Canuck 'Excitement'
OK, so I will be the first to admit, this years edition of the Canucks has been fun, but not overly exciting to watch. Last year at this time, we were all sitting back, holding our breath, wondering if the amazing run they went on after Christmas would last and they would be able to make the playoffs (it and they did). This year, the Canucks started sluggish, had an incredible month of November and have been somewhat underwhelming, if not quiet ever since. Falling in and out of the playoff hunt in a very tight western conference.
That said, I never expected to see the game I saw the other night against the Oilers. I like a good, tough game of hockey, just like the next guy. I love the big hit and I don't mind the occasional scrap to heat the team up or to stick up for your teammate, but this game was just over the top.
Even before the opening face-off, the teams were chirping at each other...undoubtedly spurred on by the Oilers winning streak behind the stellar play of its 4th line checkers. Nothing worse than a marginal player on a point scoring streak...it goes straight to their head. That was half of it...the worse part...the Oilers found willing partners in the likes of the Canucks.
Yeah...Yeah...Yeah...'they were just sticking up for their teammates.' Well, how about sticking up for your teammates on the scoreboard? The game started this way...it was so obvious the Oilers wanted to goad the 'nucks into scraps and the like...why help them? Put the puck in the net and shut the hell up. The best example of this behavior was Ryan Shannon's shootout goal last week against Chicago. Shannon went in and completely disrobed Nicolai Khabibulin...made him look stupid...with a spin-o-rama goal. Raising his arms in triumph, 'Habby' shoved his blocker into the back of Shannon's head...what did Shannon do? Did he fight???
He simply rubbed it in a bit with a fist pump and a 'YEAH!' directly in his face. Look at the scoreboard... THAT is what the game is about.
Then, we have Saturday's game against the Oilers (Hockey Night in Canada, btw. Did you catch all that action kids?). Time after time, the Canucks accepted the invitation to dance...instead of walking away and putting their frustrations into the net. The result???
Fans love it the world over...the entire arena was on its feet screaming...hell, I probably would have been too. Who knows, maybe with the surge in popularity of UFC and the like...perhaps todays fan is looking for more of this kind of stuff. But, when you watch the game as a common fan you have to ask yourself...'what the hell was that?' Maybe I am out of touch...
As I said here...this game could be a turning point for the Canucks this year. But, if that turning point means more of these type of performances...I may just have to bow out. I don't want the team I love bludgeoning their way to the Stanley Cup (attn: Anaheim Duck fans!)...I want them to skate and score and beat teams the way the game was meant to be played.
