- Status
Canucks clinch division title, oust Oilers
Canadian Press
4/4/2004
VANCOUVER (CP) - The cut over his left eye was seeping blood and the skin was already turning an ugly purple, but that couldn't take the smile off Mike Keane's face.
The veteran scored a pair of goals to help the Vancouver Canucks beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 Saturday night to clinch their first NHL division crown in 11 years.
The loss eliminated the Oilers from playoff contention in their final game of the regular season.
``Throughout the year you have to have people chipping in and it just happened I got a couple tonight,'' said Keane, who was cut when rammed head first into the boards by Edmonton's Raffi Torres in the third period.
``When the playoffs come around you have to have different scoring if you want a chance for the Cup. If we do that we'll be tough to beat.''
After the game Oiler centre Adam Oates told a silent Edmonton dressing room he was retiring after 19 seasons.
``I wish it wasn't for a few weeks but I have absolutely no regrets,'' said Oates, 41, who earned an assist Saturday to give him a career total of 341 goals and 1,079 assists in 1,337 games.
``I've had a fantastic time the last couple of months. I'm a very lucky guy. To be able to play so long has been fantastic.''
Oates was signed as a free agent in November. Last year he was part of the Anaheim Ducks team that lost Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final to New Jersey.
Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison and Mattias Ohlund, on the power play, also scored for the Canucks, who win the Northwest Division with a record of 43-24-10-5 and 101 points. Vancouver snapped Colorado's nine-year division winning streak.
Vancouver struggled down the stretch last year and finished second to Colorado.
A sellout crowd of 18,630 stood cheering as the Canucks won their season-high sixth consecutive game, then sang goodbye to the Oilers.
Vancouver had managed just one win in the first seven games following Todd Bertuzzi's suspension for attacking Colorado's Steve Moore before their recent winning run.
``Finishing the season off with a six-game winning streak shows how far we've come, especially with everything happening before that,'' said captain Markus Naslund.
``Being able to regroup and find a way to play great hockey, I'm very proud of the boys and what we did.''
Vancouver finishes third in the Western Conference and will open the playoffs at home. The Canucks will have to wait until after Sunday's games to know if they'll face Dallas or Calgary in the first round.
Brad Isbister and Igor Ulanov, on the power play, scored for the Oilers, who saw their second-half charge for a playoff spot fall short. Edmonton had earned points in 17 of 18 games heading into Saturday in a bid to claim a playoff berth.
``It's tough to swallow,'' said Oiler captain Ryan Smith.
``All that work we've done for the last two months has sort of gone down the drain. We're really happy with the drive but this is going to hurt for a while.''<
Edmonton's frustration showed in the third period. Torres was given a boarding major and a game misconduct for his hit on Keane.
One of the Oilers who took the loss the hardest was starting goaltender Ty Conklin who was pulled after the second period with the Canucks leading 4-1.
``It takes away from how you feel about the season when you don't play well in the last game,'' said Conklin who faced 17 shots.
After the game, the Canucks gave their jerseys to selected fans. Bertuzzi, wearing street clothes, was one of the players on the ice and received a huge roar from the crowd.
It was the eighth consecutive season the Oilers went down to the final week to decide if they made the playoffs. They were only eliminated once during those campaigns, in 2001-2002.<
In a vote by fans, Naslund was named Vancouver's most valuable player for the fourth consecutive year. The fans also selected Bertuzzi as the most exciting player and Ohlund the top defenceman. The Canucks Booster Club picked defenceman Brent Sopel as the unsung hero.
Notes: The Canucks have won 40 or more games in a season six times, including the last three years. ... Vancouver was overtaken by Colorado for the Northwest Division title on the final day of the regular season last year. ... The Canucks had three five-game win streaks this season. ... Morrison played his 348th consecutive game.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
4/4/2004
VANCOUVER (CP) - The cut over his left eye was seeping blood and the skin was already turning an ugly purple, but that couldn't take the smile off Mike Keane's face.
The veteran scored a pair of goals to help the Vancouver Canucks beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 Saturday night to clinch their first NHL division crown in 11 years.
The loss eliminated the Oilers from playoff contention in their final game of the regular season.
``Throughout the year you have to have people chipping in and it just happened I got a couple tonight,'' said Keane, who was cut when rammed head first into the boards by Edmonton's Raffi Torres in the third period.
``When the playoffs come around you have to have different scoring if you want a chance for the Cup. If we do that we'll be tough to beat.''
After the game Oiler centre Adam Oates told a silent Edmonton dressing room he was retiring after 19 seasons.
``I wish it wasn't for a few weeks but I have absolutely no regrets,'' said Oates, 41, who earned an assist Saturday to give him a career total of 341 goals and 1,079 assists in 1,337 games.
``I've had a fantastic time the last couple of months. I'm a very lucky guy. To be able to play so long has been fantastic.''
Oates was signed as a free agent in November. Last year he was part of the Anaheim Ducks team that lost Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final to New Jersey.
Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison and Mattias Ohlund, on the power play, also scored for the Canucks, who win the Northwest Division with a record of 43-24-10-5 and 101 points. Vancouver snapped Colorado's nine-year division winning streak.
