Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks Game Day: March 14 vs. Winnipeg Jets, Grenier Recalled Alex Burrows is injured and will be replaced in the lineup by Alexandre Grenier when the Vancouver Canucks try for their first three-game winning streak of the season against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night at Rogers Arena.

Great blog Carol

Thanks Carol

What can we complain about as Canucks fans today.. Nothing really relevant or worth mentioning... OH WAIT.

Jake Virtanen went to a Justin Bieber concert. Lets all put him down and make fun of him for something that makes zero difference to his playing ability, or the team at the end of the day

Thanks Carol. Enjoyed the Nashville game, except for the winning part.

To bad tryamkin isnt playing tonight. Glad Grenier is getting another look though.

Thanks Carol

What can we complain about as Canucks fans today.. Nothing really relevant or worth mentioning... OH WAIT.

Jake Virtanen went to a Justin Bieber concert. Lets all put him down and make fun of him for something that makes zero difference to his playing ability, or the team at the end of the day
- Codes1087

OK.

Bieber is god awful. His pre-teen lyrics have undoubtedly impacted Jake's critical thinking ability and as a result, has dramatically lowered his hockey IQ.

Furthermore, Biebers girly singing and dancing routine has lowered JV's tenacity and ferocious which will turn him into the next Mason Raymond.

Watch for Virt to be taking endless selfies and engage in rabid twittering on the bench tonight.

All in all, a horrible, downright selfish act on his part.

Playoffs = 1.6% hmm, that seems like better odds that most people are giving them lol


I would rather see them lose the wildcard tiebreaker and go out feeling positive about future prospects, than to see them lose the rest of the games and have a better chance to "win" the draft lottery.

Well done Carol and yeah people...let the playoffs go into a top 5 pick.

# tanknation

Go Jets!!!!

OK.

Bieber is god awful. His pre-teen lyrics have undoubtedly impacted Jake's critical thinking ability and as a result, has dramatically lowered his hockey IQ.

Furthermore, Biebers girly singing and dancing routine has lowered JV's tenacity and ferocious which will turn him into the next Mason Raymond.

Watch for Virt to be taking endless selfies and engage in rabid twittering on the bench tonight.

All in all, a horrible, downright selfish act on his part.
- Whiskey-Tango

Don't worry W-T, I can't see him emulating you

Playoff Run!!!

OK.

Bieber is god awful. His pre-teen lyrics have undoubtedly impacted Jake's critical thinking ability and as a result, has dramatically lowered his hockey IQ.

Furthermore, Biebers girly singing and dancing routine has lowered JV's tenacity and ferocious which will turn him into the next Mason Raymond.

Watch for Virt to be taking endless selfies and engage in rabid twittering on the bench tonight.

All in all, a horrible, downright selfish act on his part.
- Whiskey-Tango

This is exactly the point though... who cares? He could like Celine Dion or Spice Girls and it wouldn't make a difference. Vancouver fans and media need to layoff the bullpoop stuff that makes no difference and are just looking story headlines. The kid went to a Justin Bieber concert, big deal. He came out and played well on the top line while serving a can of whoop-ass to Forsberg. His choice in music has no relevance to his contribution to the team.

Playoff Run!!!
- VanHockeyGuy

Yep once we get Tree into the lineup, we will become the SC favorite

This is exactly the point though... who cares? He could like Celine Dion or Spice Girls and it wouldn't make a difference. Vancouver fans and media need to layoff the bullpoop stuff that makes no difference and are just looking story headlines. The kid went to a Justin Bieber concert, big deal. He came out and played well on the top line while serving a can of whoop-ass to Forsberg. His choice in music has no relevance to his contribution to the team.
- Codes1087

At his age and with those looks and all that cash money, I'm betting it's a pretty decent place to pick up. Father's Beware.

Anyone notice the entire D seems to be executing better recently?

Think it's a big reason we've had some wins. Appears from watching play there is more of a plan installed D wise. Much less time taken to clear the zone. Less confused looks on the D. Yet 3 of the 6 are Weber, Bart and biega.

Clearly somethings finally been adjusted from behind the bench

Anyone notice the entire D seems to be executing better recently?

Think it's a big reason we've had some wins. Appears from watching play there is more of a plan installed D wise. Much less time taken to clear the zone. Less confused looks on the D. Yet 3 of the 6 are Weber, Bart and biega.

