Official: Vancouver Canucks W00T

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Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
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Canucks host Kolzig and Capitals

Sports Network
3/23/2003

(Sports Network) - The Vancouver Canucks continue their push towards the top mark in the Western Conference this evening when they welcome the Washington Capitals to GM Place.

Brandon Reid notched two goals and an assist, and Dan Cloutier made 20 saves to lead Vancouver to a 7-3 win over Nashville on Thursday. Trevor Letowski contributed a goal and two assists, while Trevor Linden added a goal and an assist for the Canucks, who have split their last four, but remain atop the Northwest Division standings with 97 points.

Trent Klatt, Todd Bertuzzi and Markus Naslund also scored for Vancouver, which is currently third in the conference -- three points behind Detroit for first place in the standings.

Bertuzzi and Naslund both lead the NHL with 43 goals and 22 power-play goals. Bertuzzi has 24 points in his last 15 games.

Vancouver, which is 7-2-3 in its last 12 at home, will be playing the second installment of a four-game homestand and is 20-11-6 inside its arena this season.

Washington, meanwhile, is in a dog fight for the Southeast Division lead with the Tampa Bay Lightning. With 83 points, the Caps are three points back of the Lightning and just three points in front of the Boston Bruins for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Caps, though, come into Sunday's contest on the heels of a 5-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Dainius Zubrus, Jason Doig, and Brendan Witt scored for the Capitals, who had their two-game winning streak come to an end.

Olaf Kolzig made 30 saves in a losing effort, while Robert Lang had two assists and stretched his points streak to seven games (2g, 9a).

Washington, which will be playing the third leg of a six-game road stretch, is 7-2-1-2 in its last 12 games overall and 13-15-6-3 on the road this season.

The Capitals are 9-4-2 in their last 15 meetings with the Canucks and are 4-2-1 in their last seven trips to Vancouver.

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Originally posted by: silverpig
***BREAKING NEWS***

Cloutier's knee still sore... so Auld is starting in net tonight!

:Q Maybe they should rest him a lot more before the playoffs. I hope Skurda is not depressed about Auld getting the start.

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
11
81
Yay! We didn't embarrass ourselves during the American anthem which they chose to televise today.

You could clearly hear a few people start to boo, but then everyone else picked up the cheering and drowned them all out :)
 

Loggerman

Senior member
Apr 28, 2000
822
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0
A little game of WHOOP-A$$ tonight.
5 powerplay goals.
Ried was flying again tonight.Loved that hip-check at the Caps' blueline.Sutherby didn't like it thought,ended up with 2 seperate penalties over it.
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Originally posted by: silverpig
Yay! We didn't embarrass ourselves during the American anthem which they chose to televise today.

You could clearly hear a few people start to boo, but then everyone else picked up the cheering and drowned them all out :)

Yeah.......... good on you Canucks Fans :D

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Originally posted by: Loggerman
A little game of WHOOP-A$$ tonight.
5 powerplay goals.
Ried was flying again tonight.Loved that hip-check at the Caps' blueline.Sutherby didn't like it thought,ended up with 2 seperate penalties over it.

I think Reid was not trying to do a hip check but was actually bracing himself for a hit :D It just worked out to be a hip check :D

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

Mucman

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
7,246
1
0
Great game, but I must say that I can't stand that stupid song that they play when we score :D
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Bertuzzi scores twice to beat Caps

Canadian Press
3/24/2003

VANCOUVER (CP) - Todd Bertuzzi scored twice on the power play for a league-leading 45 goals and rookie goaltender Alex Auld shook off the effects of quick call-up from the minors to stop 14 shots for his first NHL shutout as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Washington Capitals 6-0 Sunday.

Bertuzzi, who has six goals in his last four games, had a three-point night as he also assisted on a Markus Naslund power-play goal.

Brent Sopel and Matt Cooke also scored on the power play as Vancouver struck five times in nine man-advantages.

Daniel Sedin also scored for the Canucks, who improved their record to 43-20-12-1 for 99 points, just one behind Western Conference Division leaders Detroit and Dallas. The Canucks and Stars play Tuesday night in Vancouver.

There was a few boos scattered among sellout crowd of 18,514 during the playing of the U.S. national anthem but those were quickly drowned out by a chorus of loud cheers.

The loss was the second in two nights for the Capitals, who were downed 5-3 by the Edmonton Oilers Saturday. Washington's record is 35-28-8-5.

Bertuzzi opened the scoring at 14:32 of the first period when he took a laser pass from Brendan Morrison at the corner of the net and defected it past a helpless Olaf Kolzig. The big right-winger showed his strength on his second of the night at 15:45 of the second period when he took a pass from captain Markus Naslund, fought off a check from Mike Grier, and lifted a backhand past Kolzig.

