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Canucks and Beyond

Does Size Matter?

by Alanah McGinley on 03/13/07 at 03:47 PM ET
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How big a point total is big enough? With 87 points and 13 games remaining, Vancouver has put itself in a great position. To my mind, the worst case scenario the Canucks face now is going .500 for the remaining games, a result which would still give them 100 points for the season. That may well not win Vancouver the division (not very likely, in fact) but it certainly guarantees them a playoff spot. (Which would beat the hell out of last season...) So, how much does winning the Northwest Division matter? Well, the bragging rights are fun -- and the home playoff advantage is obviously very desirable -- but I don't think Vancouver gains any other bonuses in facing a team like San Jose over a team like Nashville. Every top-8 team in the west is going to be a beast to get past. It's going to be a ride. Tonight's game against Minnesota should provide another reminder of that. They've been a formidable opponent all season, and the last game was remarkably good one (*I still like my movie poster... heh). Anyway, if tonight's match-up is anything like the last one, a Canucks-Wild playoff series might actually come in a close second favorite to a Canucks-Flames one (*a Canucks-Wings series would probably be better, but I don't think I could bear the Bertuzzi Effect). But I suppose any series will create that kind of passionate hockey-hatred that would have us on the edge of our seats for a first round -- heart-attack inducing, but always fun. And now on a completely different topic, let me share something that almost made me lose my breakfast this morning. A friend dropped this in my email a while ago. Enjoy. (update: I just found out that the friend who sent the image spotted it on DC Sports Chick's blog) Note 1: There's a challenge on Kukla's today. Go win some money. Note 2: Nathan Smith from the Manitoba Moose has been called up to the Canucks today. More about Smith:

Smith, 25, has appeared in 58 games so far this season with the Moose where he has scored 16 goals and 18 assists for 34 points and 80 penalty minutes making it the most productive season of Smith’s five-year pro career. Smith is second on the Moose with six game-winning goals in total and four of those coming in the last eight games. In fact, Smith has collected 10 points in his 10 games (6G, 4A). The Strathcona, AB native’s production comes on the heels of a significant knee injury suffered last season which caused him to miss the final 60 games of the regular season.

Smith has appeared in two games in the NHL with Vancouver in his career, both back in 2003-04. He has played in 279 career games with the Moose making him the longest active current member of the team. In that time, he has 41 goals and 55 assists for 96 points and 275 penalty minutes.

Smith was originally drafted in the first round by Vancouver, 23rd overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

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About Canucks and Beyond

Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003 (with a notable gap in time through 2010, kicking it with new baby Lucy while living knee-deep in chaos while reading "parenting for complete idiots" during every spare minute) sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen.

In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla's Korner, Alanah was one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast. She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.

So that's me. Who the hell are you?

Email: am@kuklaskorner.com

Alanah's Twitter: [@alanah1]