Canucks & Beyond
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Opening Night Lights Up Vancouver
by Alanah McGinley on 10/10/08 at 02:05 AM ET
Comments (12)
Last April, Vancouver finished the 2007-08 season with a dreary 7-1 loss to the Calgary Flames. This year they opened their new season by returning the favor, handing the Flames a 6-0 beating.
The pre-game ceremony honoring Luc Bourdon was emotional (as expected) and a well done affair by the Canucks. And Tom Cochrane’s Big League was the perfect tribute. (You can watch the video the Canucks produced here; to see the whole ceremony at GM Place, go here and fast forward about 2 minutes).
It was a bit of an emotional-overload transitioning from that to watching a hockey game, but once we did, what a great game it was. Here are some meandering observations:
- On Goals: Two minutes into the second period and the Vancouver Canucks are up 3 goals to none? Geez, who are these guys? But I guess that is what team-speed will get you—and nothing stands out about the new-look Vancouver Canucks more than speed. They just fly. And since they’ve picked up some toughness, too, they fly and they hit. They’re like a bunch of freakin’ speed skaters on meth.
- On Broadcasting: CBC stuff— (1) Mark Lee, always excellent. (2) Marc Crawford is a very good color commentator, I don’t care what anyone says. (Though it was a bit surreal when he’s praising Todd Bertuzzi about something, and you remember there’s all that bad blood—and various lawsuits—flowing between them. Still, Crawford was very professional about it.) And lastly, (3) Mike Millbury. This man is going to annoy the crap out of me this season.
- On Steve Bernier: He could find himself being the darling of Vancouver if he keeps this up. The first time I saw him play in the preseason, I liked his determination; a competitor. But tonight he took it a step further, not only notching a goal, but taking on Dion Phaneuf (of all people) for an open ice hit DP laid on Daniel Sedin. The fans roared their appreciation and I’m sure Sedin did, too. I don’t think the Sedins have ever consistently had a guy on their line that is willing to throw his weight around.
- On the Sedins: Speaking of Twin Powers Activate! is it just my imagination or did the Sedins attack the net straight on in nearly every rush they had tonight? I don’t think I saw them cycle the puck even once…
- On Dog Breeds: Are we all calling Jannik Hansen “The Great Dane” now and everyone already knew this but me? I wish someone had consulted me about this—it’s retarded. (And yes, I realize he’s Danish. It’s still retarded.)
- On Rick Rypien: His contributions tonight, it was like an entirely different player put on his number. And that goal of his… where the hell did those skills come from? I wonder if maybe the footage was faked… that just couldn’t have been Rick Rypien…
- On the Kipper: Miikka Kiprusoff is a scary-talented goalie and he’s punked the Canucks too many times to count in the past. But as I’ve said before, I bet that Mike Keenan is eventually going to destroy that guy. Slowly but surely drain every bit of talent from his body till he’s a worthless shell of a human being. (So get out Kipper, and save yourself while you can! Preferably in the Eastern Conference where you can regain your form while doing it far away from my team…)
- On Alex Burrows: I’m such a huge fan of Burrows, it’s ridiculous. So watching him have a night like he did tonight was a pleasure to watch. After the game, Burrows admitted he’d watched the Bourdon film from the ceremony nearly a dozen times earlier this week, and yet still he nearly started crying tonight. So it seems that all that emotion the Canucks were worried about, actually helped them… because it’s certainly one of the best games Burrows has ever played.
Canucks 2008-09 Record: 1-0-0. It’s fun being “undefeated”. 
___________________________
Note: the Canucks complete photo gallery of Thursday’s game
Filed in: vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: alex+burrows, cbc, hnic, jannik+hansen, luc+bourdon, rick+rypien, sedins, steve+bernier,
Comments
Woot…can’t wait to watch the game.
BTW…that photo of Louie making the big save that is copywrite by Jeff Vinnick…what, was he sat in the goal taking that or something. Maybe that should say…Photo by Nikon…button pressed by Jeff 5 rows up.
Sorry, I’ve had a couple beers…
Posted by GZ Expat from Chiner on 10/10/08 at 07:12 AM ET
There is nothing better than beating the flamers. That was like watching men play with boys. Ridiculous. Awesome.
Okay, maybe beating the coilers is fun too.
Posted by Laker from ROCKSTAR on 10/10/08 at 10:18 AM ET
Suh-weeeeeeeeeet.
Flames exitinguished with extreme prejudice.
I didn’t hear them, but just wondering what Keenan’s post-game comments were?
