Canucks/Bruins Game Lives Up To Hype

It is not often a regular season hockey game matches all the pre-game hype, the Canucks vs Bruins Stanley Cup rematch on Saturday sure did. What an emotional clash of differing hockey ideologies, an all out war.

Good on the Canucks. In the days leading up to the game the Canucks downplayed the importance of this game, claiming it was all about two regular season points. Clearly it was worth much more, and more to the Canucks than to the Bruins. They had to make a statement, answering the bell and defeating their nemesis.

Kudos to Boston, too. They stay true to their old school approach that they have always adopted and it serves them very well. They play dirty and, heck, it won them the Stanley Cup. You do not have to like it but you have to admit it is effective, and almost admirable. In this game they were clearly the better team at even strength (they owned the Ryan Kesler line) and had they not gotten into penalty trouble they could have been full value for another demoralizing victory.

Not enough people say this very often, but great job by veteran referees Don van Massenhoven and Dan O'Rourke. They handled this impossible powder keg excellently, something not enough people have given them credit for. Everyone knew the Bruins would try to bully the Canucks right from the opening puck drop. The Canucks answered the bell, but the referees then cracked down their unnecessary after the whistle antics on both sides.

Unlike last June, this time the Canucks power play won them the game - textbook Canucks hockey. Only it was not the usual suspects coming through this time around. With the Canucks trailing 2-1 and needing badly to score on the power play to a) get back in the game and b) slow the Bruins bullying, coach Alain Vigneault twice went the second unit to start power plays. Cody Hodgson came through brilliantly, setting up the 2-2 goal and netting what proved to be the winning goal.

The Sedins and Ryan Kesler have been cold on the power play for the past several games. Vigneault made the right call in sitting them and letting Hodgson, Alex Burrows and Chris Higgins get the job done. In fact the Sedins were more or less nullified in this game and Ryan Kesler was disappointingly invisible. Vigneault has been guilty far too many times of his formulaic coaching. To see him come up with a mid-game plan B was a refreshing and badly needed change. It won him the game.

Kevin Bieksa also deserves major props, logging a game high 28 minutes and getting two assists. Manny Malhotra had his best game of the season, in my opinion, with extensive penalty kill time and 11 of the 15 defensive zone starts, more than any other Canucks player by far.

But ultimately with Sedins having mixed results, Kesler having a terrible game at even strength (Tyler Seguin's line owned the Kesler line) and Roberto Luongo on the bench, the questions surrounding this team's ability to win the Stanley Cup. That being said, the Canucks depth and specialty teams really shone through.

The game was obviously a very spirited affair, complete with a line brawl less than 5 minutes in and several dirty incidents. Milan Lucic was kicked out of the game, Andrew Ebbett broke his collarbone, but none was nastier than Brad Marchand's cowardly low bridging of a completely unsuspecting Sami Salo. It remains to be seen if Marchand, who did the exact same thing to Daniel Sedin in the Stanley Cup playoffs last June, will face any supplementary discipline.

An avid user of Twitter I was horrified at the response of many of the Boston fans. They saw nothing wrong with "a clean hip check" and a couple even told me Salo dove on the play. Mindless Neanderthals. How these Bruins fans can demonize Alex Burrows and Matt Cooke yet hypocritically defend Brad Marchand is beyond me.

On the whole it was a big win. I come away still firm in my belief that had the Canucks been healthy and had the Finals last June be called with the actual NHL rulebook that Vancouver would have defeated Boston for the 2011 Stanley Cup.

Vancouver Canucks First NHL Game: October 9th, 1970

The Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres are both celebrating their 40th anniversaries this season. Let's take a look back to the Canucks first game in NHL history - October 9th, 1970 - a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

The game was of course delayed by celebrations and dignitaries. A 73 man pipe band called the British Columbia Beefeater Band wowed the crowds before local singer Juliette Syska sang "O Canada!" to a big round of applause.

Premiere W.A.C. Bennett and Chief Dan George helped Mayor Tom Campbell drop the ceremonial puck. NHL president Clarence Campbell and the Stanley Cup were both on hand as well, but it was 87 year old Cyclone Taylor - the only surviving member of the Vancouver Millionaires 1915 Stanley Cup championship - who got the loudest round of approval.

