A (Real Time) Bag of Pucks

I'm watching the Canucks play Phoenix right now, and I'm feeling the pace of the game. Barely 10 minutes into the game, there is chippy play, with new superstar and perennial super pest Alex Burrows actively involved in the fray.

Sorry I haven't been posting that often recently, I've been taking on a heavier load with The Peak (I'm writing both News and Sports now).

News: Mattias Ohlund, who briefly came back, has decided to go under the knife. I wrote in a previous post that I thought the Canucks should trade Ohlund, and while I am still in favour of this, I want Ohlund back for the playoff. He plays with incredible intensity, and the Canucks' defining image of the decade for me is when Ohlund and Iginla went toe-to-toe in the playoff series.

Coming off such a horrible game last night, the Canucks are playing with some intensity right now.

I was astounded to hear that Chris Pronger didn't get suspended for his stomp on Ryan Kesler. How is it not any different than what Chris Simon did to Jaako Ruutu? Same intent, relatively the same act. I have a theory on this: I think that Colin Campbell is afraid of Bryan Burke. Burke went after the league for suspending Pronger in the playoffs twice last year, and now they are probably afraid of Burke, who has essentially become the league's new super-G.M. now that Glen Sather has been muzzled by MSG and Bobby Clake is out of the league.

Canucks BReak (stole that from Ami): Dan Carcillo just destroyed Alex Burrows in a fight. Oh - and there are more fights now.

Jim Hughson, who is calling this game, is leaving the Sportsnet telecasts at the end of the season to become the new head Hockey NIght in Canada play-by-play caller. That is a tragedy. Hughson is the best.

End of first period.

The UBC Women's basketball won the CIS National Championship. SFU was upset in the early stages of the competition, falling short of expectations placed upon them. They won the consolation final.

Start of second period.

More Canucks news: Apparently Willie Mitchell is going green.

Still 0-0 in the game. Alright, I'm out. Canucks and varsity sports only this week. I'll try to get two posts in next week, and one, I promise, will focus on stuff other (I jinxed them! Phoenix just scored!) than the 'Nucks.

Edit: Update: Pronger was suspended on Saturday, March 15th for eight games. He will be eligible to return before the Ducks' last game of the season. Canucks' fans are happy (at least on this issue). I guess my theory on Brian Burke and his relationship with the league is wrong!

Photo courtesy of Canucks.com