BC Ferries Seeks Input On Revised Draft Schedules For The Southern Gulf Islands

Posted on November 23, 2015 by CanucksBanter

BC Ferries Seeks Input On Revised Draft Schedules For The Southern Gulf Islands

Online Survey Open From Nov 23 – Dec 14, 2015

VICTORIA – BC Ferries is looking for input from its customers regarding adjustments made to the draft schedules for the Southern Gulf Islands based on the valuable feedback the company heard during a series of open houses held during the summer.

“While we’ve done a great deal of analysis and traffic modelling, we know that getting our customers’ input is just as important,” said Mark Collins, BC Ferries’ Vice President of Strategic Planning & Community Engagement. “Trying to balance the competing wants and needs of five islands (Salt Spring, Galiano, Pender, Mayne and Saturna) is a challenge and requires careful consideration before making any adjustments.”

The schedules now being presented support customers’ desire for sailing times and routing that more closely model the current schedules, with added improvements that BC Ferries believes ferry users will appreciate. The company is striving to preserve many of the benefits of the schedules presented at the public open houses, while addressing concerns raised at those meetings.

Highlights of the updated draft schedules include:
• The off-peak schedules are similar to current service.
• In the shoulder seasons, weekend service will be increased with the second new Salish Class vessel.
• In the peak season, there will be more sailing opportunities while maintaining inter- island connections on weekdays, as well as improvements from Tsawwassen to the Southern Gulf Islands on weekends.

To view the revised draft schedules and participate in the online survey, visit bcferries.com. The survey is open from now until December 14.

After BC Ferries analyzes the results of the survey, the company will communicate the Southern Gulf Island schedules with a Phase 3 survey.

The new schedule is expected to be finalized in the spring of 2016, for implementation in the spring of 2017.

Under contract to the Province of British Columbia, BC Ferries is the service provider responsible for the delivery of safe, efficient and dependable ferry service along coastal British Columbia.

Two month positive run in Canadian consumer sentiment halts (released November 23, 2015)

Posted on November 23, 2015 by CanucksBanter

Bloomberg-Nanos Economic Banner

Bloomberg Nanos Weekly Consumer Confidence Tracking

After two months of climbing positive sentiment, the Bloomberg Nanos Canadian Consumer Confidence Index registered a decline in the weekly tracking.

“Of note, the tracking on perceptions on the forward strength of the Canadian economy dropped three percentage points in one week”, said Nanos Research Group Chairman Nik Nanos.

“Consumers might now be reacting to the prospect of a correction in the housing market, which would undoubtedly have an impact on households–although a varying one based on home ownership status. Owners have been considerably more optimistic than renters regarding pocketbook issues until just recently. During the oil-price crisis, however, owners have displayed lower expectations than renters, with the difference now at an all-time low,” said Robert Lawrie of Bloomberg Economics.

The BNCCI, a composite of a weekly measure of financial health and economic expectations, registered at 57.74 compared with last week’s 58.62. The twelve month high stands at 58.62.

The Bloomberg Nanos Pocketbook Index is based on survey responses to questions on personal finances and job security. This sub-indice was at 59.65 this week compared to 59.69 the previous week. The Bloomberg Nanos Expectations Index, based on surveys for the outlook for the economy and real estate prices, was at 55.83 this week (compared to 57.56 last week).

The average for the BNCCI since 2008 has been 56.76 with a low of 43.28 in December 2008 and a high of 62.92 in December 2009. The index has averaged 55.45 this year.

To view the weekly tracking visit our website.

Methodology

The BNCCI is produced by the Nanos Research Corporation, headquartered in Canada, which operates in Canada and the United States. The data is based on random telephone interviews with 1,000 Canadian consumers (land- and cell-lines), using a four week rolling average of 250 respondents each week, 18 years of age and over. The random sample of 1,000 respondents may be weighted by age and gender using the latest census information for Canada and the sample is geographically stratified to be representative of Canada. The interviews are compiled into a four week rolling average of 1,000 interviews where each week, the oldest group of 250 interviews is dropped and a new group of 250 interviews is added. The views of 1,000 respondents are compiled into a diffusion index from 0 to 100. A score of 50 on the diffusion index indicates that positive and negative views are a wash while scores above 50 suggest net positive views, while those below 50 suggest net negative views in terms of the economic mood of Canadians.

