Canucks & Beyond
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Swedes, Whiskey and the Blues
by Alanah McGinley on 11/23/07 at 01:34 PM ET
Comments (5)
Elliott Pap at the Vancouver Sun gets an interview with Mattias Ohlund. And, given the opportunity to explore the complex issues of Ohlund’s 4-game suspension, Pap goes for a truly hard-hitting approach right from the top:
Q.The Canucks are on the road this week but you’ve been at home serving your suspension for whacking Mikko Koivu. Are your kids wondering what Daddy has done?
A. I think Viktor and Hannah are just happy that Daddy is home.
Well, as long as they’re happy, that deals with the big question of the day. So now for some trivialities—like Markus Naslund’s recent performance.
The team is on an upswing at the moment, and coach Alain Vigneault offered these comments about his surging captain:
“We’re probably a lot more alike than people think we are. The thing about Markus that people don’t see is that he really cares a tremendous amount about this team.”
They are seeing it now because, in the absence of injured skill defencemen Sami Salo and Kevin Bieksa, Naslund has elevated his game the last two weeks and is scoring like he hasn’t since his Lester Pearson Award season in 2002-03. He is scoring like—be honest—people never thought he would again.
Many theories abound about why the Canucks have been so strong through November. Certainly there’s been good goaltending; unexpected players chipping in scoring; the best players are in fine form… etc.
Whatever it is, time-wise, it all seems to go back to the team meltdown about a month ago. That small rebellion by the players, publicly squabbling with their coach, that seems to have led to a more creative offense while simultaneously tightening the defensive system their coach insists on.
Whatever it is, somehow they’ve pulled it all together and obviously it’s working.
But as the superstitious type, I’ve got another theory about this upswing (and it’s highly scientific, so pay attention): I haven’t had a drink since November 3rd, after the last time the Canucks lost a game in regulation.
Now, that indicates a disturbing correlation between the Canucks’ current streak and my own disgustingly-healthy choices of late—which were only intended to be temporary, but a hockey superstition seems to be developing here. I’m not too happy about it. But they’ve had a point in every game since I quit pickling myself on hockey nights, so I might be trapped in this nightmare.
Of all the sacrifices I’ve ever made for hockey, this is the worst one ever…
But I’ll hold strong—till Christmas, anyway. I love the Canucks, but if they’re still pulling off the point-a-game-plus for that long, I’ll have to trust that they’ve figured out how to do it on their own and get blotto over Christmas dinner in celebration. (Baileys on ice starting at 9 a.m. on Christmas day is kind of a religious tradition—and while I love the Canucks, I ain’t messing with God’s plan...)
Tonight they face the Blues. So… Go Canucks!
And just pass me another diet coke. Sigh.
Filed in: vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: alain+vigneault, booze, markus+naslund, mattias+ohlund, vancouver+canucks,
Comments
Uh I beg to differ Alanah on why the Canucks are winning. I’m wearing my lucky shoes. The very shoes that helped us go on a winning streak last season. I didn’t wear them the other night for the Oilers game until I remembered in overtime and threw them on. Alas, the good Karma didn’t have time to percolate. These ratty old shoes will not leave my feet again. Unless I get a date this century and then I’ll sacrifice the streak for a chance at love! Unless of course he’s a hockey fan and he’ll understand;)
Posted by Trini from Van on 11/23/07 at 07:40 PM ET
In sympathy, I haven’t had a drink in almost eight hours.
Posted by Greg from Atlanta on 11/24/07 at 10:37 AM ET
Bummer.
At least you can drink again, if that’s any consolation.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/24/07 at 02:00 PM ET
GZ Expat -- A “smiling” Naslund after a goal might be a bit too shocking. But he definitely has that confident “Oh that? That was easy” look of his back. And it is nice to see the lines sticking.
Trini -- The good thing about my superstition as opposed to yours? You now have to set fire to a perfectly good pair of shoes, whereas I’m simply required to consume beer while watching the next game.
No matter how you look at it, I win! 
Greg -- The only reason you haven’t drank in 8 hours is likely because you were recovering from a 14 hour pub crawl. (Just an educated guess...)
Baroque -- Thank you. And it is a consolation. And I just might…
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 11/24/07 at 04:12 PM ET
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About Canucks & Beyond
Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003, sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen. In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah is one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast, as featured at Canucks.com.
She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.
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It seems as though, ever since that blow-up of players and coaches, Viggy has left the lines alone, for the most part. He has allowed the Sedins and Naslund to play together and has pretty much kept the other lines together as well. There is much more of a predictability as to who is going to be on the ice when.
And...on Naslund’s 3rd goal the other night...did I see him smile???
Posted by GZ Expat from Chiner on 11/23/07 at 06:26 PM ET