The game was played at the Pacific Coliseum before 15062 paying fans. The prices for tickets - anywhere from $3.50 to $6.40. And yes that did draw some complaints. In fact, the very first NHL game in Vancouver history was not even sold out! The Canucks blamed that on the fact that the game was nationally televised on Hockey Night in Canada.

Bob Pulford and Orland Kurtenbach got into a fight just 4:26 into the game. Ross Lonsberry of the Kings scored the first goal of the game, a power play maker at 9:26 of the second period. Barry Wilkins finally gave the Canucks fans something to cheer about a 2:14 of the third period - and became the answer to a great trivia question at the same time. He scored the first goal in Canucks history, beating Kings netminder Denis Dejordy. But eight minutes later Bob Berry scored his second goal of the game to cement the win for the Kings. Goaltender George Gardner took the loss for the Canucks.

The full boxscore of the game can accessed here.

By the way, the Canucks (and the Sabres) paid $4 million for the right to the join the league. Who did the Canucks get in the expansion draft? Gary Doak, Orland Kurtenbach, Ray Cullen, Pat Quinn, Rosaire Paiement, Darryl Sly, Jim Wiste, Danny Johnson, Barry Wilkens, Ralph Stewart, Mike Corrigan, Wayne Maki, Ed Hatoum, Paul Popiel, Ron Ward, John Schella, Bob Dillabough, Garth Rizutto, Dunc Wilson and Charlie Hodge.

Funny Feeling In Vancouver

That's Mike Bossy scoring against "King" Richard Brodeur in the 1982 Stanley Cup finals.

For many Vancouver fans like myself, that was the first great moment in Canucks team history. Against long odds, and completely unexpectedly, the Canucks were in the Stanley Cup finals.

A similar situation unfolded in 1994, although that team was far better and were a couple of game 7 goal posts away from actually winning the Stanley Cup.

Aside from those two glorious springs, playoff hockey in Vancouver has historically been more about early exits. More recently it has been more about disappointing results.

But there is a funny feeling in Vancouver these days. Perhaps it is just post-Olympic optimism, but it seems to me that for the first time ever the Canucks fans see their teams as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.

Now they said that of teams in both the Pavel Bure/Trevor Linden and Markus Naslund/Todd Bertuzzi era, but those experts were ultimately proven wrong. And I don't know that Canucks fans even dared to believe in it back then, anyways. Years of disappointment can be really hard on a fan.

But this spring I like Vancouver's chances so much that I'm willing to risk jinxing it by coming right out and saying it. I'm not quite going to pick them to win the Stanley Cup just yet, but, if healthy, I like their chances in the Western Conference.

Chicago is the odds on favorite, no doubt. Vancouver has some concerns - I don't like the 3rd and 4th lines and the lack of a #1 defenseman. But I do not know that Vancouver has ever entered the Stanley Cup playoffs with a better team.

The Long Wait For The NHL

Note: This article is part two of a two part history of hockey history in British Columbia prior to the NHL's arrival. Here is part one.

Between the 1930s and the 1950s, hockey suffered in BC's Lower Mainland.

The Patricks were gone, and so was big league hockey. To make matters worse the Denman Arena, the famed Vancouver ice rink built by the Patricks, burned down in 1936. The site of so much BC hockey history disappeared in the smoke.

Semi-professional hockey tried desperately to fill the void in the Lower Mainland, but to no great success. Operating on budgets of $50 a week per player plus some guarantee of a real job, teams like the Vancouver Towers, Vancouver Ex-King George, Vancouver Amateurs, Vancouver Quakers, Vancouver Cubs, Vancouver Young Liberals, and even, heaven forbid, the Vancouver Maple Leafs arose.

These teams all had one goal - not the Stanley Cup, but the Allan Cup. The Allan Cup was symbolic of the best amateur hockey team in Canada, although amateurism was never too closely monitored back then. At one time the Allan Cup was nearly as highly regarded as the Stanley Cup. After all, the Allan Cup champion was asked to represent all of Canada in international hockey events, such as the World Championships and the Olympics.