Sandwiched between's Bertuzzi's goals was a pretty effort from Sedin. He took the puck behind the net, stopped on a dime, then skated out and fired a shot between Kolzig's legs.

Besides leading the league in goals, Bertuzzi also has an NHL-best 24 power-play goals. Naslund's goal and assist moves him past Boston's Joe Thornton in the overall points race with 96.

Auld was a surprise starter after Dan Cloutier was scratched from the lineup with a sore knee following the morning skate. Auld started the day in Chicago, where the AHL Manitoba Moose had played Saturday night, and flew to Vancouver where he collected his second NHL victory of the season.

Auld improved his record to 2-2-0. He played while veteran Peter Skudra watched from the bench.

Kolzig was pulled after the second period and replaced by Sebastien Charpentier.

Capitals star Jaromir Jagr missed his sixth game with a wrist injury.

NOTES: It was the only meeting of the season between the teams. The last time they played, Vancouver won 5-1 on Jan. 19 in Washington. ... The Canucks are attempting to become the first team since the Calgary Flames to lead the NHL in scoring in consecutive years. The Flames did it in 1989-90 and 1990-91.

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
11
81
Originally posted by: Loggerman
A little game of WHOOP-A$$ tonight.
5 powerplay goals.
Ried was flying again tonight.Loved that hip-check at the Caps' blueline.Sutherby didn't like it thought,ended up with 2 seperate penalties over it.

And two Canuck goals on those powerplays...
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,241
5,810
126
Originally posted by: Mucman
Great game, but I must say that I can't stand that stupid song that they play when we score :D

I agree, they play that song too damn much! WOOT :)
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Naslund MVP according to peers

Canadian Press
3/24/2003

TORONTO (CP) - Canucks captain Markus Naslund was named most valuable player in a poll of his NHL peers conducted by the Hockey News.

In a survey of 30 NHLers, one from each team, 12 selected the Vancouver winger as the best player in the league this year. Players weren't allowed to vote for a teammate.

Heading into Monday's games, Naslund led the NHL with 96 points and was second with 44 goals.

"The most dynamic guy I've seen is Markus Naslund," Buffalo centre Curtis Brown told the Hockey News. "He's like a lot of superstars. You can say, `We've gotta shut this guy down', but he still does what he does. He has great players around him, but he's the one guy that has been go, go, go from the beginning."

Added Atlanta's Dany Heatley: "Naslund is so smart with the puck. He has got good hands, he can skate and he has good vision, too, but he's so smart."

Colorado's Peter Forsberg placed second with seven votes.

"I don't care what Naslund's numbers are, if Forsberg's playing, he's the best player in the game," said a Columbus Blue Jackets player who requested anonymity.

New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur (three votes) was third, followed by Pittsburgh centre Mario Lemieux (two votes), Dallas centre Mike Modano (two votes) and Boston centre Joe Thornton (two votes). Naslund's linemate Todd Bertuzzi and New York Rangers winger Alexei Kovalev received one vote apiece.

The poll appears in the April 4 issue of the Hockey News, currently available on newsstands.

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Bertuzzi named player of the week

Canadian Press
3/24/2003

NEW YORK (CP) - Canucks winger Todd Bertuzzi is the NHL's player of the week after leading all players with six goals and two assists in four games.

Bertuzzi led the NHL with 45 goals before Monday's games.

The Canucks power forward edged Minnesota Wild goaltender Dwayne Roloson (2-0-1, 1.30 goals-against average), New York Rangers goaltender Mike Dunham (2-0-0, 0.43 GAA, two shutouts) and Atlanta Thrashers forward Dany Heatley (three goals, three assists in four games).

Bertuzzi, who tallied five of his six goals on the power play, recorded his first hat trick of the season in a 4-2 victory at Dallas last Monday, had an assist in a 6-4 loss to St. Louis last Tuesday, scored a goal in a 7-3 victory against Nashville on Thursday and had two goals and one assist in a 6-0 victory against Washington on Sunday.

Bertuzzi's 45 goals and 91 points are career highs.

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Force and Finesse could mean co-MVPs

TSN.ca Staff
3/24/2003

VANCOUVER (CP) - One is the bull, the other fine china.

Todd Bertuzzi is brute force while Markus Naslund is speed and finesse.

The Vancouver Canuck linemates may use very different styles but both men have shown the skill and talent to be considered as Hart Trophy candidates as the NHL's most valuable players.

``I think you have to consider them both,'' veteran Trevor Linden said Monday. ``Both are dominate in their own way. This could be one year when we could have co-MVPs.''

