Injuries and Penalties cost Canucks

Denver, CO

In can only be described as ugly. Already shorthanded with three of the six starting dmen missing the Canucks decided to play even more shorthanded specifically 11 times.

Randy Robitaille scored both goals for the Avalanche while newly acquired Jere Lehtinen replied for the Canucks in a losing 2-1 effort.

Vesa Toskala was huge making many great saves while SH. He robbed Alex Ovechkin a couple times on rockets from the circle.

Chris Phillips and Scott Thornton lead the penalty parade each taking 3 minor penalties.

Star # 1 Randy Robitaille


Star #2 Vesa Toskala



Star #3 Mikael Samuelsson

Canucks deal for Lehtinen

To Vancouver:

To Tampa Bay:




Vancouver BC

Well GM Shepherd sought out to get a final defensive piece and added a big fish in Jere Lehtinen. The cost was big however, sending Chris Kelly and Jozef Stumpel. The Canucks added a third tender in Brent Johnson in case of injury to either Toskala or Legace.

Lehtinen will play the wing on the shutdown line along with Todd Marchant and John Madden all previously acquired within the last week.

As well the hope is Lehtinen will help stabilize the PK which has been a sore spot for the Canucks all season.

Tie with Preds costly to Canucks Dmen

Vancouver BC
With Brendan Witt already sitting out the game with a lower body injury the team was dealt another couple of blows when Anton Volchenkov and Pavel Kubina made their way to the Canucks dressing room. Both have been evaluated and are out up to a week. Witt is still expected to miss the next game.

Last nights action saw the Canucks and Preds skate to a 4-4 draw. Vancouver got up early scoring 2 goals in the first 8 minutes of action. Mike Johnson would get his first of the night and Mike Sillinger. Nashville would come back with one by Forsberg to make it 2-1 at the end of the first.

Early in the second Richard Park would tie it up. From there Mike Johnson would make it 3-2 for Vancouver. The Preds would score two late goals in the second to go up 4-3at the end of two.

Martin Erat would score midway through the third to tie it and thats how it would end.

Star # 1 Mike Johnson


Star #2 Todd Marchant



Star #3 Andrej Meszaros

Offensive display powers Canucks past the Red Wings

Vancouver BC

One day after the trade that saw Brent Burns to SJ the PP unit goes 3/7 and gives the Canucks a huge win over the visiting Detroit Red Wings.

Early in the first Brendan Witt went down with a injury after blocking a shot. He is listed as day to day with a lower body injury.

The Wings outplayed Vancouver in the first holding a 8-3 advantage in shots however, Toskala was equal to the task.

The Wings got it started midway through the 2nd with a goal from Jason Arnott. Scott Thornton on the PP and Shawn Horcoff at even strength would get the Canucks into the dressing room with a 2-1 lead.

The third saw plenty of goals being scored early and often. Stu Barnes made it 3-1. Milan Hejduk would score 40 seconds later to close the gap. Then goals by Volchenkov and Phillips would open the lead a little but Arnott and Nilsson would score late to finish the game.

Star # 1 Jason Arnott


Star #2 Anton Volchenkov



Star #3 Vaclav Prospal

Burns and Olesz dealt to SJ after teams latest struggles

To Vancouver:


To San Jose:




Vancouver BC

Well after rampant speculation Brent Burns and Rostislav Olesz are on their way down the West Coast to SJ. In return the Canucks got defensive players in Todd Marchant and Mike Rathje.

GM Shepherd said "it is definately tough to lose a Brent Burns but this team was struggling on the PP and PK and we needed to fix that immediately."

In Marchant they get a shutdown player who can play with John Madden to shut down the PK and teams top lines when needed. In Rathje they get a big bruising dmen who don't mind toss his weight around.

Hopefully this will get the team moving in the right direction.

Canucks receive Capital punishment lose 4-0

Washington MD

In what has been a recurring trend in the first handful of games rang out loud and true again. Once again a parade to the sin bin cost the Canucks any chance at winning this game. They also managed to give up a shorty as well.

The game got out of hand in the second when 3 straight special teams goals paved the way for the Caps to win. Second period goals by Morrison, Handzus and Hossa sealed the fate of the Canucks. In the third Morrison popped his second of the game and tenth of the young season.

After the game GM Shepherd was spotted on the phone possibly to make a move. We caught up with GM Shepherd and asked him about the phone call. On record he said "We are looking at all avenues to better this team. We want to win now. If these guys won't do it I will bring in guys who will."

Speculation around the league was that Brent Burns was on the verge of being dealt to San Jose.


Star # 1 Ed Belfour


Star #2 Brendan Morrison



Star #3 Marian Hossa

Canucks unable to overcome injuries lose to talented Wings team.

Detroit MI

Sometimes the game is over before you even get out of the dressing room. Well if that isn't the case it definately was after the first. The Wings outplayed, outhustled and outscored the Canucks in the first and coasted to a easy 6-3 win.

The first saw the Wings outshoot Vancouver 15-1 and lead 3-0. Milan Hejduk lead the way with 2 goals in the first. The lead would become 4 in the second as Phil Kessel notched his first of the year.

In the third the game would become 5-0 as newly acquired Eric Lindros powered through the Canucks D and blasted home a shot. Vancouver would save some grace as they would score 3 straight to make it 5-3 on goals from Shawn Horcoff, Chris Phillips and Mike Sillinger. However, Detroit would get a goal from Sergei Fedorov to seal the deal.

Star # 1 Milan Hejduk


Star #2 Henrik Zetterberg



Star #3 Sergei Zubov

Canucks hammer Canes 5-2

Raleigh NC

The Vancouver Canucks got into North Carolina a little late however the team showed no ill effects. Shawn Horcoff opened the scoring late in the first.

The second started out rough as penalty trouble allowed Carolina to pop two quick one and take a 2-1 lead just 3 minutes into period 2. A timeout was taken and a new plan of attack was taken. Andrei Kostitsyn and Mike Johnson scored goals in the second to give the Canucks a 3-2 lead.

Heading into the third the coach wanted to see a better effort and his club responded. Stu Barnes and Vaclav Prospal both scored to finish the Canes off 5-2.


Star # 1 Stu Barnes


Star #2 Vaclav Prospal



Star #3 Jason Smith

Canucks squander a lead in the final 10 minutes and settle for a draw.

Columbus OH

The Vancouver Canucks fresh off the trade with Toronto squandered a late 3-2 lead and had to settle for a draw.

The game started off bad for the Canucks as Nathan Horton put the home team up 1-0 just :26 seconds into the first period. However, Brent Burns would put home a rocket to make it 1-1 after 1 with with a power play goal.

Columbus would again take the lead early in the second period as Eric Staal would score on the PP to make it 2-1. Mike Johnson would tie it up just near the 10 minute mark and the 2nd stanza would end in a draw at 2-2.

Stu Barnes would make it 3-2 for the Canucks this time as they score early in the period at :52 a PP tally. Jordan would tie the score at 11:18 of the third to tie the score and from there on in it was a stalemate.

Star # 1 Nathan Horton


Star #2 Eric Staal


Star #3 Brent Burns

Canucks deal Malone and others for John Madden

To Vancouver:

To Toronto:


Vancouver BC



After hours of intense phone calls and meandering back and forth Toronto and Vancouver came to an trade agreement which sees Ryan Malone, Daniel Winnik and Patrik Thorensen leave and John Madden and Jiri Dopita arrive. The deal was rumoured to have more involved but the final outcome was this.

The trade brings in a more defensive player in John Madden and sees a offensive grinder in Ryan Malone leave. GM Shepherd went on record as saying unfortunately with the way Ryan plays he takes a lot of minor penalties and that has hurt us this year with our team currently in dead last in penalty killing at under 70%. He finished by saying John Madden is a winner all he does is win and he will help on the PK which is dead last.

The Canucks are on the road with stops in Columbus and Carolina.

Kings give Canucks a royal beating

Vancouver BC
The LA Kings who many believe are a top contender for the Western Conference came into GM Place last night and hammered the Canucks.

The game was virtually over in the first 10 minutes of the game. Stu Barnes said after the game "we just didn't match their intensity."

Miikka Kiprusoff stood tall making 35 saves including 19 in the second period alone.

The Kings got 2 goals from Teemu Selanne. Andrei Kostitsyn tallied his first on the PP for the Canucks.

Star # 1 Teemu Selanne


Star #2 Miikka Kiprusoff


Star #3 Mike Ribeiro

Canucks battle for a 2-2 draw with the Sharks

Vancouver BC
In last nights action the San Jose Sharks came into GM Place and dominated the first 28 minutes of the game. It took a great second half to allow the Canucks to come back and tie the game. Jozef Stumpel was the hero for the Canucks as he led the way with 2 goals.

The Canucks will finish the home stand against the LA Kings game time is 7:30 PST

Star # 1 Jozef Stumpel


Star #2 Steve Sullivan


Star #3 Martin Erat

Salo sinks Canucks

Vancouver BC
The Canucks were :59 seconds away from their third win of the year. However, Miko Koivu banked a shot in from behind the net with the tender pulled to draw even. Then in the OT Sami Salo provided the dagger with a rocket from the point on the PP to win the game.

