Get Your Towels Ready; Canucks and ‘Hawks Take the Series to Vancouver

There comes a time in every young man’s life when he must make a very important decision, free tickets or day to day responsibilities? As hockey fans, you will all understand that the right choice is of course, the tickets. With that in mind, I apologize for the light article today; I’m busy racing to GM Place to catch game three in person.

• After Ben Eager and Adam Burish were inserted into the lineup during game two, Shane O’Brien says the Canucks “have to play a lot grittier and a lot meaner.” Amen.
• Ryan Kesler rests his jaw for game time, providing nothing but laughs for Elliot Pap when asked about the Canucks’ strategy heading into game three.
• Shane O’Brien lets his jaw work overtime, again reiterating the Canucks must be tougher in game three, between the whistles of course.
• “Ryan Johnson said he’s in, Darcy Hordichuk thinks he’s in and Alain Vigneault thinks the media is making too much of line rushes Wednesday morning at GM Place.” The Vancouver Sun get’s right to the point over possible game three lineup changes for the Canucks. Bring on the blocked shots, says Johnson.
• The White Towel on the ‘Hawks game three lineup: Dustin Byfuglien will join Toews and Kane on the Blackhawks top line, anyone else feeling a brawl in front of Luongo tonight?
• After Patrick Kane’s cab-driver assault incident this summer, local paper Vancouver 24 Hours featured a hilarious take today on Vancouver Cabbies arming themselves to constantly be on the ready for another encounter. Who knew all it took was two dimes to be safe from a skinny kid with a mullet?
• Manitoba Moose coach Scott Arniel will be interviewing with both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Atlanta Thrashers this week, good for Arniel who deserves his chance coaching at a coaching graveyard the NHL level.
• Good sign/bad sign: A grey whale made its way into False Creek today, and Willie Mitchell of all people was on scene taking in the Whale’s awkward journey.
• The Green Men: loved by Canucks fans, hated by Canuck opponents, targeted by conservative groups? Russell Smith from the Globe and Mail believes it could happen, but sure isn’t confident by the end of the article: “But I have not yet heard a peep about banning these nerdy costumes on any of these grounds. Nobody seems offended by pudgy guys in tight clothes who don’t want to show their faces, or worried about the possibility of them indulging in crime sprees.”

While I can do without the “green bulge”, I appreciate the in arena antics and enthusiasm the Green Men bring the Canucks games. Do they make a difference in games? Probably not. Is their 15 minutes of fame running long? Maybe. Are they hilarious? Absolutely. So enjoy the antics of Vancouver’s favourite nearly naked green duo.  Puck drop is at 6:30 Pacific time tonight, I’ll be in GM Place tonight, put me in coach, I’m ready.