Ya-freakin’ hoo! Cowan the Brabarian scores two goals in two games and this one’s the game winner in 2nd OT! After an abysmal performance on Wednesday night the the Canucks come back with lots of heart to win game two against the awesome Anaheim Ducks. The series now comes back to Vancouver and GM Place with the series knotted at one goal each. Sunday ought to be a doozy!

Trevor Linden sure is the man in the playoffs. What a great pass…

Trevor Linden’s late goal off a redirected slap shot sealed the Canucks’ series win. They’ll face the Anaheim Ducks in Round 2. – Photo from AP

I’m not sure why I haven’t been blogging the play-offs. Perhaps I was just afraid to get my hopes up. Anyway, the Canucks are through round one with the help of a game winning / series clinching goal by Mr. Game 7, Trevor Linden.

In a series that saw stellar goaltending at both ends of the rink it seemed it was anyone’s series, may be even leaning toward Dallas after the Canucks blew a 3 – 1 series lead as Dallas forced a game 7 with the amazing Marty Turco‘s 3rd shutout win of the series in game 6.

The first period looked shaky, but the Canucks came on stronger and stronger as the game went on taking it to the Stars. Roberto Luongo made an unbelievable save in the 3rd period to keep the Canucks ahead by one goal. In a last ditch effort during the last minute Dallas pulled Marty Turco for the extra attacker, but it was for naught. Taylor Pyatt and Brian Smolinski scored empty net goals allowing the Canucks a 4 – 1 in regulation win.

Congratulations Canucks! Good luck in Anaheim on Wednesday. They’re goin’ duck huntin’!

Looks like the Believe in Blue shirt that Carol picked up for me the other day works. Must keep it clean throughout the next series so I can wear it for every game.

Tomorrow’s the big day. Yep, it’s the beginning if the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s the best darned tournament in sports and we here in Vancouver get to have our team in it this year. After a rocky start to the season the Canucks kicked some serious ass after Christmas finishing the season on top of their division with home-ice advantage in the first round! I believe in blue. Do you?

Canucks fans are encouraged to ‘Believe in Blue’ and wear blue to all Canucks playoff games. Authentix, the Official Team Store of the Vancouver Canucks is the only place to get your official 2006.07 Canucks ‘Believe in Blue’ playoff merchandise!

Instead of slugging the guy why didn’t he just step out of the way? What a puss. I smell another suspension. Simon went out for the year for his stick hit on Hollweg, how much you wanna bet that’s what happens here too.

Stay off the ice:

Seriously:

You could get hurt.

Thanks to LuongoIsGod and Mat83 at Canucks.com forum.

A short film from 2003 by George Plamondon. Thanks to attaboy.ca

A big shout out and a thank you to Canaacks from the Canucks.com forum for posting this on YouTube and sending me the link.

Hockey Primer by Denis Lemieux

Who said hockey players are dumb?

We watched last night. And laughed our asses off at this for the millionth time.

There was another hockey violence episode last night during the the game between hometown rivals, the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders. Here’s some disturbing video of the incident from YouTube and HockeyFights.com:

Chris Simon’s two-hander on Ryan Hollweg after Hollweg’s hit on Simon from the Rangers at Islanders game on Mar 8, 2007.

Ugly.

The Islanders scored on the ensuing power play and went on to win the game 2 – 1. Duh Simon, duh!

I realize that hockey is a contact sport and fighting is part of the game, but this kind of behaviour should not be.

According to CBC Chris Simon has been suspended pending investigation of the incident. Of course he has. We’ve seen this kind of thing a few times before. Who can forget the infamous Bertuzzi on Moore incident? As a Canucks fan I know I can’t. Also, another Canuck related incident was the stick slash to the head by Boston’s Marty McSorley on Vancouver’s Donald Brashear.

Always temporary suspensions. Why not expulsion? Perhaps if a player shows this kind of lack of control they don’t deserve to play the game any more. Making an example of someone might just prevent a death later on. Just few centimeters lower and Simon could have crushed Hollweg’s larynx and killed him. Come on Mr Campbell. Take a stand and end this crap.

Yikes. That’s awful. Repulsive. This is appalling… I loved every second of it!

But still my all time favourite hockey video is of Jarkko Ruutu, last year as a Canuck, embarrassing Calgary Flambé Dion Phaneuf by tripping him after Phaneuf throws down his gloves for a scrap:

I miss Jarkko. One of those players I’d love to see come back.

Watch the canucks.com exclusive debut of the Sedin Twins’ new “Just Like Us” NHL commercial. Shot last week at the Sutton Place Hotel by director Scott Weinstock, the new ad features Daniel and Henrik dancing at a bachelor party.
300k | 700k (windows media player required)

Cool ad even Paulie the Leafs fan would like I think. Until the ad is up on YouTube (I could do it but I won’t) here’s a little something with a whole lot of not safe for work language obviously done by a couple of Canucks fans bashing away at Edmonton Coilers star Ryan Smith: