Official: Vancouver Canucks W00T

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silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
11
81
ARGH!!! Hand on the freaking puck in the crease!!! I want a penalty shot!

Great near-comeback though... Almost had it a few times.
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Report: Naslund a Pearson finalist

Canadian Press
4/27/2003

TORONTO (CP) - Forwards Peter Forsberg, Markus Naslund and Joe Thornton - the NHL's top three scorers this season - are the finalists for the Lester B. Pearson award, CBC reported Sunday.

CBC made the revelation during the second-period intermission of its Ottawa Senators-Philadelphia Flyers NHL playoff broadcast.

The award is presented annually to the NHL's outstanding player as selected by members of the NHL Players' Association. It was first presented in 1970-'71 in honour of Pearson, a former Canadian prime minister.

The NHLPA was expected to formally announce the award finalists Monday.

Forsberg led the NHL in scoring this season with 106 points, including 77 assists with the Colorado Avalanche. Naslund, the captain of the Vancouver Canucks, was second with 104 points (48 goals, 56 points) while Thornton, the Boston Bruins' captain, finished third with 101 points (36 goals, 65 assists).

Calgary Flames forward Jarome Iginla captured the award last year.

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Wild even series with Canucks

Canadian Press
4/28/2003

VANCOUVER (CP) - Sergei Zholtok and Wes Walz scored third-period goals 1:03 apart as the Minnesota Wild defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 Sunday night to even their NHL Western Conference semifinal series 1-1.

Marian Gaborik also had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who recovered from a heart-breaking overtime loss in Game 1. The best-of-seven series now returns to Minnesota for games Tuesday and Friday.

Goaltender Dwayne Roloson got the start in place of Manny Fernandez and made several big saves.

Defenceman Ed Jovanovski scored his second goal in two games and Mattias Ohlund scored a late goal with less than two minutes left to bring the Canucks within one. It was Vancouver's first loss after winning four straight games in the playoffs.

The Wild took advantage of two Canuck brain hiccups to put the game away.

The Canucks took a bench penalty for too many men on the ice late in the second period. The final seconds of the penalty had just ticked off in the third when Andrew Brunette sent a pass out from behind the net to Zholtok who fired the puck home for a 2-1 lead.

Just over a minute later Walz, who had two goals in Game 1, got in behind Markus Naslund and redirected Gaborik's laser pass past goaltender Dan Cloutier.

After a scoreless first period Gaborik got the Wild on the scoreboard at 4:40 of the second. He took a pass from Pascal Dupuis and beat Cloutier with a bullet over his glove hand. It was the Wilds first shot of the period.

Once they got the lead the Wild played their tight, grinding defensive style. They often had five men in their won zone waiting for the Canuck attack. It wasn't pretty to watch but was very effective as Wild players managed to get a stick in front of the puck to deflect a shot or break up a pass.

Jovanovski tied the scored 1-1 at 17:18 of the second, giving the sellout crowd of 18,514 something to cheer about. Trevor Linden faked a shot that froze the defence, then slid the puck over to Jovanovski who buried a shot low on Roloson's stick side.

Roloson was making his first appearance since suffering a groin injury in Game 4 of Minnesota's opening round series against Colorado. He was both very good, stopping Todd Bertuzzi on a second period power play when the big power forward was parked on his doorstep, and lucky, when Trent Klatt sent a shot skidding just wide of the open corner.<

Cloutier had an easier night than Roloson but still was called upon to make some big saves. He blocked a Gaborik shot in the first period, then got the shaft of his stick on a wrap-around attempt by Filip Kuba in the second.

Besides using Roloson, Wild coach Jacques Lemaire inserted right-winger Bill Muckalt, a former Canuck, to the lineup while scratching Jeremy Stevenson.

Notes-Naslund saw his five-game goal scoring streak, the longest in the playoffs, come to an end. ...Minnesota's loss on Friday was only their second in overtime in 22 regular-season and playoff games. ...Klatt, the Game 1 hero for Vancouver, said he hadn't scored an overtime goal since playing with Syracuse in the minors.

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Emotions heating up for Wild, Canucks

The Canadian Press
4/28/2003

VANCOUVER (CP) - The Vancouver Canucks can't let the bad blood simmering between them and Minnesota Wild cloud their reasoning when the teams clash in Game 3 of their NHL Western Conference semifinal series.