There was a lot of great hockey played in BC in these lean years, but most of the success came in the Interior rather than the Lower Mainland. These communities offered better paying and more secure jobs, as well as great hockey. Teams from Trail, Kimberley and Penticton all would win the Allan Cup and go on to international glory.

The Birth of the Canucks

In 1948 professional hockey returned to BC. The Patricks were not involved this time, but the Pacific Coast League was reformed, complete with the Victoria Cougars and New Westminster Royals. Vancouver's team was given a new name - the Canucks. The owner was a Vancouver born self made millionaire known once as a great pitching prospect but later for his short temper - Coley Hall.

Over the next couple of decades the PCHL, which later changed its name to Western Hockey League, proved to be a top minor league, developing great talent for the NHL. Names like Gump Worsley, Johnny Bower, Tony Esposito, Cesare Maniago, Andy Bathgate, Phil Maloney, Allan Stanley, Lou Fontinato, Pat Egan, Bill Ezinicki and even Don Cherry spent time in BC.

The Pacific National Exhibition, where the Vancouver Forum ice rink was located, took control of the Canucks in 1958, although Hall would be back in a minority owner and adviser role later. During the 1960s rumblings of NHL expansion increased into reality by 1967 when the league doubled in size from 6 to 12 teams. With its' great population base and unquenchable thirst for good hockey, Vancouverites wanted a NHL franchise. All of Canada expected it to happen. Much to their surprise, they would not get one right away.

It is a long though interesting of missteps, delays and, of course, petty politics...

As early as 1964 rumors started of a NHL franchise coming to Vancouver. Toronto Maple Leafs president Stafford Smythe had publicly mused about building a NHL suitable rink as a way to generate new wealth. But he wanted Vancouver to grant him free property in the prime downtown area. Smythe and his assistant, Harold Ballard, came west to promote their plan, but turned off many with their brash approach. Westerners were always weary of Easterners' exploiting intentions. Some rumors had Smythe building a hotel and racing track on the property, too. Their proposal was rejected.

The smarting Torontonians returned home with a stern message - there would be no way that Vancouver would get a NHL franchise in his lifetime.

NHL Expansion Announced

In 1965, when the NHL announced their intention to expand to six new markets for the 1967-68 season, Vancouver's interest peaked. "Friendly Fred" Hume, the former mayor and owner of the WHL Canucks offered to finance and build a $6.5 million dollar rink on Pacific National Exhibition property. That proved to be unnecessary as through funding from the three levels of government the PNE was able to go at it alone. The Pacific Colisuem was formally christened on January 8th, 1969. Sadly, Fred Hume, a great friend of BC hockey, had passed away on February 17th, 1967, never seeing the emergence of his dream of the Coliseum or NHL hockey in Vancouver.

Hume's contributions to hockey in Vancouver can not go unmentioned. The former owner of the New Westminster Royals bought the money losing WHL Canucks in 1962 if only because he did not want to see hockey die in the city. First he tried to buy the team with a 50-50 partnership with the NHL's New York Rangers. The WHL board of directors denied that bid, thankfully as that may have delayed the NHL's arrival in Vancouver for some time. When they refused the partnerships offer Hume stepped up offering to purchase the Canucks all by himself.

Shortly after announcing his NHL bid, Hume would fall ill, and he sold his interests in the team to a group that could continue the NHL chase. It was thought that Hume would sell to oil millionaire Frank McMahon, a owner that the NHL good ol' boys certainly approved of. But instead he sold to a group led by Cyrus McLean. That group was coldly rejected by the NHL. They clearly wanted McMahon as the owner of any Vancouver franchise. NHL president Clarence Campbell even urged the McLean group to go home and regroup by merging with or completely selling to McMahon.

With a price tag of $2 million the NHL granted expansion franchises to St. Louis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Oakland and Los Angeles, leaving Vancouver in the cold. Campbell sheepishly stated publicly, "It would have been in the best interests of the NHL to have another Canadian franchise. It's too bad Vancouver fumbled the ball so badly when they had it in the first place."

