Daily Archives: January 7, 2017

Vancouver Canucks: Slaying Expectations

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Don’t look now but the Vancouver Canucks have gone streaking! The team is currently on a 6-game winning streak. Yes, it’s not the recent crazy incredible 16-game win streak like the Columbus Blue Jackets just had, but it’s still been nice to see the team come together cohesively over this latest stretch that has seen them post a 8-2-1 record over the last 11 games.

During that 11-game stretch, it has been the surprising trio of Sven Baertschi, Bo Horvat and Alex Burrows leading the way offensively with a combined 25 points.

Ryan Miller has quietly been stepping up his game despite his critics. He’s posted 5 straight victories, stopping 150 of 157 shots and posting 1 shutout over those 5 games. Not be left out, Jacob Markstrom has also upped his game of late heading into tonight’s game vs. Calgary.

This is their first 6-game win streak since posting a 7-game win streak in December 2013 under John Tortorella. Oh the irony! And yes, tonight they will go for their 7th straight victory and a chance to get back into a wildcard position in the Western Conference.

When the team was losing, the media and fans critiqued them for not being able to finish games and suggested that they should commit to tanking. Now that they have put together a solid 11-game stretch and 6-game win streak, the media has been complaining that the team is still not doing enough.

And yes, you might tell me that a 6-game win streak is nothing to get too excited about or that perhaps over this stretch the team has not played their best hockey. You might tell me to get ready for the streak to end. Guess what? A win streak is a win streak and I intend to enjoy it in it’s entirety no matter how long it lasts. I’ll take the wins any way that they come and I will savour every single one. And yes the streak will inevitably end as they all eventually do but that won’t stop me from supporting my team all the way.

Heading into the season, I was told that I should have zero expectations for the Vancouver Canucks. I was also told that there was likely to be any reason to be excited about this team and I should try rooting for a different team. And you know if you’ve followed my blog or social media accounts that I do not rely on the odds or the so called “expectations”. The more someone tells me not to support my team, the stronger my support for them becomes.

As always, until next time, nuck said.

Sarah E.L.

History Is Coming: Hank You.

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Milestones begin to add up for NHL players over the course of their careers: their first game, first point, first goal, first penalty, first hat trick, number of games played and on goes the list.

Vancouver Canucks, captain Henrik Sedin is fast approaching yet another milestone: 1000 career NHL points. It’s an incredible feat and one that not every player reaches throughout their careers. One that takes commitment, discipline and perseverance.

January is quickly becoming a month to keep our eyes on as Henrik inches closer every game to this latest milestone. Heading into tonight’s game against Calgary, Henrik Sedin has amassed 996 points and counting. Let that sink in for a moment: Henrik Sedin is closing in on 1000 NHL points.

There was a time when many were unsure if Henrik and Daniel would have what it takes to make it long-term in the NHL. Neither Henrik or Daniel had it easy but they kept with it and now here we are over 1000 games later.

In those 996 points, there have been some standout moments: from his first goal to being named captain of the team to his 112 point Art Ross trophy season to his unbelievable chemistry with his brother, Daniel and to the moment he passed former teammate Markus Naslund as the Vancouver Canucks all-time leading scorer. Creating magic nearly every game with his play on the ice with his brother or as Canucks fans call it: sedinery.

And as it has been with their entire careers and reaching milestones…Daniel will also be reaching the 1000 points plateau later this season. That’s an incredible feat for one player on a team, let alone two players who happen to be brothers and have been line mates for their entire careers.  Their critics berate them nightly and yet every season, they have continued to defy the odds.

Henrik will once again cross the milestone line just before Daniel, just like he won the Art Ross the year before him or reached 1000 games played. It seems only fitting that they will be crossing this latest milestone together, one after another.

From surpassing 1000 games played to amassing nearly 1000 NHL points, Henrik has made a long lasting impression on the game. Just 4 points separate him from his latest moment in Vancouver Canucks history.

(*Sidenote: Daniel Sedin is 35 points from also reaching the 1000 points milestone while Bo Horvat is just 7 points away from 100 NHL points.)

History is coming very soon. Where will you be when the moment happens?

As always, until next time, nuck said.

Sarah E.L.