Thrashers vs Vancouver Canucks

As soon as the NHL schedule was released last summer I have been excited for this game. I have also been crossing my fingers hoping that Roberto Luongo would be healthy for the trip. The Canucks haven't been in Blueland since January 2, 2009. Roberto was injured then and couldn't make it. So, that means I haven't seen Luongo since February 7, 2008!! I was long over due for some Bobby Lu!



Fortunately for me, Roberto was healthy and in full effect!



Henrik Sedin, one of the stars of my flailing fantasy team.



Henrik's twin brother, Daniel.



Henrik doing the lean.



Luongo has a happy. What's not to be happy about. The Canucks lead the league with 109 points.



Is this the Youth Hockey Player of the Game? No! It's Mason Raymond! He's actually 25, but looks about 12.



Cory Schneider sees me seeing him.



Well hello, hotstuff. I'm not sure I knew that Bieksa was so hot.



Burrows: Is Cory playing tonight?
Luongo: No.
Burrows: Why not, it's the Thrashers? Why not let Cory play and rest?
Luongo: I don't need to rest.
Burrows: Well you know it would be nice for you not to choke this season in the playoffs.
Luongo:



Lu makes a stop.



Luongo gives Cory a few minutes in the net.



Hot and dirty, Maxim Lapierre



In addition to being excited about Lu and the twins, I was looking forward to seeing interview bomber, Ryan Kesler!



Don't know what I'm talking about? Check this out:



The twins making things difficult for Schneider.



Swarming the goalie.



There were a ton of Canuck fans in the house. They were loud and rowdy and having a good time during warm ups. When warm ups were over, a large group of them with signs was getting their picture taken. One of them had a sign that said something about the "Winnipeg Thrashers." I said "why don't you get a picture of me kicking that sign out of your hand." He was surprised.


I was super lucky to have awesome tickets for this game, 5 rows off of the glass. I was able to see all of the action like Burmi taking this into the Canucks zone.



Antropov gives it a try.



Luongo tries to peek through the traffic.



Lu is very instructional while on the ice.



Lots of traffic in front of Lu.



Luongo only flips his lid when he goes to the bench.



Little and interview bomber in the faceoff.



Bogosian guarding the crease. That makes me nervous.



Finally! A pic of the twins together.



Mason tracking the puck.



Toby making sure Kesler doesn't do any harm.



This guy was down by the glass...alone. He held this fucking sign up like the whole time.



I guess it worked, he got his picture taken.



Keep those dirty Canucks out of there, Johnny!



Mason sees some traffic.



Watch those rebounds!



Third period and Lu is back on my end! He tracks the puck as usual!



Watch out Lu! We know what Ballard can do to a goalie!



Dvorak is poised and hoping to get a puck around Bieksa and through Luongo.



Buff comes to say hello to his old friend, Lu.



Shut out ruined and goal by Little, fantasy team gold for me!



Ladd in the crease.



Buff must have remembered something he needed to tell Lu.



Stewie goes to the net hoping for chance.



The puck goes up...



everyone goes after it...



Lu does some spinning...



And the crease is still safe!



Ladd trying to make something happen in the final minutes.



No such luck. Canucks win.


The Canucks are an amazing team and I didn't have much hopes of winning this one. I was just thrilled to see a world class athlete like Roberto Luongo. Luongo was in complete beast mode. Once again Bryan Little was painfully close. Check out this picture Mr. Fred took. You can see just how close Bryan was.



Close up of a close shot!