the best player ever to play the game of hockey, and they are DEAD LAST in the West, and tied with Philadelphia as DEAD LAST in the NHL. Calgary added Alex Tanguay, and had such a horrible start out of the gate.
2. Anaheim has the best record in the west. I know they have both Neidermeyer brothers and Pronger now, but who sold their soul to Satan to make the Ducks so good? Excuse me while I vomit.
3. Dawn, my beloved partner, has decided to become an Oilers fan. No Wednesday jokes here, I’ll just say I hope she doesn’t expect me to shuttle her to Rexall Place anytime soon to see the Oil in action.
As for the East, I will just say this:
1. I don’t see Buffalo as a surprise. They were one game from going to the Stanley Cup last year. The fact they got off to such a good start shouldn’t be shocking. Last season’s revival should be more of a shock.
2. The Flyers suck. A good result, but for that group of Canadians who are Flyers fans (there is a singificant amount of them), let them whine, let them whine, let them whine.
3. Montreal is coming out strong early. I know I say this and the dreaded Make Beliefs beat them tonight, but I have confidence new coach Guy Carbonneau will guide them toward continued success. It was nice seeing the Hall of Fame inductees join Canadian war veterans in a ceremony before the game. It was also nice to see the greatest goalie ever, “Perfect” Patrick Roy, who will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 13.
I’m sure Peter is feeling sick at the mention of such a great Wing killer, so I’ll leave him with an image of the Nordique Roy taking it to Detroit:
Whereas I prefer to remember this visage of Roy, as a Canadien, not a Nordique:
Damn. Calgary scored to make it 2-1. Guess I should watch the game now.
That is all.