Vancouver who dominated period 1 and led 2-0 on goals by Malone and Sillinger fell asleep in period 2 allowing the Oilers to tie the game heading into the third.

Jozef Stumpel scored his 1st of the season to give the Canucks a 3-2 lead however as previously mentioned above they were unable to seal the deal.

The Canucks play again Saturday night at home against the Sharks game time is 7:30 PST

Star # 1 Sami Salo


Star #2 Miko Koivu


Star #3 Jozef Stumpel

Malone provides spark as Canucks win 3-2

Edmonton AB
The Canucks picked up their first win on the road this season with a 3-2 thriller. The first period ended scoreless as both teams were on the defensive rather then the offensive. Ryan Malone open the scoring just after the halfway point of the second his first of the season and two on the night. Chris Phillips would later make it 2-0 with a blast from the point that beat a screened Pascal Leclaire. Ivan Majesky would bring the Oilers close at 2-1 with a shot that managed to find its way home.

In the third Ryan Malone found a loose puck at the side of the net and hammered it home to bring the Canucks up 3-1. However, Sami Salo with an absolutely rocket from the point beat Vesa Toskala to bring it to 3-2. With the goalie pulled the Oilers were looking for the tie however Vesa would shut the door and the Canucks would squeek out the win.

Star # 1 Ryan Malone


Star #2 Jozef Stumpel


Star #3 Nils Ekman

Toskala steals show in 1-1 tie

Vancouver BC
Hockey is a funny game isn't it. Last night Vesa Toskala stood tall in preserving a 1-1 tie. The night before he couldn't come up with the key save. One thing is for sure when GM Shepherd picked up Toskala he was hoping for many a night like last night.

Toskala made 33 saves including 4 in OT a couple of the spectacular variety. Jason Spezza was all alone on a breakaway when Toskala doublestacked the pads on an attempted deke.

The offense which has struggled in it last couple games only scoring 2 goals will have to work hard in practice to try and find that touch.

The Canucks got a goal from Stu Barnes his 1st tally of the season.

The Canucks will now face a divisional opponent in a home and home series with the Edmonton Oilers.

Star # 1 Vesa Toskala


Star #2 JS Giguere


Star #3 Stu Barnes

Canucks shelled on the road

Calgary AB
Well any momentum the Canucks had going into last nights contest was immediately swept away just :37 seconds in to be exact when Erik Cole found the loose puck at the side of the net and pounded it home. Freddy Modin would get his first of two late in the first stanza.

The speech that seemed to work after the 1st period in the home opener didnt bring no such luck this time. Freddy Modin scored him second of the night as he was left alone in front of the net. Great boardwork by gritty forwards Andrew Brunette and Mark Bell who both drew assists on the goal. Pavel Kubina would dent the twine for the Canucks to bring the score to 3-1 but just :11 seconds later off the face Kyle Wellwood would do some dipsy doodling and beat Vesa Toskala with a deke to the short side. The second stanza ended 4-1.

The third period saw the Flames use the dump and chase with 4 players staying back to clog up the neutral zone. Vancouver was just never able to get anything going. Pascal Dupuis finished off the scoring late in the third to make this one a 5-1 final.

The Canucks now return back home to face the Broadstreet Bullies Philadelphia Flyers. You can catch that game on Rogers Sportsnet starting at 7:05 PST.

Star # 1 Fredrik Modin


Star #2 Erik Cole



Star #3 Kyle Wellwood

Canucks Open Season with a win

Vancouver BC
In last nights action. Newly acquired Vesa Toskala looked shaky in the first period letting in two goals both on the PP. The Canucks were slow and were caught taking lazy penalties. However, during the first intermission the message musta been sent rather clearly as the Canucks managed to get two quick goals in a span of 2:13 to open the period and then take the lead for good just before the 10 minute mark of the second. Then in the third another quick strike in the final 6 minutes of the game sealed the deal.

Newly acquired players Mike Sillinger
and Vaclav Prospal lead the attack both popping 2 tallies along with Martin Erat. Vesa Toskala was solid after the shaky start making 22 saves for the win.

The Canucks now will charter out to the Saddledome to face the 1-0 Calgary Flames.


Corona Cup Three Stars as give out by Jim Hughson are as follows:

Star # 1 Mike Sillinger


Star #2 Vaclav Prospal



Star #3 Vesa Toskala