viking mama

^Worried face - not a sad one. Hoping for the best! Demko & the goal-tending coach being totally honest about Demmer’s physical condition & mental preparedness is the key!

Not so. All of the retaliation calls against vs missed calls for… neutered the push back.

‘Canes have a strong group, are a superior team in the standings & highly ranked. Can’t win ‘em all. ‘Nucks gave it a rebel yell & professional go from the start. No shame. Turn the page. The real mystery is what players they will ice to start the game tomorrow.

The world certainly didn’t expect the Canucks to win either of those games in Florida or this one here today….let alone the previous 7. But - they are giving it a complete rebel yell & doing the ‘unexpected’ most nights under Bruce ‘there it is’ Boudreau!

To be new to North America and after a successful ‘bubble’ play-off season - we get these Covid-times & challenges. Many players are now wanting to get closer to home & family, Hamonic was not the only one. Long life is never a given or a guarantee. Boeser & some American players may be feeling the same way. Cross border travel issues have sucked for their families. Just sayin’ that it’s a new wrinkle - that I hope time will be able to sort out…but speaking to members of “international” hockey families - these concerns are very real.

Home-sickness.

Swedes aren’t crazy selfish. BUT - at the end of his contract - he may be fine with returning to play in Sweden. This world has become a very different place - with a lot of new worries. He may want more from a life that’s outside of hockey - with a girlfriend, wife, kids & his extended family. Is he gay? I don’t know. But an NHLers’ life can be oh-so difficult - until you have that very solid & satisfying life during the off-hours, too. Just be glad - he’s not Jake Virtanen.

Yup - without success, free-agents will move/along & the lack of synergy or instinctual play will continue….and that’s the place required to win championships. Veteran heavy teams with that history of playing together, sprinkled with young talent will win championships. It’s not often, the other way around.

Other high-end teams are playing more instinctually, than ours Our guys are playing with talent & heart - but their mileage together, in the same situations, just isn’t there yet. And there is this second change, Covid ravaged, ridiculous schedule away from home in winter after a holiday lay-off thing. Should Thatcher be going to the All-Star game? Is it restful? Is it more motivating for him - or just giving the best-of-the-best an opportunity to thoroughly scope him out?

A few years ago. Now, I don’t think he is capable of the fitness-level or the speed physically/mentally to be an NHLer.

Mental energies unite. This road trip is epically challenging. I hope the hockey-gods intervene & give ‘em a break - at some point.

My thoughts in this moment were that he must be feeling at the absolute ‘bottom’ of the luck barrel. Yet, NOT losing an eye or his top-lip was very “lucky” there also. Luck always has the momentum of a pendulum swing and when it comes back - it does so with a vengeance! Hang in there, Petey! This bi-polar existence is one that Canucks’ Nation has been experiencing for decades. We feel your pain. We are ALL Canucks.

C’mon ‘Nucks!!! Pray for Demko to stand tall in there, folks. That David vs Goliath feeling can inspire great things! More Bo-like moves just like that one, too pleazzze!! Yayyyyy!!!

Not complaining, when VAN got a PP out of an rather early bru-ha-ha & it appeared to shift the team’s momentum for awhile.

No names are on the backs of their shirts & then not being required to speak to the press to clarify some of their more controversial calls is rather shielding. Add that there is far less travelling outside of their ‘pods’ inside of preferred markets, and there seems to be far too many star-struck homers getting a little too chummy with their home-boy players & their celebrity fans - in my opinion. This league needs to improve their standards of vetting for general/bias & competence - more like the IIHF does. If any alarming trends appear, just ship that guy out of his favorite hub/town, or use other ‘probationary’ measures to actually indicate that the NHL takes achieving officiating ‘competence’, let alone ‘excellence’, far more seriously.

Playing a ‘top-notch’ team, as the away team with last changes, and after a super long lay-off,…the odds just weren’t going to be in VanCity’s favour, tonight. Still want to see ‘em demonstrate some more scoring touch & hone their shot-making for the next one.

Should they have pulled Demko - so someone was there to share-in the pain?

Needing a barn-burner of a third period. Dont expect ANY help from the zebras, but keep the feet moving and dare ‘em not to call a penalty when they try & haul ya down. Demko having a rougher-go when he’s not as busy between the pipes.

When the refs meddle & intervene for non-violent not-even minimal mickey-mouse stuff… it’s sooooo disheartening & there ya go. Momentum shifts ‘cuz these zebras are a joke.

Yuck- ridiculous penalty…for the FLA gift!

Wow - not a blatant anything. That’s was just battling for position & skating hard.

How are the face-off match-ups going? I see VAN is doing well.

Poolman handled Bennett, well. Enjoying my team!!

Stay the course! It’s coming boys! Skate & shoooooooooot!!

Lammikko! What a dish-off!