The Fight Continues

Grudgingly, the McLean group merged with McMahon by Christmas of 1967 with the mandate to bring the NHL to Vancouver as soon as possible. Again they set about it in a way that could not make NHL owners happy: by trying to relocate an existing franchise to Vancouver.

They courted Oakland owner Barend Van Gerbig after he realized hockey in California's Bay Area was not going to work at that time. After the NHL rejected the relocation bid, Van Gerbig turned to the deep pockets of brewer Labatts. Three times the tandem tried to gain the Canucks approval of their proposed merger, but fearing loss of control, the Canucks said no.

Perhaps because of these insistent efforts, or more likely because of the great public backlash from all across Canada, the NHL formed a sub-committee in the summer of 1968 to explore further expansion, vaguely promising admission to include Vancouver next time around.

Gambling that expansion was imminent, the Canucks paid the NHL a $25,00 deposit and even paid $1 million to purchase the roster of the Rochester Americans and their coach Joe Crozier. Yet Vancouver remained no where close to gaining admission into the NHL.

In January, 1969 another attempt was made to purchase and relocate the Oakland franchise, but the NHL refused to let the Seals die. Rumors of Pittsburgh's early financial difficulties also bred rumors of the Penguins relocation to Vancouver, although it seems nothing serious happened on this front.

A High Price To Pay

In June 1969 the NHL expansion committee worked out a formula where by they felt they could expand again for the 1970-71 season. In September 1979 the NHL announced that they would grant 2 NHL expansion franchises for a mere $6 million - three times what the 1967 teams had to pay.

Although they thought the price was out of line, with McMahon even threatening to withdraw. They even countered the NHL with a proposal to expand by four teams at $3 million each to lessen the costs. The NHL refused, but McLean was not about to let this NHL dream die now.

With help from the NHL the Vancouver group secured financing from Minnesota based Medical Investment Corporation, or Medicore, a widely diversified medical equipment company that had expanded into property, banking and even sports with the highly successful tour "Ice Follies." Medicore would buy majority interest in the Canucks. They ponied up the $1.75 million down payment and made arrangements for yearly payments of $850,000 (plus interest) for five years.

A group from Buffalo was also welcomed into the NHL. Interested applicants from Cleveland, Baltimore, Washington, Atlanta and Kansas City all balked at the high price tag.

Great Moments In Hockey History: Towel Power

The Chicago Blackhawks and  Vancouver Canucks met up in a physical grudge match in the Campbell Conference Finals way back in 1982. The Canucks won handily, 4 games to 1 and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time.

Besides the fights, the most memorable part of this series was Roger Nielson's motion of surrender: the birth of towel power.

The Canucks travelled to Chicago to play the first two games in old Chicago Stadium. The Canucks won the opening game, in overtime. Game two was a different story, a 4-1 Chicago victory, thanks in large apart, at least in the minds of the Canucks, to bad officiating. Referee Bob Myers gave the Canucks four consecutive penalties in an era where referees were known to keep their whistles in their pockets.

Roger Nielson was so fed up with officiating that he sent not-so-subtle messages of mock surrender, raising a white towel high with a hockey stick. Soon other players, notably Tiger Williams, joined in.

With that proverbial surrender by white flag, a Vancouver hockey tradition was born. When the Canucks returned to Vancouver for game three, people in the streets, even the airplane taxi staff at YVR and of course every fan in attendance were waving these white towels. It was an amazing scene to see, and one that continues every spring in Vancouver and copied around the world in other sports and events.

Here's the YouTube footage of Nielson's iconic moment:



It has been debated if the Canucks started the sporting tradition of waving towels. It is generally regarded that NFL fans of the 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers were actually the first.

It is also interesting to know the story of Butts Girard, a local Vancouver wrestler turned t-shirt entrepreneur. It was Girard who cashed in nicely by coming up with the idea of outfitting Canucks fans with the towels.

It was early in the morning and Butts was beside himself with excitement. He told me he was going to find as many white towels as he could and was going to silkscreen sponsors' names (and his own company logo, of course) all over them. Then he was going to distribute them outside the Pacific Coliseum the following night at the Canucks' next game against the Blackhawks.

Here's the full story of Butts Girard.

Also here's a few more visual memories of the Canucks/Blackhawks series from 1982:

The Gillis Effect: Are The Canucks Any Closer?

