Canucks & Beyond
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Game #5 Vancouver vs Anaheim
by Alanah McGinley on 05/03/07 at 04:25 PM ET
Comments (6)
I had a chance—with Paul Kukla—to interview Jim Hughson early this afternoon. He’s been doing the play-by-play duty for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, covering our Vancouver Canucks during these playoffs, and was nice enough to speak to us briefly immediately after the pre-game skate today, from sunny Anaheim.
P.S. He says that Luongo is in a “surly, surly mood today.” Guy doesn’t like losing, as we know. (I figure it’s a good sign!) You can download the audio file here, or play it on the video player below.
Game Day Updates
Grant Kerr’s Globe & Mail comments on Willie Mitchell:
He draws all the difficult assignments when Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault goes about matching lines. Sometimes Mitchell has Kevin Bieksa as his partner, or it could be Sami Salo or Brent Sopel.
Mitchell doesn’t much care. He just goes about his business, which in this case is showing Canucks management they spent their money wisely when Vancouver signed the unrestricted free agent last summer.
J.J. and I had an interesting conversation last night about the team’s prospects in this crucial Game #5 tonight. (We were going to provide the audio of that banter through our podcast, but the technology-Gods destroyed the tape. Good sign? Bad sign?).
Anyway, one of the things that J.J. mentioned, and I’ve thought a lot about since, is how well the Canucks primary D has performed, given the changing linemates throughout this post season. With injuries to Bieksa, Salo and Mitchell at different times, the top-D on this defense-dependent team have had to deal with a changing dynamic nearly every game. That they’ve kept the Canucks in games at all should be considered a small miracle, and a testament to how well they’ve adapted to the challenges.
Filed in: hockey media, playoff hockey, vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Comments
Have no fear, Earl. I suspect he’s stay surly until Game #7. THEN your team might get a chance to beat him!
I’m glad you enjoyed the interview. Thanks. 
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 05/03/07 at 04:30 PM ET
When faced with ‘must win’ situations, the Canucks have always pulled through with superior efforts.
Posted by GZ Expat from China on 05/03/07 at 05:21 PM ET
You forgot to mention to Hughson that he is my hero. sigh ... maybe one day when i reach the *big time,* i can tell him myself.
Really, we are so fortunate to have two kick-as anthem singers and two kick ass play-by-play guys to enjoy for the playoffs.
Canucks will win game 5 by a score of 3-1.
Posted by DaveO from North Van on 05/03/07 at 05:39 PM ET
Fortunately for the Ducks, being up 2 goals in the 3rd period while trailing in a series doesn’t get filed under “must win”, I guess. (I jest!)
I feel so important today. I got interviewed by the same person who interviewed Jim Hughson.
I’m surprised there wasn’t a segment called “So you think you’re smarter than a California hockey fan.”
Posted by Earl Sleek from Los Angeles, CA on 05/03/07 at 05:41 PM ET
Expat -- I agree. Canucks win tonight, I think. I’ll leave series predictions for Game 7 though, because I have NO guesses about Game 6.
DaveO -- I love Hughson, too. By far the best play-by-play guy I listen to on a regular basis. And very nice, as well. (P.S. 3-1 sounds good. Excellent prediction!)
Earl -- Youz a funny guy. (Smartass!) Anyway, interviewing you wasn’t the same sort of thing: when on the phone with Jim Hughson, I was SOBER!
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 05/03/07 at 05:48 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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What if the Canucks win tonight? How will coach Vigneault keep Luongo in that surly mood?
Salt in his coffee? A badger in his sleeping bag? Erase the memory on his iPod?
The drama is killing me.
Nice interview, btw.
Posted by Earl Sleek from Los Angeles, CA on 05/03/07 at 04:22 PM ET