Clearly somethings finally been adjusted from behind the bench
- SMBDragon

Not sure what games you have been watching but I would disagree with this. Who has been better? Miller made some great saves against NSH and we put up 4 goals, but I didn't think the D were any better than any other night? Nor have any been drastically better in the last 5 or 6 games?

PLAYOFFS, BABY!!

Anyone notice the entire D seems to be executing better recently?

Think it's a big reason we've had some wins. Appears from watching play there is more of a plan installed D wise. Much less time taken to clear the zone. Less confused looks on the D. Yet 3 of the 6 are Weber, Bart and biega.

Clearly somethings finally been adjusted from behind the bench
- SMBDragon

Also, don't let Sbisa's goal, or Weber's assist fool you. It's always nice to see some contributions from the D-men but I think it overshadows some of the AWFUL positioning we have seen. Bartkowski is terrible, Sbisa is improved from last year, weber is a defensive train-wreck.

This is exactly the point though... who cares? He could like Celine Dion or Spice Girls and it wouldn't make a difference. Vancouver fans and media need to layoff the bullpoop stuff that makes no difference and are just looking story headlines. The kid went to a Justin Bieber concert, big deal. He came out and played well on the top line while serving a can of whoop-ass to Forsberg. His choice in music has no relevance to his contribution to the team.
- Codes1087

theres also a good likely that he was offered tickets from the arena he plays in and the team owns. Offered backstage clearance etc. I get tickets like that from patients of mine actually that are inside with the vancouver teams.

Ive gone to concerts I wouldnt have bought tickets to (but got them free) just for the atmosphere and pick up hot broads.

PLAYOFFS, BABY!!
- Marwood

please noooooooo

Looking forward to watching game 2 of the Virtanen experiment tonight. He looks like a kid who is just naturally very confident after watching the interview with Scott Oake. I liked a lot of what we saw Saturday from Etem, Vey, McCann as well as Horvat and Baertschi. Hutton just gets better and better each game he's going to be one hell of a D man. As for all the Bieber bashing I have gotten to the point in my life I really don't hate any type of music, it's inherently subjective which is why there is hundreds if not thousands of genres. If you don't like Bieber or Nickleback- good it's not made for you. I just don't see the point in hating on something that is so inconsequential. You want to hear a good bit on music and not hating it Patton Oswalt does a great bit on it..

theres also a good likely that he was offered tickets from the arena he plays in and the team owns. Offered backstage clearance etc. I get tickets like that from patients of mine actually that are inside with the vancouver teams.

Ive gone to concerts I wouldnt have bought tickets to (but got them free) just for the atmosphere and pick up hot broads.
- SMBDragon

I don't think Virtanen is open about his choice in who he see's in concert to pick up women or the free back-stage pass. The kid can afford a ticket and probably has no trouble finding women. Canuck fans/media are just grasping at straws with some of the things to complain about.

Not sure what games you have been watching but I would disagree with this. Who has been better? Miller made some great saves against NSH and we put up 4 goals, but I didn't think the D were any better than any other night? Nor have any been drastically better in the last 5 or 6 games?
- Codes1087

The breakout is better specifically. Its more organized now I've noticed.
I'm NOT saying the D is amazing now just that some areas that I B*tched about before have improved....and it needed to. We are seeing it pay off.
But theres still SOOOO much more work to do!

Just saying theres been an improvement that also coincides with the winning

I don't think Virtanen is open about his choice in who he see's in concert to pick up women or the free back-stage pass. The kid can afford a ticket and probably has no trouble finding women. Canuck fans/media are just grasping at straws with some of the things to complain about.
- Codes1087

theres lots of comping in those circles is what Im saying. And yes they are looking for stuff to complain about.

Nice read Carol.

Great point on how face-off's continue to be a big problem for this team.

In all our projected lineups and with all the C's that JB has accumulated, this issue does not seem to be addressed...I noticed Richardson (our last decent f/o man) schooling us the other night...

My question for the day is:
Is it time to target a f/o specialist again? (like Richardson, Manny, etc.) <---- not that i'm suggesting either of these guys).


edit - according to http://www.sportingcharts...-faceoff-statistics/2015/

Bo is listed at #16 overall. Which seems counter-intuitive.

Of those listed higher that could possibly be available, i would list:
Plekanec, Thomas
Stall, Jordan
Koivu, Mikko


Of those, i would prefer Stall the most, obviously..as the others are 33+

please noooooooo
- Codes1087