Vancouver struggled down the stretch last year and finished second to Colorado.
A sellout crowd of 18,630 stood cheering as the Canucks won their season-high sixth consecutive game, then sang goodbye to the Oilers.
Vancouver had managed just one win in the first seven games following Todd Bertuzzi's suspension for attacking Colorado's Steve Moore before their recent winning run.
``Finishing the season off with a six-game winning streak shows how far we've come, especially with everything happening before that,'' said captain Markus Naslund.
``Being able to regroup and find a way to play great hockey, I'm very proud of the boys and what we did.''
Vancouver finishes third in the Western Conference and will open the playoffs at home. The Canucks will have to wait until after Sunday's games to know if they'll face Dallas or Calgary in the first round.
Brad Isbister and Igor Ulanov, on the power play, scored for the Oilers, who saw their second-half charge for a playoff spot fall short. Edmonton had earned points in 17 of 18 games heading into Saturday in a bid to claim a playoff berth.
``It's tough to swallow,'' said Oiler captain Ryan Smith.
``All that work we've done for the last two months has sort of gone down the drain. We're really happy with the drive but this is going to hurt for a while.''<
Edmonton's frustration showed in the third period. Torres was given a boarding major and a game misconduct for his hit on Keane.
One of the Oilers who took the loss the hardest was starting goaltender Ty Conklin who was pulled after the second period with the Canucks leading 4-1.
``It takes away from how you feel about the season when you don't play well in the last game,'' said Conklin who faced 17 shots.
After the game, the Canucks gave their jerseys to selected fans. Bertuzzi, wearing street clothes, was one of the players on the ice and received a huge roar from the crowd.
It was the eighth consecutive season the Oilers went down to the final week to decide if they made the playoffs. They were only eliminated once during those campaigns, in 2001-2002.<
In a vote by fans, Naslund was named Vancouver's most valuable player for the fourth consecutive year. The fans also selected Bertuzzi as the most exciting player and Ohlund the top defenceman. The Canucks Booster Club picked defenceman Brent Sopel as the unsung hero.
Notes: The Canucks have won 40 or more games in a season six times, including the last three years. ... Vancouver was overtaken by Colorado for the Northwest Division title on the final day of the regular season last year. ... The Canucks had three five-game win streaks this season. ... Morrison played his 348th consecutive game.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Here's hoping the 'nucks "douse" the Flames in the first round! :beer:
Go 'nucks and B's!
:beer:
Go 'nucks and B's!
:beer:
Series are set for first round
Canadian Press
4/4/2004
Toronto plays Ottawa for the fourth time in five years, Montreal and Boston renew a longtime playoff rivalry, and Vancouver and Calgary hook up for the first time in 10 years.
Canadian hockey fans will have plenty to watch when the NHL's second season begins Wednesday in Vancouver, Boston, Detroit and Denver and Thursday in Toronto, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and San Jose.
``There's no easy matchup this time of year,'' says the Leafs' Ron Francis. ``There's only good hockey teams left.''
A Toronto-Ottawa spring fling is becoming an annual hockey rite, which is okay with the Leafs because they knocked off the Senators in the three previous playoff showdowns.
The Canadiens are 22-7 all-time against Boston in playoffs, including a first-round upset two years ago, and now another matchup with the Bruins looms.
Canucks fans will recall that a Game 7 win over Calgary in the first round in 1994 catapulted their team all the way to the championship series.
The last playoff pairings in the East were determined by a 3-1 Boston victory Sunday in New Jersey that sent the Bruins past idle Toronto for the Northeast Division title and the No. 2 seed.
``We're thrilled,'' said Bruins coach Mike Sullivan. ``We had an opportunity to win our division, arguably the best division in the NHL and that was something we wanted to accomplish.''
A lot of Toronto and Montreal fans were hoping for a Devils win on the closing day of the schedule, which would have meant a Leafs-Habs series for the first time since 1979. But it was not to be. Regardless, the Leafs are happy to have home-ice advantage.
``It's always nice to start at home,'' said Alexander Mogilny. ``It helped a couple of years ago and, hopefully, it's going to help us this year as well.''
The combination of the Devils' loss and Philadelphia's 3-3 tie with the New York Islanders gave the Flyers the Atlantic Division title and the No. 3 playoff seed. New Jersey dropped to sixth in the conference and will have to begin the second season in Philadelphia.
Top-seeded Tampa Bay already knew it would begin the playoffs against the eighth-seeded Islanders. This one might be closer than many might expect because the Islanders won three of the four regular-season meetings.
Toronto was 4-1-1 against Ottawa including a 6-0 romp in Canada's capital on Saturday, although it might be a meaningless factor in that the Senators had the upper hand on the Leafs during the winters of 2000, 2001 and 2002 and were eliminated by them each time after daffodils bloomed.
``This is everything Ontario wanted,'' said the Senators' Bryan Smolinski. ``It's going to be a war.''
Boston-Montreal should be a nailbiter.
The Bruins had a slight edge, 3-2-1, in the regular season. Three of the games were decided in overtime.
