Recap: 10/21/2006 Canucks vs Sharks

The Canucks met the Sharks this past weekend in a heated battle for the title of “the best team in the worst division”. The Canuckers were all fired up for the game expecting a hard-skating physical battle. As the team warmed up, talent oozed out of the players and the team was full of confidence. Then the game started… Within the first 5 minutes the team realized that no amount of talent or confidence was going to win the game. The referees looked up into the stands and saw a hoard of young parents out to drive their high-school aged sons to the game. Naturally the referees took this to mean that they were refereeing a Reach-Forth hockey game where any physical contact or extra effort was frowned upon. In the span of one or two shifts, half our team was in the penalty box, giving the Sharks power-play after power play for most of the first half of the game. Upset at the referees a few of our players took it upon themselves to speak to the referee in a manner which resulted in more penalties, a few misconduct penalties, and a multi-game suspension for a certain right-winger. The Sharks scored two goals in the first period during these penalties and so we were down two goals early. In the second period we found ourselves playing 5-on-5 for a few minutes which resulted in two goals to tie the game. The first goal was a beauty by Mike Smouter who was trying extra hard to make up for the fact that he didn’t score the previous week against the Predators when 7 other Canucks did. The other was a crash the net goal, possibly scored by Ken, but the refs took his moment of fame away from him by crediting the goal to Wade, who seems to be paying the refs to get him more points than James this year. Anyways, that was all the team could muster as in the third, the team collapsed and let in 2 goals which sent the team into a state of disorder and chaos. Not our finest moment as a team, but we’ll work on it. The game finally ended, with a final score of 4-2, and the team pulled their socks back up by a nice cheerful after party at the good ol’ Coach.

I requested in last game’s recap comments to get pictures taken at every game. Loretta showed up to take a few pictures and ended up making this sweet video. It’s pretty cool. (except for that ugly mug in the first bit) It shows a goal or two, some nice saves, as well as Ken’s penalty. Apparently he is our new team goon, now that James is gone for a few games. Anyways, thanks to Loretta for the video.

Next week the team meets the Vipers who are now a hardened team of Brampton veterans that are in a not-so-heated battle for the title of “worst team in the worst division”. It should be a good opportunity to get back to basics and pad the old score sheet. Game time is 10:00 at the Wave Twin Center.