Canucks captain Henrik Sedin protects the puck from his Boston Bruins counterpart Zdeno Chara during Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals in Vancouver on June 10, 2011.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Heritage Minister James Moore found himself defending Stephen Harper on Monday against suggestions the Prime Minister was a "jinx" - somehow causing the Canuck's loss in Game 4 in Boston after he decided to fly down to watch.
So many, it seems, are twitchy about the Game 6 showdown against the Bruins. Hockey was even top of mind in political Ottawa.
Jack Layton may lead an NDP caucus of Hab-loving Quebeckers, but on Monday they were all Vancouver Canucks fans.
"On this side of the House, even the Habs fans are feeling a special bond with the Canucks," the Opposition Leader said before Question Period.
Mr. Layton wasn't the only MP rooting for the Canucks. Joyce Murray, a Liberal MP from Vancouver, was wearing a Canucks shirt under her jacket. It was evident when she stood to ask a question Monday.
And Mark Strahl, a Tory MP who took over his B.C. riding from his father, former Harper cabinet minister Chuck Strahl, delivered a Canucks-related statement.
"My riding of Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon is a vast riding that encompasses a number of small communities, including the Fraser Canyon community of Boston Bar," Mr. Strahl said. "Boston Bar is home to about 800 people and has its history rooted in the gold rush."
He said the community is behind the Canucks so much so that it has temporarily changed its name to "Vancouver Bar" for the month of June.
Mr. Layton, meanwhile, couldn't resist a few comparisons between the Vancouver team and his New Democrats. Like the Canucks, the NDP chief says New Democrats know about patience and tenacity, having waited 50 yearsto achieve Official Opposition status.
"This is the Canuck's fortieth anniversary," he says. "Next weekend, my New Democrat team marks our fiftieth." In fact, they are celebrating the occasion in Vancouver with their policy convention.
"And we too know something about dry spells and perseverance," he said, adding that those kids who have grown up not ever having seen a Canadian team win the Stanley Cup may just see that soon.
"It's time for them to feel that rush of Canadian pride," Mr. Layton said.
And it was time for Mr. Moore to put to rest any suggestion that the Prime Minister had put some kind of hex on the team: "Of course not," Mr. Moore, who attended Game 4 with Mr. Harper, told reporters in a scrum after Question Period.
"No, look, I'd say that - look, we're all cheering for the Canucks and we're obviously very pleased that the Canucks will do well tonight and we look forward to hopefully bringing home the cup this week," he said.
The Prime Minister will be again watching the game - this time from 24 Sussex Drive instead of the TD Garden in Boston.