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VAN/DAL

April 18, 2013, 3:43 PM ET [223 Comments]
Ian Esplen
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Follow me on twitter @IanEsplen to chat hockey, sports and life in general anytime



The Bieksaless Vancouver Canucks are wrapping up their road trip tonight in Dallas.

Vancouver comes into this one after playing their "C" game in a shootout loss to the Blues on Tuesday night. The Canucks are 6-3-1 in their past 10, but let's face facts people, we are likely only going to see them bring there "A" in two of their final five games – Chicago and Anaheim. This team is in cruise control and right now it's about staying healthy, not winning every game.

Dallas on the other hand is fighting to keep pace with the mighty Blue Jackets and floundering Wings. Dallas has gone 6-4 in their last 10 and sits four points out of the eighth spot with two game in hand on the Blue Jackets. The season series is currently tied, with each team handing the other a 4-3 loss.

I'm pretty actually excited for this game because this Stars team has a lot of guys that I like to watch play.

Jamie Benn- No real explanation needed. The guy is one of the best B.C. born players in the NHL and a joy to watch play.

Brenden Dillon- This kid is a rock on D and he plays the game the way it should be played. Watch for him to be laying guys out around the net. Note to Burr and the Badger, tonight might not be the night to drive the net because it is going to hurt a lot and we need you healthy.

Antoine Roussel- Love the way this guy plays. If there is a scrum tonight, chances are he will be in it and likely causing it. Vancouver used to be so good at finding these shift disturber type. WFT Gillis, did you tell scouts to stop watching for pests?

Cody Eakin- Another guy that is just a real good hockey player. He can play all three forward positions and reminds me a lot of a smaller Ryan Kesler. Another guy Newy and his group brought in.

So three out of the four guys worth watching tonight are out of the west. Vancouver has sucked at finding western guys since Gillis took over so I suggest either find Vancouver someone who can scout the west, or do it yourself Gillis.

On a side note, I am available to scout the Dub Gillis and will do it cheap.


BC Place?

So new broke the other day that Vancouver will be playing Ottawa in BC Place on March 2, 2014.

How do people feel about this?

I for one think it is a crap idea and I actually like these outdoor games a lot.

BC Place is not really a picturesque setting for a hockey game. What makes these outdoor games great is the winter atmosphere, the snow, the cold weather and the history of the venue. The city of Vancouver has about a one-in-three chance of being rainy and 8 degrees on March 2nd. Not exactly a great atmosphere for outdoor hockey. But I guess they can still close the roof and play in historic BC Pla…. Yah I can't even finish that sentence.

I'd love to see the Canucks in one of these outdoor games. But that game simply should never happen in Vancouver. In Chicago at Wrigley or Soldier. In Boston at Fenway. Even in Columbus at the Big House would be a better setting.

And don't even get me started on how much sense it is to have a novelty game a month before playoffs start.

Another dumb idea by the NHL, but we should be used to this by now right?

Find great deals on Vancouver Canucks Tickets at FanXchange.com

Sedins




That's a wrap

Ian


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