After a game like last night’s there’s only one name on the lips of Vancouverites: Kevin Bieksa. He cleaned up against the San Jose Sharks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.
In the middle of the second period with the score tied 2-2, Bieksa put the Canucks back in the lead. A few minutes later he thumped Patrick Marleau in a gloves-off brawl. Marleau dropped gloves first, a fact that the bitter Sharks players are currently overlooking.
This was the momentum the team needed to go on and score three more goals.
It was a Gordie Howe hat trick extraordinaire for Bieksa– goal, assist, fight – when he scored on an assist with Chris Higgins in the third period.
The final score was 7-2.
Game 3 happens Friday, May 20th at 6 pm in San Jose.
Month: May 2011
Eastern Conference Bruins and Lightning Goalies Pulling their Weight
With the Eastern Conference Final tied 1-1 between the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning, a lot of pressure comes down on the players to push even harder than before. The two hardest working players in this final are Tim Thomas and Dwayne Roloson, the Bruins and Lightning goalies respectively.
Considered by many to have the best goal tending in this season’s run for the Stanley Cup, both Thomas and Roloson have only let in on average two goals per game during Rounds 1 and 2. Their playoff save average is incredibly similar as well: .941 for Roloson and .937 for Thomas.
Thomas has even been compared to legendary Edmonton Oilers goaltender Grant Fuhr. As for Roloson, many say his goaltending is the driving force behind the Lightning’s success in the playoffs.
The conference is tied 1-1. Next game between the Bruins and Lightning takes place tonight at 8 pm in Tampa. But what we really want to know is… who’s your favorite goalie this season?
Jimmy Eat World Comes to Vancouver May 21
Back in 2001, “The Middle” was my jam. Jimmy Eat World had just come out with their breakthrough album Bleed American, and the song was everywhere. It was great. The lyrics were sort of sad in an uplifting way, the hook stayed catchy no matter how many times it was played on the radio, and the guitar part was enough that I, along with millions of other high school kids, could pick out the simple chords on our cheap knockoff Stratocasters.
Then Jimmy Eat World kept releasing good albums, like 2004’s Futures and 2007’s Chase This Light (their highest charting work to date), and managed to avoid being stuck with the label of “that band that does that ‘Middle’ song.” Their latest album, Invented, was released in September 2010, and the band went on tour in support of it, playing shows worldwide as well as festival dates at Coachella, Soundwave, and an upcoming headlining gig at Reading and Leeds.
The band plays the Commodore Ballroom on May 21, and there are a few tickets to the Jimmy Eat World Vancouver concert still available at ShowTimeTickets.com. They’ve been touring for well over a decade, so they’ve had plenty of time to hone their stage act. Anybody else thinking of going? Seen them live before? Let us know in the comments section!
Tracy Morgan Vancouver Show Cancelled
Unfortunately the Tracy Morgan Stand Up Comedy Show that was set to take place Friday, May 20th at the Orpheum Theater has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances and scheduling conflicts. The 30 Rock star apologized for the disappointment to his Vancouver fans.
The show set for Edmonton on Saturday, May 21st at the Jubilee Auditorium is still scheduled to take place at 8 pm.
Lady Gaga’s New Album Leaks Early (Listen to Tracks Below!)
Lady Gaga’s “little monsters” were in for a treat earlier this week when her latest studio album, Born This Way, leaked days before its May 23 release date. After music lovers worldwide were teased with a string of rapid-fire singles after the video for “Judas” was released, including “Edge of Glory,” “Marry the Night,” and “Hair,” fans and critics alike were finally able to listen to the Born This Way LP in its entirety.
I’ve gotta be honest: I wasn’t wild about the first single off the album (also called “Born This Way”). I thought it had a great social message (equality, the importance of being yourself, etc), but didn’t quite live up to tracks like “Bad Romance” and “Telephone” off her fantastice Fame: Monster album. A lot of critics agreed, saying that the song felt cluttered and was derivative of Madonna (specifically “Express Yourself”). While the Lady formerly known as Stefani Germanotta has never been shy about paying homage to her inspirations (it’s almost impossible to listen to Gaga’s “Alejandro” and not make comparisons to Ace of Base’s nineties hit “All That She Wants”), “Born This Way” seemed to step over the invisible line separating inspiration from imitation.
After listening to the full Born This Way album, though, I was relieved. The album is long, totally unique in its computerized homages to monster balladry of the 70s and 80s, and a refreshing diversion from the rest of the Billboard Top 40. Plus it has (multiple!) sax solos by Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. Sure, it’s not everybody’s idea of a good time, but for those already gaga over Gaga, as well as those who like huge, bleepy, crypto-religious disco anthems, it’s an hour of good, slightly unclean fun. Take a listen to some of the tracks and decide for yourself:
Lady Gaga – “Hair”
Lady Gaga – “The Edge of Glory”
Have you heard the album yet? What’s your take? Let us know in the comments below.
Nothing Beats Seeing the Vancouver Canucks Live
With the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference finals – the first time since their 1994 attempt – hometown pride has been overflowing as we cheer them on. I don’t think there’s anything that compares to the feeling that goes through you as you watch a game unfold. It’s a unique experience.
My fellow blogger Max and I were talking this morning and we wondered… what would you call that feeling?
Max: I’ve been watching the games on TV, along with everyone in my neighbourhood. Every time the Canucks score, you can hear a blast of air horns and cheering echo throughout downtown. It’s a good feeling, being connected to your town like that. It reminds me a bit of the Olympics. My friends and I were clustered around our television, watching the game, and after Canada pulled off that last-minute goal, we went into the street and were suddenly surrounded by the crowd. The cheering, the crying, the excitement—it was like what I’d felt while watching that game, times a million.
Andrea: Whenever I think of watching a game at home I think of having the dickens scared out of me. Game day is an event – family over, snack food on the coffee table, CBC up on the TV. Why should I be scared? Even though I know it’s coming, my Dad likes to yell “SHOOT”. It makes me jump out of my seat in surprise every time, but it’s part of the experience. It’s as though he thinks saying this to the TV will make the Canucks play better.
We came to the agreement though, that as fun as it is to watch the Canucks on TV, there’s something altogether different about actually being there.
Max: The last time I went to a game was years ago, with my parents. I remember the smell of the ice, the Zamboni, the deafening cheers from the crowd. It was amazing. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. So with the combination of hockey tickets going for so cheap and the Canucks doing so well in the playoffs, I’m going to check out a game in person for the first time in a while.
Andrea: Seeing the game in Rogers Arena is a different experience all together. That camaraderie from home is multiplied. There’s a thrum that goes through you when you and 20,000 other fans rise to sing the national anthem. This is hometown Vancouver at its finest. It’s magic. You and the people next to you become friends as you cheer the Sedins down the ice, as you watch Luongo make the save. Watching at home is fun, but watching in the arena is exhilarating.
If you’ve never seen a playoff game live, now would be the time to grab tickets and go. There are some amazing deals to be had for every fan who wants to see the Vancouver Canucks live in action.
The next game against the San Jose Sharks is Friday, May 20th at 6 pm in San Jose. The next home game will be Tuesday, May 24th at Rogers Arena (though only if it’s needed!).