When Dave Nonis was rudely dismissed by Canucks ownership last summer, the word was he was fired for not getting the team deeper into the playoffs.

Enter Mike Gillis, the ownership's hand picked man. He added salt to Nonis' wounds by proclaiming he was inheriting a team that was "not close at all" to contending for the Stanley Cup.

Almost a year later, the Canucks find themselves in round two, convincingly beating the St. Louis Blues, and looking great doing it. Suddenly the Canucks are not just a team with a dangerous goalie. They are a veteran laden team, hungry for success and blessed with depth on defense and forward.

There are still areas of concerns, not unlike every other team though. The Cup is still a long ways away, but I think it is safe to say the northwest division champion Canucks are a contender. They are certainly closer than "not close at all."

The question is how much of their improvement is due to Mike Gillis?

A solid case could be built to suggest Gillis' additions are not the reason for the Canucks improvement. Let's take a look at it on a case by case basis:

Successes

Ryan Johnson - Johnson's late season and playoff play salvages a success rating. Granted a finger injury hindered him all year, but for much of the regular season he was a non factor.. He was not a notable upgrade as the advertised faceoff expert (see the finger injury) or the penalty kill.

But he's really upped his game in the playoffs, giving coach Vigneault improved penalty killing and trust in the 4th line to eat up some playoff minutes.

Kyle Wellwood - After an early season demotion to the minors, it looked like the Kyle Wellwood experiment was over before it began. But he came back quickly, and put up some points early, earning a spot on the team for the rest of the season, even when a mid-season scoring slump placed him back in the coaches dog house.

But Wellwood brilliantly reinvented himself as an effective third line center. He provides some offense while providing surprisingly solid and heady defensive play. This gave the Canucks a very solid third line, allowing the Canucks to come at teams in waves.

Jason Labarbera - Labarbera was brought in mid-season during Roberto Luongo's injury absence. With Curtis Sanford failing and rookie Corey Schneider not quite ready for the big time, Labarbera stepped in with a couple of big wins to calm the storm.

But ultimately his job is to take shots in practice and open the gate and hand out towels during games. Success, but to minimal benefit.

Draws

Steve Bernier - Bernier was brought in as a much publicized top line right wing candidate for the Sedin twins. Though given ample opportunity early in the season, Bernier never really clicked with the Sedins, largely because he never kept his stick on the ice while waiting for the Sedins to thread the puck to him. Gillis did not do his homework on this one.

Based on expectations, Bernier was a disappointment. But by playoff time he has found a nice role on the Canucks third line, accepting a physical and defensive role. So far during the playoffs he has been very good. Bernier has benefited from Taylor Pyatt's absence.

Still, ultimately, Bernier's failure on the top line is only forgiven because the Canucks did eventually find a top line right winger for the Sedins - Alex Burrows, who at the time was the Canucks third line left winger.

Shane O'Brien - I like Shane O'Brien. His physical game is a nice upgrade on the third D-pairing over the departed Lukas Krajicek. He showed some real nice mobility and puck moving, and a willingness to stand up for teammates.

But O'Brien was also prone to lazy penalties and occasional bad gambles with the puck. And while he was not added for offense, his 0 goals and 10 assists are hardly irreplaceable.

All of that led to strained relations with coach Alain Vigneault. At times the dispute boiled over into the media and threatened to distract the team.

Pavol Dimetra - Dimetra is a Gillis-loyalist, and was all too happy to come to Vancouver. But expectations were high, perhaps unfairly so given his age, as Dimetra was essentially replacing long time captain and offensive leader Markus Naslund. His 20 goals and 53 points equalled what Naslund would have provided.

I can't call this an out-right success though. Removing Naslund may have been a necessary move in terms of team culture, and replacing his production was necessary. But Dimetra's game offered nothing new. At this age he is a soft, perimeter player who scored the quietest 53 points in the NHL. For long stretches of time he was almost unnoticeable.

Darcy Hordichuk - I know a lot of people like him, especially coach Vigneault. And I understand he is a great guy in the dressing room.

