Game 61 - vs. Lightning

Everything about this game looks bad for the Canucks:
- first game back after a long road trip
- Lightning are a terrible team that the Nucks should be expected to beat
- the Lightning have NEVER won in Vancouver

Under normal circumstances this would be guaranteed loss night for our Canucks. But I'm treating this as a test of our Emergency Optimism System.

This is a test. This is only a test. If this were a real disaster, your team would already have lost. However, this is only a test.

We'll win tonight, and we'll look damnfinegood doing it.

Canucks win 5-2, including markers by Wellwood, Bernier, D. Sedin, Edler, and Burrows. Go Nucks go!

Game 60 - at Canadiens

I know I'm on a big optimism kick here, and I'm not off any bandwagon, but even a great team can't win every game... and you've got to think things are stacking up against the Nucks tonight:

- last game of a long road trip
- downer after Saturday's emotional win
- excessive focus on the homecomings of Luongo/Burrows/Vigneault
- Canadiens looking to atone after recent horrorshow against Canucks
- TSN now calling Canucks "red hot"

In short, it's time to stub our collective toe.

Optimistic prediction: Canucks keep finding ways to win, even when they don't outplay the other guy. Montreal's goaltending lets them down again, and Canucks win an ugly one, 6-5.

Pessimistic prediction: Luongo is good but not great--and the rest of the team is just downright bad. Sundin is ice cold, Sedins are worse. Burrows tries his best but even a two goal outing from him can't staunch the bleeding. 5-2 loss to les Habitants.

As of 3:18 p.m. I am feeling pessimistic. Sorry boys, tonight's not our night.

Game 59 - at Maple Leafs

Mats is back in T.O., and (like Louie) I think he's going to have a stellar game.

Look for two goals from the RPM line, and another two from the money line (Sedin^2+Burr). I suppose the Leafs might get one past The Captain, but I really don't think the outcome will be in doubt.

Optimistic prediction: 4-1 win for the good guys.

Pessimistic prediction: 3-2 win for the good guys.

Overconfident? Moi?

Game 58 - at Senators

Didn't have time to post before the game, but (like everyone in the known universe outside of Bryan Murray's cone-shaped head) I knew Vancouver was going to win.

As soon as Sundin gets over his cold, we'll have two scoring lines, something Vancouver hasn't had since ... um, ever?

Game 57 - at Flames

Okay, in all honesty I predicted the Nucks would take the Habs.

For tonight I'm less sanguine. I think Vancouver will come out of this 4-game all-Canadian road trip with 3 wins... but I don't think tonight will be one of them.

Pessimism tonight. Optimism hereafter!

Postgame Update: Anyone who saw that coming, raise your hand. You see? Nobody. Not me, not you, not Miiiiikkkkka "Paddle Save" Kiprusoff. Wow. What a finish!

Game 55 - at Stars

Tired shmired. We're on a roll, baby. And now I hear LaBarbera is getting the start. Good—looks like Louie needed a rest, frankly.

Tonight’s as full of optimism as last night: Barbs stones ‘em, and Sundin-Kesler-Demitra get going again. 3-0 Nucklers. Go get 'em boyos.

Game 54 - at Coyotes

I'm embarrassed at my lack of faith. Lose against the Blues? Pshaw!

Now it's time to make that b*st*rd Gretzky pay for all the records he set against the 'Nucks. Obviously he's sent Turris down to the minors because he's scared on his behalf, scared of the epic beatdown his Dogs are going to get tonight.

The only way we're rolling these days is optimism, baby. So look for a huge 5-2 win by the good guys tonight. Sundin, Burrows, and Johnson with the trey!

(I'm not just on the bandwagon, friends, I'm the freakin' BAND.)

Game 53 - at Blues

Holy crumbs, it's 5:20 and I'm too busy for real posting. Short version: today I feel pessimistic, I am sorry to say. I think we're going to put in another typical (for the Canucks) awful performance against a bottom-feeder.

Let's say 4-2 Blues. The heart says NO, but the head says OH YES. Another fail tonight.

So much for the win streak. Argh.

Game 52 - vs. Blackhawks

Finally I was right to predict a win. Let's see if this works again...

Optimistic prediction: Win win win. Offense offense offense. Defense defense defense. Goalie goalie goalie. Fight fight fight. Oh, let's say... 4-3 Canucks in OT. Bieksa with the winner.

Pessimistic prediction: Instead of the Canucks, the South Delta Atom "Vipers" suit up against the 'Hawks. As you might expect, they are pasted 193-0.

As of a couple hours before the game I am feeling optimistic. Go Canucks Go! 2 game win streak! Flames lose 3 in a row! The world is right again!

Game 51 - vs. Hurricanes

Tonight's the night. No pessimistic prediction tonight--tonight we pull off the Hurricanes' heads, then rip out their vertebral columns and beat them until the decapitated heads try to make whimpering noises, which they can't do because they're decapitated.

Kill kill kill blood blood blood

Savage ripping and tearing with the anger and the funny-looking eyes and the ripping and the tearing.

Optimistic prediction: Sundin doesn't suck. Luongo doesn't suck. There is a remarkable absence of suck. Burrows pots a pair, and the Sedins play like they're both evil twins. 4-1 Nuckers.

No pessimism. Just rage. Win! Maim! Disfigure!