Vancouver Daily: Canucks at Worlds, Playoff Water Bottle-gate

The IIHF World Championships continue to cruise along in Helsinki and Tampere, Finland with a couple of Vancouver Canucks representing. Defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson for Sweden and forward Juho Lammikko for the hosts. OEL has one assist in five games played and is a plus-2 while forward Lammikko also has one assist and five penalty minutes. There are no Vancouver Canucks participating for the two North American countries.

While Finland remains undefeated in regulation and sitting on top of Group B just ahead of 2nd place Sweden, Team USA is tied for third with the Czechs.

Canada is 4-and-1 and tied with Germany in 2nd place in Group A, both trailing first place Switzerland, a perfect 5-and-0.

National Hockey Now

Let’s take a twirl around the NHL courtesy of Dan Kingerski at HQ and the rest of the Hockey Now bureau chiefs.

Sportsnet Video: It’s Sunday morning, which means the boys on Sportsnet made news during Hockey Night in Canada. Rick Tocchet to Dallas? Barry Trotz to Philly or Detroit? New Jersey trading second-overall pick? Best four minutes in hockey.

Montreal Hockey Now: The Canadiens’ power play was pretty foul this season–just like the Canadiens. One name that is popping up–Mark Recchi. Sources told Montreal Hockey Now that Recchi is on their radar and a few teams’ call list. Montreal Canadiens news.

Montreal: GM Kent Hughes was forthright in his media availability. What if they trade Jeff Petry? It sounds like Montreal will be swimming in the NHL trade pond for an experienced defenseman. Canadiens trade talk.

For our prospect lovers and poolies–our boys in Detroit are doing an extraordinary job. Take a look at Detroit Hockey Now and the half-dozen new stories on Detroit Red Wings prospects.

Boston: The B’s need center help. Badly. They are still keeping the door open for Czech center David Krejci to pick up the phone. Boston Bruins offseason.

Washington: Bird cellies, jokes, and redemption. Evgeny Kuznetsov was all but kicked out of Washington last summer. Bounced. 86’d. But they kept him around, and he had a remarkable season. Inside the bounce back for the Washington Capitals star.

Colorado: Both Colorado defenseman Sam Girard and St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington were injured during Game 3, though Binnington’s injury was controversial as Nazem Kadri collided with the goalie. Credit Binnington for not striking the dead man’s pose as Igor Shesterkin tried to do during the Penguins Round One series. Colorado Avalanche injuries.

Binnington chucked a water bottle at Kadri during the postgame interview! Get the full game story and water bottle-gate. Colorado Avalanche win.

Simmer: With some family nuptials wrapping up, we’re back on the Vancouver Canucks behind-the-scenes news very shortly. Have fun this long weekend.

Meanwhile, Enjoy the Hockey Action !!