But his on ice contributions were negligible. 4 goals and 1 assist - that's fine, that's not why he is there. He's there for physicality. As a fighter he is willing, but able only as a middleweight. Against the true big boys he is more of a wrestler than anything.

He was said to be more than a goon, and that he would be able to play some minutes. He can, and generally won't hurt the team. But when the team needed a real good energy shift, Hordichuk's lack of mobility keeps him from contributing with heavy forechecking and inspiring bodychecks.

He fills his role well, but it also would not be hard to find an upgrade.

Failures

Mats Sundin - The biggest failure has to be Mats Sundin. For a pro-rated $10 million for half a season, not to mention all the drawn out hype, Sundin has delivered almost nothing. He's struggled to keep up with the play, and has never found his timing. He failed to bring the power play to the upper echelon. And though his linemates have found some life, he personally has added little offensive presence, taking little pressure off the Sedin twins.

Gillis' biggest splash ended up getting a lot of mud on his face. I just thank the lord above Sundin only signed for one year at $10 million and not 2 years.

Rob Davison - Yeah, he is still with the team. He played 23 games and looked very much like an AHL defenseman. Thankfully Shane O'Brien came along to provide Davison's intended role and the team's blue line stayed relatively healthy.

Michel Oullette, Jason Krog, and Lawrence Nycholat barely played and delivered no returns.

Inconclusive

Ossi Vaananen - A nice depth move late in the season. Vaananen has barely had a chance to play. When he has he is limited to small minutes, as coach Vigneault almost goes to a 5 man blue line. Vaananen really needed more regular season play to better fit in in these emergency situations.

Conclusion

So how much did Gillis' moves improve the team? For the most part his additions are largely replaceable puzzle pieces. This team's success very much depends on Roberto Luongo, the Sedin twins, Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows and a deep blue line, all pieces Gillis inherited.

In fact, Vancouver's rise from "not close at all" to Stanley Cup contender has had more to do with the maturation of the Sedins, Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows and good health especially amongst the defensemen.

It's too bad Dave Nonis did not have that benefit.

Remembering 1994 - The Canucks Magic Stanley Cup Run

I remember it all too well.

The 1994 Stanley Cup finals. Kirk McLean's unbeatable play in game one. Greg Adams' shocking overtime goal. Ex-Canuck Doug Lidster's game winner in game two. Pavel Bure's high stick in game three. Brian Leetch's amazing play. Mike Richter's acrobatics. Trevor Linden's heart and desire. Geoff Courtnall's big goal in game six. Nathan Lafeyette's goal post in game 7, followed painfully by Mark Messier's hoisting of the Stanley Cup.

But more than anything I remember the penalty shot.

Game four. With goals by Linden and Cliff Ronning, the Canucks are up 2-1 in the second period, badly needing this win to knot the series at 2 games a piece.

Under immense pressure from the attacking Rangers, Vancouver desperately seeks a third goal to cushion their lead. Pavel Bure has a breakaway from his own blue line, except he his hauled down by Brian Leetch. At 6:31 of the second period the whistle blows, and referee Terry Gregson immediately points to center ice, signalling a penalty shot!

Does it get any better than that? Arguably the most exciting Stanley Cup final ever now provides hockey's most dramatic moment. The most electrifying goal scorer of his generation one-on-one with the hottest goalie of the time, Mike Richter.

The Pacific Coliseum crowd absolutely roared as Bure readied for the penalty shot. They knew what was at stake. If Bure could score here, that would take the wind out of the Rangers' sails, greatly increasing the Canucks chances of victory both in game four and in the series. Everyone stood on their feet, ready to celebrate a sure goal. The Russian Rocket always scores on breakaways.

But on this night Mike Richter was his match. Richter charge out to meet the rushin' Russian before retreating back into his net. Richter almost knew Bure was going to use his patented move, cradling the puck far to the left hoping to slide the puck under his right pad. Memorably Bure used the same memorable move against Calgary earlier in the playoffs. Unlike Mike Vernon, Richter would not be taken by surprise, and took away all of the shooter's room.

Richter's gamble worked, and arguably was the defining moment of his career. In my mind, it was the defining moment of the 1994 Stanley Cup finals.

