Western Conference Final: Sharks/Canucks...the Motion in the Ocean!!!

 

by Lisa Ovens

That's right...

SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAAAAY...

get your wetsuit on and batten down the hatches...

 It's the Motion in the Ocean series...

Big Sea Logos will be dukin' it out for Pacific Ocean Supremacy...Sharks vs. Orcas!

Well, the above paragraph was lifted from my first book, Hockey and High Heels. The first game diary of that book featured a regular season home opener between the Sharks and the Canucks...at that time (2002) I was pondering rivalries, and I didn't feel there was a huge rivalry between the two teams so I made up my own involving the logos. Nine years later, and these two teams are meeting for the first time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It's so magical :o)

Watching the players on the ice this series will be a blur filled with outlines of large, finned, predator sea creatures crashing up against each other in the corners, or coliding in the neutral zone for fearsome open ice hits. Not only that, it definitely will be cool blend of blue-y greens on the ice over the next week or so with all of that teal, kelly green and royal blue. Not a red symbol or logo in sight.

I do wonder how this series will rate on the dysfunction meter. I'm mean there are some pretty big suitcases packed with playoff dysfunction and misery on both sides of the baggage carousel here. The Sedin Twins lack of playoff domination through the first two rounds surely has been out-shined by the whole Patrick Marleau is a gutless player comment out of the mouth of  Jeremy Roenick. Thanks for that, Jeremy! The Canucks blew their 3 game series lead and then salvaged the victory in Game Seven OT. But that was way back in Round One. They've had another round to work out some bugs. The Sharks are fresh off blowing a 3 game series lead and then finally saving face in last night's game seven win over the Red Wings. It was only by one goal, and it just happened yesterday. And that's just this year! I'm not going to go back in time and look at the checkered playoff pasts of the Canucks and the Sharks. May the teams start over fresh in Game One on Sunday. Okay...the Canucks start fresh...the Shark;s may they hold a little dysfunction close to their hearts for the next week and a bit!

Happy Conference Finals, everybody!

NHL: New Head Shot Rules, Sedin Triplet, and Sid's Jersey

If you saw TSN's broadcast of the Canucks vs. Ducks game you would have seen this guy....



Lol :o) 

and go Henrik...99 points and counting!

NHL Rules Regarding Head Shots....with examples

Here is the NHL Video breaking down the new rules regarding hits to the head including examples of hits both illegal and legal. It's at least five minutes long but if your are fan you have to watch it...this will be in effect as of tonight.

NHL Hits to the Head video link

Game Worn Team Canada Crosby Jersey: 58 Bids at over $11,000 now

The jersey is from the Swiss game during the round robin. Remember, it ended in a shoot out...guess who scored the winner....that's right, Sidney Crosby!

One more day left for bidding, folks. Visit this link to ebay and watch the thrilling finish...game worn Team Canada Crosby jersey

More July 1st News

by Lisa Ovens

One of the coolest names in hockey has re-signed with their southern based NHL team: Radek Dvorak has signed a two year deal with the Florida Panthers. Those folks out there who are jealous of Dvorak's wicked name might also be envious of the approximate $1.7 million he will earn over each year.

We've just received an official quote from Jan Snyder,our Southern USA based Hockey writer. Snyder comments on the day so far...

Jan Snyder

"Hey, Happy Canada Day ! I think it's so great that everyone in Canada has a day off to celebrate Free Agency! Glad to see you are keeping the Twins." - Jan Snyder, Houston Texas

-thank you Jan...have a great day :o)

Well so far the big news of the day is the Vancouver Canucks and the Sedin Twins managing to see eye to eye on a new five year deal. All of this took place less than one hour before free agency began this morning at 9am Pacific Time. Here is a photo of the wondertwins, relaxing during an interview. Please note the use of special effects....

Henrik and Daniel Sedin

Happy Canada Day!

by Lisa Ovens

Happy Canada Day, everybody! Now...do you know where your favorite players are? Today is NHL free agency day, too, and it's always a day of mixed emotions. A day a fan can officially say good- bye to a player, or say cautious hellos as General Managers do their off season roster tinkering.


The first thing I did today was wake up to the Team 1040 Sports Talk radio. It was about 45 minutes before free agency opened. Within minutes I heard the big Canuck news....

The Vancouver Canucks re-signed the Sedin twins - woohooo!!! Wonder Twin powers re-activated in Vancouver: five years at $6.1 million a year. Who wouldn't want to keep these guys around. Point per game players, between the two of them only missed one game in the last four years, good family boys well liked in the room. Plus they danced like hot "Swedish Twins" in an NHL TV commerical.

I celebrated Daniel and Henrik Sedin with the hotcake Happy Meal (Sid from Ice Age was the toy.)

This is my attempt at live blogging....

Uh oh...Ohlund... former Canuck, Mattias Ohlund signs a seven year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning worth 24.5 million. He was the Canucks highest scoring defenseman with 93 goals and 232 assists (352 points). After 12 years in Vancouver, (his entire NHL career) I sadly say good bye to Ohlund. You and your fabulous shoulders now belong to the guy who brought us the Saw movie franchise. Enjoy Florida, Ohlie....my friend, Lana lives there and after 16 years, she still likes it.

Daniel Sedin is on the radio right now. He mentioned how much Mattias Ohlund has done for them over the years, as they developed as NHL players in Canada. I hope Lightning fans are happy with their new blueliner.

oooh...I just heard Marion Hossa is heading to Chicago. Does that automatically mean the Blackhawks won't win the Stanley Cup??