UnkNuk

Let's not panic. Although we're not in as good a position as the Kraken, we still have a 1 in 25 chance of making the playoffs! https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-nhl-predictions/?cid=rrpromo

https://globalnews.ca/news/8402814/canadian-mens-soccer-team-usa-tim-hortons-field-jan-30/ It’s official: the Canadian men’s national soccer team will face the United States at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton on Jan. 30, 2022. The match comes in the middle of a three-match FIFA window for the men’s national team which will face Honduras on Jan. 27, and then travel to El Salvador on Feb. 2. ... It’s anticipated the senior team will once again play in between snowbanks and potentially temperatures around -4 C in the middle of a Canadian winter for matchday 10. In the past, the enclosed B.C. Place in Vancouver has been the obvious choice for mid-winter games. However, a renovation installing new turf at the venue will bring the team eastward in a setting that will likely rival a successful two-game set amid the ice and snow at Commonwealth in Edmonton earlier this month. **************************************************************************************************************************************************** I'm actually surprised that FIFA allows qualifying games to be played on artificial turf. I thought, for the men at least, that games had to be on grass. But maybe that is just in the final tournament?

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-nhl-predictions/?cid=rrpromo Well, if I'm reading this right, we still have 1 chance in 20 of making the playoffs.

Saturday, February 26, 2022, 12:30pm Vancouver Whitecaps @ Columbus.

So Seattle outshoots RSL yesterday 21-0 and loses 1-0 in a shootout. I watched some of the second half and how Seattle did not win that game is inexplicable. The MLS one game playoff system is treacherous. Entertaining, but treacherous. One other thing: had the Whitecaps won on Saturday they would be hosting RSL this weekend. And I suspect the Caps would have been favourites to win that game. Sigh.

This is where it gets confusing for me in using these stats to decide how much of a chance the Canucks have. Just how good is a .635 point percentage? I see that after 18 games each both Minnesota and Anaheim are playing at a .639 point percentage. They're tied for third in the Western Conference. How likely is it that the Canucks can play at that level for the rest of the season?

A disappointing loss. The Whitecaps seemed flat. But even with that the game really turned on two main plays. The first was Kansas' last second goal in the first half. A scrambly play the didn't have to result in a goal. The second was a spectacular save by the Kansas goalie off White in the second half. Reverse those two and we're 2-2 going into extra time. The main takeaway, however, is not to play Kansas in Kansas. For whatever reason they are formidable on their home turf. And the way you do that is to finish higher in the standings so that the Whitecaps get the home games. As has been mentioned here, the Caps had the second best record in the league since August 1. If they had Gauld and White from the start of the season the Whitecaps could conceivably have finished first in the West. With all the home games that entails. Yes, it was a dsappointing loss. But for the first time in years, Whitecap fans can look forward to the next season with great expectations. Go Whitecaps!

Our world ranking has nothing to do with getting into the World Cup. Everything depends on how we do in this last qualifying tournament. There are eight teams in the tournament and each plays the other twice - home and away. So each team plays fourteen games. So far, we've played eight games. So there are still six games to go, four of them away to other teams. The top three teams at the end get into the World Cup. The fourth place team has a last ditch chance in a playoff against some other team from another conference. Canada is in a good spot but nothing is settled yet.

Whew! That was a great win for Canada. But those last few minutes! Good lord! Had it not been for Borjan somehow making that last minute save, we'd be tied with Panama for third. But win they did and Canada ends the year in first place in the standings. And how many of us would have predicted that?

Nice bounce back game by the 'Boys after the Denver debacle.

Nice win today. But I'd feel better if Honduras had held on to beat Panama. Now, should Mexico beat Canada on Tuesday and should the US and Panama both win their games, Canada would find itself in fourth place, one point behind Panama and four points behind Mexico and the US. (I suppose it's because I'm a long time supporter of Vancouver sports teams that makes me see the downside of things.) On the other hand, should Canada beat Mexico on Tuesday we'd be in second place for the time being no matter what other teams do. Go Canada!!!

Seven more matches to go. One more this month. Two in January. One in February. And three in March. Long way to go yet but they're doing well.