Energized by the dramatic moment of theatre, the Rangers came back and took game 4 and take a stranglehold on the series. Brian Leetch scored one goal and assisted on goals by Steve Larmer, Sergei Zubov and Alexei Kovalev. The Rangers are now up 3 games to 1 on the dejected Canucks. Broadway prematurely plans it's first Stanley Cup party since 1940.

The Canucks would temporarily spoil the party, staving off elimination in games 5 and 6, before narrowly bowing in game 7.

Like many Canucks fans, I will always wonder what would have happened if Bure scored on that penalty shot.

It is a little bit hard to believe that it has already been 14 years since that great series. Time sure has flown by, because the series is still fresh in my usually poor memory. It is especially in my thoughts today, as the Canucks return to Madison Square Gardens and take on the Rangers tonight.

Here's the Bure penalty shot courtesy of YouTube:

Jovo Returns To Vancouver

Who is the greatest defenseman in the history of the Vancouver Canucks?

That's the question on my mind with Ed Jovanovski returning to town as the Phoenix Coyotes take on the Canucks on Thursday night.

I always liked Jovo. He was susceptible to bad giveaways but I always appreciated his skating, his physicality and especially his intensity. Based on ability, he was able to raise his game to a higher level than any defenseman I've seen in Vancouver. He was rewarded with three consecutive Babe Pratt trophies as the Canucks best defenseman, from 2001-2003.

That being said, his whole career picture in the whale jersey pales in comparison to the steadier and less flashy Matthias Ohlund. Ohlund, a 4 time winner of the Pratt trophy, has never taken his game to the highest level, instead quietly being one of the best in the game. His mobility and toughness make him a workhorse and stabilizing force. He is the highest scoring defenseman in terms of goals, and could take the points lead this season. He will need to return next season for the all time games played record.

I tend to gravitate towards these two when I think of the best Canucks blue liner ever. But there are certainly other noteworthy candidates:

Paul Reinhart - The most talented and smartest Canucks defenseman ever, bar none, despite playing with a debilitating back injury. The problem is he only played 2 seasons in Vancouver, finishing off a career torpedoed by the injuries. He won the Pratt Trophy in each of his 2 seasons.

Jyrki Lumme - He played over nine seasons in Vancouver, finishing tied as the all time scoring leader amongst Canucks blue liners. He was sort of a less physical version of Jovanovski, rushing the puck out of the zone, and a riskier version of Reinhart, sometimes looking foolish with high risk plays. His defensive play evolved into an improved defensive contributor, though he had no physical game at all. He also won the Pratt Trophy 4 times.

Dennis Kearns - Lumme shares that record with Dennis Kearns, a long forgotten defender from the 1970s. He was a great puck moving defenseman, with 290 of his 321 points were assists. Fans never really appreciated Kearns. In the rough and tumble 70s, his intellectual approach to the game got him labelled as soft. Despite that he earned two Pratt Trophies.

Doug Lidster - For much of the 1980s and the early 1990s, Doug Lidster was one of the NHL's best kept secrets. The former Olympian toiled on weak Vancouver blue lines. He may have been misplaced as a number one defenseman, but teams around the league coveted him. He would have been recognized as one of the best second pair defensemen in the game if he was on a stronger team. He won four Pratt trophies, including three in a row.

Harold Snepsts - The Canucks all time games played leader amongst rearguards may also be the all time fan favorite. He lacked fluidity and elegance, but he was all heart. He did not offer a lot of tangible finesse skills, but lots of intangible heart and guts and leadership. He is another 4 time winner of the Pratt Trophy. No player has won more than four in a career, although Ohlund remains active with a good shot this year and beyond assuming he resigns in the summer of 2009.

I would be pretty happy to have these seven defensemen on my blue line. But who would rank as the greatest Canucks defenseman of all time? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.

I'm thinking I will have to lean towards Ohlund.

The 7th Canuck

The Vancouver Canucks introduced something called "The 7th Canuck" on Saturday night. It was a bit confusing, especially since CBC had technical difficulties making every voice sound like a cross between Darth Vader and a yodeling 90 year old grandma.