Several scuffles broke out at the end of Sunday's nail-biting 3-2 Wild win, fanning the flames of dislike the teams have for each other and possibly turning up the heat for in Game 3 on Tuesday (CBC, 8 p.m. EDT).

"We had some emotions at the end of the game they're the guys that started it," Canucks defenceman Ed Jovanovski said before the team departed St. Paul, Minn. "We're a team that's emotional and have that passion and that's going to go a long way for us."

Right-winger Sergei Zholtok said the Wild are not intimidated by the bigger Canucks.

"Nobody is going to bluff anybody," he said. "Nobody is going to give an inch to anybody. If the Canucks think they're going to back us off I don't think it's going to happen. It's just a battle and a lot of emotions."

The Wild are happy to be home with the best-of-seven series tied 1-1. Game 4 is Friday.

The Canucks have to be concerned that even though the opening two games were close, Minnesota has managed to dictate the style of play, using their grinding defence to turn Vancouver's rock-and-roll offence into a night at the symphony.

"They're not going to change the way they play," said Canucks centre Brendan Morrison, who was held to just one shot Sunday.

"You have to change your game if your going to be successful against them. You can't go through the middle, they will kill you. You have to adjust and play simple and patient and get pucks deep."

Trent Klatt, who scored the overtime goal in Friday's 4-3, come-from-behind victory, said Vancouver is still trying to tango while Wild are content to waltz.

"They're just really clogging up the centre of the ice, forcing everything to the outside whether it's in the neutral zone or the defensive zone," said Klatt.

"We have to realize we have to skate through the trap, we can't pass through it."

Vancouver outshot Minnesota 31-18 Sunday, including 12-3 in the third period, but many of those came in the frenzied dying moments of the game. The Wild are also doing a good job of steering away rebounds.

"We're getting some shots but I don't think we have a very good presence in front of the net," said Klatt. "We have to be hungry and pay a price to stand in front of the goalie to cause as much havoc as possible."

The Canucks haven't played with a lead in either game, something else which could make a difference, said Markus Naslund.

"They play well protecting the lead," said the Canucks captain who saw his five-game scoring streak end Sunday.

"If we get the lead I think they will open up a little more."

Wes Walz, who has scored three goals in the first two games, said Minnesota isn't straying from the strategy that allowed the third-year franchise to upset Colorado in the opening round of the playoffs.

"We try to take care of our end of the rink first then we move forward from there," he said.

"We don't go into games thinking we have to score four or five goals. That's not our style. We try to play solid defensively, keep ourselves in games and hang around."

The Canucks accused Wild defenceman Willie Mitchell of grabbing the puck and tossing it out of the crease during a hair-raising scramble in Sunday's dying seconds. Had the referee seen the infraction it would have resulted in a penalty shot.

At the final horn a full-scale brawl nearly erupted.

Vancouver's Todd Bertuzzi said he was sucker-punched by Minnesota's Brad Brown. Matt Cooke slashed Matt Johnson on the ankle dropping the Wild winger to the ice.

Mitchell, who had been sent to the dressing from for roughing with seven seconds left in the game, reappeared on the ice and began grappling with Jovanovski.

Jovanovski, Bertuzzi, Brown and Johnson all were assessed misconducts. Mitchell was given a game misconduct.

Vancouver's Trevor Linden, who also scuffled with Mitchell, shrugged when asked if Game 3 would pick up where Game 2 left off.

"It might," he said.

"It might not."

Walz expects the teams to stick to hockey.

"I don't know who they are going to look at it," he said. "The games now there is too much to lose taking stupid penalties to even scores. One silly penalty could cost your team the game and eventually the series.

"I don't see too many guys evening scores as the game goes on. Next season in the regular-season games it could be a different issue."

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,240
5,810
126
TSN rant: Who the hell is that colour commentator guy? The guy is driving me insane and I want someone to upside his head! It's fargin Mo dan o, not Mo don o icehole! Let in en, not Lay tin en aaaargh! Everyone else and their dog pronounces these names correctly, this guy just carries on as if .....argh, farg it!