For those in the lower mainland:

Just a reminder: Men's World Cup Qualifying. #48 Canada vs #45 Costa Rica. Friday. 6:05 pm. Pregame at 5:30 pm on Sportsnet.

Thanks for that. Do you know if that would apply to all penalties? Specifically, to five minute majors/game expulsions?

A question about yesterday's game that may have already been asked: After Anaheim's second goal there was an extended period of play until Toronto eventually awarded the goal. What would have happened if a penalty had occurred in that extended period of play? Would it have been nullified after the goal was awarded and the clock was turned back?

I think the judge agreed with you that Rittenhouse's actions after Kenosha aren't relevant to the case. But one of those actions was breaking down today in front of the jury. That could have an impact on the jury. For that reason, I thought maybe the prosecutor should be able to present videos of Rittenhouse's actions after that night in an effort to present a different view of how Rittenhouse is reacting to that night.

The good ol' Quarterback Club. It was, as I recall, for kids 16 and under, tickets were 0.50 for seats in the north end zone at Empire Stadium. It got the kids interested just as you suggest. It got me interested for many years until the NFL finally took over my football watching.

This may have already been posted here but with talk about seniors getting booster shots it bears repeating: Important to keep in mind when going for your booster shot: This happened yesterday and is important information for our age group. A friend had his 3rd dose of the vaccine at the vaccination center after which he began to have blurred vision on the way home. When he got home, he called the vaccination center for advice and to ask if he should go see a doctor, or be hospitalized. He was told NOT to go to a doctor or a hospital, but just return to the vaccination center immediately and pick up his glasses. It could have been you or me!

One thing about Vanni Sartini - he doesn't lack confidence. "We'll beat Sporting Kansas City": Confident Whitecaps savor "miracle" playoff place Maybe it was the post-match champagne or genuine giddiness from rising from last place in the Western Conference in early August to booking a spot in the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. But interim Vancouver Whitecaps FC coach Vanni Sartini offered up a bold statement at the beginning of his press conference following a playoff-clinching 1-1 draw against the Seattle Sounders at BC Place on Decision Day. As a member of the club’s communications staff informed journalists on the Zoom call the Whitecaps would play Sporting Kansas City in Round One of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, Sartini quickly interjected. “No, we’ll beat Sporting Kansas City – it’s different,” he said of the impending 3 vs. 6 matchup. https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/we-ll-beat-sporting-kansas-city-confident-whitecaps-savor-miracle-playoff-place

The ref's point of view: "First of all, keep in mind that taunting is a point of emphasis this year," Corrente said of the call, per the game pool report. "And with that said, I saw the player, after he made a big play, run toward the bench area of the Pittsburgh Steelers and posture in such a way that I felt he was taunting them." https://www.nfl.com/news/bears-cassius-marsh-fourth-quarter-taunting-penalty-steelers

Sounds science fictiony but it's a cool idea: Harvesting energy with space solar panels could power the Earth 24/7 Theoretically, if a bunch of solar panels were blasted into orbit, they'd soak up the sun even on the foggiest days and the darkest nights, storing an enormous amount of power. If that power were wirelessly beamed down to Earth, our planet could breathe in renewable clean energy, 24/7. https://www.cnet.com/news/harvesting-energy-with-space-solar-panels-could-power-the-earth-247/

One thing: despite their slow start the Canucks are still only 3 points away from a wild card spot. (Well, it's something!)

Right - all the Western Conference team games start at 3pm. The Eastern Conference games start at 12:30. And you have to give credit to MLS - it's an exciting setup. I only wish the games were on Saturday and not Sunday. I'll be watching MLS this Sunday but going up against the NFL is never the best marketing move.

Not that it's going to come into play, of course, but on the off-chance Vancouver should lose on Sunday, the first tie-breaker is the number of wins each team has. Should Salt Lake and LAFC, for instance, both win and the Caps lose, the Caps would be pushed out of a playoff spot by the tie-breaker. Which would be a heart-breaker. Sunday should be a hoot! Go Whitecaps!!!