.& Ad Sots, By Josh Martin, Sports Editor he Vancouver Canucks are as Head Coach Alain Vigneault i the New York Islanders on Sunday night. Better late than never... right? They dominated the pace of play for the entire game, outshooting the Islanders 36-24 by the final frame while goaltender Roberto Luongo starting to “find their groove” after 18 games into the season pointed out prior to a 4-1 victory over looked quite comfortable coming up with huge saves more often than not. But is that really saying much against the second-to-last team in the league? Sure they won the game and a win is a win, but the fact of the matter is that the Islanders were second- to-last in the Eastern Conference last year and are currently second- to-last in the NHL with 11 points. Not exactly a team that is competing among the best in the league. We know it’s not going to be easy for the-Canucks to become that - dominating force that they were once before. Until they win at least three games in a row—which they haven’t been able to do yet—it isn’t safe to say that they’ ve found their groove either. : Last Friday night the Canucks faced off against the Anaheim Ducks (why they took out the “Mighty” I will never understand) in a game where they didn’t show up until the third period where, ultimately, time was their number one enemy. Heading into the third period down 4-0 isn’t exactly the best way to enter the final frame in hopes of playing catch-up and the Canucks found that out as they almost made a complete come back but finished just shy a goal of tying it up. Kevin Bieksa blasted a power play goal from the point while Jannik Hansen added a pair on the top line with the Sedin’s giving the Canuck nation some hope that a possible win could be in order from all of the effort. Ryan Kesler nearly put home a back hand in the final seconds of the game only to have Ducks’ goaltender Jonas Hiller stuff him up close and personal. Yes. It was a dominating period; one in which the “ice seemed to be slanted,” as I recall one of the John’s saying. One in which the Canucks outshot their opposition 22-2. And one in which the win seemed to just get away... a pattern that is oh-so- familiar in Vancouver. It’s about time this team finds their groove... it’s just a matter of when we can safely say “it’s happened.” ae CAMUCAS COMET Finding their groove BY THE NUMBERS The Canucks are currently in 10 spot in the Western Conference with a 9-8-1 record and 19 points through 18 games. Daniel Sedin has 22 points and is, as of Sunday, second in the NHL in scoring while brother Henrik is not behind by much with 20 points of his own. Alexander Edler is tied for first in the league for scoring among defensemen with 16 points and Aaron Rome, ladies and gentlemen, has three goals and two assists in his last four games— that’s a career high Royals Update By Josh Martin, Sports Editor es. You’ve guessed it. It’s that time of the week again... ROYALS UPDATE TIME! Here’s a look at how the men’s and women’s volleyball and basketball teams faired over this past weekend. eight matches without a win. They are currently in sixth position in the standings with zero points. They also play the Camosun Chargers next weekend on Friday and Saturday, at 6 p.m. and 1 p.m. The Royals men’s basketball team took a tough loss in their first The Royals men’s volleyball team took out the CBC Bearcats in back-to- back wins on Friday and Saturday by the scores of 3-0 and 3-2, respectively. They are currently in third place in the standings with a 5-3 record in eight matches played and 10 points. Next weekend they take on the fourth place Camosun College Chargers in back-to- back matches on Friday and Saturday on the Chargers home turf at 7:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. The women’s volleyball team, on the other hand, lost both matches against the CBC Bearcats on the weekend by scores of 3-2 and 3-0, | increasing their losing streak to game of the season on Saturday night against the UNBC Timberwolves by a score of 92-74. They have a pair of home games next weekend against the Vancouver Island University Mariners and the Camosun College Chargers at 8 p.m. and 3 p.m. The women’s team took a beating from the Timberwolves in their first game of the season by a crushing score of 87-26. Next weekend, they host the Mariners on Friday at 6 p.m. and then face the Chargers at 1 p.m. for an afternoon match the following day. Be sure to check out the games and support our teams!