Huge game tonight, Canucks vs. Blues for Game #4. The Canucks have a chance to take it all, and for the Blues it is do or die. Will St. Louis be able to elevate their game tonight and play desperate?

So far my playoff streak of wearing a jersey every day of the playoffs continues. I’m not stinky yet, but the playoffs ain’t over yet either… *cough* I haven’t had a chance to go to a playoff game yet this year and with trying to save up for all the surf trips I have planned this summer, I don’t think I’ll get a chance to. That said, if they make it to the Stanley Cup finals (and I think they have a pretty decent chance), I’ll be there

For most bandwagon fans, the Canucks continue to surprise them with their speed and toughness. For us die-hard fans, it’s just the good team we’ve seen playing most of the year taking it to the next level. They got better and better as the season progressed and now they are finally showing what they can do when they play with a little heart… something that has been sorely missed on a Canucks team for a long time, especially since Trevor Linden retired in my opinion

Mats Sundin is supposed to be a game-time decision tonight. I’d like to have him back, but definitely don’t want him rushed through his injury to play. Kariya has said he’s not going to play tonight, but if they make it to Game 5, I’m almost certain he will. Special teams is going to be the story again for tonight. Canucks will need to continue their excellent penalty killing and continue scoring when they get power play chances.

Tonight is going to be a tough game. The Canucks aren’t known for their killer instinct and have only swept a playoff series once before. We’ve seen a lot of the young guys on our team step up, like Burrows, Kesler, Bernier, and Raymond… and even the Sedins! Now I’d like to see some of the veterans really pull out all the stops and play hard tonight. The Canucks are going to need to play every game like it is their last and not get complacent if they want to keep up their momentum into the second series. But let’s not count our chickens before they hatch. It isn’t over till it’s over.

As I mentioned, my friend who is a Blues fan is a little unsettled by the series so far but I have to give it to him — he hasn’t jumped ship and continues to support his team. I have something to admit that no self-respecting Canucks fan would ever admit. I secretly want St. Louis to get the next game… not just so my friend can have a smile on his face, but also so the Canucks can come back home… and win the series in Vancouver for the fans. But don’t tell anyone I told you that!

In other news, what’s with Library Square kicking out a guy for wearing his Canucks jersey? What a shame. I’m boycotting them from now on. Come on — get with the program! It’s playoff time and this is a hockey town. Here’s the link for those who haven’t read the story yet on CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/04/20/bc-canucks-jersey-ban-library-square-pub.html

Shame on them.

It’s playoff time in Vancouver and the city is buzzing. The Johnny Canuck car flags come out, the jerseys are on show, and the Canuck fan in every Vancouverite seems to come to life (*cough* bandwagoners *cough*).

Since I’m a girl and can’t rock the playoff beard, I’m wearing my jersey every day for good luck – even to work. Every April and May my coworkers will have to deal with the stench, but at least they know it’s coming.

When it was first announced that the Canucks would be playing the St. Louis Blues in the first round of playoffs, a ripple of nervousness spread out across the city. All of a sudden, the most die-hard fans I knew were questioning whether the Canucks would be able to handle the toughness of the Blues, and if we’d be able to handle the eventual comeback of Kariya. Playing the hottest team in the NHL for the second half of the season? No thanks, we’d rather take on Chicago.

But last night the Canucks won an important game: their first playoff game of the year, and the first game of the series. Statistically, we know that the team that wins the first game of the series has often led to the same team moving on to the next round. I think the Canucks put a lot of the city’s fears to rest and calmed a lot of their own uneasiness by pulling out a victory in the first game of the series.

That’s not to say that it was an absolute beating. The Canucks, and by the Canucks I mean Luongo, weathered the storm in the first period as he stopped a number of significant scoring chances from the Blues. 5 penalties in the first period really sent the Canucks reeling against the hot special teams of St. Louis.

Thank goodness Daniel scored a nice goal from Demitra and Edler to take the lead. I wonder how many Canuck fans around the city breathed a sigh of relief when that happened. I know I did!

The second and third periods were played much better by the Canucks, as they came on strong, scored another goal and ended up winning the game 2-1. I have to say the real difference makers were the Sedins, who surprised pretty much everyone by playing tough, finishing their checks, and being physical while on the puck. If they can keep this up, I think the team we have now is the deepest and most competitive in Canucks history.

And so the city eagerly awaits for the second game of the series on Friday. Sadly, one of my good friends is a die-hard Blues fan, and I refuse to let him walk around for the rest of the year with a smug look on his face. So Canucks, please go on to win the series. For my sake, and for yours!

Go Canucks Go!