A random telephone survey of 1,000 consumers in Canada is accurate 3.1 percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20.

All references or use of this data must cite Bloomberg Nanos as the source.

NHL MORNING SKATE – NOV. 23, 2015

Posted on November 23, 2015 by CanucksBanter

NHL MORNING SKATE – NOV. 23, 2015

Welcome to the “NHL Morning Skate,” a daily collection of the latest news and notes from around the League.

2015-16 SEASON REACHES THE QUARTER MARK

The 2015-16 regular season passes the quarter mark today, with 307 of 1,230 games (24.96%) in the books as of Sunday. A look at some of the highlights thus far (with the assistance of the Elias Sports Bureau):

* 205 games (66.8%) have been tied or within one goal entering the third period.
* 143 games (46.6%) have featured one-goal margins. Another 34 have been decided by two following an empty-net goal (combined, 57.7%).
* 110 games (35.8%) have seen a team overcome a deficit (at any point in the contest) to win, including 40 in the third period. Of those 110 games, 19 have featured a multi-goal comeback.
* 64 games (20.8%) have gone past regulation, 44 of which have been decided in the 3-on-3 overtime period (68.8%). Last season, under the 4-on-4 format, the percentage of overtime periods with goals was 44.4% (136 of 306).
* 29 of the 30 NHL teams have played in at least one overtime game, led by the Senators (9 GP). The Blue Jackets are the lone team yet to participate in such a contest.
* 20 games (6.5%) have featured a shootout. Through 307 games, 46 (15.0%) required a shootout in 2014-15 and 49 (16.0%) required a shootout in 2013-14.
* The Senators have played in six of this season’s 20 shootouts (3-3). Nine clubs have to yet participate in a shootout (ARI, BOS, CBJ, CHI, COL, DAL, DET, EDM and MIN).
* 50 coach’s challenges have been used, with 33 calls upheld and 17 overturned – 36 of the coach’s challenges have been for goaltender interference (27 upheld/9 overturned), while 14 have been for offside (6 upheld/8 overturned).
* 25 games (8.1%) have seen a tying goal scored in the final five minutes of regulation, including eight in the last 60 seconds.
* 25 games (8.1%) have seen a tiebreaking goal scored in the final five minutes of regulation, including four in the last 60 seconds.
* 26 teams are within six points of a playoff berth. Entering the final day of last season, none of the eight matchups for the First Round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs had been completely settled (opponents and home-ice advantage); only five of the 16 postseason bracket slots had been locked; and two playoff spots and two titles – for the top teams in the Atlantic Division and Western Conference – remained to be settled.
* 4 teams that did not qualify for the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs currently hold postseason berths (DAL, LAK, NJD and SJS). Last season, seven teams made the playoffs after not qualifying in 2013-14 (CGY, NSH, NYI, OTT, VAN, WPG and WSH). The seven-team turnover marked the largest year-to-year change in NHL history.

LEAGUE LEADERS

A snapshot of the top team and individual performances thus far:

NHL Standings
1. Dallas Stars: 17-4-0 (34 points)
2. Montreal Canadiens: 16-4-2 (34 points)
3. New York Rangers: 15-3-2 (32 points)
Home Points
1. New York Rangers: 9-1-1 (19 points)
2. Montreal Canadiens: 9-2-1 (19 points)
3. Chicago Blackhawks: 8-2-1 (17 points)
Road Points
1. San Jose Sharks: 10-3-0 (20 points)
2. Dallas Stars: 9-2-0 (18 points)
3. Montreal Canadiens: 7-2-1 (15 points)
Power Play
1. Boston Bruins: 33.9% (20 of 59)
2. Dallas Stars: 27.7% (18 of 65)
3. Montreal Canadiens: 24.4% (19 of 78)
Penalty Kill
1. Anaheim Ducks: 88.2% (69 of 76)
2. Montreal Canadiens: 86.8% (66 of 76)
3. New York Rangers: 85.1% (57 of 67)
Goals
1. Jamie Benn (DAL): 14
t-2. Patrick Kane (CHI): 13
t-2. Vladimir Tarasenko (STL): 13
Assists
t-1. Patrick Kane (CHI): 19
t-1. John Klingberg (DAL): 19
t-1. Tyler Seguin (DAL): 19
Points
1. Patrick Kane (CHI): 13-19—32
2. Tyler Seguin (DAL): 11-19—30
3. Jamie Benn (DAL): 14-15—29
Wins
t-1. Devan Dubnyk (MIN): 11
t-1. Braden Holtby (WSH): 11
t-1. Martin Jones (SJS): 11
t-1. Henrik Lundqvist (NYR): 11
Goals-Against Average (Minimum: 6 GP)
1. Henrik Lundqvist (NYR): 1.85
2. Braden Holtby (WSH): 2.01
3. James Reimer (TOR): 2.01
Save Percentage (Minimum: 6 GP)
1. Henrik Lundqvist (NYR): .943
2. Michal Neuvirth (PHI): .939
3. James Reimer (TOR): .936

SNEAK PEEK AT MONDAY’S ACTION

All Times Eastern
St. Louis @ Buffalo, 7:00 p.m., FS-MW, MSG-B, BELL TV
Nashville @ NY Rangers, 7:00 p.m., SN1, SNE, SNO, SNP, FS-TN, MSG+
Carolina @ Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m., FS-CR, CSN-PH
Edmonton @ Washington, 7:00 p.m., SNW, CSN-DC
Boston @ Toronto, 7:30 p.m., TVAS, NESN, TSN4
Los Angeles @ Florida, 7:30 p.m., FS-W, FS-F
Colorado @ Winnipeg, 8:00 p.m., ALT, TSN3

FLYERS HOST RETIREMENT CEREMONY FOR BRIND’AMOUR

The Flyers will host a retirement ceremony for forward Rod Brind’Amour prior to their game against the Hurricanes at Wells Fargo Center. Brind’Amour, the ninth overall selection (by STL) in the 1988 NHL Draft, compiled 235-366—601 over parts of nine seasons in Philadelphia (633 GP). He then spent his final 10 NHL seasons in Carolina (174-299—473 in 694 GP), captaining the team to its first Stanley Cup in 2005-06. Overall, Brind’Amour – who now serves as an assistant coach with the Hurricanes – recorded 452-732—1,184 over 1,484 regular-season appearances and 51-60—111 in 159 playoff contests.

“It’s great because I left Philadelphia and it felt kind of weird; one day I was there and then I was gone and that was it, and I never got the chance to thank the people that meant so much to me there,” Brind’Amour told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “So this is kind of a long time coming.”

SUNDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps
CAROLINA 4, Los Angeles 3
San Jose 5, COLUMBUS 3
MONTREAL 4, NY Islanders 2
New Jersey 3, VANCOUVER 2

SHARKS RALLY TO COMPLETE PERFECT SIX-GAME ROAD TRIP

The Sharks scored four unanswered goals in the third period, including the tiebreaker by Brenden Dillon with 6:45 remaining in regulation, to overcome a 3-1 deficit and complete their season-high, six-game road trip with a perfect 6-0-0 record.

