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Tuesday, December 31, 1996 UGH !The Vancouver Canucks went into the third period up 2-1, and then folded to 4 unanswered goals by Philadelphia, and ended up losing 5-3. Pavel assisted on the Canucks' last goal. In losing their 4th staright game, the Canucks are in their worst losing slump of the season, while the Philadelphia Flyers have extended their league-winning unbeaten streak to 14 straight games. ----Go back to the headline list---- Sunday, December 29, 1996 San Jose game postponedTonight's Vancouver Canucks vs San Jose Sharks hockey game in Vancouver has been postponed due to the severe snowstorm that has plagued this part of the country for the past week. All roads into Vancouver are closed, and most flights cancelled. The game has been rescheduled to January 20, 1997, 7:00 PM at General Motors Place.
----Go back to the headline list---- Winning Spirit ceases Mail-OrderWinning Spirit, the retail marketing arm of the Vancouver Canucks has ceased doing mail-orders. They are in the process of closing some of their retail stores, and re-vamping the whole organization. Look for an official announcement from them sometime early in the new year. Inside sources also tell us that they will be changing their name as well. When asked at to how out-of-towners can order souvernirs, it was suggested that they can purchase an item by phone, then have a courier company pick the item up from their store, and the courier it to their home address. ----Go back to the headline list---- Saturday, December 28, 1996 Pavel misses initial All Star Selection by 10,000 votesFinal NHL Western Conference All-Star Voting WINGERS VOTES
Initially, the results would indicate that Brett Hull and Paul Kariya would represent the Western Conference in the All Star Game. The remaining players on the Western Conference roster will be announced on Thursday, Jan.2. ----Go back to the headline list---- Now 20 goals against in three gamesPhoenix scored 2 goals of their 3 shots on goal in the second period, to tie the game 3-3 at the end of the second period. The Canucks then just fell aprt in the 3rd period, to lose 7-4, although outshooting their opponents 34-26. ----Go back to the headline list---- Thursday, December 26, 1996 The Bleeding ContinuesPlaying an ineffective offensive game, coupled with numerous defensive errors, the Canucks, outshot 25-37, lost 6-1 to the San Jose Sharks. Pavel's point drought continues into another game ! ----Go back to the headline list---- Tuesday, December 24, 1996 Pavel gone to Fiji ?Hey, check out this Fijian Bure !
----Go back to the headline list---- Monday, December 23, 1996 Canucks WhitewashedAndre Kovalenko, Ryan Smyth and Dean McAmmond scored two goals apiece and Bob Essensa stopped 26 shots for his 16th career shutout as the Edmonton Oilers snapped a seven-game winless streak with a 7-0 rout of the Vancouver Canucks. ----Go back to the headline list---- Friday, December 20, 1996 Rocket Pointless !Martin Gelinas scored the eventual game-winner 99 seconds into the third period and Corey Hirsch made 30 saves as the Vancouver Canucks snapped a seven-game home winless streak against the Detroit Red Wings with a 3-2 victory. ----Go back to the headline list---- Wednesday, December 18th, 1996 Rocket Shotless !Denis Pederson's power-play goal midway through the third period snapped a tie and the New Jersey Devils held the Vancouver Canucks to a record-low eight shots in a 2-1 victory. The eight shots were the fewest by one team since Detroit held Calgary to eight in a 3-0 shutout on October 27th, 1995. The NHL record is believed to be seven by Washington in a 4-1 loss at Philadelphia on February 12th, 1978. The previous franchise low was 12 shots, set three times, most recently in a 3-0 victory over the New York Rangers on December 20th, 1977. "I don't know what happened, they outplayed us," said Canucks winger Alexander Mogilny. "They didn't give us anything and we didn't create anything. We couldn't get any flow going and there was just nothing happening. It was awful." Gino Odjick scored Vancouver's lone goal, an unassisted one at that ! An apparent go-ahead goal by Vancouver's Dana Murzyn was disallowed at 6:29 when Pavel Bure barreled into Brodeur and was penalized for goaltender interference. "It's not the end of the world, but it happened and we're not very happy about it," said Canucks coach Tom Renney. "We'll have to educate ourselves a little more on how to play against that system. "We became frustrated against their system, especially their counter-attack," he continued. "I think the Devils generated lots of offense tonight. They didn't play boring hockey, but we didn't do our part. We didn't penetrate like we wanted to and we never did any good work down low. There's a lot we can go to school on after tonight's game." ----Go back to the headline list----
More Pavel MemorabiliaThe Vancouver Canucks have just issued a 1977 Vancouver Canucks Weekly Planner, featuring some candid shots of Pavel, such as the time he taxied a wide-bodied aircraft in Vancouver. The planner is available only in person at Winning Spirit Stores and at TD Bank branches. Price is $12.50 with proceeds to local charities.
