Official: Vancouver Canucks W00T

[Aquaman]

Jovanovski confronts caller on radio

Canadian Press
2/20/2004

VANCOUVER (CP) - Injured Vancouver defenceman Ed Jovanovski phoned a local radio station Friday to defend his teammates after a caller called the Canucks clowns.

``I just turned on the radio and heard this guy call my team a bunch of clowns,'' Jovanovski told The Team 1040.

``The team is not a bunch of clowns. If this guy is a season ticket holder he can just go ahead and sell his tickets. It's very unfair for guys to crucify (a team) when you're working hard. It pisses guys off when you hear that.''

Irate callers had been filling the airwaves following Vancouver's 6-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild Thursday night. The Canucks have just one win in their last five games.

During The Team's morning program, listeners were critical of the Canucks effort.

``If those clowns can't get up for the game, don't turn around and look at (coach Marc) Crawford,'' said one caller.

``They are not a pee wee team anymore. They are getting paid millions of dollars to get fired up to play hockey. If they want to go out there and lay an egg, you look directly at the 25 clowns sitting on the bench.''

Jovanovski, who is recovering from a shoulder separation and didn't accompany the team on its current road trip, rose to the Canucks defence. He called the radio station's main number and asked to be put on the air.

``The team hasn't been winning and that's what fans want to see and that's what they deserve to see,'' Jovanovski said.

``They do pay a lot of money to watch us play but don't go personal and call guys clowns.

``If this guy is so brave put him on the ice and see what he can do.''

Jovanovski has already missed four weeks with his shoulder injury and could be gone for another month.

The Canucks have also lost captain Markus Naslund with a concussion.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

Wild's Johnson suspended five games

TSN.ca Staff
2/20/2004

Minnesota Wild forward Matt Johnson has been suspended for five games, without pay, for his part in a slashing incident during the third period of Thursday night's game against the Vancouver Canucks.

With the score 6-1 in favour of the Wild, Cooke and Johnson were given offsetting minor penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct but hooked up again shortly after leaving the penalty box.

Johnson received a match penalty for slashing Cooke, who was assessed a 10-minute misconduct after responding with a spear to Johnson's midsection. The two old rivals from last year's playoffs had argued most of the night.

Based on his average annual salary and under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Johnson forfeits $32,361.11.

Johnson will miss games Feb. 22 against Colorado, Feb. 26 at Nashville, Feb. 27 at Dallas, Feb. 29 against Carolina and March 3 at Anaheim. He will be eligible to return on March 4 at Los Angeles.

The NHL has a disciplinary hearing for Cooke scheduled for Saturday. It is likely that he will also be suspended.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

Cooke suspended two games for spearing

TSN.ca Staff
2/21/2004

Matt Cooke of the Vancouver Canucks has been suspended for two games for his part in an ugly incident with Matt Johnson during the third period of Thursday night's game in Minnesota. On Friday, Johnson was suspended for five games for slashing in the same incident.

With the score 6-1 in favour of the Wild, Cooke and Johnson were given offsetting minor penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct but hooked up again shortly after leaving the penalty box.

Johnson received a match penalty for slashing Cooke, who was assessed a 10-minute misconduct for roughing in the fray. The two old rivals from last year's playoffs argued most of the night, but Johnson became angry after Cooke speared him.

Cooke forfeits $5,092.60 US in salary and will be eligible to return Feb. 26 against San Jose.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

Canucks vs Oilers 7pm PST on CBC

Go Canucks Go!!!

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[sandorski]

rofl. Bouck has the funniest scowl on his face when he's fighting.

 

[sandorski]

woot Malik

 

[sandorski]

Oilers fans are booing Bertuzzi now? Must be contagious.

 

[sandorski]

woot D Sedin

 

[sandorski]

booyah, Clouts is on fire tonight

 

[sandorski]

woot Federov....might be changed though

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: sandorski
woot Federov....might be changed though

edit: Chubarov gets credit for goal

 

[sandorski]

meh, 1 point is ok, should have been 2 though.

 

[Aquaman]

Yeah but what can you do

We still have to get better to have a chance against the Wings

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[silverpig]

Dammit. We really needed that... And Cloutier played really well.

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: silverpig
Dammit. We really needed that... And Cloutier played really well.

Dems the breaks On the other hand I hope Edmonton keeps winning so that all of the Canadian teams get into the playoffs

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[oldfoof]

Oh well Arg lost 2 bucks on that game.

