Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks show plenty of backbone in loss to Lightning, Juolevi out The Vancouver Canucks lost Troy Stecher to injury and suffered their first regulation loss in seven games, but they fired up the fans at Rogers Arena and showed plenty of pushback during their 5-2 loss to the league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.

You guys didn't get "squashed", contrary to what our blogger wrote.

It was a heck of a game; fast, physical and tough. For a team that is supposed to be in a rebuild, you guys sure don't play like it.

Travis Green seems to know his stuff - what say you, Nucks faithful?

Thanks Carol,

Full credit to Hutton for stepping up to throw with Paquette. Might be my favourite thing he's done. That said, now that his production numbers have slowed and he's still awful at defending I think it's time to move him back down to bottom pair.

Edit: looking forward to the Hutton lovers trying to tell me he's been good this year but haven't looked at his stats.

You guys didn't get "squashed", contrary to what our blogger wrote.

It was a heck of a game; fast, physical and tough. For a team that is supposed to be in a rebuild, you guys sure don't play like it.

Travis Green seems to know his stuff - what say you, Nucks faithful?
- OzBolts

The board is a bit divided on Green, I'm a big fan and think he really gets the best out of these guys for the most part. Considering how bad a our d and goaltending are especially. Great game!

I want Saucerman to become the new Biega so badly.

I want Saucerman to become the new Biega so badly.
- Lindenis#1

He's pretty small, Lefty will lose his poop if we have Hughes, Stecher and Sauce in next year.

He's pretty small, Lefty will lose his poop if we have Hughes, Stecher and Sauce in next year.
- neem55

Just ahead of the curve. Average height of an NHL defenceman has decreased by 2 inches since 1998 at basically exactly 1 inch a decade.

Just ahead of the curve. Average height of an NHL defenceman has decreased by 2 inches since 1998 at basically exactly 1 inch a decade.
- Lindenis#1

Ya the league is getting smaller for sure, skill and speed is the key.

Thanks Carol

I have never liked Roussel and his style... I can't believe he makes $3m a year. He was the reason the game became chippy. Martel's hit was borderline and could have been punished more then it was... I understand the Canucks being upset but Gudbranson third man in with an uppercut on Martel while the ref and Virtanen have him wrapped up is BS to me.

Other then that I felt the game was a fun fast paced hockey game for most of the first and again in the third as the Canucks had chances to tie the game, they played well enough to potentially win if a bounce in the third went their way but Vasy closed the door and Stamkos got the bounce on the goal that Canucks goalie should have stopped.

With Pettersson, Boeser and Horvat the Canucks have some fun great players to build around.

I have never liked Roussel and his style... I can't believe he makes $3m a year. He was the reason the game became chippy. Martel's hit was borderline and could have been punished more then it was... I understand the Canucks being upset but Gudbranson third man in with an uppercut on Martel while the ref and Virtanen have him wrapped up is BS to me.

Other then that I felt the game was a fun fast paced hockey game for most of the first and again in the third as the Canucks had chances to tie the game, they played well enough to potentially win if a bounce in the third went their way but Vasy closed the door and Stamkos got the bounce on the goal that Canucks goalie should have stopped.

Pettersson, Boeser and Horvat the Canucks have some fun great players to build around.
- stammerman

The whole point of having Roussel is for you to not like him

Thanks Carol,

Full credit to Hutton for stepping up to throw with Paquette. Might be my favourite thing he's done. That said, now that his production numbers have slowed and he's still awful at defending I think it's time to move him back down to bottom pair.

Edit: looking forward to the Hutton lovers trying to tell me he's been good this year but haven't looked at his stats.
- neem55

Do you mean the 4 goals and 10 assists? Or do you mean "fancy stats"?

I'm no Hutton lover, but worse defenders get paid more money than Hutton on a regular basis.

The whole point of having Roussel is for you to not like him
- neem55

Thanks Carol.

Do you mean the 4 goals and 10 assists? Or do you mean "fancy stats"?

I'm no Hutton lover, but worse defenders get paid more money than Hutton on a regular basis.
- 1970vintage

Yes, the stats that track his actual ability to defend (his actual job)

Do you mean the 4 goals and 10 assists? Or do you mean "fancy stats"?

