Minnesota vs Vancouver

Minnesota at Vancouver
Game Time: 7 pm
Where to listen/watch: Team 1040 or Sportsnet Pacific

Well it's time to get down to business Vancouver. Minnesota beat the crap out of us in their building, it's time for us to do the same to them. It's time to take it to Minnesota and make them wish they had never come to Vancouver in the first place. It's time to break Miko Koivu's leg and to beat up one of their fans. Just throw everything you've got at them.

Sadly, a line brawl could break out between these two teams and it would still be a boring game to watch. Minnesota has a special talent of making sure they are never involved in any game that could be percieved as being interesting. The last time there was a fun game between Vancouver and Minnesota was when Mike Modano played in that state.

Minnesota is just one of those teams that when you know the Canucks are playing them, you re-consider your options for the night; Watch the Wild game or go clean out the basement.

Luckily we only play them 6 times a year as opposed to 8 times a year, so we don't have hockey induced coma's forced upon us as often, but we still have to struggle through watching 6 of them, so we can at least complain properly about the game in the morning.

So, as for the game itself, apparently Hamhuis is still out of the lineup. Ballard is still out of the lineup, as well. Yes, this means Bieksa gets a shitload of ice time again. It also means Parent gets to keep playing. As long as Hamhuis and Ballard heal up shortly, all is well, but if this turns into another Mitchell and Salo sitcom, I want no part of this. Watching Bieksa patrol our blueline is akin to letting Justin Bieber play lazer tag. You just know something bad is going to happen.

In net, Corey Schneider gets the surprise start. If Schneider pitches a shutout, I can't wait to see what the Vancouver media does with that one. I assume reporters will be staked out on Luongo's lawn asking him about the rift between him and Corey. Hopefully Corey continues his strong play.

For the Wild, Jose Theodore gets the start in net. Theodore either plays really really well against us, or he plays like complete shit agains us, so it's either a goalie duel, or we are winning this one easy, there is no middle ground. One time for a Canucks game I got there 5 minutes late, it was against Montreal, and it was already 3-0 Vancouver, thanks in large part to Theodore's goaltending. 8 minutes later it was 6-0. I hope it's that Theodore that shows up.

Rypien got 6 games so we won't see any Staubitz rematches, and with Desbiens having the speed of my crippled dead grandmother, I assume we won't see many fights, if any. Glass might get punched around for a bit, but that's nothing to get excited about.

I predict the Canucks win 4-3. Can't make it too easy on us. Daniel Sedin with 3 goal. Alberts with the 4th, why not.

Game on!