Philadelphia was 4-1-1 against New Jersey. It'll be the first playoff confrontation between these two bitter division rivals since the Devils edged the Flyers in a seven-game conference final on their way to winning the championship in 2000.
``This is a team that has been our nemesis for a long time,'' Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock said of the Devils. ``It's our turn to take a whack at them.''
In the West, top-seeded Detroit, a 9-2 choice by Las Vegas oddsmakers to win the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in eight years, will give eighth-seeded Nashville its first taste of playoff action in the Predators' six-year existence. Don't dismiss the newcomers quickly because they held their own with the Red Wings in splitting the season series 3-3.
San Jose, a big surprise as No. 2 seed after missing the playoffs last year, takes on No. 7 St. Louis, which extends its streak of playoff appearances to 25 years - most in any major North American pro sport. They split 2-2 in the regular season. Three years ago, the Blues knocked off the Sharks in six in the first round.
``Can't wait for the first shift,'' said the Blues' Chris Pronger. ``All those boos.''
The other two matchups materialized after Dallas defeated Chicago 5-2 to clinch the No. 5 seed and keep Calgary from grabbing it.
Vancouver, having clinched first place in the Northwest Division and the No. 3 seed by ending Edmonton's late-season bid Saturday night, open at home against the sixth-seeded Flames. The Canucks' six-game winning streak makes them the hottest team in the league.
``Winning the division is sweet, especially after what happened last year,'' said Trevor Linden, alluding to his team's loss of the 2003 division title to Colorado on the last weekend. ``But the guys are pretty subdued right now. We know our work is ahead of us.''
Vancouver had a 3-2-1 edge in the season series, and each team won twice in the other's building. The Flames are in the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Colorado, its nine-year run atop its division ended by Vancouver, dropped to No. 4 and plays Dallas. The Avs were 3-1 against the Stars this season but Dallas will best remember its 5-1 win when they last played them in February. It'll be the teams' first playoff meeting in four years.
``We're playing one of the top teams in the league,'' said the Stars' Bill Guerin. ``You're going to have to play them sooner or later.
``We get them first. They've got great individual players so we're going to have to do the job defensively, one-on-one.''
The last possible day for a championship series game will be June 7.
The Sharks rate as the biggest surprise of the season. They finished 14th in the West a year ago, and now they're the conference's No. 2 playoff seed.
Nobody picked the Lightning to win the East but, with 93 points a year ago, it's not as if they came out of nowhere.
Anaheim was the biggest flop. Last spring's Stanley Cup finalist wound up 12th in the West.
Pittsburgh finished last overall and thus has the best chance in the percentage-weighted lottery draft Tuesday to get first pick in the June entry draft. Ten teams had 100 or more points. No more than seven reached 100 in any previous season.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
4/4/2004
Toronto plays Ottawa for the fourth time in five years, Montreal and Boston renew a longtime playoff rivalry, and Vancouver and Calgary hook up for the first time in 10 years.
Canadian hockey fans will have plenty to watch when the NHL's second season begins Wednesday in Vancouver, Boston, Detroit and Denver and Thursday in Toronto, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and San Jose.
``There's no easy matchup this time of year,'' says the Leafs' Ron Francis. ``There's only good hockey teams left.''
A Toronto-Ottawa spring fling is becoming an annual hockey rite, which is okay with the Leafs because they knocked off the Senators in the three previous playoff showdowns.
The Canadiens are 22-7 all-time against Boston in playoffs, including a first-round upset two years ago, and now another matchup with the Bruins looms.
Canucks fans will recall that a Game 7 win over Calgary in the first round in 1994 catapulted their team all the way to the championship series.
The last playoff pairings in the East were determined by a 3-1 Boston victory Sunday in New Jersey that sent the Bruins past idle Toronto for the Northeast Division title and the No. 2 seed.
``We're thrilled,'' said Bruins coach Mike Sullivan. ``We had an opportunity to win our division, arguably the best division in the NHL and that was something we wanted to accomplish.''
A lot of Toronto and Montreal fans were hoping for a Devils win on the closing day of the schedule, which would have meant a Leafs-Habs series for the first time since 1979. But it was not to be. Regardless, the Leafs are happy to have home-ice advantage.
``It's always nice to start at home,'' said Alexander Mogilny. ``It helped a couple of years ago and, hopefully, it's going to help us this year as well.''
The combination of the Devils' loss and Philadelphia's 3-3 tie with the New York Islanders gave the Flyers the Atlantic Division title and the No. 3 playoff seed. New Jersey dropped to sixth in the conference and will have to begin the second season in Philadelphia.
Top-seeded Tampa Bay already knew it would begin the playoffs against the eighth-seeded Islanders. This one might be closer than many might expect because the Islanders won three of the four regular-season meetings.
Toronto was 4-1-1 against Ottawa including a 6-0 romp in Canada's capital on Saturday, although it might be a meaningless factor in that the Senators had the upper hand on the Leafs during the winters of 2000, 2001 and 2002 and were eliminated by them each time after daffodils bloomed.
