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Wow. We must confess that one had us by surprise. This is fantastic news and a real breakthrough for the Canuck franchise. We expected both the Hart and Ted Lindsay awards to go to Crosby and he wound up with neither. The Hart is voted for by the media and rarely winds up in the hands of a west coast player; our cynical view is that the eastern media must have split their vote between Ovechkin and Crosby. Whatever, it's a landmark day in Canuckville.

Despite Hank being up for two awards tonight, we figured Ryan Kesler had the best chance at bringing home some hardware, but he fell once again to Pavel Datsyuk, who is now winning Selke awards on reputation alone. Though in hindsight Kesler's plus minus rating (+1) wasn't great and the "breakthrough" aspect of his season was really owed to his increased offensive prowess and not any improvement in his defensive play.

This, of course, is late news, but we find it an interesting discussion item - the potential return of Brendan Morrison, who has been invited to training camp on a tryout basis.

The invite may speak to the Canucks' lack of faith in either Cody wholesale jersey Hodgson or Jordan Schroeder to compete at the NHL level this season. Or it might just be a favour to a valued alumnus who needs some spark to keep his career going (much like the similar invite to Dave Scatchard at last year's camp).

Some have argued that signing Morrison to a contract would be baseball jersey free shipping a bad move - a regression for the franchise, a most unwelcome stroll down memory lane. They would say that Morrison bouncing around the league the last few seasons is an indicator that he's washed up. And they might further say that even if he isn't, he's not much use as a fourth line centre due to his lack of physicality. We would say otherwise. While certainly no physical force, he's good on the draw (as you'd like your 4th line centre to be) and he's a capable penalty killer (and, in a pinch, a power play National Post specialist, too). And he's certainly respected in this market by fans, players and media alike. Ultimately, he's got enough hockey IQ to be a decent contributor no matter what role the team visualizes for him. And with Marc Crawford long gone, he needn't worry about being the team's whipping boy again.

As if on cue, NHL public enemy number one Matt Cooke put the league's "new" stance on head shots to the test with another typically cowardly play on Sunday afternoon.

And for once, the dim wits at the NHL head office had the brains to match to their supposed balls by announcing yesterday that Cooke is banished for the remainder of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs.

Clearly, Matt Cooke has been the poster boy of what's wrong with the NHL for quite some time. And despite drawing the ire of players and fans alike, he has been previously allowed to survive; some might say thrive.

Tonight, the Canucks' Conference Final opponent will be nike jersey determined as the veteran Detroit Red Wings look to crush the eternally nascent playoff dreams of the San Jose Sharks. We're not looking for predictions here, but simply your vote. Who would you rather see the Canucks match-up against?

We'll take the Wings. Despite the adrenalin shot that a cheap nhl jerseys comeback from a 3-0 deficit will provide, they are aging and banged up. They also play a style that the Canucks generally have an easier time with. By contrast, the Sharks, when on their game, are bigger and more physical. And while this version of the Canucks is as adaptable as any we've seen, we'd prefer their chances against Detroit - the franchise they are trying to amazon.com emulate.

So what say you, valued reader?

Not sure what led me to look into this but I took a look at poor defensive teams making the playoffs in the eastern conference. Over the past 3 seasons there have been just 6 teams to make the playoffs in the eastern conference with goals against averages greater than 2.80. They are:

Tampa Bay Lightning (2010-11): 2.80

Ottawa Senators (2009-10): 2.80

Pittsburgh Penguins (2009-10): 2.82

Montreal Canadiens (2008-09): 2.88

Washington Capitals (2008-09): 2.89

Ottawa Senators (2007-08): 2.92

I admit it - I'm a sucker for the Academy Awards. nike jersey Just like hockey fans look forward to NHL Trade Deadline Day, I look cheap mlb jerseys forward to the Academy Awards.

Every year since I've had a platform to spout opinions, I've made my Oscar choices. My choices are based perhaps one-quarter on my actual opinion based on what I've seen, and three-quarters on educated guesses. My guesswork is better, because I have no emotional attachment to a movie I've never seen, so my judgment is not clouded. For example, twitter.com I'm STILL angry that Shakespeare in Love won best picture over Saving Private Ryan. Seriously, Academy - Shakespeare in Freakin' Love??

Perhaps the best online game on tonight's program requires place in Washington in which the Capitals and Sabres fulfill with lone possession of eighth place through the East for the line.

