<table width=80% align=center border=0><tr><td><img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/09/henderson_headshot.jpg align=left hspace=4>The sand on Waimea Bay beach is the colour of cornmeal and the dramatic North Shore waves crash and froth over it like so much macchiato foam. But even a week in Hawaii with a frosty girl drink in hand can’t prevent a gal’s brain from turning to the great frozen game. I have to say, it is much easier to pick up the hockey scores in far flung places than it used to be. I remember trying (and failing) to follow the 1989 playoffs while roaming about in Greece and Italy. I had to rely on phone calls home to my dad to get the real scoop on the action. Our national game may be the least loved sport in many locations but if they are broadcasting ESPN, you can at least find out who won. I might not have bothered. The Canucks tanked in all three appearances during my vacation. Good thing I didn’t see the Naslund missed penalty shot. More heartbreak for the captain and those who adore him.

Still, Nazzy was pretty snazzy against Dallas. All three pucks that beat Turco came off the stick of Number 19. Finally, Markus stopped deking around in the shootout and just fired the shot – exactly what I have been screaming at him to do for ages. <a href=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/09/Sep2007_Fitzgerald_b.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/09/Sep2007_Fitzgerald_t.jpg border=0 align=right vspace=1 hspace=4></a>

Once again a blast on the old Moose call was needed to attract some gangly young calf defencemen to the team. Cripes, Canucks blueliner is quickly becoming one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. You’ll start to see players taking up mining in China before they agree to suit up here. But I thought the baby boys did rather well last night. I do like Luc Bourdon and I love that extra burst of speed that Mason Raymond can produce. I don’t want Dave to resort to some crazy desperate trading strategy that ruins our future depth even more, but something must be a-brewing, what with all the endless losing. I still think we are so close to the win column that the addition of a genuine scorer would completely turn the tide.

<a href=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/07/jul2607_naslund10_b.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/07/jul2607_naslund10_t.jpg border=0 align=left vspace=1 hspace=4></a>Speaking of which, sounds like we might still be alive in the Forsberg sweepstakes. I’m telling ya, Peter my dear, I would be willing to do just about anything to see an orca emblazoned on your chest. Not that Foppa the Great would likely be interested in anything a crabby puckcougar could provide. And considering that the last time that Markus and Peter played professionally together, it lasted all of one shift before Forsberg was out with an injury, we actually might not want his services. Already down a spleen, who knows what other organs he could rupture before we got anywhere near the playoffs. But I’d be willing to take the chance if it only cost us money.

Despite a solid work ethic, like Trevor’s shootout effort last night, the team’s good fortune seems to be endlessly pinging off the iron and going wide. I can suppress the rising panic for a little while longer but man, we could surely use a break (and please, not to the foot of another defenceman).

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