``This is everything Ontario wanted,'' said the Senators' Bryan Smolinski. ``It's going to be a war.''
Boston-Montreal should be a nailbiter.
The Bruins had a slight edge, 3-2-1, in the regular season. Three of the games were decided in overtime.
Philadelphia was 4-1-1 against New Jersey. It'll be the first playoff confrontation between these two bitter division rivals since the Devils edged the Flyers in a seven-game conference final on their way to winning the championship in 2000.
``This is a team that has been our nemesis for a long time,'' Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock said of the Devils. ``It's our turn to take a whack at them.''
In the West, top-seeded Detroit, a 9-2 choice by Las Vegas oddsmakers to win the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in eight years, will give eighth-seeded Nashville its first taste of playoff action in the Predators' six-year existence. Don't dismiss the newcomers quickly because they held their own with the Red Wings in splitting the season series 3-3.
San Jose, a big surprise as No. 2 seed after missing the playoffs last year, takes on No. 7 St. Louis, which extends its streak of playoff appearances to 25 years - most in any major North American pro sport. They split 2-2 in the regular season. Three years ago, the Blues knocked off the Sharks in six in the first round.
``Can't wait for the first shift,'' said the Blues' Chris Pronger. ``All those boos.''
The other two matchups materialized after Dallas defeated Chicago 5-2 to clinch the No. 5 seed and keep Calgary from grabbing it.
Vancouver, having clinched first place in the Northwest Division and the No. 3 seed by ending Edmonton's late-season bid Saturday night, open at home against the sixth-seeded Flames. The Canucks' six-game winning streak makes them the hottest team in the league.
``Winning the division is sweet, especially after what happened last year,'' said Trevor Linden, alluding to his team's loss of the 2003 division title to Colorado on the last weekend. ``But the guys are pretty subdued right now. We know our work is ahead of us.''
Vancouver had a 3-2-1 edge in the season series, and each team won twice in the other's building. The Flames are in the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Colorado, its nine-year run atop its division ended by Vancouver, dropped to No. 4 and plays Dallas. The Avs were 3-1 against the Stars this season but Dallas will best remember its 5-1 win when they last played them in February. It'll be the teams' first playoff meeting in four years.
``We're playing one of the top teams in the league,'' said the Stars' Bill Guerin. ``You're going to have to play them sooner or later.
``We get them first. They've got great individual players so we're going to have to do the job defensively, one-on-one.''
The last possible day for a championship series game will be June 7.
The Sharks rate as the biggest surprise of the season. They finished 14th in the West a year ago, and now they're the conference's No. 2 playoff seed.
Nobody picked the Lightning to win the East but, with 93 points a year ago, it's not as if they came out of nowhere.
Anaheim was the biggest flop. Last spring's Stanley Cup finalist wound up 12th in the West.
Pittsburgh finished last overall and thus has the best chance in the percentage-weighted lottery draft Tuesday to get first pick in the June entry draft. Ten teams had 100 or more points. No more than seven reached 100 in any previous season.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Revamped Canucks ready for playoffs
Canadian Press
4/5/2004
VANCOUVER (CP) - It might have been the four days that saved the Vancouver Canucks' season.
Just two weeks ago the Canucks were reeling like a boxer staggered by a round-house right to the head. In the aftermath of the Todd Bertuzzi suspension Vancouver looked stunned and disoriented.
A break in the schedule gave Vancouver four days of practice sandwiched around a game against Los Angeles. It was a chance for coach Marc Crawford to mend the psyche of his tattered team, work on some basics and do some lineup juggling.
The Canucks responded by winning six straight games, their longest streak of the season, and claiming the Northwest Division crown. It was Vancouver's first division title in 11 years.
``It was huge,'' veteran centre Trevor Linden said Monday as the Canucks prepared for their Western Conference quarter-final series against the Calgary Flames.
``Marc really saw that as being a big stepping stone for our team. That's what we needed. We hadn't had a lot of practice time before that. We needed to get straightened out. We had some new guys and we had to get going again.''
The Canucks open the best-of-seven series against Calgary on Wednesday.
As disruptive as losing Bertuzzi was, it may have made the Canucks a better team. They play tighter defensively, allowing just seven goals in the last six games, and have spread the scoring around.
Crawford hesitated when asked if the Canucks are a stronger team now.
``We hope they are,'' he said.
``Any time you go through any experience you hope you use those experiences to benefit you and to help you in your preparation as you move forward.
``I believe our guys are gaining in the type of qualities that are needed to be successful at the important times of year.''
It was during the four-day practice session that Crawford moved Matt Cooke, a forward who can be as irritating to opponents as a cellphone ringing in a movie theatre, onto the top line with centre Brendan Morrison and left-winger Markus Naslund.
The line responded with eight goals and 18 points in six games.
While Cooke doesn't have Bertuzzi's size, his smash and crash style created space for his linemates. He also passes the puck more than Bertuzzi.
``Cookie isn't a guy who likes to carry the puck that much,'' said Morrison, who had two goals and six assists down the stretch.
``With Todd and Nazzy they tried to beat guys more one-on-one using their skill. With Cookie it's a little bit more give-and-go.''
