It feels like writing a eulogy, I’m distraught, I don’t know what to say, but this isn’t writers block, its heartbreak. The gold medal streak is dead, I hate this feeling. W.H. Auden wrote it best…

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Down 5-3 in the third period, Jordan Eberle lead Canada to another epic two goal comeback to push the game to overtime, but in this episode of the Canada vs. USA rivalry, Canada would not survive OT.

Early in the twenty minute 4 on 4 overtime period, Alex Pietrangelo jumped up in the rush and ripped a slap shot towards the American goal, the shot was kicked wide by USA keeper Jack Campbell, creating a 2 on 1 in the Canadian zone.

Did Canada forget it was 4 on 4? Did we think that we would score on one of the first shots of Overtime? Who knows, but it’s all too late to question.

On that 2 on 1, John Carlson skated up the ice, checked if the pass was available and opted to shoot, and it was a good decision for the young American. Just as they had done so many times before, the USA team attacked the top half of the net, burying a wrist shot top corner, earning the gold medal and ending the Canadian streak at five gold medals.

It ends at the drive for five; no sick pack and no chance for the media to salivate over the numerous puns that come with number seven. Lucky number seven, seventh heaven, not any more. Now all Canada will be looking for next year in Buffalo is revenge, and while I hate losing, that is fine with me. Just as the target will be on Canadian players back in Vancouver 2010, next Christmas the pressure will be on the Americans to defend gold at home, and Canada will be ready to avenge their loss next year.

To all those Canadian Canucks fans, Jordan Schroeder played like a pro all tournament, especially against Canada, at least one of our prospects is looking sharp, even if it has to be in spite of a Canadian loss. I’ll be wondering all week how the tournament would have gone with a healthy Cody Hodgson in the tournament, or a healthy Travis Hamonic in the gold medal game.

Canucks Dominate Blue Jackets

If you told me yesterday that only one of my two teams could win their game Tuesday night, I would have had to say I would prefer a Canadian victory. There is only one gold medal game; we’ll play the Blue Jackets again over the course of the season.

After being devastated by John Carlson in the Canada vs. USA final, the Canucks didn’t seem to be helping me out, down 2-0 it looked like a hockey nightmare – not so fast hockey fans.

It’s obvious that Rick Rypien gets the Vanstone stamp of approval, but that is usually because of his bare fists. Last night, Rypien gets a big stick tap by starting the comeback for the Canucks with a slapshot he ripped past Steve Mason just 41 seconds after the BJ’s took a two goal lead. That’s the type of goal you love to see from a 4^th line player.

After Rypien got the team back into it, the first line took over and never looked back. Two goals by Alex Burrows, both assisted by the Sedin twins rounded out the 1^st period for the Canucks, regaining the lead. It was all Canucks after that point, Sedin, Salo and Mikael “$#&% themselves” Samuelsson all added second period goals to head into the third 6-3.

A three goal lead is usually a pretty comfortable lead, and the Canucks traditionally would sit back and defend a lead, and when three ahead, it’s a very smart decision. So when Alex Burrows and Ryan Kesler streaked up ice shorthanded only five minutes into the third period, I was very sceptical.

Shame on me for ever questioning these two.

Alex Burrows fed a pass over to Kesler and drove back door, where Kesler placed a perfect pass that Burrows nicely tapped into a gaping cage, solidifying a solid Canucks victory, and capping off only the second hat trick of Burrows’ career.

Great game all around for the Canucks, assuming of course that the “game” started just over seven minutes after the clock started counting down. Very nice of them to let the Jackets skate alone for so long.

Injuries, News and Notes

• Kevin Bieksa is of course, out for a while. Going to be months for Bieksa, hopefully a nice return just before playoff time to give the Canucks a little boost down the stretch.
• Ryan Johnson is still day to day with a foot injury.
• Pavol Demitra is skating with the team again, but hasn’t been cleared for contact yet. It will be very interesting to see where Demitra fits into the line-up, although his spot will mostly depend on how he performs when he returns.
• After last night’s game Christian Ehrhoff is the NHL’s plus/minus leader, good times.
• Ehrhoff isn’t the only Canuck on top of the NHL leader boards; Henrik Sedin is tied for 1^st in the NHL scoring lead. More good times.
• The Phoenix Coyotes come to town on Thursday night, I’m hoping the recently high powered Canucks offense shows up, I hate how games between Vigneault and Tippet become defensive wars of attrition. Worst comes to worst and tomorrow night is a defensive struggle, just win baby.