Can’t imagine he had too many good things to say.
Cautious early optimism for Canucks who looked great from top to bottom (though a little lucky on the 5 on 3, still a great momentum SHIFT at that point)
Captain Luongo setting the tone!!!
Freakin’ AWESOME performance Canucks!
I don’t think I saw a game like that the entire season last year.
If they can bring that effort most nights, I will enjoy watching them this year.
Keep it up!
Posted by RedBacon from Kelowna, BC on 10/10/08 at 10:43 AM ET
That picture of Phaneuf and Burrows is absolutely priceless.
Posted by Yankee Canuck on 10/10/08 at 11:32 AM ET
Great summary, Alanah…agreed with all of it. I know there will be many moments this season when we’ll be driven to despair (and deeper alcoholism) as Canucks fans, but it feels good to bask in in this feeling for a couple of days. And to have hope that this team will at least work their asses off and play with character.
Two years ago, I felt like the team was winning games they had no business winning (remember all those OT wins). Last year they couldn’t seem to get a break, losing games they should have had a shot at. No idea how this season will unfold, but the effort and cohesion were very encouraging.
Also, I won’t ever be able to hear Tom Cochrane again without turning into an emotional wreck. Man, did he ever nail it. I’d buy his entire back catalog just on the strength of that performance, but then I’d have to blubber and weep all the time.
Posted by Jeremy from Summerland on 10/10/08 at 11:37 AM ET
Baroque— Smartass!
GZ Expat— Vinnick’s photos are consistently the best hockey shots in the NHL, I’m telling ya. Incidentally, he was also the photographer for our Crazy Canucks photos, so he has taste, too.
Laker— Much fun, I know.
RedBacon— Keenan’s post-game press conference might’ve been better than the game itself. I’m envisioning him like a cartoon character with steam coming out of his ears.
Yankee Canuck— It made me smile, too.
Jeremy— I’ve attended a lot of Tom Cochrane concerts over the years and never been disappointed - an amazing live performer always. But last night’s tribute was truly special, I agree.
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 10/10/08 at 11:41 AM ET
Congrats!
Just because of you, I will try to objectively assess Crawford’s colo(u)r commentary
.....no…...no!....damn…the objectivity just got its arse kicked by my bilious hatred of that bastard…
Milbury is a grand tool but the club founder and leader is Pierre McGuire.
Posted by Osrt on 10/10/08 at 11:48 AM ET
Saw the Bourdon tribute on YouTube. Very nice. Cochrane was wise to ditch the third verse there (too soon), and the slower, mournful rendition of the song was well-done. The gesture by the fans with Bourdon’s last game-worn was pure class.
Oh, and thanks for making Kipper look bad. Might as well take advantage of him while it’s still October, eh? 
Posted by Doogie2K from Calgary on 10/10/08 at 07:55 PM ET
They’re like a bunch of freakin’ speed skaters on meth.
That describes what I was watching perfectly. They were everywhere and had the Flames spinning. I can’t wait to watch the game on Saturday and see what happens then. It would be nice to watch it happen again to the Flames in the Saddledome.
I’ll never be able to hear Big Leagues again without thinking of the tribute to LB. It was very well done and I thought for awhile there that maybe it would affect the ‘Nucks negatively, but that was not the case.
Posted by GameWornJersey from Vancouver, BC on 10/10/08 at 09:49 PM ET
I’d rather be a smartass than a dumbass any day!
And I’m sure I wasn’t the only person thinking that.
And Kipper probably should run for the Eastern conference while he still has a soul before Keenan crushes him into pudding.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 10/11/08 at 06:22 AM ET
what an amazing game… so nice to see everything we have been saying about this team played out on national tv, and to the frickin’ fLAMEs to boot… priceless. I totally agree about Kipper and what keenan is doing to him. Keenan is a notorious soulcrusher of a coach and with the fLAMEs not having a backup with any relative NHL experience expect Kiprusieve to get run into the ground… and hopefully out of the playoffs.
Posted by Kent from WAACH from Victoria on 10/11/08 at 06:34 PM ET
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About Canucks & Beyond
Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003 (with a notable gap in time through 2010, kicking it with new baby Lucy while living knee-deep in chaos while reading “parenting for complete idiots” during every spare minute) 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 was one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast. She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.
So that’s me. Who the hell are you?
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Here’s hoping that Vancouver hasn’t exhausted their goal quota for the next week and a half.
Nice way to start off the season for the Canucks.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 10/10/08 at 06:10 AM ET