With centre Henrik Sedin returning from an injury, Crawford was able to meld the speedy Geoff Sanderson, acquired at the trading deadline, onto the second line along with Daniel Sedin. This created more offence off the rush.
Martin Rucinsky, another deadline acquisition, was taken off the top line. He now rotates through on a line with Artem Chubarov, Linden and Jarkko Ruutu. Primarily a checking line, the unit also has scoring potential.
Crawford refuses to say he retooled the Canucks.
``We kind of made subtle adjustments,'' he said. ``We haven't changed how we play. We've been sharper. That's been a function of familiarity.''
Vancouver was treading water in the 12 games following the February all-star break, going 5-6-1. But the team sank like a rock after Bertuzzi was suspended for the rest of the season and the playoffs for his March 8 attack on Colorado's Steve Moore.
The Canucks had one win in seven games. At one point they trailed Colorado by six points and fell behind Dallas to be fifth in the Western Conference.
They hit rock bottom after blowing a two-goal lead and losing 5-4 to Columbus at GM Place.
Linden said Crawford, who can be volatile on the bench and demanding in practice, was a calming influence after that game.
``You had 20 guys sitting around wondering which way the ship is going or what's going to happen to the ship,'' said Linden.
``Marc did a great job of preparing us and going in the right direction. Getting us focused on where we had to be.''
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
4/5/2004
VANCOUVER (CP) - It might have been the four days that saved the Vancouver Canucks' season.
Just two weeks ago the Canucks were reeling like a boxer staggered by a round-house right to the head. In the aftermath of the Todd Bertuzzi suspension Vancouver looked stunned and disoriented.
A break in the schedule gave Vancouver four days of practice sandwiched around a game against Los Angeles. It was a chance for coach Marc Crawford to mend the psyche of his tattered team, work on some basics and do some lineup juggling.
The Canucks responded by winning six straight games, their longest streak of the season, and claiming the Northwest Division crown. It was Vancouver's first division title in 11 years.
``It was huge,'' veteran centre Trevor Linden said Monday as the Canucks prepared for their Western Conference quarter-final series against the Calgary Flames.
``Marc really saw that as being a big stepping stone for our team. That's what we needed. We hadn't had a lot of practice time before that. We needed to get straightened out. We had some new guys and we had to get going again.''
The Canucks open the best-of-seven series against Calgary on Wednesday.
As disruptive as losing Bertuzzi was, it may have made the Canucks a better team. They play tighter defensively, allowing just seven goals in the last six games, and have spread the scoring around.
Crawford hesitated when asked if the Canucks are a stronger team now.
``We hope they are,'' he said.
``Any time you go through any experience you hope you use those experiences to benefit you and to help you in your preparation as you move forward.
``I believe our guys are gaining in the type of qualities that are needed to be successful at the important times of year.''
It was during the four-day practice session that Crawford moved Matt Cooke, a forward who can be as irritating to opponents as a cellphone ringing in a movie theatre, onto the top line with centre Brendan Morrison and left-winger Markus Naslund.
The line responded with eight goals and 18 points in six games.
While Cooke doesn't have Bertuzzi's size, his smash and crash style created space for his linemates. He also passes the puck more than Bertuzzi.
``Cookie isn't a guy who likes to carry the puck that much,'' said Morrison, who had two goals and six assists down the stretch.
``With Todd and Nazzy they tried to beat guys more one-on-one using their skill. With Cookie it's a little bit more give-and-go.''
With centre Henrik Sedin returning from an injury, Crawford was able to meld the speedy Geoff Sanderson, acquired at the trading deadline, onto the second line along with Daniel Sedin. This created more offence off the rush.
Martin Rucinsky, another deadline acquisition, was taken off the top line. He now rotates through on a line with Artem Chubarov, Linden and Jarkko Ruutu. Primarily a checking line, the unit also has scoring potential.
Crawford refuses to say he retooled the Canucks.
``We kind of made subtle adjustments,'' he said. ``We haven't changed how we play. We've been sharper. That's been a function of familiarity.''
Vancouver was treading water in the 12 games following the February all-star break, going 5-6-1. But the team sank like a rock after Bertuzzi was suspended for the rest of the season and the playoffs for his March 8 attack on Colorado's Steve Moore.
The Canucks had one win in seven games. At one point they trailed Colorado by six points and fell behind Dallas to be fifth in the Western Conference.
They hit rock bottom after blowing a two-goal lead and losing 5-4 to Columbus at GM Place.
Linden said Crawford, who can be volatile on the bench and demanding in practice, was a calming influence after that game.
``You had 20 guys sitting around wondering which way the ship is going or what's going to happen to the ship,'' said Linden.
``Marc did a great job of preparing us and going in the right direction. Getting us focused on where we had to be.''
Cheers,
Aquaman
Flames ready to take next step
Canadian Press
4/5/2004
CALGARY (CP) - Perhaps what the Calgary Flames don't know may be the best thing for them.
Coach Darryl Sutter knows his team is a longshot to defeat the Vancouver Canucks when the NHL playoffs begin Wednesday.