:D
 

Sealy

Platinum Member
Aug 4, 2002
2,438
1
71
Canucuks are going to come back showing their teeth! Watch out Wild!

GO CANUCKS GO!
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Things could get Wild in Minnesota

Sports Network
4/29/2003

(Sports Network) - The scene shifts to what should be a raucous Xcel Energy Center tonight when the Minnesota Wild host the Vancouver Canucks in Game 3 of their deadlocked Western Conference semifinal series.

After Vancouver won the opener, 4-3, in overtime, Minnesota rebounded with a 3-2 triumph in Sunday's Game 2. Sergei Zholtok and Wes Walz scored goals just 63 seconds apart early in the third period to provide the difference as the Wild withstood another Canucks' rally attempt. In Game 1, Vancouver erased a 3-1 deficit en route to victory.

"The split was what our goal was when we came here, and surely it's their goal when they get to our building," Walz said.

Marian Gaborik tallied his club-leading fifth playoff goal for Minny, while Dwayne Roloson finished with 29 saves. Roloson, who managed a win-preserving stop on Markus Naslund late in the third period, made his first appearance since Game 4 of the Colorado series after yielding the crease to Manny Fernandez.

"He was very sharp. I made the decision last minute to put him in," Wild head coach Jacques Lemaire said of Roloson. "I just wanted to make sure with all the coaching staff that it was the best thing for club."

Ed Jovanovski and Mattias Ohlund scored for the Canucks, who hadn't lost since Game 4 of the conference quarterfinals against St. Louis. Dan Cloutier finished with 15 saves in defeat.

The end of Game 2 saw the bad blood that exists between these teams boil over, as a skirmish broke out near the player benches.

"It was just the type of game where sticks and gloves and elbows were up," said Wild defenseman Willie Mitchell, who played a prominent role in the scrum. "Sometimes as players or a team, you have to protect yourself out there. I think that's what you saw."

Vancouver had its reasons for letting its temper get the best of the team.

"Obviously, we were frustrated," said Canucks' bruiser Matt Cooke. "And maybe we were sending a little message, too."

Vancouver power forward Todd Bertuzzi was also right in the middle of things at the end of Game 2 and has been a physical presence in the series, but his focus should now turn to his goal-scoring drought. Bertuzzi, who netted 46 goals in the regular season, has failed to score in four straight games and has a mere one tally the entire postseason.

Game 4 will be played Friday night at Xcel Energy Center.

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
11
81
Originally posted by: sandorski
TSN rant: Who the hell is that colour commentator guy? The guy is driving me insane and I want someone to upside his head! It's fargin Mo dan o, not Mo don o icehole! Let in en, not Lay tin en aaaargh! Everyone else and their dog pronounces these names correctly, this guy just carries on as if .....argh, farg it!

:D

Gord Miller. I don't mind him him much... 'cept for his horrible voice, which is really all that matters :)


Oh, and Go Canucks Go!!!
Game On!
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
11
81
Let them play goddamit. The call on Bertuzzi was lame, as was the call on Naslund. 5 PP goals, no flow, and penalty after penalty.
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Wild fined for fracas following Game 2

TSN.ca Staff with CP files
4/29/2003

The Minnesota WiIld have been fined $25,000 after a ruckus broke out following their 3-2 victory over the Vancuver Canucks in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Sunday.

Game 3 goes Tuesday in Minnesota.

The end of Game 2 saw the bad blood that exists between these teams boil over, as a skirmish broke out near the player benches.

Vancouver's Matt Cooke slashed Matt Johnson on the ankle, dropping him to the ice. Todd Bertuzzi and Brad Brown exchanged punches. Minnesota's Willie Mitchell, who already had been sent to the dressing room late in the game for a minor penalty, appeared back on the ice and scuffled with Jovanovski.

Five players were given misconducts, including a game misconduct handed out to Mitchell.

"It was just the type of game where sticks and gloves and elbows were up," said Mitchell. "Sometimes as players or a team, you have to protect yourself out there. I think that's what you saw."

Vancouver had its reasons for letting its temper get the best of the team.

"Obviously, we were frustrated," said Canucks' bruiser Matt Cooke. "And maybe we were sending a little message, too."

Cheers,
Aquaman
 
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