A few things I think I think

1. The Canucks in the last two seasons have become the NHL epitome of a 'streaky' team.

2003-04:

A one 4 game unbeaten streak, two 5 game unbeaten streaks, and a one 8 game unbeaten streak (7-0-1) accompanied with three 3 game losing streaks, and a 5 game winless streak (0-4-1).

This Season:

October: they won 9 of their first 11 games including a 7 game win streak.
November: there was only one game ( a 5-4 loss to LA) where a streak of wins or losses of at least two games didn't persist.
December: Won 4 in a row before losing theire last 6 of 7.
January: Won 7 of 8 sandwiched between sets of losses.
Febraury: Didn't do anything to help me with my argument: W,L,W,LL,WW
March: Of course they are currently on a torrid 5 game losing streak and it's seemingly counting.

Last night I was hoping Noronen would play well, and he didn't. Nobody played well either. 0-8 on the powerplay and weak defensively. The Sedins' and Carter, who should have finished that point blank oppurtunity in the second, are the one's doing anything out there. It's up to Crawford to conjure up a strategy to alter the tide so the Nucks can win the next ten games in a row (i wish...a five game win streak will do).

2. Buffalo Sabres look deadly. They have been scoring like crazy lately, and at this point of the season they're proving it's no fluke. It'll be interesting to see them in the playoffs where they are bound to meet Philadelphia in the first round.

3. Miikka Kiprusoff is the league MVP. No doubt about that. Unless he starts playing like Cloutier in the playoffs he's secured my vote!

4. I really really wish I could turn back time, to let Nonis pull the Bertuzzi, Cloutier, Jovanovski trade for Luongo, Bouwmeester and draft pick. Alas this is not possible, and I shall pray to the hockey gods for a similar trade offer next year.

" Bertuzzi's Coc Dealer got the Wrong Address " or " Out of Fad Post 9/11 Anthrax Hockey Scare "

Canucks' arena quarantined after powder found in letter
March 14, 2006

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- A letter containing suspicious white powder triggered a quarantine for several hours at GM Place, home of the Vancouver Canucks. The substance was later determined to be not harmful. Police say the contents of the package leaked onto a desk when opened by Orca Bay staff Monday. None of the seven employees exposed to the material became ill.

The letter referred to Canucks star Todd Bertuzzi, although no other details were released. Bertuzzi was suspended and reinstated by the NHL for his on-ice attack of Steve Moore in 2004. He played for Canada at the Turin Olympics.

The Canucks were in Dallas on Monday night and lost their fourth straight game.

Play Mika!

My brother told me last night that Mika Noronen was supposed to start in net for the second of the two games against the Stars. I was very disappointed to see Alex Auld in net again. This guy is tired. More importantly he hasn't been playing clutch in the third period (again we saw it last night 2 goals in the third for the Stars to sweep the season series). When is the last time he got a break? With the horrible ex-backup Ouellet not scaring Crawford anymore it's nice to finally get a decent 2nd stopper for the Nucks. So why isn't Noronen playing? If you break down the teams that are battling with the Canucks for 6-8 spots in the Western Conference you'll see a tasty trend of Hot goaltenders that have recently been turning it on (no Brokeback comments jerks i realize where this metaphor can go)...

LA Kings: Mathieu Garon, Where did this guy come from? 27 wins so far for a guy who hadn't won over 10 games in the last 4 years with Montreal.
Anaheim (used to be 'Mighty') Ducks: Both J.S. Giguere and Backup Bryzgalov are posting a 914% save percentage on the season.
Edmonton Oilers: Finally acquired a reliable starter in Dwayne Roloson. Or did they? 0-4 since appearing in those ugly dark blue uniforms (bring back the old jerseys!).
San Jose Sharks: Vesa Toskala has won 7 or his last 8 consecutive starts since taking over for struggling Nabokov.
Colorado Avalanche: Peter Budaj, ie. Who? has posted a .927% in his last 5 since taking over for David Aebishchermeiserhser...whatever.

With the exception of Giguere each of these teams has a different starting goaltender from last year, and they are all banking wins on em'. Ok, i realize Mika Noronen is no Miikka Kiprusoff but It's time for Crawford to test out his latest goalie acquisition to see if he can get hot before the playoffs. It's now or never to find out if the Canucks will have (dare i say it) a reasonable chance at anything in the post season with a decent pair of pads between the pipes!

OK!

This is my first posting and I'm hopeful that this is going to turn into a very wicked Hockey Blog dedicated to my favorite NHL hockey team the Vancouver Canucks.....