If you think the gamers aren't looking at this online game getting a playoff-like match-up, you are wrong. John Vogl for the Buffalo information sets the scene in D.C. with Sabres defenseman Robyn Regehr who provides tonight's online game the proper hype.

"To say it is an enormous online game can be an understatement," Sabres defenseman Robyn Regehr stated Monday. "It's the best online game that we've faced all year."

That it is and curiously enough it features a superstar on every part who started out the period of your time out poorly but are roaring in the direction of the finish off and reminding everyone who they are. For Buffalo it is designed to be about Ryan Miller in goal. Miller's next half for the period of your time has long been monstrous and has dragged the Sabres back again to the playoff discussion.

Meanwhile, Alex Ovechkin's work of previous due have not gone unnoticed. He's through the midst of the five-game goal-scoring streak that is observed him arranged 7 for the board in that time. He has 10 aims in his last 10 online game titles as well as the Caps have won 6 of those people 10. He's back again to scoring highlight reel aims once again and adding memorable celebrations on best of it.

The Pittsburgh Penguins confront the brand ny Islanders Tuesday evening within their fifth getting together with for the season.

The Pens have swept the period of your time sequence so far, which enable it cheap nike jerseys to be looking for to include wins in the home-and-home using the Islanders as they duel the brand ny Rangers for very first through the Atlantic.

Pittsburgh's offense could possibly be the account of previous due as Sidney Crosby's next return has observed the set rating practically 5 aims every online game in its last 7 contests.

Crosby enters Tuesday's online game three factors shy of 600 for his career.

The Islanders have achieved their element to contribute to his total. Crosby cheap nhl jerseys has 66 factors in 34 occupation online game titles in the direction of the Islanders (20 G, 46 A)-his most in the direction of any sole opponent.

Evgeni Malkin will subscribe to him through the hunt for scoring, as Malkin apple.com is just three factors shy of reaching 100 this season.

It can be Malkin's 3rd 100-point campaign in 6 NHL seasons and very first because 2008-09.

No doubt about it, it is been a brutal two nights for that Los Angeles Kings - possibly the worst in an extremely time period rife with letdowns. A evening right after dropping an honestly unacceptable 3-1 great loss to Jack Johnson as well as the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets, the Kings seemed like they experienced been near to the verge of salvaging back-to-back contests in opposition to the middle Division by beating the Detroit red-colored Wings. Dwight King gave the Kings a 3-2 guide with about 6 mins left within your 3rd period, but that guide proved insufficient. Valtteri Filppula and Henrik Zetterberg experienced been a important problems for that Kings all night, which consists of the game-tying intention by Filppula. Zetterberg experienced two aims and one help even although Filppula collected a tally and two helpers. Darren Helm then scored the 4-3 game-winner with 1:13 left within your third, making the Kings go from progressively good to downright despondent.

The St. Louis Blues opened up a 5 point guide greater compared to Vancouver Canucks within your battle for that very first seed within your Western Conference using a 2-1 victory versus Columbus on Sunday. Jaroslav cheap jersey Halak saved 33 shots en route to successful his eighth straight start. St. Louis' goaltenders are already dominant thinking about that Ken Hitchcock took greater than as mind coach. However, they've been remarkable this four few days period even with the higher conventional that they've set. In 6 March games, neither near to the Blues' netminders have permitted additional than one intention in an extremely solitary game. On March 1, Vancouver beat St. jerseys wholesale price Louis 2-0, however the Canucks' Chris Higgins scored on an unfilled net. Curtis Sanford obtained roughed up with the Blues in his start in opposition to them on Saturday within your very first half of the home-and-home series. He fared a good offer better in Sunday's outing, but Sanford is nevertheless searching for his very first earn thinking about that Feb. 7. Patrik Berglund and David Perron every solitary scored a intention for that NFL Jerseys Cheap Blues. Andy McDonald listed an help to extend his point streak to 5 games. On Columbus' side, Mark Letestu is now on the four-game point streak right after netting the squad's only goal. St. Louis' hold out is much from carried out if they desire to get yourself using the best report within your Western Conference, however it is reasonable to say how the very first seed is there's to lose. Meanwhile, with an additional loss, the Blue Jackets will possess a hard time just receiving out near to the NHL's basement.