It's nights like that where you sit there and know in your heart of hearts, as bad as things have been, if they'd just been given the chance, the Canucks could have been the ones exposing the Jets for the frauds that they are.

LAST NIGHT'S ACTION

ST LOUIS BLUES 5 WINNIPEG JETS 2 (Series tied 3-3)

For a moment there, it looked like the Jets were ready to roll. After having a goal waved off due to an offsides challenge, they tied the game at 1-1 in the second period, and were playing well.

And then their entire world collapsed.

The Blues exploded for four goals in 5:23 and sent this series back to Winnipeg where 100% of the pressure is on the Jets in spite of the Blues' inability to win a game there in this series. Hellebuyck has been pulled in all three games played in St Louis, but this is very familiar around these parts for two reasons.

Yes, the Canucks laid a 5 spot on Hellebuyck earlier in the season (and an empty netter to boot), but doesn't this remind you of the finals against Boston in 2011? 3 wins at home, 3 absolute ass-kickings on the road. "And what happened next, Kent?" you ask? Well, assuming you're either new to the game, or you have a fantastic therapist who's helped you block that out (and if you do, hook a brotha up, please), Game Seven saw them fade out with a whimper, shut out in the game that by rights, should have been a victory and their first ever Cup.

The stakes may not be as high, but with the Jets being one of the favourites to win it all this year, to see them yet again on the verge of a first round exit offers up more questions than answers. Is Hellebuyck more like Dan Cloutier than Dominik Hasek? Is this once feared Jets defence actually a product of the imaginations of some of hockey's MSM? Are they as good as their record says, or is this team the new Leafs. And wouldn't that be funny if the monkey had somehow changed backs?

In light of the current world situation, I can't think of anything better than an All Canadian final series, but thanks to the Jets shitting the proverbial bed, we're going to need the Oilers to do that, and that means it's time to cheer for the Leafs in that scenario. I don't give a good god damn how much you hate Toronto, their fans or their media. Maybe you don't remember the 80's, and nights of getting absolutely clowned by that good but obscenely arrogant and obnoxious Oilers organization. As a lifer, I cannot and I will not cheer for them. Ever. Not even for the good of the country, because I don't think it is good for the country. Alberta's government and their supporters are turning their backs on us in a time of national crisis, so fuck those guys.

Sorry.

I guess I had that built up inside.

Anyway, Game Seven goes tomorrow, and with Ottawa and Montreal out, we need some damn options for a Canadian Cup win. Let's see if these assholes can get their shit together and provide us with one.

TONIGHT'S ACTION

COLORADO AVALANCHE (3-3) vs DALLAS STARS (3-3)

AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER, DALLAS, TX

5:00 PM PST/ 8:00 PM EST

TV: SPORTSNET, CBC

Colorado did what it needed to do in Game Six at home to get this series to a Seventh game, and if there was something to give them hope they can pull of the win in Dallas tonight, it came at the end of that win Thursday night.

Cale Makar scored a goal.

He's been absolutely not a factor in this series. Sure, he's getting lots of shots, but that empty net goal was his first of the series. And believe me, the Avs noticed this. It will have them fired up, and will have Makar ready to be the difference maker he is. With Gabe Landeskog looking like he's in mid-season form, and Nathan MacKinnon being his usual dominant self, the Avs are going to give Dallas everything they can handle tonight.

In spite of the loss Thursday, the Stars got a hell of a game out of Jake Oettinger, and they will need that again if they want any hope of moving to the second round. It's weird that on a night where you gave up 5 goals, you could say the goalie played well, until you see the shot count. 48 shots from the Avs in total, and with two empty netters, that could have been a lot worse. This one should be a blast.

ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS (1-0) vs COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS (0-1)

ACRISURE ARENA, THOUSAND PALMS, CA

6:00 PM PST/ 9:00 PM EST

TV: FLOHOCKEY.TV

The Abbotsford Canucks are looking to put a stranglehold on this best of 5 Pacific Division semifinal series against the Seattle Kraken's AHL affiliate with a win tonight in Thousand Palms, Ca. The Canucks took Game One of the series 3-1 on Thursday night. Jett Woo, Danila Klimovich and Guillaume Brisebois scored for the Canucks, and Arturs Silovs was again solid in goal for Abby, stopping 29 of 30 Firebirds shots. A win tonight by the Canucks will put them in a fantastic spot, as the remaining three games of the series will be in Abbotsford, and with three chances to win on home ice, we could well see them advance to the Division Final against either Colorado or San Jose.

GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN

A couple weeks back we offered up one from the next album from THE HAUNTED, and they dropped a new video this week and it's an absolute beast of a song. In stores May 30, from 'Songs Of Last Resort' on Century Media Records, this is 'In Fire Reborn'.

Enjoy the game, and Go Canucks Go! Fuck Trump and fuck fascists everywhere!