``We're a huge underdog in this series, but you have to start somewhere,'' Sutter said Monday, after the Flames finished sixth in the tough Western Conference.
Playoff experience - or lack of it - is a major factor in the series, which promises to be nasty if previous meetings are any indicator.
Jarome Iginla, co-winner of the scoring race, leads a crop of 14 Flames with two games or less of NHL playoff experience. Miikka Kiprusoff, the league's stingiest goaltender in the regular season, has only four.
``Jarome is going to have to show he can play in the situation,'' said Sutter. ``And he will.''
Sutter's deadpan assessments seem at dramatic odds with the excitement that has swept through Calgary as the Flames prepare for their first NHL playoff series in eight years.
Businesses and individuals have been clamouring for Flames paraphernalia as pennants, banners and jerseys have been flying off the shelves. Even a golf course - usually the only place you could find Calgary Flames at this time of year - has put in an order for flags with the flaming C to adorn all greens.
Defenceman Denis Gauthier says the Flames feel they can match up against all the top teams and could provide an upset.
``We're in there to make something happen,'' said the five-year veteran. ``What we may not have in experience, I think we'll make up for in pure energy and determination.''
The soft-spoken Kiprusoff is also confident that the Flames may provide a surprise.
``They have a good team but if we play our own game we can do some damage in the playoffs, too,'' said the 27-year-old Finnish goalie, whose 1.69 goals-against-average since coming to Calgary in November is the major reason the club is in the post season.
Left-winger Martin Gelinas went to the Stanley Cup final with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2002 and is ready to share that knowledge with his young teammates.
``As an older guy, you want to make sure everyone is on the same page,'' said Gelinas. ``I'm sure they will be a little nervous, but it's all good. It's an exciting time and this is where you try and make the best out of it.''
This year's Flames will meet a Canuck squad that has regrouped since the Todd Bertuzzi affair, ending the season with six straight wins without the imposing presence of their rugged superstar.
The Flames expect a tough, physical battle like the emotional matchups which have been the norm this season.
Although the Flames haven't won a playoff series since winning the Stanley Cup in 1989, there is a major trivia note in their favour. Calgary met Vancouver in the first round of the 1989 playoffs, winning in double overtime of Game 7. It was a victory that kickstarted their drive to the cup.
Iginla linemate Craig Conroy expects Vancouver will focus a lot of attention on slowing down Calgary's superstar, who got 41 goals in the regular season.
``They are going to have to do what they can to stop him and the rest of us will have to feed off that,'' said Conroy, who ended the season with 47 points including 39 assists.
``We all have to contribute, though. It's not going to be a one-man show because if it is, it's over.''
Conroy says the best part of the matchup with Vancouver is that the pressure is on Canucks.
``They're the ones expected to win the Stanley Cup: that was the hype before the season,'' he said. ``Statistically, they are the better team. They won our division so we have to go in there and say, hey, we have something to prove.''
Not to their fans.
``I'm ecstatic about this,'' said Danny Shibley, 26, who has a block of 16 tickets which came from his two season ticket accounts.
``It's been a long time coming,'' he said, remembering the Flames glory days and the tough rivalry with the Edmonton Oilers as the teams jostled for top position in the league.
``It's too bad (Edmonton) didn't make it, but I guess now they have Calgary to cheer for,'' said Shibley with a smile.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
4/5/2004
CALGARY (CP) - Perhaps what the Calgary Flames don't know may be the best thing for them.
Coach Darryl Sutter knows his team is a longshot to defeat the Vancouver Canucks when the NHL playoffs begin Wednesday.
``We're a huge underdog in this series, but you have to start somewhere,'' Sutter said Monday, after the Flames finished sixth in the tough Western Conference.
Playoff experience - or lack of it - is a major factor in the series, which promises to be nasty if previous meetings are any indicator.
Jarome Iginla, co-winner of the scoring race, leads a crop of 14 Flames with two games or less of NHL playoff experience. Miikka Kiprusoff, the league's stingiest goaltender in the regular season, has only four.
``Jarome is going to have to show he can play in the situation,'' said Sutter. ``And he will.''
Sutter's deadpan assessments seem at dramatic odds with the excitement that has swept through Calgary as the Flames prepare for their first NHL playoff series in eight years.
Businesses and individuals have been clamouring for Flames paraphernalia as pennants, banners and jerseys have been flying off the shelves. Even a golf course - usually the only place you could find Calgary Flames at this time of year - has put in an order for flags with the flaming C to adorn all greens.
Defenceman Denis Gauthier says the Flames feel they can match up against all the top teams and could provide an upset.
``We're in there to make something happen,'' said the five-year veteran. ``What we may not have in experience, I think we'll make up for in pure energy and determination.''
The soft-spoken Kiprusoff is also confident that the Flames may provide a surprise.
``They have a good team but if we play our own game we can do some damage in the playoffs, too,'' said the 27-year-old Finnish goalie, whose 1.69 goals-against-average since coming to Calgary in November is the major reason the club is in the post season.
Left-winger Martin Gelinas went to the Stanley Cup final with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2002 and is ready to share that knowledge with his young teammates.