We all know whos going to make the playoff , and all the others better start shine'n up their clubs

 

[Aquaman]

Brewer leads Oilers over Canucks in OT

Canadian Press
2/22/2004

EDMONTON (CP) - A playoff appearance is still a long way from reality for the Edmonton Oilers.

But on a day many of their rivals for the final playoff spot in Western Conference picked up two points, the Oilers made sure to keep pace.

Eric Brewer scored at 3:56 of overtime as the Oilers rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

``That was really our only goal once we got into overtime,'' said Brewer. ``We battled like crazy to get there. I thought we played really well. Guys moved the puck well, played the type of game we needed to.''

Brewer rushed the net and hit the post on his attempt but the puck bounced around the crease and eventually trickled in behind Dan Cloutier.

``I'm glad (it went in) because I don't know if I'd have been skating down the other end,'' said Brewer.

The Oilers (25-26-9-1) are seven points back of the Los Angeles Kings for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. The Kings, with 67 points after a 4-3 win over Columbus, moved a point up on idle St. Louis.

Edmonton rallied twice from one-goal deficits before catching the break in overtime.

``We haven't had a lot of breaks this year and we created our own break in the end,'' said Oilers coach Craig MacTavish. ``Brew made a terrific play.

``It was a great feeling for our team and it will give us a lot of energy coming into the rink tomorrow.''

Adam Oates set up Ales Hemsky's goal that tied the game 3-3 at 4:21 of the third period and also scored his first goal in 39 games this season for the Oilers. Fernando Pisani had the other Edmonton goal.

Hemsky corralled a loose puck and slid a backhand shot behind Cloutier to even up the fast-paced game.

Earlier, Oates received a huge ovation from the sold-out Rexall Place crowd when he broke his drought in the second period, tying the game at 2-2 by chipping a shot past Cloutier on a power play.

``That was great,'' Oates said of the fans' response. ``It was very appreciated. It's a nice feeling, really humbling.

``Maybe they were just thankful it's finally over.''

Artem Chubarov, Marek Malik and Daniel Sedin scored while Todd Bertuzzi added two assists for the Canucks (32-19-7-4), who lost their second straight and fifth in sixth games.

Vancouver was again without injured captain Markus Naslund.

``It's still pretty frustrating,'' Bertuzzi said of Vancouver's tough stretch. ``We just had to keep doing what we did in the first and second. We were playing well in the first and second.

``We stepped back a little bit in their zone and (had) bad coverage in overtime.''

Cloutier stopped 33 shots for Vancouver and was at his best during a busy second period, when he faced 15 shots and turned away a number of good chances.

Chubarov put the Canucks up 3-2 at 15:47 of the second period when he deflected Fedor Fedorov's point shot past Tommy Salo.

The goal silenced the crowd, which was still celebrating that Oates goal that had tied the game 2-2 1:07 earlier.

``Overall, we just got to strive to get better and play like we did to get the leads,'' said Bertuzzi. ``We tied it up, we came right back, tied it up and then got the lead. We've got to play better with the lead and we've got to continue to go forward instead of sitting back.''

Canucks coach Marc Crawford was pleased with his team's effort despite the OT loss.

``The point that we get will end up being huge for us,'' said Crawford. ``For the most part, I thought we had some inspired performances.''

The game got off to a fast start, with Vancouver's Tyler Bouck and Edmonton's Steve Staios dropping the gloves just 46 seconds in.

The Oilers took a 1-0 lead at 1:45 on the power play when Pisani got his eighth of the year by banging home a rebound off a Shawn Horcoff shot.

Vancouver responded 17 seconds later, when Malik's point shot bounced past Salo.

Sedin gave the Canucks a 2-1 lead at 18:25 of the first with a beautiful goal. He patiently outwaited defenceman Jason Smith, before unloading a low wrist shot by Salo, who improved as the game went on.

Notes: Oates' now has 1,411 points, moving him to 14th on the all-time NHL scoring list. ... Wrestler Bill Goldberg sat behind the Oilers bench. ... Edmonton speedster Tony Salmelainen saw action in his 11th game of the year after a recent call-up from the AHL's Toronto Roadrunners. Salmelainen took the spot of Radek Dvorak, who was placed on IR this week with a groin injury.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

Canucks vs Wings 7pm PST on PPV Lucky I have a friend who ordered them all this season

Go Canucks Go!!!

