On a night where most of the world was focused on the 44th Presidential Election in the United States of America where history was made with Barack Obama elected as the first African-American President in the country’s history, there were a small band of Canuck fans, say 18,000 or so, who went to GM Place in Vancouver to cheer on their Canucks team.

It was a night of many important events that made this game special, where the Vancouver Canucks shutout the Nashville Predators 4-0.

To summarize, there were five main triumphant cheers tonight at GM Place for these main events.

1. Congratulatory applause for the new President of the United States.
2. The Predator’s coach, Barry Trotz, applauded for his 750th game coached.
3. The excellent performance by the game’s first star, Kyle Wellwood.
4. Roberto Luongo achieving his third shoutout of this young season.
5. The Canucks winning the game 4-0.

First Period >> Getting Synchronized
The first period started with both teams playing very tentatively. The Predators were keeping things simple and the Canuckswere a little out of sync. Although both side had their chances, the goalies, Roberto Luongo and Dan Ellis, were sharp. The period ended tied 0-0.

Second Period >> Taking the Lead
The Canucks started to come on this period. I think they got mad, which can be a good thing.

Martin Erat gave his old teammate, Darcy Hordichuk, a cheap shot in front of the Predator’s bench and got a penalty for it putting the Canucks on the power play.

It was on this power play where a “garbage or bang away in the goal mouth crease” goal put the Canucks on the board. The Sedin twins managed to get the puck to Kyle Wellwood on this power play where he banged the puck home for his 5th goal of the season. Canucks were up 1-0.

This made the Predator’s upset, so Nick Tarnasky decided to drop the gloves with Shane O’Brien and duke it out. It was a good fight with both players landing good punches to one another.

There was feeling coming into the game.

Third Period >> Finishing the Predators Off
The third period is where the  found their scoring touch again. Mason Raymond scored his fifth of the season on another one of Vancouver’s power plays when a point shot from Kevin Bieksa made it to the net with Steve Bernier banging at the puck on one side of the net and Mason Raymond on the other. The Canucks were now up 2-0.

But wait, there’s more.

There was a faceoff in the Predator’s zone around the six minute mark. The Canucks win the faceoff with the puck ending up on Taylor Pyatt’s stick. He manages to find Kyle Wellwood alone in front of the net, where he put three or so moves on the Predator’s netminder, Dan Ellis, and scored the Canuck’s third goal on the night.

For a guy that people were questioning in the past, he was now receiving cheers and applause. In fact, right after the goal, the whole stadium chanted “Wellwood”, “Wellwood”, “Wellwood” for about 10-15 seconds to congratulate him for his efforts and that he leads the team with 6 goals on the season. In certain cases, there are specialty players in the league. They may not be flashy, but they have good hockey sense and know where to be at the right time. Kyle Wellwood is one of these players.

Daniel Sedin wrapped up the night with his fourth goal of the season, in a similar fashion to Wellwood’s first goal of the game, banging away in the crease for the loose puck. This is a great sign. If the Sedins are willing to pay the price to try to score goals in the “dangerous” areas, they will have elevated their game to have more grit.

Next Game: Vancouver Canucks versus Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday November 6 2008 at 7:00pm PST

Another home game, another six goals. All in a day’s work.

The Vancouver Canucks defaeated the Edmonton Oilers 6-3 last night which was kicked off with the unveiling of the 7th Canuck tribute.

This was very nicely done with Cliff Ronning passing the number 7 he wore during his time in Vancouver to the fans so that we are part of the team during any Canucks game at GM Place. (Hope Brendon Morrison is OK with this as this was his number too.)

That tribute just made the arena even more louder than before.

The Canucks improved on their power play by scoring four power play goals. This was the difference in the game. The Canucks should be very pleased with Mason Raymond scoring two goals, Janik Hansen scoring two goals, Kyle Wellwood and Jason Krog scoring the other goals. This is great for the team, especially because there is not as much depending on the twins coupled with the fact that Pavol Demitra will be out for a while.

They still have a lot of areas to improve upon, but for now, they are winning the games within their division.

These are the games that really count.

Next Game: Vancouver Canucks versus the Boston Bruins on Tuesday October 28 2008 at 7:00pm

Wow.

Seems the Canucks went easy on the Flames during last night’s massacre at GM Place.

If Mattias Ohlund, Willie Mitchell, Kevin Bieksa and Sami Salo had played, they might not have scored their only goal of the game. If the twins and Steve Bernier have played, we might have seen double digit scoring. J Heh, heh, heh.

 A lot of notable points from last night’s game.

First, the Canucks are 5-0 in the pre-season Really feels good to say that.

Secondly, the fans were happy, both at the game and overall from listening to the comments on the Team 1040 radio station’s post game show. There seems to be a renewing optimism building with this team. Even from those fans who were claiming that “this is just the pre-season”. The message has changed to be, as I predicted, “this will provide them momentum for when the season starts”.

Goodness, there were even praises for Kyle Wellwood. Now people want him on the team. This is the guy who people gave general manager Mike Gillis such a hard time about when he was scooped from Toronto.

Secondly, the new Canucks showed good things happen when…

1. you shoot the puck

2. pass the puck to a player who will shoot the puck

3. have players who drive to the net hard to score.

Again, the new Canucks to perform these plays, Janik Hansen, Mason Raymond, Pavol Demitra, Kyle Wellwood, Alexander Edler and Lawrence Nycholat who is trying to make the lineup.

Lastly, some people were stating that the Canucks overpowered a depleted Calgary lineup, a team that played the night before, the team that was tired, Todd Bertuzzi would have made the difference, blah, blah, blah.

Jerome Iginla was there. Dion Phaneuf was there. Mikka Kiprusoff was there. Robyn Regehr was there. Rene Bourque was sort of there until Phaneuf knocked him out with a slapshot to the ankle.

Um, aren’t these the cornerstone players of the Calgary Flames lineup?

I guess excuses work for all 29 teams in the NHL except the Vancouver Canucks. It must be a rule like, oh I don’t know, like a goalie cannot wear the captain “C”.

While people were raving about the Flames being tougher and more experienced this coming season, the Canucks are showing signs of catering to the new NHL. That being tougher and faster can prove to be more effective, hence, USE THE TEAM’S YOUTH RATHER THAN EXPENSIVE VETERANS.

In conclusion, Toronto could have used Kyle Wellwood’s help last night

Next game: Thursday October 2 2008 against SanJose at 7:00pm

Well, well Wellwood! Canucks are 4-0 in the pre-season

It really feels good to say that.

Again, the new guys are shining bright.

Steve Bernier had points with the Sedins, Curtis Sanford is making key saves in both the game and the shootout, and then there’s Kyle Wellwood.

Yes, I know it is pre-season, but this is the guy that Mike Gillis was being hounded about all through the summer when other teams were picking up players like Marian Hossa.

Kyle Wellwood was the key in the victory today with a nice goal during regulation time and the shootout winner. If he can stay in shape and continue to play well, I think the Canucks stole one from the Leafs. Time will tell if the Leafs screwed up again.

Next game: Wednesday October 1 2008 Against Calgary 7:00pm on TSN