``As an older guy, you want to make sure everyone is on the same page,'' said Gelinas. ``I'm sure they will be a little nervous, but it's all good. It's an exciting time and this is where you try and make the best out of it.''
This year's Flames will meet a Canuck squad that has regrouped since the Todd Bertuzzi affair, ending the season with six straight wins without the imposing presence of their rugged superstar.
The Flames expect a tough, physical battle like the emotional matchups which have been the norm this season.
Although the Flames haven't won a playoff series since winning the Stanley Cup in 1989, there is a major trivia note in their favour. Calgary met Vancouver in the first round of the 1989 playoffs, winning in double overtime of Game 7. It was a victory that kickstarted their drive to the cup.
Iginla linemate Craig Conroy expects Vancouver will focus a lot of attention on slowing down Calgary's superstar, who got 41 goals in the regular season.
``They are going to have to do what they can to stop him and the rest of us will have to feed off that,'' said Conroy, who ended the season with 47 points including 39 assists.
``We all have to contribute, though. It's not going to be a one-man show because if it is, it's over.''
Conroy says the best part of the matchup with Vancouver is that the pressure is on Canucks.
``They're the ones expected to win the Stanley Cup: that was the hype before the season,'' he said. ``Statistically, they are the better team. They won our division so we have to go in there and say, hey, we have something to prove.''
Not to their fans.
``I'm ecstatic about this,'' said Danny Shibley, 26, who has a block of 16 tickets which came from his two season ticket accounts.
``It's been a long time coming,'' he said, remembering the Flames glory days and the tough rivalry with the Edmonton Oilers as the teams jostled for top position in the league.
``It's too bad (Edmonton) didn't make it, but I guess now they have Calgary to cheer for,'' said Shibley with a smile.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Well alots happened since last post. Sure happy the team has pulled through.
Should give them some character,for the up coming playoffs.
They're a different style now. What Speed they've got now.
Good time for Clout's to get hot.
Bring on the Flames.
Playoff get together?
Sealy to the rescue?
Sure happy we had sattilite in camp.
Should give them some character,for the up coming playoffs.
They're a different style now. What Speed they've got now.
Good time for Clout's to get hot.
Bring on the Flames.
Playoff get together?
Sealy to the rescue?
Sure happy we had sattilite in camp.
Vancouver is going to be hard pressed to get by the second round without Bertuzzi and with Cloutier in net. Besides they are going to have to get by San Jose, St Louis, Detroit, Colorado or Dallas.
Cloutier is playing awesome the last 6 games of the season (he is also the only other goalie in the NHL besides Marty Brodeur to have 3 - 30 + win seasons in a row). Everyone always says he suck but you have to remember this is only his fourth playoff season and he has improved every year we have had him (both regular & post season). Thanks to goalie consultant Ian Clarke.
I can't dispute missing Bert though........... any team would miss suck a player.
Even before we think of the second round we have to take care of the Flames........... the hottest team in the second half of this season.
Then we can worry about the others.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Sealy
Platinum Member
- Aug 4, 2002
- 2,438
- 1
- 71
Well, I'm always up for organizing something...but it just never seems to work out! If I do, it'll only be posted in this thread. Only the "true" hockey fans need apply
Don't need any whiny snot nose little boys complaining how their car might get stolen wherever they park it!
Go Canucks Go!! Stanley Cup, here we come!!
Bring on the Flames.
Playoff get together?
Sealy to the rescue?
Sure happy we had sattilite in camp.[/quote]
Well, I'm always up for organizing something...but it just never seems to work out! If I do, it'll only be posted in this thread. Only the "true" hockey fans need apply
Don't need any whiny snot nose little boys complaining how their car might get stolen wherever they park it!
Go Canucks Go!! Stanley Cup, here we come!!
[/quote]we could always tell those little boys to leave thier Dinky toys at home...........
With thier Mom's.
silverpig
Lifer
- Jul 29, 2001
- 27,703
- 12
- 81
Canada blanks the U.S. to take gold
Canadian Press
4/6/2004
HALIFAX (CP) - Canada's reign continued at the women's world hockey championship with a 2-0 win over the United States in Tuesday night's final.
Hayley Wickenheiser and Delaney Collins scored for Canada, which has won all eight women's titles since the tournament began in 1990.
The Canadian team's penalty killers held off the Americans' vaunted power play in the third period, killing off three man advantages.
The U.S. pulled goaltender Pam Dreyer for an extra attacker with less than two minutes remaining, but were unable to score.
But the American players were angry over an apparent missed goal by officials during their third power play of that period.
With about five minutes remaining in the third, American Natalie Darwitz fired a shot that first appeared to go off the crossbar and back out. But television replays showed the puck actually hit the supports behind the crossbar, meaning it should have counted as a goal.
When play ceased, Finnish referee Anu Hirvonen went over to the timekeeper's bench and got on the phone. When she hung up, though, Hirvonen signalled for a faceoff in the neutral zone rather than pointing to centre ice, which would have meant the Americans had scored.