* Per Elias, the Sharks became the sixth team in NHL history to win every game of a road trip of six or more contests. The others (all 6 GP): the 1971-72 Bruins, 1982-83 Flyers, 2001-02 Red Wings, 2007-08 Flames, and 2010-11 Bruins.
* Overall, the Sharks have won seven consecutive road games dating to Nov. 1. That is their longest road winning streak since Dec. 21, 2009 – Jan. 8, 2010 (9-0-0) and three shy of the franchise record established Nov. 14 – Dec. 31, 2007 (10-0-0).
* Dillon snapped a 53-game drought with his first goal since Jan. 29 vs. ANA. He also recorded his fourth career game-winning goal and first since Jan. 13 at ARI.
* Joe Pavelski scored twice for his second multi-goal performance of the season, both against the Blue Jackets (also Nov. 3 vs. CBJ: 2-0—2). He leads the Sharks and ranks fourth in the NHL with 12 goals overall (21 GP).

LATE GOAL LIFTS CANADIENS TO SWEEP OF HOME-AND-HOME

Alex Galchenyuk scored the tiebreaking goal with 3:29 remaining in regulation to lift the Canadiens to a sweep of their home-and-home series with the Islanders as well as their sixth consecutive victory in the head-to-head series dating to Dec. 23, 2014 (NYI: 0-6-0).

* Galchenyuk snapped a 10-game drought with his first goal since Oct. 29 at EDM. He recorded his seventh career game-winning goal and second of the season (also Oct. 7 at TOR).
* Carey Price made 21 saves, including 10 in the second period, to improve to 9-2-0 in his first 11 appearances of the season (2.10 GAA, .933 SV%, 2 SO). He also moved to 11-3-3 in 17 career outings vs. NYI (2.51 GAA, .912 SV%, 1 SO).
* The Canadiens posted four goals via special teams (3 PPG, 1 SHG) for the first time since Feb. 9, 2011 at BOS (4 PPG).

SCHNEIDER LEADS DEVILS IN RETURN TO VANCOUVER

Cory Schneider turned aside 36 shots, including 17 in the final frame, to backstop the Devils to their seventh victory in their past 11 contests.
* Schneider, the 26th overall selection by the Canucks in the 2004 NHL Draft, improved to 2-1-2 in five career appearances against his former club (2.17 GAA, .927 SV%). He compiled a 55-26-8 record while playing his first five NHL seasons in Vancouver (2.20 GAA, .927 SV%, 9 SO).

* Schneider improved to 10-5-1 overall this season (2.05 GAA, .928 SV%, 1 SO). That includes a 6-2-0 clip on the road (2.23 GAA, .929 SV%).
* Mike Cammalleri (1-2—3) registered his fourth three-point performance of the season. He paces the Devils with 14 assists and 21 points in 20 outings.

FAULK POWERS HURRICANES PAST KINGS

Justin Faulk scored twice via the power play, including what stood as the game-winning goal, to help the Hurricanes snap a five-game skid (0-2-3).
* Faulk, who recorded his career multi-goal performance (282 GP), has scored all eight of his goals this season via the power play – tops in the NHL. His eight overall goals also share first among defensemen (w/ Brent Burns).
* Faulk extended his point streak to a career-high five games (3-3—6). He leads the Hurricanes with 8-7—15 overall this season (20 GP).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS

* Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty scored to pick up his 300th NHL point (155-145—300 in 421 GP).
* Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce, a third-round selection (66th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft, recorded his first career goal (13 GP).

LOOSE PUCKS

Blue Jackets forward Boone Jenner notched his 11th goal of the season, tied for fifth in the NHL . . . Islanders captain John Tavares scored his 10th goal of the season, tied for ninth in the League . . . Kings forward Anze Kopitar (2-0—2) registered his first multi-goal performance of the season . . . Canucks forward Daniel Sedin collected one assist to extend his point streak to five games (5-3—8) . . . Islanders forward Kyle Okposo also posted one helper to extend his assist/point streak to five games (0-7—7) . . . Canadiens forward Tomas Fleischmann scored his second career shorthanded goal and first since Jan. 29, 2013 at TBL (w/ FLA) . . . Blue Jackets defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk played in his first NHL game since April 11, 2010 at WSH (w/ BOS).