Picking between Naslund, the slightly-built Swede, and Bertuzzi, the burly Sudbury, Ont., native, is like deciding between pecan pie and chocolate cake.

Both hit the spot.

Heading into Monday night's games Naslund led the NHL scoring race with 96 points. The Canuck captain also led the league with 50 power-play points and 12 game-winning goals.

Bertuzzi went into Monday's games with a league-leading 45 goals, one more than Naslund in the race for the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL's top goal scorer. He also was best in the NHL with 24 power-play goals, one more than Naslund.

Between them Bertuzzi and Naslund have scored over a third of Vancouver's 247 goals. They are a major reason why the Canucks have a 43-20-12-1 record and are just one point behind Dallas and Detroit in the race for first place in the Western Conference.

``The way those two guys are playing you could probably pick both of them'' as MVP, said winger Trent Klatt. ``Both in their own right are deserving of it.''

A recent poll of NHL players conducted by the Hockey News named Naslund the league's MVP.

In a survey of 30 NHLers, one from each team, 12 selected the Vancouver winger as the best player in the league. Players weren't allowed to vote for a teammate.

``I think Markus is a very deserving candidate for those types of honours,'' said Canuck coach Marc Crawford. ``The way he and Todd have handled the accolades and the flowers that have been thrown their way this year has been very good.

``In a funny way, they are probably pushing each other and we are the benefactors of that.''

Bertuzzi received one vote in the same Hockey News poll but was named NHL player of the week Monday after leading all scorers with eight points (six goals, two assists) for the period ending on Sunday.

In his last 10 games, Bertuzzi has scored 10 goals, added seven assists, and recorded his first hat trick of the season in a 4-2 victory at Dallas on March 17.

``He's becoming a guy that is talked about a little more now, especially the way he's scored lately,'' said Crawford. ``That's given him a little extra boost.''

Bertuzzi flatly refuses to talk about his chances of winning the Richard Trophy.

Naslund said he would have no problem if his friend is named the league MVP.

``It's not a one-man game,'' said Naslund. ``You need to have good players to be successful. I definitely have benefited a lot playing with Todd. I think he's had an outstanding year.''

The Hart Trophy winner is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association in the 30 NHL cities at the end of the regular season.

Playing on the West Coast, away from some of the major media markets in the East, could hurt both Naslund and Bertuzzi.

Being on the same team could also result in some vote splitting.

Brendan Morrison, who centres the line of Bertuzzi and Morrison, said both men have their eyes on a bigger prize than the Hart.

``Those guys aren't thinking about that,'' he said. ``They are thinking about winning games. Individual awards come when the team is successful.

``Guys don't get recognized until the team is doing well.''

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
If Cloutier can't play, Auld will start

Canadian Press
3/24/2003

VANCOUVER (CP) - If a sore knee keeps goaltender Dan Cloutier out of Tuesday's game against the Dallas Stars the Vancouver Canucks will start rookie Alex Auld in net, says coach Marc Crawford.

The move is a huge vote of confidence for Auld, 22, who picked up his first NHL shutout in Sunday's 6-0 win over the Washington Capitals.

It also raises concerns over Cloutier's health as the Canucks finish the regular season and look forward to the playoffs. It also shows management has lost faith in the ability of backup goaltender Peter Skudra.

``I'm inclined to go with Alex if Cloutier can't go,'' Crawford said Monday.

``He's played well. There's not more to it than that.''

Cloutier, who has missed 15 games this year with a right knee problem, didn't dress Sunday, forcing the Canucks to recall Auld from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.

Auld caught an early morning flight from Chicago, where the Moose played Saturday night, and flew 4½ hours to Vancouver. He made 14 saves to get the shutout in just his fourth NHL start.

The Cold Lake, Alta., native stayed cool Monday as speculation heated up he could be the man who leads the Canucks into the playoffs.

``I'm not even thinking that far ahead right now,'' said Auld, who has a 2-2-0 NHL record this year, including a 4-2 win over Dallas March 17.

``I'm just taking it game by game and day by day. We all know when Clouts gets healthy he is the guy. I just want to try and fill in the best I can.''

Crawford said Cloutier's status is day-to-day.

``We're going to see tomorrow how he is,'' Crawford said.

Heading into Tuesday's game the Canucks trail Detroit and Dallas by a single point in the race for first place in the Western Conference. Vancouver's 99 points also puts them six ahead of Colorado in the battle for the top spot in the Northwest Division and home advantage in the playoffs.

Cloutier has a 32-14-6 record, a 2.45 goals-against average and .907 save percentage. He first sprained the knee Dec. 17 at Chicago and missed four games.

