Pre Season Game #5 Calgary @ Vancouver

Sorry there was no post for games 3 and 4 I was out of town and didn't get to watch either of them. Well Saturday's game wasn't televised and Sunday I was driving home. We did catch bits of it on the radio but only very small bits :(
I did however see Game 5!!! It was great, a really good game, nice to see lots of action! Guys constantly putting the puck to the net and making some fantastic passes. Van got the W with a score of 6-1 which does not happen a whole lot against a goalie like Kipper. I was going to give you a recap of the game but I wanted to talk about a the prospects and the "C" and the fact that these are just Exhibition games.

5 and 0 is great don't get me wrong BUT these ARE just exhibition games which means this isn't real hockey yet, it's a time when the young guys and prospects are fighting with all they have to get that last spot or last two or three spots on the team. Will they continue to play like that when they get the spot? I hope so but sometimes they don't. Sometimes they get the spot and get complacent in it. Sure they're playing hard but they're not giving it that 125% like they were in the pre-season. So who is it that doesn't have a spot yet, Jeff Cowan, Ryan Johnson, Mike Brown, Rob Davison, Lukas Kraijicek and Kyle Wellwood. There may be a couple more but those are the guys that were playing in last nights game. I have to admit when having the "bruise brothers" Cownan and Brown on the lineup last night I was half expecting a fight granted Brown tired once but failed miserably and got the penalty on his own putting us into a 5 on 3 situation... Which to me seemed to be juvinial at best.. Wait until your team isn't on a PK or make sure you bait your man properly at least. I only remember hearing Cowan's name once it was on a bit of a break away with a weak shot on net. In my eyes the last two spots are really between Johnson Davison and Wellwood. I really REALLY loved Wellwood's pass over to Demitra showed great paitence and couldn't have been prettier, perfect pass to Demitra who barried it in the back of the net to beat Kipper padding the lead once again to a two goals. Lot's of good effort from the whole team it was a very exciting game to watch right off the bat. Hopefully they can continue that style all year long!!

First time or a goalie to wear a "C" Lou gets the Captain spot.. Very interesting maybe it is time the NHL re-thunk it's policy on goalie's wearing a C Although it is interesting, With Willie Mitchell , Matias Ohlund and Ryan Kesler getting the "A" spot that's pretty cool. Loungo won't be able to dispute calls with the Ref's or participate in ceremonial puck drups but other than that he's the go to guy. Pretty cool I think.. I also think it was a way to get him more comitted to the team and not thinking at all about leaving. Possibly thinking about continuing his career here in Van (which would be AWESOME)

Anyways here's to more exciting hockey!!

Games 6 & 7 of the pre-season won't be televised but you can catch them on Canucks TV on the website! I'll be missing tonights game but will be cheering them on in spirit!

GO CANUCKS GO