The Vancouver Canucks are hoping history doesn’t repeat as they go into Game 5 against the San Jose Sharks. Wins in Game 5 haven’t been their strength, and they’re going to need to play as though this is Game 7 if they want to end the Western Conference Final here.
Henrik Sedin insisted that tonight’s game will not be a relaxed one for the Canucks. They won’t be playing as if they still have three more chances to win this.”You have to treat [tonight] as the last game, and that’s what we need to do. For me, that’s killer instinct.”
Many are wondering if the Sharks have any bite left in them. The Sharks will already be low in enthusiasm as their captain Joe Thornton got a messed up shoulder in Game 4. Thornton insists he is feeling 100% and is ready to go for tonight’s game.
On the Canucks bench it looks as though injured defencemen Aaron Rome and Christian Ehrhoff will be staying out of the game.
Today also happens to be the 14th anniversary of the game that put the Canucks in the Stanley Cup Final the last time around. Coincidence?
Tickets are still available for Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, which happens tonight here in Vancouver at Rogers Arena. Puck drops at 6 pm PDT.
Author: Andrea
Winnipeg Jets Rumours Still Flying
There was supposed to be an announcement today regarding the Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg. That announcement never happened, and though negotiations are still in the works between Winnipeg’s True North Sports and Entertainment and the Atlanta Spirit Group, I figured I’d give you the rundown of some of the “true but not true” rumours still going on regarding the move.
The first is that the remaining prospective Atlanta buyer has dropped out of the bid to keep the team in their city. The deal expired and the buyer didn’t step up to the plate.
If the Jets do make a comeback they will stay in the Southeast Division for the 2011-2012 season. That will give the NHL another year to figure out how to realign the league to better include the possible Winnipeg team. That would mean the Jets main rivals would be the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Florida Panthers, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Washington Capitals.
Winnipeg mayor Sam Kurtz expects an announcement on the Thrashers/Jets move to be made before the week is out, though nothing official has been set. The mayor is still adamant that the name “Jets” won’t be making a comeback if the team do.
One question that remains on a lot of fans minds is what will happen to the Manitoba Moose, the Vancouver Canucks’ current farm team that plays out of Winnipeg’s MTS Centre. One possibility is for them to move to St John’s, Newfoundland. Former premier Danny Williams has come forward to state that the city is very close to closing a deal to take the Moose out east.
Until an official announcement is made, fans of the Winnipeg Jets will just have to keep waiting on pins and needles to see if their beloved team comes home.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins Game 5 Recap
Game 5 was a kick in the chest for the Tampa Bay Lightning, as the Boston Bruins took the game 3-1. This game was all about the Bolts too, because they kept drilling the puck at Boston’s net. The unstoppable Tim Thomas got in their way yet again, preventing them from taking the series lead.
At home for Boston at TD Garden, the first period kicked off with an immediate goal for Tampa Bay. Just over a minute in the Bolts got one on a two against one break away, when Steven Stamkos and Simon Gagne took on the B’s Johnny Boychuck. Gagne landed it in the net. This set the tone for the first period as Tampa Bay kept drilling it in Boston’s side. Tampa even had a brilliant power play opportunity, but they couldn’t the puck past Thomas. On his A-game, the Bruins’ goalie managed to prevent the next 33 shots on net and denying the Bolts any further goals.
Second period saw the Bruins striking back. Nathan Horton put the game tying goal in the net, and Brad Marchland put them in the lead.
Tampa Bay came back with a vengeance in the third period despite the “We want the Cup” chant by Boston fans. Blair Jones nearly tied it up for Tampa, when a beautiful shot ended up hitting the goal post. In the last few minutes of the game when the Bolts had pulled their goalie, Boston finished the game off with a goal on the open net.
Final score was 3-1 for Boston, putting them in the lead of the Eastern Conference Final with 3-2.
Tickets are still available for the next game Wednesday, May 25th, 8 pm EDT at Tampa’s St Pete Times Forum. Tampa’s going to have to fight back harder if they want to prevent Boston from taking the series.
Vancouver Canucks Hockey Between Friends
One problem with having friends from around the world is that there’s one clear thing we don’t get along on: Hockey. I’m sure any hockey loving fan knows how that goes. You’re best of friends until the NHL playoffs start, and then it’s time to poke fun at them as your team kicks their team to the curb (because of course your team will always win, right?)
This playoff season has been interesting for me, because the Vancouver Canucks have gone up against teams that some of my friends are actually fans of.
In the Western Conference Semifinal, the Canucks faced off against the Nashville Predators. Originally from Tennessee, my friend Matt currently lives in Alabama. Though admittedly we don’t talk hockey a lot, it was still fun to poke fun as the Preds lost 4-2.
Now with the Canucks up against the San Jose Sharks, it’s my friend Jeremy and I going head to head as he’s from the San Francisco area. He’d gone out of town for a week for holidays, but secretly I think it’s his way of avoiding my hockey chatter.
I do admit I’m a good sport about it, and my friends know it’s all in good fun.
For the Eastern Conference, my friend Kathy is a big Philadelphia Flyer fan. She lives, eats, breathes the Flyers. Being knocked out in Round 2 against the Boston Bruins, she’s had to focus her attention on one of her favourite former Flyers players: Simon Gagne. Such a fan is she that when Kathy comes to visit me here in Vancouver in two weeks she’s planning on wearing her Gagne jersey – despite whatever reaction she might get from Canucks fans.
Has love for opposing teams gotten between you and your friends?
Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals happens tonight here in Vancouver. Puck drops at 6 pm PDT.
Cirque du Soleil Dralion to Wow Abbotsford
Cirque to Soleil is set to descend on the City of Abbotsford with a show that blends the beauty of both Eastern and Western acrobatics: Dralion.
The show is a fusion of the best of both worlds as seen in its name, derived from the blend of “Dragon” which symbolizes the East and “Lion” for the west. It focuses on the Eastern philosophy of harmony between humans and nature, and representations of the elements become the main characters: Azala for air, Gaya for earth, Oceane for water, and Yao for fire.
Set to a variety of world music, the show includes elements such as the bamboo poles, aerial hoop, hoop diving, and more.
Originally a show under Cirque du Soleil’s Grand Chapiteau, it’s now been adapted for arena performances. Dralion will be at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre for seven shows June 2nd-5th, 2011.
Get your tickets and be awed by the acrobatic mastery that nobody does like Cirque du Soleil.
Tampa Bay Lightning tie it up against Boston Bruins
Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals made for an interesting game at St Pete Times Forum, where the Tampa Bay Lightning fought their way back against the Boston Bruin’s early 3-0 lead.
The first period saw a round of unassisted goals by the Bruins, with Patrice Bergeron neatly tucking the first goal into the left side of the net. Michael Ryder followed this up a few minutes later. Bergeron went for another as he scored while the Bruins were short handed.
During the second period the Lightning fought back, scoring three goals of their own. Despite a bit of a fumble, Teddy Purcell managed to get Tampa’s first goal with a backhand to the far side of the net. Just over a minute later he managed to do it again with a wrist shot. Sean Bergenheim tied it up, with a goal that now puts him in the lead for league playoff goals. This made it three goals for the Lightning within a span of four minutes, catching them up with the Bruins.
Simon Gagne put the Lightning ahead in the third period, and had the opportunity to score a second goal. Instead he sent the puck to Martin St Louis, who scored on an empty net after the Bruins had pulled their goalie.
The Tampa Bay Lightning won it 5-3.
The Eastern Conference Finals are now tied 2-2. Game 5 takes place tonight at Boston’s TD Garden. Puck drops at 8 pm EST.