Upon his return it took Cloutier several weeks to return to the form that made him the team's MVP during the first part of the season. He sprained the knee again Feb. 25 and missed 10 games.

He returned to the lineup March 18 and played in a 6-4 loss to St. Louis. He was in net for Vancouver's 7-3 win over Nashville last Thursday before the knee began bothering him again.

``We're just trying to be intelligent in giving him some time off and if he hadn't agitated or aggravated his injury, he would have been playing and he would have played well,'' Crawford said.

``Because Danny's going to be sore, he knows he's going to be sore, he might not be able to practise ... so we'll have the extra goaltending body.''

The likeable Skudra struggled when asked to carry the load during Cloutier's recent injury, resulting in Auld getting the call from Manitoba.

Skudra was clipped in his answers when talking to the media Monday.

He denied being frustrated over Auld being given the nod.

``The coaching staff decides who earns to play so it's not my decision,'' said the native of Riga, Latvia, who has a 9-5-6 record and 2.72 goals-against average this year.

``Whatever they decide is fine.''

Crawford said he's spoken with Skudra.

``I know he's not happy,'' he said.

``I don't expect him to be happy. He's got to be professional. He's got to stay ready. We all know situations change very rapidly in professional sports.''

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Canucks and Stars square off

Sports Ticker
3/25/2003

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- The Vancouver Canucks try to improve to 3-0 on their four-game homestand when they face off against the Dallas Stars in a matchup of two of the top teams in the Western Conference.

In the top-heavy West, Dallas is tied with Detroit with 100 points, one ahead of Vancouver.

After opening its homestand with a 7-3 victory over Nashville, Vancouver routed Washington on Sunday, 6-0.

The Canucks scored five power-play goals, including two by Todd Bertuzzi and one by Markus Naslund. Bertuzzi has a league-leading 45 goals and Naslund 44.

Rookie Alex Auld made 14 saves for his first shutout.

Dallas, which is opening a three-game road trip, defeated St. Louis on Sunday, 3-1. Brenden Morrow scored twice and Sergei Zubov once and Marty Turco made just 12 saves in his first start after missing 18 games with a sprained right ankle.

The Stars have won two of the first three meetings with the Canucks this season, including a 4-1 triumph here on October 26.

Dallas has won four in a row over Vancouver in British Columbia.

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Canucks' Cloutier may play Thursday

TSN.ca Staff
3/25/2003

VANCOUVER (CP) - Vancouver Canucks goaltender Dan Cloutier says his sore right knee doesn't require surgery and he hopes to play in Thursday's NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Cloutier, who missed Sunday's game against Washington, left the ice after practising for about 15 minutes Tuesday. He skated and took just a few shots.

"I could have played the last game and I could have played tonight," Cloutier said Tuesday prior to the Canucks game against the Dallas Stars. "We are mostly taking care of it. These two days helped out and it feels a little better."

The status of Cloutier's knee has been one of the major topics of conversation among Canucks fans on local sports radio programs.

Cloutier, 26, has been bothered by a strained medial collateral ligament. He first hurt the knee on Dec. 21 and missed three games. After returning to the lineup, Cloutier struggled to regain his form, but was playing well before straining the same knee again Feb. 27 and missing the next 10 games.

Cloutier returned to the lineup March 18 and played two more games before sitting out Sunday.

The medial collateral is the ligament at the back of the knee. Damaging it hinders a goaltender's ability to move side to side in his crease.

Cloutier said surgery isn't an option and only rest will heal the injury.

"It felt good the last two games I played," said the former first-round draft pick who has a 32-14-6 record, a 2.45 goals-against average and .907 save percentage.

"It's not too bad during the games, it's mostly the day after the games it's sore. We're just taking a precautionary thing here. I'm not really worried about it."

After several years of trial and error the Canucks finally got the goaltender they wanted when they obtained Cloutier in a trade with Tampa Bay on Feb. 7, 2001.

The native of Mont-Laurier, Que., was the NHL player of the month in November and has set a career high for wins. He is in the final year of a contract that pays him $1.1 million US.

There were fears Cloutier's injury could extend to the playoffs, a potential blow to the Canucks hopes of making a run at the Stanley Cup.

Adding to the drama has been the play of rookie Alex Auld, who stopped 14 shots to record his first NHL shutout Sunday after being called up from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.

Already, some fans have been comparing the Auld to Ken Dryden, who played only six regular-season games before leading the Montreal Canadiens to the 1971 Stanley Cup.

With Cloutier hurt and Auld getting the nod, backup Peter Skudra has sat on the bench, raising speculation Canucks management have lost confidence in him.

Cheers,
Aquaman
 
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