We have also included here the offerings of a company called The Starting Lineup.
----Go back to the headline list---- Monday, December 16, 1996 Watch Pavel at the Canucks SuperskillsWhen the Canucks return home from their current road-trip, they will then compete amongst themselves on December 21st, to see who will represent the team at the NHL Super Skills contest during the All Star competition on January 18, 1996.----Go back to the headline list---- Sunday, December 15, 1996 Pavel gives St.Louis the BluesAlexander Mogilny and Pavel Bure, reunited for just the second time this season, combined for five goals and Corey Hirsch stopped 42 shots for his second shutout as the Vancouver Canucks drilled the St. Louis Blues, 8-0.Mogilny recorded his first hat trick of the season and Bure snapped out of a scoring slump with two goals and three assists, helping Vancouver break a three-game losing streak. The win was the Canucks' second in eight games (2-5-1). "It's all a matter of timing. Some days they go in and some days they don't," Mogilny said. "We got a lot of open ice, so we don't want to get carried away with this. They left Grant Fuhr all by himself. It wasn't really his fault. It's kind of sad. I know Grant really well and I feel bad for him." The Blues suffered their fifth straight home loss and their worst shutout defeat since an 8-0 whitewash at the hands of the Boston Bruins on March 21st, 1974. Mogilny scored twice in the first period and completed his 14th career hat trick 21 seconds into the second. He opened the scoring just over 11 minutes into the game when he redirected Bure's cross-ice feed past goaltender Grant Fuhr. Mogilny's power-play tally at 15:08 made it 2-0 and Bure put home a rebound with 1.7 seconds to go in the period to give Vancouver a three-goal cushion. The Canucks blitzed Fuhr for three goals in the first three minutes of the second period. Mogilny got his 15th of the season before David Roberts and Bure tallied in a 47-second span to make it 6-0. "We definitely got some breaks," Bure said. "My first goal was a really big break. Nobody saw the puck but me lying in the crease." Bure collected his third assist at 7:45 on Gino Odjick's first goal since February 13th. Bure had been limited to three assists in his previous six games and had not scored since November 23rd. Hirsch stopped 14 shots in the first period, 18 in the second and 10 in the third for his third career shutout. He ended a personal six-game winless streak (0-5-1) and picked up his first win since November 23rd. Hirsch's best stops came early in the second period, when he made a sliding stop on Ricard Persson's backhander, and in the final seconds of the third, when he denied Pierre Turgeon from the low slot. Tikkanen had four assists centering for Mogilny and Bure, while Jyrki Lumme added three for Vancouver, which is unbeaten in its last three trips to St. Louis (2-0-1). "I think Tik should change his number to 99," Bure suggested ----Go back to the headline list---- Friday, December 13, 1996 Canucks lose in DallasIn a tight checking defensive game, the Vancouver Canucks lost a close 2-1 hockey game. Despite a break-away and and a new Mogilny-Tikkanen-Bure line, Pavel was not on the ice for the Canucks' lone goal.. ----Go back to the headline list---- Wednesday, December 11, 1996 Canucks Avalanched, Again !Colorado Avalanche maintained their dominance this season over the Vancouver Canucks with a convincing 6-1 win. Pavel set up Canucks only goal by Ridley. ----Go back to the headline list---- Tuesday, December 10, 1996 Vote for PavelIn case you don't know yet, Canada's national television station, TSN, is gathering votes for the #1 Play of the Year to be aired on Dec. 25/26. One of them is Pavel's goal vs Boston (stick-skate-stick-GOAL!). There is not direct link, but we encourage the visitors at Geocities, to vote for Pavel via the web ==> select "What's New", go to "Canadian Club Choice Awards, and select "Voting now". The only catch for registering via the web is that you have to register first (but it's free!). There is also a video showing the nominees, but they are not that clear and can't be downloaded (when I tried it that is). For the North American users, there is also an option of voting via toll-free number (1-888-532-6258), and the selection for Pavel's goal is number 4. The last time I checked, (a couple of minutes ago) Pavel's goal is leading at 38%, followed by the US College hockey goal (where the player lifted the puck with the stick and put it into the top corner) at 27%, and the CFL's Grey Cup catch at 25%. I think that Pavel would/should easily win the contest. The voting is over. Pavel's stick-skate-stick-goal lose out to the US College's scoop-goal. ----Go back to the headline list---- Bure calls for PatienceHe's a symphony of skill and style, but these days Pavel Bure's music has been a little off-key. Vancouver Province, Tuesday, Dec 10, 1996. ppA55. written by Jim Jamieson (thanks Jim !)