Basically before every game the Canucks will bring a lucky fan down to center ice to unveil "The 7th Canuck" banner. But I do believe the #7 has not been retired by the club.

I thought it would be fun to take a look at every player in Canucks history who has worn the lucky #7. There's a lot of BC boys on the list. Full Story

1994: NY Rangers End 54 Year Cup Drought

The year is 1994. In one of the most thrilling Stanley Cup finals ever, the New York Rangers narrowly edge out the Vancouver Canucks for the championship title. It is the first Stanley Cup championship for Manhattan in 54 years.

The last time the New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup, there was no such thing as television. But by 1994 everyone was watching to see if the Rangers could end more than 5 decades of futility. Despite victory plans following game 4 of the finals, the Rangers would have to wait until game 7 to see if they could pull it off.

They did, but it certainly was not easy. The Vancouver Canucks, led by Trevor Linden, Pavel Bure and the spectacular goaltending of Kirk McLean, offered dramatic and stressful competition. If it was not for a Nathan Lafayette goal post, perhaps the Ranger fans would still be waiting for a Cup championship.

The Rangers were of course led by Mark Messier and a cast of ex-Edmonton Oilers - Glenn Anderson, Kevin Lowe, Esa Tikkanen, Adam Graves, Jeff Beukeboom and Craig MacTavish. Every bit as important was defensemen Sergei Zubov and Brian Leetch (who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP) and sensational goaltender Mike Richter.

The famous "1940!" chants by New York Islanders fans finally came to an end.

With the championship - and with the famous guaranteed victory against the Devils in round 3 - Mark Messier became "The Messiah" in Manhattan. He remains as one of the most important sporting figures in New York City's grand history.

1982: Cinderella Canucks No Match For Islanders

The year is 1982. It has been 65 years since the city of Vancouver celebrated their only Stanley Cup victory, courtesy of Cyclone Taylor and the Vancouver Millionaires. But the city came alive, energized with Towel Power, as the Vancouver Canucks made an unexpected Stanley Cup appearance.

Unfortunately for Vancouverites, the dynastic New York Islanders made sure the beautiful British Columbia city would have to continue their wait.

The Canucks Cinderella run to the finals was made easier by the fact that the Los Angeles Kings upset the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers would blow the biggest third period lead in NHL history and lose in overtime in what is forever remembered as the Miracle on Manchester. Wayne Gretzky's young gang would have to wait for another year to ascend to their undeniable throne.

History remembers the Canucks for coach Roger Nielson and the Towel Power incident, and for the spectacular goaltending of "King" Richard Brodeur. But the team was not exactly a one man show, not with the likes of Thomas Gradin, Stan Smyl and Tiger Williams leading a group of overachievers.

But the Canucks' lunch pail gang was no match for the mighty New York Islanders. Mike Bossy tore them apart, with 7 goals in the 4 game finals. He would lead all shooters with 17 goals, earning him the Conn Smythe trophy as the playoff MVP of 1982.

This video is for us long suffering Vancouver fans:

The Great Book Giveaway

Hockey Book Reviews.com is announcing the first ever Great Book Giveaway Contest.

I will be giving books away to entrants in my trivia contests. To win, you must answer all trivia questions correctly. If multiple contestants answer all questions correctly, then the winners name will be drawn out of my well worn 2006 World Junior Championships hat.

I'm going to start this off by giving away a copy of Jeff Rud's Canucks Heroes: Vancouver's Hockey Legends. You can read the review here.

Alright, so let's get on with the trivia questions. You must email me all trivia answers at teamcanada72@gmail.com . Click here to see the questions, all pertaining to the Vancouver Canucks:

Canucks 1982 Playoff Run

A couple of days ago, I posted YouTube video footage of the Miracle on Manchester when Daryl Evans and Los Angeles Kings pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Stanley Cup history, knocking off Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers.

Well the Kings pulled off the huge upset, it was another Smythe Division team, the Vancouver Canucks, who were the Cinderella team that year, surprisingly skating all the way to the Stanley Cup finals! Here's some YouTube footage to remind you of the likes of "King" Richard Brodeur, Stan Smyl, Tiger Williams, Harold Snepsts and co. What a great bunch of characters! Enjoy