Over the past two months, the Canucks have a record of 20-5-1 on the heels of a Jauary that saw them win just twice in twelve outings. The win all but clinches a playoff spot for the Canucks, which leads me to the following observations...
1) The Matchup
Too many Vancouver fans are caught up in whether Chicago is a better opponent than Columbus in the postseason. Did you not see the numbers I just posted? If those aren't good enough, then how about the 11 straight wins at home? It's not as though the Canucks are without flaws, but at this point, the only way you care about who the Canucks face in the opening round is if you would consider one playoff round a success. Based on preseason expectations, that result would be acceptable, but I'm thinking Canucks fans shouldn't be settling for the second round. I'm not saying a Stanley Cup awaits, but this team is playing well enough that fans should have some confidence in this group. If it were me, I'd be more concerned with keeping this team rolling and healthy.2) The Captain
He might not be getting the recognition he did in previous years, but Roberto Luongo looks to be in playoff form. He's won 19 of his last 24 starts and has goals against of 2.19 during that stretch. As well as the offense is playing compared to Luongo's previous seasons in Vancouver, he is still the key to success in the postseason. He doesn't have to win playoff games by himself this year, but if he is playing up to his potential, the Canucks have a goaltending advantage over every single playoff team in the Western Conference.
3) The Third Line
Kyle Wellwood, Steve Bernier and Mason Raymond (for the most part) were supposed to be a defensive liability - they've been anything but. The trio has held it's own when opposing coaches get their top offensive players out against them. No one is confusing them for the Red Wings' grind line of Draper, Maltby and McCarty, but they haven't been pushed around the way that many anticipated. The "BMW line", as it's been called, doesn't have to be a shutdown line so long as it isn't a "light up" line for the opposition.
Training Update:
I'm three months into my Ironman training and still no injuries! Hard to say exactly where I'm at, but I have made some decent progress in the cycling and swimming departments. This week's a recovery/evaluation week for me with the crew at Innovative Fitness, but next week I get back at it big time. Powerbar is keeping me fueled and Dr. Gerry Ramogida is keeping me healthy. However, the main motivation behind this endeavor is raising money for cancer research. If you're interested, check out my page at BC Cancer:
http://donate.bccancerfoundation.com/site/TR?pg=fund&fr_id=1250&pxfid=5090
One more thing:
My pal Willie Cromack is involved in a fundraiser for Cyclebetes this weekend. The goal is to raise money for Juvenille Diabetes and Willie is putting his reputation and body on the line for the cause: Willie is willing to cycle on a spinner for 24 hours straight if a company or individual will sponsor him.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW TOUGH IT IS TO SPIN FOR 24 CONSECUTIVE HOURS?
The cost: $2400 ($100 per hour) and he will wear advertising, do interviews and extoll the virtues of your business in exchange for the sponsorship. FOr more info and to get involved in a great cause, follow this link:
http://www.cyclebetes.com/ or give Willie a call at 604-808-8547
2 comments:
The Canucks have already clinched their playoff spot. Sportsclubstats.com crunched the math on the 25,703 NHL game combinations should the Canucks blow all 6 remaining games. They make the playoffs in every last one of them.
The thing is, it isn't just the Blues who'd have to pass the Canucks - so would the Flames, Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Ducks and Predators. There is no way all those teams can win all of their remaining games, because they play each other.
HEY RINTOUL!
....just kidding....
But the next time you have Ray Ferraro on the show, do me a favor and ask him about the upcoming NHL entry draft. His son, as I'm sure you're aware, is one of the top prospects, but (in my opinion) not rated nearly as high as he should be at this point. There are a lot of sons/nephews of former NHL players and former NHL draft picks in the draft. Ray himself I don't think was taken until the 4th round or something back in the day.
Since NHL prospects unlike NFL or NBA prospects get pretty much the same contract (depending on their post draft performance), whether they were taken at the top of the first round or the end of the second (or weren't drafted at all in some cases), I'm wondering if there is some paternal "coaching" to position the kid at a good spot in the draft when the time comes. The old pros know the best organizations, the best cities to play in, the best coaching staffs etc. etc., along with the relative merits of coming in with high expectations or lower ones.
Not to make it too personal towards Ray and his son, but I think it would be an interesting topic, and certainly Ray seems like a hands on hockey Dad. As he should be. Thanks and keep up the good work.
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