I'm no Hutton lover, but worse defenders get paid more money than Hutton on a regular basis.
- 1970vintage

His fancy stats aren't even that bad. They have warts but if you drill into his splits it seems like its partner affected as Hutton w/ Tanev looks like a fine pairing while Hutton w/ Gudbranson is a is, and always has been, a mess

Yes, the stats that track his actual ability to defend (his actual job)
- neem55

I'm really curious what these are.

You guys didn't get "squashed", contrary to what our blogger wrote.

It was a heck of a game; fast, physical and tough. For a team that is supposed to be in a rebuild, you guys sure don't play like it.

Travis Green seems to know his stuff - what say you, Nucks faithful?
- OzBolts

Headed in the right direction and there are some great things to finally be excited about. I like Green but we will all be critical of him at times...players seem to respond to him and respect him...as he was an NHL player which I think makes a difference in the room. Few years away from sniffing the WC spot.

Ya the league is getting smaller for sure, skill and speed is the key.
- neem55

Height in inches and weight in lbs
1997-98 73.2 204.9
1998-99 73.1 204.5
1999-00 73.1 204.5
2000-01 73.2 204.9
2001-02 73.1 205.3
2002-03 73.2 205.9
2003-04 73.3 206.3
2005-06 73.2 206.3
2006-07 73.2 205.6
2007-08 73.1 205.4
2008-09 73.2 205.2
2009-10 73.2 204.9
2010-11 73.2 204.5
2011-12 73.2 203.8
2012-13 73.2 203.6
2013-14 73.1 201.9
2014-15 73.1 201.2

17-18 NHL average height this season: 73.1 inches (6-foot-1.1) NHL average weight this season: 200.7 lbs

Yes, the stats that track his actual ability to defend (his actual job)
- neem55

Find me an NHL defender who put up 9 goals and 23 assists in a season (his current pace) and got < $3m on their next contract, regardless of their corsi%/fenwick%

I have never liked Roussel and his style... I can't believe he makes $3m a year. He was the reason the game became chippy. Martel's hit was borderline and could have been punished more then it was... I understand the Canucks being upset but Gudbranson third man in with an uppercut on Martel while the ref and Virtanen have him wrapped up is BS to me.

Other then that I felt the game was a fun fast paced hockey game for most of the first and again in the third as the Canucks had chances to tie the game, they played well enough to potentially win if a bounce in the third went their way but Vasy closed the door and Stamkos got the bounce on the goal that Canucks goalie should have stopped.

With Pettersson, Boeser and Horvat the Canucks have some fun great players to build around.
- stammerman

It is what it is. You wanna run around the ice blind-siding players with hits to the head this will be the result. Learn how to deal with it.

I was expecting a hockey game and a battle royale broke out. Great game to watch. I think Martel's hit was borderline and he deserved a stiffer penalty for it. I don't know enough about him to render an opinion on whether or not he intended that hit to be dirty or not. I hope not. I don't like dirty players and really don't want them on the team I am rooting for.

Gourde got a beat down. Not even close. In fact, the Lightning players got the worst of the rough stuff for the most part. But, we'll take the win despite the beatdowns. The boxscore doesn't tell the truth about this game - it was a lot closer than the score made it look.

I was expecting a hockey game and a battle royale broke out. Great game to watch. I think Martel's hit was borderline and he deserved a stiffer penalty for it. I don't know enough about him to render an opinion on whether or not he intended that hit to be dirty or not. I hope not. I don't like dirty players and really don't want them on the team I am rooting for.

Gourde got a beat down. Not even close. In fact, the Lightning players got the worst of the rough stuff for the most part. But, we'll take the win despite the beatdowns. The boxscore doesn't tell the truth about this game - it was a lot closer than the score made it look.
- GalacticStone

Intentionally dirty or not, if the Refs make a more appropriate call on the ice it likely ends the shenanigans. After that both teams did what they had to.

It is what it is. You wanna run around the ice blind-siding players with hits to the head this will be the result. Learn how to deal with it.
- LordHumungous

Starts a water fight. Complains about getting wet.

Don't throw water balloons if you're going to complain when you get sprayed by the hose.

Saucerman deserves a call up.

a) Great Name
b) Great Beard
c) Fan favorite potential