----Go back to the headline list---- Saturday, December 7, 1996 Bure hit with One-Game SuspensionThe NHL's justice department has finally nailed Vancouver Canuck winger Pavel Bure. Bure was suspended for tonight's game with Ottawa Senators for throwing a forearm shiver into the face of Buffalo's Garry Galley in Wenesday's 7-6 Vancouver victory. Galley suffered a minor concussion in the first period incident and did not finish the game. "I'm disappointed but I can't suggest I'm surprised," said Canuck coach Tom Renney. Bure avoided suspension earlier this season after sucker-punching Calgary rookie Todd Simpson. He also avoided Suspension in the 1994 playoffs for a flagrant blindside elbow that kayoed Shane Churla, then of Dallas. The Suspension will cost Bure nearly $62,000. The league fine is a mere $1,000 but the one-game loss in pay is roughly $61,000. Bure, who missed practice Friday with the flu and has been nursing a sore shoulder, will now have the opportunity to rest until Wednesday. ----Go back to the headline list---- Wednesday, December 4, 1996 Canucks win a wild one in BuffaloA battered and bruised Canuck team finished off their marathon 6 game road trip with a thrilling 7-6 overtime win over Buffalo Sabres. Even though he had the most shots on goals on his team, he was left off the scoreboard, after having a goal disallowed, as the puck didn't completely cross over the goal-line. ----Go back to the headline list---- Tuesday, December 3, 1996 Canucks tie Detroit 2-2 in an exciting game.Pavel Bure set up the Canucks' second goal, to make it 2-1 in the second period. Detroit tied the game with only seconds left in regular time. There was no scoring in the overtime period. The Canucks were playing without Trevor Linden, Dana Murzyn, Alex Mogilny (flu) and Kirk McLean. As well, Russ Courtnall and Dave Babych sat out most of the second half of the game due to groin injuries. ----Go back to the headline list---- Vancouver Province, Sunday, December 1, 1996RUSSIAN ROCKET AWAITS LIFTOFF Philadelphia - Pavel Bure, where the heck are you ? After a great game last week in Vancouver against the New York Rangers, the Russian Rocket has fizzled on this road trip. Bure has nine goals and ten assists through the Canucks' first 23 games. Half-way through this six-game road trip he has no goals, one assist and 13 shots. He's also a minus-2 for the sojourn and a minus-1 overall. Head coach Tom Renney met with him here Saturday to discuss his play. "He's not really thrilled about his play either," said Renney, who wondered Friday about his level of inspiration. "He's not firing on all eight cylinders and he wants to assert himself more. It's a bit of a mind set for him. He's a guy who was out for almost an entire year," added Renney of last November's season-ending knee injury. Bure, at $5 million US, has the fourth highest salary in hockey after Mario Lemieux ($11.3 million US), Mark Messier ($6 million US) and Wayne Gretzky ($5.04 million US). But he's a million-dollar mystery. He gets shots. He seems to be working hard. But he had five shots on goal Friday, and none ended up in the net. Tuesday in Toronto defenceman Larry Murphy caught him from behind on a breakaway. Friday a drop pass to nowhere ended up in a Bruin goal. "I'm all right, I feel pretty good," says Bure. "I played pretty good against Hartford (no points, three shots, minus-1). It's always frustrating when you lose. We got down 4-0 (against Boston), but if I score a goal on that (second-period) breakaway when the score was 5-2 then we're right back in it." Asked about the expectations on him he replies: "I don't know about expectations. I think we are playing pretty well right now. We are over .500. We have won lots at home." "He needs encouragement," said Renney. "I think he's a great kid. If he's 100 per cent, 75 per cent, I can't put a number on it." Renney said recent stories saying that a Russian business partner of his has mafia connections isn't affecting his play. Bure insists he has no knowledge of the alleged involvement. "It never came up. It doesn't appear to be an issue," said Renney. Vancouver Province, Sunday, December 1, 1996. pA57. ----Go back to the headline list---- Planning to Visit Vancouver to Watch Hockey ?We've just come accross a neat website of a company that arranges tours of hockey cities, accompanied by seeing the game of your choice. So if you are planning to Visit Vancouver, contact this company to arrange airfare, accommodations and tickets to your favourite game, including the All-Star game (which will be in Vancouver in 1998). Click here to go to their Hockey homepage !
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