Wickenheiser, who had been held off the scoreboard in her two previous games, took a drop pass from Danielle Goyette just over the blue-line and beat U.S. goaltender Pam Dreyer on a high shot from the top of the faceoff circle at 4:17 of the second.
Collins gave Canada a 2-0 lead less than two minutes into the third period. Dreyer failed to freeze a slow-moving shot from Dana Antal. Collins drove the net and shovelled the puck between Dreyer's pads.
The U.S. had more shots on net in the opening minutes, but Canada patiently worked to move the puck up the ice and gain some scoring chances. The Canadians outshot the Americans 10-9 in the opening frame and 18-14 after two.
Canada had four power plays in the first 40 minutes, but was unable to convert them into goals. Dreyer made three quick saves on Canada's second man advantage to keep the game scoreless after one period.
A sell-out crowd of 10,506 took in the game at the Halifax Metro Centre, generating a thunderous ovation for the Canadian team before the puck dropped. The tournament set an overall attendance record of 94,001, beating the previous mark of 66,783 set at the 1997 women's world championships in Kitchener, Ont.
The U.S. went into the game down two skaters as forward Krissy Wendell, who had injured her knee Monday in a game against Sweden, was scratched from the lineup. The Americans lost forward Shelley Looney to torn knee ligaments last week.
Forward Julie Chu returned to the lineup after a bout with the flu. Captain Cammi Granato played in her second game since injuring her knee last week, but was used sparingly.
Canada, which beat Sweden 7-1 on Sunday, went into the final with an extra day of rest over the Americans, who had played the previous night against the Swedes.
Canada had beaten the U.S. in the finals of all seven previous world championship, but the Americans had won three games in a row against their rival heading into the final.
The U.S. defeated Canada 3-1 in a playoff game Saturday to put an end to the Canadian team's perfect record at the world championship.
Notes - Finland edged Sweden 3-2 for the bronze earlier Tuesday . . . Fourteen players from the Canadian team will be involved in the National Women's Hockey League playoffs starting Thursday in Brampton, Ont.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
4/6/2004
HALIFAX (CP) - Canada's reign continued at the women's world hockey championship with a 2-0 win over the United States in Tuesday night's final.
Hayley Wickenheiser and Delaney Collins scored for Canada, which has won all eight women's titles since the tournament began in 1990.
The Canadian team's penalty killers held off the Americans' vaunted power play in the third period, killing off three man advantages.
The U.S. pulled goaltender Pam Dreyer for an extra attacker with less than two minutes remaining, but were unable to score.
But the American players were angry over an apparent missed goal by officials during their third power play of that period.
With about five minutes remaining in the third, American Natalie Darwitz fired a shot that first appeared to go off the crossbar and back out. But television replays showed the puck actually hit the supports behind the crossbar, meaning it should have counted as a goal.
When play ceased, Finnish referee Anu Hirvonen went over to the timekeeper's bench and got on the phone. When she hung up, though, Hirvonen signalled for a faceoff in the neutral zone rather than pointing to centre ice, which would have meant the Americans had scored.
Wickenheiser, who had been held off the scoreboard in her two previous games, took a drop pass from Danielle Goyette just over the blue-line and beat U.S. goaltender Pam Dreyer on a high shot from the top of the faceoff circle at 4:17 of the second.
Collins gave Canada a 2-0 lead less than two minutes into the third period. Dreyer failed to freeze a slow-moving shot from Dana Antal. Collins drove the net and shovelled the puck between Dreyer's pads.
The U.S. had more shots on net in the opening minutes, but Canada patiently worked to move the puck up the ice and gain some scoring chances. The Canadians outshot the Americans 10-9 in the opening frame and 18-14 after two.
Canada had four power plays in the first 40 minutes, but was unable to convert them into goals. Dreyer made three quick saves on Canada's second man advantage to keep the game scoreless after one period.
A sell-out crowd of 10,506 took in the game at the Halifax Metro Centre, generating a thunderous ovation for the Canadian team before the puck dropped. The tournament set an overall attendance record of 94,001, beating the previous mark of 66,783 set at the 1997 women's world championships in Kitchener, Ont.
The U.S. went into the game down two skaters as forward Krissy Wendell, who had injured her knee Monday in a game against Sweden, was scratched from the lineup. The Americans lost forward Shelley Looney to torn knee ligaments last week.
Forward Julie Chu returned to the lineup after a bout with the flu. Captain Cammi Granato played in her second game since injuring her knee last week, but was used sparingly.
Canada, which beat Sweden 7-1 on Sunday, went into the final with an extra day of rest over the Americans, who had played the previous night against the Swedes.
Canada had beaten the U.S. in the finals of all seven previous world championship, but the Americans had won three games in a row against their rival heading into the final.
The U.S. defeated Canada 3-1 in a playoff game Saturday to put an end to the Canadian team's perfect record at the world championship.
Notes - Finland edged Sweden 3-2 for the bronze earlier Tuesday . . . Fourteen players from the Canadian team will be involved in the National Women's Hockey League playoffs starting Thursday in Brampton, Ont.
Cheers,
Aquaman
- Status
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