After the low level of excitement I felt during Game 2, I was afraid that this might be in large part due to my need to multi-task while the games are on. Since my life is just too busy at the moment to let me sit down and watch each game, this would be the game that let me know if I was doomed to not be able to enjoy with the rest of the city.

I spent all day Sunday setting up by brother-in-law Rudy’s computer, which had not been done in a while and was suffering some major issues. I was hoping to get to his house before the game started, but had some issues and did not arrive until after the second period. I watched the first two out of the side of my eye at home while finishing off his computer, and found that once again I wasn’t feeling that level of excitement. There was definitely a level of tension thanks to the close defensive styles of the two teams, as you realized that a single goal was more important than in most games; but that lack of scoring also kept the excitement level down. I couldn’t help but to get caught up in the wonderment of who would score. Unfortunately, it was Dallas that scored near the end of the second period.

During the intermission I headed over to Rudy’s house and began setting up his computer and installing such items as his printer software. This is not as bad as it sounds, as his computer sits next to his 70 inch widescreen TV. There was more tension now, as we need to come from behind, and we were rewarded when Jan Bulis pounced on a rare rebound by Dallas goalie Marty Turco. Finally, some excitement! The initial shot was by Jannik Hansen, the first Dane to play in the playoffs when the Canucks called him up from the farm team after several injuries in Game 1. Hansen is looking impressive, and I look forward to seeing him improve in the future.

I finished with the computer just in time to settle down and watch the overtime. Rudy was already groaning, as it was his bedtime and he was recalling the 4 overtimes in the first game; but we were rewarded at 7:47 of the first overtime when Taylor Pyatt scored on a quick one timer. You can watch the winning goal below.

And so in the end this was a more exciting game, but the beginning was slow. And because of the circumstances, I can’t tell you if that lack of excitement was the defensive style of play these two teams are following, or the difference between watching alone while multitasking as opposed to watching with another fan on a huge screen. I guess I’ll have to wait for Game 4.

Update - It turns out that Pyatt both won the game and won a jersey for me.

It turns out that when one is really behind on their blog posts and is publishing a post that they started a few days beforehand, one should recheck their links in the post. If I had done so when I posted last night about the contest at GoCanucks.ca, I would have discovered that they had already made a post to say that my name had been drawn as the person who would receive a replica Canucks jersey if they won Game 3. And since Game 3 was already over by then, I would have realized even before I read the next post that I was a winner!

I received an email last night informing me of my win, and I need to reply with my info so they can send me my jersey. To add to the woes of getting behind on posting, the sponsor of my jersey is Doolin’s Irish Pub, an establishment that my dad, Karin and I visited for the first last week and where I had the best lasagna I’ve ever had in while out, and which I still plan to blog about in the next few days.

So thanks to DarrenBarefoot.com for mentioning the contest (I guess I owe him a beer should we ever meet after his Malta adventures), Doolin’s Irish Pub for sponsoring Game 3, and GoCanucks.ca for a great contest! Enter soon for your chance to win, and good luck to tonight’s contestant,Craig MacKenzie, though I’ll be rooting more for the Canucks and he’s welcome to the jersey when we win!

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After appetizers downtown at the SIP a few weeks ago, Karin and I headed towards Vancouver General Hospital to find a full meal before her 6:30 appointment for an MRI. We wanted to park nearby and walk if possible to the hospital, and so I pulled into the parking lot of the former Chevy’s restaurant on Broadway at Oak. Chevy’s used to be one of my favorite spots in Vancouver, but when I had attempted to take Karin there previously we had found it had closed. A new establishment has opened in it’s place and we decided to try them.

Upon entering the Rugby Beach Club Grille, I was greeted with a familiar room. The restaurant has been renovated to give it an oceanside feel, but the layout has not been changed, largely I believe because it has always been comfortable and works well. Formerly TVs hung from the ceiling throughout the room so that every table would have a view of the sporting event; these have been removed and the ceiling is now covered with large large bamboo stalks. The large TV covering one wall of the lounge remains, and many people were sitting in the bar area awaiting the Canucks game. The built in tables remained as before, as well as the bar and open kitchen kitchen; with everything having been refinished.

The decor did have me worried a bit, as there was a nautical theme and we are not big fish fans; but we did not have to worry as the menu was extensive. In addition to numerous salads, the appetizer menu had nine seafood items, but then had eight non-seafood items. We started with an appetizer of Ribs, Ribs, Ribs. As the name and picture implies, there is three flavours of ribs in this starter; Mesquite Rye BBQ, Caramelized oy and demerarra sugar, and Cajun dry rub. I think we might have been cheating a bit on Karin’s diet, as vinegar is something she must avoid right now; but a little shouldn’t hurt too much. Each of the ribs was meaty and flavourful, and we gladly licked our fingers afterward. I would definitely try this again, which could be a problem as there were many other tasty items from which to choose.

Looking at the main menu, it seemed that everything was extremely reasonably priced, even priced too low to believe. It took a little to realize the reason; all items on the menu come unaccompanied. If you order a steak, that is all you get on your plate. Vegetables and carbs are ordered separately, and the portions for these sides are enough for two people. As Karin and I are both watching the number of calories we stuff down our gullet, eating out has been a nemesis as almost any plate is almost half carbohydrates. Too top it off, we have had even more trouble eating out as of late due to Karin’s need to avoid the foods to which she is allergic. We had stumbled upon the perfect restaurant for us completely by luck!

Just like the appetizer menu, there were numerous choices when we choose our main course. In addition to the seafood section of the menu, there was a separate sections for shell (shellfish are fine by us, and I think I’ll try the prawns next time), chicken, vegetarian, turf (lamb), steak, ribs and surf & turf. Within each section there is numerous choices. I suspect that the separation of the sides from has allowed a much more extensive range of choices, as the chef did not then feel the need to have a unique starch and vegetable combination with each choice. With such a wide range of choices, you would think we would have had different things, but we were both attracted to the filet mignon, though I had mine with blue cheese topper. Without the sides, each filet cost $11.95! When was the last time you had filet mignon for that price?

Skipping the carbs, we had roasted asparagus with balsamic drizzle. Again, this was a bit of a cheat for Karin due to the vinegar. We had not been steered wrong, there was definitely enough vegetable for the both of us. The portions were just right, but had we not stopped at SIP earlier in the afternoon for an appetizer, we might have had two vegetables dishes, thereby having a filling meal without the starches and still at a very reasonable price.

While the ability to make your own main and side dish choices did fit our dietary needs perfectly, I also liked the idea purely from the point of view of being able to pick what you enjoy eating. Many a time I have been out and have seen something that seemed quite tasty, only to realize that the accompaniments were not something that I would enjoy at all. The Rugby Beach Club would also be the perfect place to go when some have a limited diet and others do not.

As we left, the crowd watching the Canucks game was just beginning to get into the game, and it was only Karin’s appointment that kept me from proposing we stay a while. This will definitely be a stop again in the near future. Overall, I’ll give the Rugby Beach Club Grille a 7.5 out of 10.

For more pictures, click on any of the above and explore the others on our Flickr site.

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