Today on Canucks in Wonderland…

Dale Weise (Photo: canucks.com/ Naki Edits)

Dale Weise is to be the first Canuck to go to Europe and play.

Mr. Weise’s agent says that a deal is currently being finalized between his client and the Tilburg Trappers of the Netherlands (x).

Congratulations Mr. Weise! (I guess, but in all seriousness though, well done. ^^)

Dale Weise (Photo: canucks.com/ Naki Edits)

Today on Canucks  in Wonderland, General Manager Mike Gillis has announced that the Vancouver Canucks have taken Winnipeg native Dale Weise on for another year, thus avoiding arbitration.

Dale Weise was acquired by the Vancouver Canucks early in the 2011-2012 season, having previously played for the New York Rangers.

Dale Weise played a total of 86 games with the Vancouver Canucks this season, ending with a total of 8 points and a +/- of -1.

Congratulations and we’ll see you next year Mr. Weise!

 

Celebration! (Photo: Rich Lam/Getty Images)

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2012.

Welcome to the place where dreams are made, dreams are broken and where we the fans will see history go down.

Welcome to Finding Stanley Round 1; Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarter Finals; in which the Vancouver Canucks (1^st in the Conference) go up against the Los Angeles Kings (8^th in the Conference).

Let’s get started!

Lining Up – Fun Facts

• Today’s line ups saw Mason Raymond back to the lineup. He would play on the 1^st line alongside Captain Hank and Alex Dragon Slayer.  The second line would remain the same, as well as the third. The fourth line, however; consisted of Manny Malhotra, Zack Kassian and Byron Bitz. Marc Andre Gragnani, Daniel Sedin, Andrew Ebbett, Dale Weise and Andrew Alberts were all scratched, some due to injuries and others simply as healthy scratches.
• Our d pairings would remain the same as they did against the Edmonton Oilers and in goal last night was our regular starter Roberto Luongo!
• The Green Men were also seen in Rogers Arena tonight, seated in their usual place next to the opponent’s penalty box. Their sign tonight? ‘This run is for Rypper’ in honor of late Canuck Rick Rypien.

 Fun Facts of the First, Second and the Third Period

• The First Period saw 2 goals, 6 penalties, 19 shots on net and plenty of LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUing.
• The first goal of the night and of the series went to Alex Burrows, who turned 31 yesterday. What a way to spend your birthday! Congratulations Alex and Happy Birthday!!
• LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUuuu.
• There were plenty of those throughout the night, but not as much as there was during the first period. LUUUUUU would echo throughout Rogers Arena plenty of times over the course of the first 10 minutes.
• There were also plenty of good chances for us to score and lengthen our lead, but unfortunately the puck did not hit the back of the net. It was a very good try on the part of  Messers Booth, Kesler, Raymond and Burrows though.
• The second goal of the night went to Mike Richards and the LA Kings on the powerplay. The score would then be 1-1.
• The Second Period would see 2 more goals, 5 penalties, a post and 24 more shots on net.
• Former Canuck Willie Mitchell would score a power play goal for the LA Kings, making the score 2-1.
• However, their lead was short lived as Alex ‘Eagle’ Edler slipped one past Jonathan Quick, tying the game once more.
• And the post decided it was our friend tonight as a shot of an LA King somehow richoched off said post and out.
• The 3^rd and Final Period contained 2 goals, 2 penalties and 22 shots total.
• Dustin Penner would score for the Kings, as well as Kings Captain Dustin Brown, who would score an empty netter which would also serve as the game winning goal.
• The final score would be 4-2 in favour of the Kings.

And thus game 1 goes to the LA Kings.

Congratulations LA, we’ll see you in Rogers Arena on Friday for Game 2.

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2012.

Welcome to the place where dreams are made, dreams are broken and where we the fans will see history go down.

Good Luck everybody.

Have fun.

And may the odds be ever in your favour.

(Photo: Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

Or in this case.

An Avalanche.

10 points to the person who knows what inspired the title.

Well, there’s good news. And there’s bad news.

The good news is that Chris Higgins is back.

He was out with a staph infection since January 31^st and since then has been rid of it, with help from medication.

Unfortunately, he had a negative reaction to the medication and was unable to join the Canucks on their mini road trip last week.

But the good news is he’s back and looks like he’s back for good.

The bad news is: Keith Ballard is ailing. And we have no clue what he’s ailing from. Not yet anyways. And Dale Weise also remains out for reasons I am unsure of.

But enough about that; let’s get to the game!

Lining up – Fun Facts

• With Chris Higgins back in the lineup; Mike Duco was sent back down to play with our AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.
• Chris Higgins would play on the fourth line alongside Maxim Lapierre and Jannik Hansen. Other than that the lineup would not change.
• Luongo would start.

First, Second and Turd Period – Fun Facts

This is not due to a lack of sprinkles. There were plenty of sprinkles that came in the form of a rather well-played game. And so I give to you; in short and in order: The Fun Facts of da First, Second and Turd Periods.

• 13 seconds in, David Booth gives the Canucks a 1-0 lead.
• Byron Bitz and Cody McLeod have a showdown. Byron Bitz managed to get two; good solid punches on him before the fight was broke up.
• LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.
• And the period ends like that. 1-0, favor of the Nucks.
• Period 2 starts off well, though the Avs decided to tie it up, courtesy of Erik Johnson.
• One of the referees also took a stick to the eye.  It did look like he was alright though. Which is good.
• BEGIN DA TURD.
• Now where do I start with Da Turd?
• Oh yes.
• THE HONEY BADGER.
• Jannik, where HAVE you been?
• Well, he’s been around and he scored tonight and I couldn’t be happier.
• The only down side to this period was that Alex Burrows got an empty netter and Chris Higgins was next to him and Y U NO GIVE PUCK TO HIGGY SO HE COULD SCORE EMPTY NETTER?
• I’m joking.
• Alex Burrows got an empty netter and the best part is: we won a game in regulation time.

In other news, I would like to thank the Hockey Gods for finally giving us our game back. Please note we would like Keith Ballard and Dale Weise back uninjured and as soon as possible. Thanks plenty.

We shall gladly take these 2 points and may we go through the rest of the year without going through any more overtimes and shootouts 5 times in a row.

That is all.

Up next: The Toronto Maple Leafs are over for a visit on Saturday. Puck drop is at 4 and I shall see you then.

Until then Canuckleheads.

Until then.