Little In The Tank Costs Vancouver 3-2 Loss To Devils

Posted on November 22, 2015 by CanucksBanter

CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff November 22, 2015

Winning Streak Ends At One

The Canucks (8-8-6) looked to sweep their two-game home stand with a win over the New Jersey Devils (11-8-1) tonight at Rogers Arena, and move into a share of first place with the Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division.

Instead, Vancouver got shown the door by the New Jersey Devils, in a 3-2 loss that started another losing streak at Rogers Arena.

The Canucks haven’t had consecutive wins since they beat the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 30 and the Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 2.

It was critical that the Canucks not squander the momentum gained from last night’s slump ending win, by following it up with a poor effort tonight against the Devils, a team that was desperate for a win themselves.

Henrik Sedin was disappointed in the loss, feeling the Canucks lost a great chance to build more momentum on top of the Chicago victory.

“Especially going on the road, a tough road trip, it was a chance for us to get moving up in the standings, start feeling good about ourselves and get some wins and get some momentum. That didn’t happen. I thought we played good enough to win.”, Henrik Sedin added.

There was an effort but not the intensity and urgency that was present in last night’s emotional 6-3 win over the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks.

Cammalleri opened the scoring 65 seconds into the second period, set up Andy Greene’s power-play goal 91 seconds into the third and assisted on Adam Henrique’s goal eight minutes later for the Devils.

Henrik Sedin ended Schneider’s shutout bid with a shorthanded goal 7:21 into the third period after the Devils goalie misplayed the puck to Daniel Sedin in front of the net, and Radim Vrbata scored a power-play goal on a deflection with 0.6 seconds left.

New Jersey avoided going winless on their three-game Western Canadian road trip which concluded tonight following losses in Calgary and Edmonton.

After welcoming Brandon Prust back to the line-up yesterday, the Canucks were hoping they would be bolstered by returning veteran Radim Vrbata, who missed the last two games with a groin injury. Except for his penalty shot, Vrbata did a good job of being inconsequential in the game, even with scoring Vancouver’s final goal with just tenths of a second left to play.

The Devils took advantage of the opportunity to do something Sunday night that they’ve never done before, sweep a season series from the Vancouver Canucks.

Winning in Vancouver never has been easy for the Devils, who are now 7-19-1 all-time and 2-5-1 since 1999-00.

The Canucks are 4-0 in games where Brandon Prust fights. Unfortunately, Prust had no fights. Canucks hand no win. Just saying.

Jacob Markstrom was 1-0-1 with a .914 save percentage and 3.41 goals-against after his 4-3 overtime loss to Montreal last Monday. He adds a loss to his season record, with his first regular season appearance of the year at Rogers Arena.

Markstrom made 19 saves for the Canucks, who have one win in their past six games (1-4-1).

Corey Schneider made 17 saves in the third period, stopping 36 shots in total, including a Vrbata penalty shot at 5:14 of the final period.

Vancouver had 38 shots to the Devils 22 shots.

The Canucks now get set for a 4-game road trip, starting with Minnesota on November 25 and finishing with Los Angeles on December 1.

In between they play the Dallas Stars on November 27 and San Jose Sharks on November 30.

CANUCKS JOTTINGS

Vancouver’s power play before tonight was 8 for 21 in its previous 5-games after going 0-16 the 5-games previous. Tonight, the Canucks were 1 for 7 on the power play.
Canucks have allowed 9 power play goals against in their last 10-games.
Vancouver’s penalty kill was 4 for 5 against the Devils.
Henrik Sedin’s shorthanded goal was his 7th shorthanded goal of his career.
Canucks outhit the Devils 14-12.
Vancouver had 7 giveaways and 6 takeaways tonight.
Vancouver has now surrendered three or more goals in 10 straight games.
Rookie defenceman Ben Hutton will be at least two weeks with a foot injury after blocking a shot Wednesday in Winnipeg.
Brandon Sutter will be out at least two weeks with abdominal injury.
Recalled Utica player Taylor Fedun, 27, could surface on the upcoming four-game road trip with the injury to Hutton.