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

Canucks GM not panicked to make a move

Canadian Press
2/24/2004

VANCOUVER (CP) - Canucks general manager Brian Burke says he won't be panicked into making a deal as the NHL trade deadline approaches.

There has been a sense of frustration among the Vancouver media and the team's rabid fans that Burke has let several trade opportunities slip through his fingers while the Canucks have struggled to win games and keep a grip on home-ice advantage in the playoffs.

``Right now the mood I get in this city and from the media is panic,'' Burke said Tuesday in his weekly interview on CKNW radio.

``I don't feel that way. I believe in the group. I intend to add to the group if I can but I don't feel any of the panic I sense out there.''

The NHL trade deadline is March 9, but centre Brendan Morrison doubted the Canucks needed a major facelift.

``I don't think we have to do anything drastic,'' Morrison said prior to Tuesday night's game against the Detroit Red Wings.

``I think people are getting a little antsy now because they see some action around the league and teams making moves. Time will see if those moves pay off. We're confident with the guys we have in here.''

Heading into Tuesday night's contest the Canucks had just two wins in their previous nine games and had struggled at home.

The team has also lost captain Markus Naslund (concussion), defenceman Ed Jovanovski (separated shoulder) and forward Magnus Arvedson (season-ending knee surgery) to injury.

The Colorado Avalanche, who the Canucks are trying to catch for first place in the Northwest Division, recently acquired defencemen Kurt Sauer and Bob Boughner to offset injuries to Rob Blake and Adam Foote.

The Canucks also talked with Chicago about centre Alexei Zhamnov, who was dealt to Philadelphia after both Jeremy Roenick and Keith Primeau were sidelined by concussions.

Burke said the Blackhawks wanted a top young player and a draft pick for the 33-year-old Zhamnov, a price he wasn't willing to pay, especially with Zhamnov due to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.

He also acknowledged Steve Sullivan had ``a career week'' since scoring 10 points after being dealt from Chicago to Nashville. Burke reminded people to look at Sullivan's career points per game.

As he's done in the past, Burke said he won't trade away the Canucks' future for a player who will probably seek free agency when the season is over.

``The rental market is where people make the biggest mistakes,'' Burke said. ``Do I intent to keep the core of this team together? Yes. Will I move players off this team for the right deal? Absolutely, but not for a rental.

``We have a really good young team. I'm not going to take a guy that is going to play six to 10 years in the NHL and move him for a guy that is going to pack his bags, wave goodbye, and probably ask me for a ride to the airport on July 1.''

If the Canuck players are frustrated Burke hasn't made a deal they are not saying it publicly.

``I'm not in a position to sit here and say we need this and we need that,'' said star winger Todd Bertuzzi.

``It's for Brian Burke and Dave Nonis (Vancouver's director of hockey operations) to figure out. I'm sure they've been watching carefully what has been going on throughout the league and watching the way we've been playing and they will have to make their own decisions on that.''

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[CraigRT]

Go Canucks Go

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Aquaman
Canucks vs Wings 7pm PST on PPV Lucky I have a friend who ordered them all this season

Go Canucks Go!!!

Cheers,
Aquaman

You're going down tonight boys.

Last meeting left a bad taste in Wings' mouth.

We're gonna release our secret weapon on you.................Cris Draper.

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: Aquaman
Canucks vs Wings 7pm PST on PPV Lucky I have a friend who ordered them all this season

Go Canucks Go!!!

Cheers,
Aquaman

You're going down tonight boys.

Last meeting left a bad taste in Wings' mouth.

We're gonna release our secret weapon on you.................Cris Draper.

Ha ha ha............. we shall see Fedor will take some revenge for his brother

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: Aquaman
Canucks vs Wings 7pm PST on PPV Lucky I have a friend who ordered them all this season

Go Canucks Go!!!

Cheers,
Aquaman

You're going down tonight boys.

Last meeting left a bad taste in Wings' mouth.

We're gonna release our secret weapon on you.................Cris Draper.

Ha ha ha............. we shall see Fedor will take some revenge for his brother

Cheers,
Aquaman

Hehe, I hope so. Fedor lacks something his brother has, Heart. It would be nice to see him prove me wrong, especially tonight!

 

[silverpig]

Go Canucks Go!

 

[bootymac]

I can see it now... Fedor Federov with a hat trick, and scoring the game winner in OT