SPORTS anucks Corner: Stephanie Smith, OP Sports Editor and Cry baby a ell, it looks as though I spoke too soon. Last week I wrote out how good the Canucks were looking as of late. The hnuck battled against Edmonton on Feb-first, and won 5-3. ey then faced the Flames and lost 4-3. After that, again ley beat Edmonton 5-2, and then promptly lost 3-0 to the Chicago. Chicago Blackhawks. What really made this awful was the manner in which they won and lost. The first game against the Oilers was great, _ Marc Choiunard’s breakaway, the return of Markus Naslund... it was a beautiful sight to behold. On the third when the faced Calgary they seemed off to a great start, Each Sedin twin scored a goal and they were off to a 2-0 lead. Unfortunately, 4 Calgary goals in a row spoiled the win. Taylor Pyatt managed to score late in the third, but to no avail. The Canucks lost in sad, "sad fashion. They then had a game against the Oilers in Edmonton, when they decided to avenge the loss the night before. Daniel Sedin scored a hat trick, and assisted on the other 2 goals. Henrik Sedin had 4 assists that night. They looked in fine form. They looked like maybe they had just been tired in Calgary. Then came I remember on the 7th thinking, “Oh. Chicago’s put in Patrick Lalime! Excellent!” After watching Lalime blow it time after time in Ottawa and St. Louis, I didn’t really think that he would be much of a match for Vancouver. But at the end of the night I sat there staring at the screen thinking, “Oh. 3-0. Lalime managed a shutout, eh?” and wanting to cry. I don’t know what happened last night, but it wasn’t good. Okay, one of Chicago’s goals went in off Bieksa and the other two were empty netters, but still... where was the team that I had seen just the night before? If the Canucks want to be a playoff team, and really, how could they not want to be, they need to play more consistent- ly. They have been great, just great, since Christmas, but win- ning one and losing one is not going to lead them deep into the playoffs. They need to hold up and play more responsibly. They have some of the top scoring forwards in the league (The Sedins). They have one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. What gives? 4 And with the trade deadline looming in the near future, what moves, if any are he Canucks willing to make? They have very little cap space to work with, even with Kesler on the IR. The Canucks do have some draft picks to deal, but will they? Will they make a play for a good scoring forward to help out? Will they make a move for some defense? Or will they do nothing? We'll soon find out. Hopefully the decision gives them that last little boost they need when they playoffs come ‘round. Douglas College Athletics ter a bye week, the Douglas College Royals men’s basketball team was back at home to face the third place Camosun Chargers. In Friday’s night game, the Royals relied on a balance ack as five players were in double digit scoring. After holding a slim five-point lead in the st ten minutes of play, the Royals continued a steady pace as they were up on the Chargers 32 at the half. In the third and fourth quarters, the Chargers made a push behind Brandon Dunlop’s 31 bints as they out scored the Royals in both quarters. Despite Camosun’s valiant effort, the byals manage to pull out an 87-82 victory as they shot 43 percent from the field and a blister- i 45% from three point land. Leading scorers for the Royals were Chris Veale with 26 points; Shane Heuring had 14 and ent a perfect 8 for 8 from the free throw line. Graeme McCallum and Justin Adams chipped 13 and 12 points respectively as Clayton Heuring added 10 points. In Saturday’s matinee match, Camosun came charging out of the gate as the lead after the t quarter by a score 25-17. By the end of the second quarter, the Royals found themselves hind by 11 points heading into the recess. Led behind the hot shooting of Evan Janzen who opped six threes from behind the arc, it appeared the Chargers had the top team in the tion on their heels. Remaining clam and composed, the Royals returned from the half time break with a inewed passion and intensity that shifted the momentum back in their favor. Led behind the e’s high scorer, Andrew Sturgeon who had 27 points; the Royals outscored Camosun 28-15 the third quarter to regain the lead 63-61. In the fourth quarter, the Royals couldn’t put the Chargers away as both teams seesawed ck and forth with timely runs to keep the crowd on their toes. Trailing with less than 10 sec- hds, Camosun nailed a shot from the baseline to lock up the score at 84 -84. With only 6.4 conds remaining on the clock, the Royals emerged from the the time out and inbounded the to Chris Veale who drove baseline causing the Camosun defense to collaspe leaving drew Strugeon wide open for the pass and the sweet jumper to ice the game, 86-84. With enty of opportunities for a possible upset, the Chargers couldn’t capitalize at the line as they ot a dismal 11 for 33 (33 percent) including missing nine free throws down the stretch. As r the Royals, they took care of business at the line as they made 26 of 33 (78 percent) uding making key shots in the final minute of the game. With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Royals will be staying close to bme as they play Langara this weekend in Vancouver and then host Kwantlen next weekend home. psports@gmail.com Royals De-charged Camosun. amosun Chargers push Royals to spectacular ending.