Although the Vancouver Canucks are having their best regular season ever, most NHL teams in Canada are struggling at the midway point of their schedule.

 

Here is my report on the Canadian teams (stats do not include Thursday games):

Vancouver: Canucks fans have reason to be optimistic. They are number one in the overall standings.
Despite recent playoff failures, Vancouver appears poised for a long run in the spring. The Sedins remain consistent with both in the top five in the scoring race. All-star Ryan Kesler is having a career year with 24 goals. Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider have been stellar in goal. While the Canucks do not have a candidate for the Norris trophy, as a group, the defensemen have been solid. Recently, the Canucks went 17-1-2 for their best 20 game stretch ever. They are number one in goal differential and allowed only one first-period goal during a 15 game period.

Vancouver is headed for its 6th 100-point season in the past eight years.

This is uplifting, but will this translate into playoff success? If we knew the answer to that, would there be any reason to watch?

 

Montreal: The good news is the Habs are challenging Boston for top spot in the NE Division. The bad news is they are desperately trying to hold onto to a playoff spot after a strong start. Goalie Carey Price was in all-star form for the first ¼ of the schedule, but like the team, he has cooled since. Lack of scoring has been a huge sore spot (bottom five of the NHL) with no player averaging even close to a point a game. Adding defenceman James Wisniewski from the Islanders should help. The Habs should consider themselves fortunate if they just qualify for the post-season.

 

Calgary: The Flames lead only Edmonton in the Western Conference and with too many teams to catch I don’t believe that they have a realistic chance at making the playoffs. New General Manager Jay Feester needs to make changes; however, the Flames have 11 players with no movement clauses, including leading scorer Jarome Iginla and goalie Miika Kiprusoff. One of the reasons for ex GM Darryl Sutter’s demise was bringing back Olli Jokinen who has barely averaged ½ a point a game. Defenceman Mark Giordano is among the league leaders in blocked shots and is arguably Calgary’s MVP. The Flames power-play, penalty kill and face off percentage are all in the bottom third of the league. With an older roster, Flames fans do not have much to be excited about.

 

Toronto: Despite a recent surge, once again, the Leafs are near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and will likely miss the playoffs, much to the delight of Boston, as the Bruins will get another top ten first round pick, thanks to the Phil Kessel trade. Speaking of Kessel… he is currently a -14 player. Kris Versteeg isn’t much better at -11. Toronto continues to ice a lineup that does not strike any fear to the opposition. Brian Burke has made little progress with this team since he became GM over two years ago. Sorry, but for the near future the Leafs will keep the comedy writers in business and remain the butt of many jokes.

Ottawa: One knows the team is in shambles when the Cory Clouston “watch” is on. How much longer will he remain as Head Coach? The Senators are many points from earning a playoff spot, have been shutout six times and have recorded the second fewest goals in the league. Most of their top players fall into a huge minus area in the plus-minus statistical category. Defenceman Sergei Gonchar and Chris Phillips are -20 and -19 respectively. Ouch! Captain Daniel Alfredsson is fading and the goaltending is adequate. The Senators have underachieved miserably this season which should lead to many needed changes.

Edmonton: Coach Tom Renney publicly suggested the Oilers players believed they were a playoff team and then Edmonton lost 8 of its next 9 games. The Oilers have given up the most goals in the league which is a sign of inexperience in their own end and poor play from goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, who is giving up nearly 3 ½ goals per game with a save percentage below .900. Defenceman Ryan Whitney (hobbled recently with an ankle injury) has been a pleasant surprise battling for the team scoring lead with 27 points and a standout plus +13 mark, considerably ahead of everyone else. The Oilers still have youth to sell to their fans but not much else.

In summary, it appears only the Canucks (A) and possibly the Habs (C +) will be playoff bound as the other four Canadian teams all receive a failing grade. Now there’s a report card, not even a mother could love.

 

Tiger Woods and Golf Digest magazine dissolved their relationship of 13 years, where Woods was a 'playing editor.' He will accept a similar position with Maxim.

 

The British Airport Authority has called in experts to help them avoid another disaster like they had last December, where at most 5 inches of snow shut down Heathrow for days. This in fact was the biggest mess caused by just a few inches since Brett Favre texted those pictures to Jenn Sterger.

 

Figure skater Johnny Weir has announced in his autobiography that he is gay. Not to dismiss his courageous decision, but wouldn’t it be bigger news if a male figure skater announced he WASN’T gay?
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)

 

Two members of the Memphis Grizzlies fought over gambling debts on a plane ride after a game. The last time two grizzlies fought on a plane it was Starr Jones and Joy Behar fighting over airtime on “The View”.

After eight failed interviews, Ron Rivera was finally named a Head Coach, of the Panthers. He reportedly received a congratulatory call from Elizabeth Taylor.

Israeli archaeologists said Monday they may have found the earliest evidence yet for the existence of modern man when they found an estimated 400,000-year old tooth. Could be the result of a check on Chris Chelios in his rookie season with the Jerusalem Capitals.

The Government of Alberta is applying for more funds to increase the number of prisons in the Province. The report says new developments have made it more affordable and more important now that Daryl Sutter is available there is a possible warden.

Hockey broadcaster Howie Meeker was given the Order of Canada medal and afterwards used the Telestrator to show how the medal could have been placed on his neck more efficiently.
Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)
About 30 members of the Russian junior-hockey contingent were kicked off their return flight home from the world championships in Buffalo on Thursday for unruly behavior, Delta Air Lines confirmed.
Tempers apparently flared when Delta only gave them two minutes for boarding.